Walking in Dove Dale

The morning started with a full English breakfast at the Beresford Tea Rooms, and we set off on the footpath to Beresford Dale through which the river Dove flows very quietly when wide and deep, and more noisily in the shallows, but apart from that, the wind, the birds and the lambs that's all you can hear.

Crossing the Dove at Pike Pool, we stayed close to the water for about two miles, stopping for a snack in Wolfescote Dale further to the south.  The eight-mile walk continues further along, but as it was our first day of walking we chose to turn off into Biggin Dale taking a more rocky path.  Half-way along Biggin Dale we could hear a woodpecker tapping busily away in the woods.

Once out of Biggin Dale - a short but steep climb, there are farm tracks and tarmaced roads back to Hartington village.  A quick change of footwear at Dove Cottage, and we set off for the Charles Cotton and a splendid lunch washed down with a couple of pints (for me at least) of Hartington Ale.  We checked out the cheese shop and bought some Stilton with blueberries and some with lemon.

We drove (well Sharon drove to be more precise) down to Ilam Country Park where we stretched our legs and refreshed ourselves with tea and cakes before driving back to Hartington.

Dinner in the Devonshire Arms was excellent - no room for dessert !