Wetton, the Manifold Valley, Ilam, Dovedale and Hopedale
We prepared ourselves and set out on the route. We found the track and followed it to the gate, it was at this point the route let us down thankfully the map saved us and we were soon trying to find the style set in the wall. We were advised it was difficult to see and they weren't joking but once this was negotiated we were on our way in earnest.
From lovers leap we walked on to Raynard's Cave and to Pickering Tor and Ilam Rock it was a this point we crossed the River Dove to exit Dove Dale via Hall Dale.
We followed the route out of Hall Dale to Stanshope without any drama but after that the route took us on an odd detour to the Watts Russel Arms in Hopedale. – Me, I'm usually one for a detour to a pub, but this detour was so stepped down to the Pub only to find it closed. Not enough trade this late in the year for it to be open and then to the have to climb back up to just short of where we had descended, was a little disappointing.
Welcome to the white peak. After an interesting route to Wetton we arrived and found parking easy. No packed car park just a lovely village with on street parking.
We prepared ourselves and set out on the route. We found the track and followed it to the gate, it was at this point the route let us down thankfully the map saved us and we were soon trying to find the style set in the wall. We were advised it was difficult to see and they weren't joking but once this was negotiated we were on our way in earnest.Now the real ascent started, as we climbed to the ridge with the Manifold valley below us we could see across the valley the striations of the old medieval cultivation terraces at Throwley.
Whilst ascending to the ridge we came across a coupler of twitcher who has spotted in the air above a group of we were informed of buzzards. Impressive but a little later they had trouble identifying a black crow, always a little worrying when they have that sort of problem. Personally as I did not have my binoculars to hand a could not see the birds well enough to identify then ( even if you could of your not an ornithologist so will stick with Buzzards - ED)
Whilst ascending to the ridge we came across a coupler of twitcher who has spotted in the air above a group of we were informed of buzzards. Impressive but a little later they had trouble identifying a black crow, always a little worrying when they have that sort of problem. Personally as I did not have my binoculars to hand a could not see the birds well enough to identify then ( even if you could of your not an ornithologist so will stick with Buzzards - ED)From here our next delight was Castern Hall a striking building in the middle of some pleasant pastures. From Castern Hall w descended across fields to Ilam Park and in-time for lunch by the river in Ilam.
Lunch by the river what can I say it was beautiful even through behind use was the bridge into the centre of Ilam and the Memorial Cross. Ilam is so picturesque with beautiful cottages.
Once everyone was feed and watered it was time to move on and now for the treat of the day and for me a trip down memory lane. You see when I was 11 years old living in picturesque Stamford (Lincolnshire) our primary schools end of years trip was to Dovedale.
I would love to say I've loved walking ever since but that would not be true. But even then it was beautiful.
I would love to say I've loved walking ever since but that would not be true. But even then it was beautiful.The only problem one finds with Dovedale is its the walking equivalent of the M1. So many people as you walk down to the stepping stones. I chickened out of the stepping stone – mainly as I had Tara with me and I know for a fact she would not have walked across the stepping stones more likely tried to swim across the River Dove with me in tow. It would have made for a fun spectacle but would have been to embarrassing.
Dovedale is notable for its limestone formations. The first named formation, Dovedale Castle, is a short distance along the river from the stepping stones at Thorpe Cloud. Then a set of steps climb to the limestone promontory called Lover's Leap. The original steps were built by Italian prisoners of war captured in the Second World War, though they are now maintained by both the National Trust and the National Park.
But having climbed these steps we found over thirty people sat around the top making it impossible too taking in the sear beauty of the spot it.
So why is it called Lovers Leap ? The story I remember from that first trip is that a young woman believed her lover had been killed in the Napoleonic war, so she threw herself off the top of the promontory. However, her flapping skirt caught in the branches of a tree as she fell and saved her life. When she got home she heard that her boyfriend was alive and well.
From lovers leap we walked on to Raynard's Cave and to Pickering Tor and Ilam Rock it was a this point we crossed the River Dove to exit Dove Dale via Hall Dale.The ascent out of Dovedale up Hall Dale is steep and is very enclosed at the start but after about half a mile of steady climbing the ascent lessens and the valley starts to open out and as we continued to climb we could see the the glacial striations on the valley walls.
We followed the route out of Hall Dale to Stanshope without any drama but after that the route took us on an odd detour to the Watts Russel Arms in Hopedale. – Me, I'm usually one for a detour to a pub, but this detour was so stepped down to the Pub only to find it closed. Not enough trade this late in the year for it to be open and then to the have to climb back up to just short of where we had descended, was a little disappointing.From Hopedale it was a short walk back across field to Wetton. All in all a great walk and one well do again.
