Walking Britain Peak District Walk
Dove Valley, Biggin Dale & Biggin from Hartington
Maps | |||
| Ordnance Survey Explorer OL24 | Sheet Map | 1:25k | BUY |
| Anquet OS Explorer OL24 | Digital Map | 1:25k | BUY |
| Ordnance Survey Landranger 119 | Sheet Map | 1:50k | BUY |
| Anquet OS Landranger 119 | Digital Map | 1:50k | BUY |
It is recommended you take a map. The preferred scale is 1:25k. | |||
Walk Route Description
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The village of Hartington is a good centre for Peak District walks with refreshments, toilets and shops readily available. Parking, except on very busy days is generally easy with on street parking around the duck pond in the village centre. There is also a car park a short way out of town on the south side of the B5045 towards Hulme End. This walk includes three dales - Beresford, Wolfscote and Biggin - together with the village of Biggin and a section across the higher land south of Hartington.
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To start this Peak District walk, follow the B5054 south from the village centre. Close to the public toilets on the left hand side you will locate the signed path into Wolfscote Dale. The path is well used and easy to follow and crosses open pastures before entering woodland at the start of Beresford Dale. The path soon reaches the River Dove and you follow this well-known river south to reach a footbridge (grid ref. SK128588). Cross this footbridge and continue south to a second footbridge at the end of Beresford Lane. Cross the river here and continue alongside the river, now on your left hand side, through an open field to enter Wolfscote Dale. There is a dramatic change in scenery as you enter a steep sided valley.
The onward route is clear and progress is fast on the well maintained path. After a mile and a half you reach the point where Biggin Dale comes in from the left (grid ref. SK142569). Turn left here and make your way up steep sided Biggin Dale. The path is easy to follow but is quite rough underfoot in places. In very wet weather there may be a stream but normally the valley is dry - a typical feature of limestone country.
Eventually you reach an open area (grid ref. SK145587) where a smaller dale comes in from the right. Careful navigation is required here. Most walkers will be veering left here, instead bear right and continue up the dale which gradually gets shallower before reaching a lane at Dalehead (grid ref. SK152586). Turn left along the lane and in a short distance take the signed footpath on the right that leads across fields towards the village of Biggin. Reaching a road, turn right and then sharp left following the road north towards the village. Reaching a T-junction, turn left passing the Church on your left.
Continue along this road passing the pub on your right. Reaching a junction (grid ref. SK148595) continue straight ahead. The road bear right and on the left you will see a walled track (Highfield Lane). Follow this across the high ground. After just over a mile you reach High Cross Lane (grid ref. SK132603). Turn left, walk past Hartington Hall on your right and descend to the main road. Turn left and you are soon back in the centre of Hartington.
Other walks nearby
Walk 1042 Pilsbury Castle from Hartington - easy/mod - 5.5 miles/8.9 km
Walk 2301 Biggin & Parsley Hay from Hartington - easy/mod - 9.5 miles/15.4 km
Walk 2079 Beresford & Wolfescote Dales from Hartington - easy/mod - 7.2 miles/11.7 km
Walk 1593 Beresford, Wolfscote & Biggin Dales from Hartington - easy/mod - 6.2 miles/10.1 km
Walk 1594 Biggin, Wolfscote & Beresford Dales from Hartington - easy - 5.5 miles/8.9 km
Walk 2682 River Dove & Reynard's Lane from Hartington - easy/mod - 5.6 miles/9.1 km
Walk 1369 Tissington Trail - Hartington to Parsley Hey - easy - 4.0 miles/6.5 km
Walk 1021 Milldale & Hall Dale from Alstonefield - easy/mod - 5.0 miles/8.1 km
Walk 1257 Wolfscote Dale from Alstonefield - easy/mod - 7.5 miles/12.2 km
Walk 1709 Milldale and Wolfscote Dale from Alstonefield - easy/mod - 6.5 miles/10.6 km
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