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Wolfscote Dale from Alstonefield

Peak District Walk

Nat Park - Peak District - Dovedale Manifold Valley

County/Area - Staffordshire & Derbyshire

Author - Lou Johnson

Length - 7.5 miles / 12.2 km    Ascent - 545 feet / 165 metres

Time - 4 hours 20 minutes    Grade - easy/mod

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Walk Route Description

Photo from the walk - Wolfscote Dale
Click image to visit gallery of 12 images.

This Peak District walk includes two counties, Staffordshire and Derbyshire, two villages, Alstonefield and Hartington, plus two dales, Wolfscote Dale and the less known Narrowdale, which together make and interesting circuit in the White Peak. The start is the small car park (Grid ref. 130556) in Alstonefield. Space is limited and alternative parking is usually available elsewhere in this attractive Staffordshire village.

Exit the car park and turn right towards the centre of the village. Turn left at the first junction into Lode Lane and continue along the lane for 300 metres before turning left along a walled track heading north. After a short way turn right along the signed footpath towards Gipsy Bank. After passing through pastureland the path descends steeply to the River Dove where a footbridge takes you across the county boundary and into Derbyshire.

Turn left (north) alongside the River Dove to follow the clear path passing Biggin Dale on your right to enter Wolfscote Dale with its pleasant limestone outcrops. Continue north along the well-maintained path. Entering woodland marks the start of Beresford Dale where you cross by footbridge to the other side before re-crossing across the Dove once more. Leaving the woodland you cross pastures for the final stretch into Hartington where you exit near the public toilets.

The village of Hartington has many cafes, pubs and shops so makes an ideal place for a break. The onward route starts almost opposite the public toilets through a narrow gap between houses. This leads in turn past a farmyard to cross a number of fields to reach the Warslow Road near Hartington Bridge (Grid ref. 121598). Turn right along the road crossing the Dove into Staffordshire. This road can be busy so care is needed. After about 500 metres take the signed footpath on the left (Grid ref. 117596) and follow this through to Beresford Lane.

Turn right onto the lane and then left across fields towards Field House Farm. Keeping the farm on your left continue on the waymarked path to reach a farm track at Narrowdale Farm. Here you pass between the cottage and house climbing south with Narrowdale below on your right. Ignore the path going right and continue straight ahead, which leads to the main road (Grid ref. 126564). Just before reaching the road turn sharp left and follow the wall for a short way before turning right to follow a clearly signed path across fields to exit opposite the car park where you started.

Other walks nearby

Walk 1021 Milldale & Hall Daleeasy/mod5.0 miles
Walk 1181 Wetton Hill & the Manifold Valley from Wettoneasy/mod6.5 miles
Walk 1653 The Manifold Valley from Wetton easy/mod7.8 miles
Walk 2681 Wetton & Manifold Valley from Wettoneasy/mod3.6 miles
Walk 2537 Ecton Hill & Wetton from Wetton Millmoderate7.0 miles
Walk 3455 Manifold Valley & Dovedale om Ilammoderate9.5 miles
Walk 3527 Dovedale and Manifold Valley from Ilammoderate7.5 miles
Walk 1475 Bunster Hill and Dovedale from Ilameasy/mod4.5 miles
Walk 1042 Pilsbury Castle from Hartingtoneasy/mod5.5 miles
Walk 2301 Biggin & Parsley Hay from Hartingtoneasy/mod9.5 miles

Recommended Books & eBooks

Walking in the Peak District - White Peak East

Walking in the Peak District - White Peak EastGuidebook describing 42 half-day and day walks in the limestone landscapes of Derbyshire's White Peak, part of the Peak District National Park. One of two volumes, this book covers the east of the region, with potential bases including Bakewell, Eyam, Castleton, Birchover, Matlock and Wirksworth.
More information

Dark Peak Walks

Dark Peak WalksGuidebook to 40 walks in the Dark Peak area of the Peak District National Park. 35 circular routes for most abilities, from 8km to 19km, around Edale, Marsden, Fairholmes, Baslow and Castleton, including Kinder Scout and Mam Tor, and 5 longer (25km to 45km) routes highlighting the best of the Gritstone Edges, High Moorland and Deep Valleys.
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