No excuse is needed for visiting Dove Dale, but secluded Nabs Dale makes an unusual approach to the caves and limestone pinnacles. Then Hall Dale leads away from the river up to Stanshope where, in Spring, drifts of snowdrops line the path. Descending again to Dale Bottom and more snowdrops you continue down to Mill Dale and Viator's Bridge which was famously reported "tis not two fingers broad". And to finish there's another climb, which looks impossibly steep, but a cunning path zigzags up the slope so easily we almost caught up the DofE party ahead of us!
LOCATION: South Peak District
START: A515, Alsop Station car park
Grid ref: SK156549 Postcode: DE6 1QP
DISTANCE: 6 miles
GRADE: Moderate, but with steep ascents & descents
TIME: 4 hours
MAP: Explorer OL - White Peak Landranger 119
REFRESHMENTS: Polly's Cottage
EN ROUTE: Hanson Grange, Pickering Tor, Ilam Rock
This walk was originally published by
The Manchester Evening News