Route: Hartington Dales
Area: Peak District
Date of walk: 9th June 2021
Walkers: Andrew and Gilly
Distance: 6.1 miles
Ascent: 400 feet
Weather: Sunshine and blue skies
Hartington is an attractive village at the northern end of Dovedale, set in the heart of some superb walking country. Public footpaths radiate from it in all directions. We parked in the village square and, after walking by the war memorial, followed a quiet road uphill as far as the youth hostel
We turned right opposite the hostel and joined a waymarked track between dry stone walls. There were good views over the limestone plateau as we went along. We joined a lane known as Reynards Lane, which soon deteriorated into a track and descended into the first of today’s dales, Biggin Dale. We had the place to ourselves as we followed the delightful path along the valley floor. As on our previous walks this week, hawthorn blossom enhanced the scenery. The valley narrowed further along and the path became rougher, though it was still easy going
Eventually we arrived at the imposing face of Peaseland Rocks, with the River Dove flowing past its foot. We turned right here and entered into Wolfscote Dale. This was a beautiful section of the walk, with the walls of the valley towering above us and the River Dove on our left as we followed its winding course upstream
At the end of Wolfscote Dale we emerged into a buttercup meadow in Beresford Dale and parted company with the River Dove at a weir. Beyond the weir we strolled through the fields back into Hartington to end a lovely walk, perhaps the best of the three we’ve followed this week in the White Peak area of the Peak District
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The village duck pond at the start of today's walk from Hartington
St Giles' Church in the background
A view back as we climb out of Hartington
Opposite the youth hostel we turn right to join a track between dry stone walls
The view on our right
We continue along the track...
The surface of the track gradually peters out, and our route takes us towards Reynards Lane
Reynards Lane, which becomes a track after a short distance...
We pass through a succession of gates as the path gently descends into Biggin Dale...
The entrance gate into Biggin Dale - the dale is a National Nature Reserve
We follow the inviting path into the vale...
Hawthorn trees in profusion...
The going becomes a little rougher further along the valley, but there are no difficulties
Peaseland Rocks ahead, signalling a change of direction and a new vale
We turn right here to enter into Wolfscote Dale
A tempting path beside the River Dove leads to Milldale, but our route lies the other way...
The entrance to Wolfscote Dale
The River Dove on our left...
Looking back along our path
Approaching the head of Wolfscote Dale
We walk through a buttercup meadow to the third and final dale on the round - Beresford Dale
Looking back to Wolfscote Dale
Beresford Dale
Looking back along the dale to a footbridge we'd crossed over the River Dove
We follow a path beside the river for a short distance...
We cross another footbridge and part company with the river here
The final leg of the walk is across meadows leading back into Hartington...
Hartington, and the end of an excellent walk
