Walk 2079 - printer friendly version

Beresford & Wolfescote Dales from Hartington Walk

Author - Lou Johnson

Length - 7.2 miles / 11.7 km

Ascent - 550 feet / 167 metres

Grade - easy/mod

Start - OS grid reference SK128605
Lat 53.1414980 + Long -1.8101033
Postcode SK17 0AW (approx. location only)

Hartington village with its shops, cafes and pubs makes a perfect start for this Peak District walk in the limestone dales of Staffordshire and Derbyshire. The village, with its green and duck pond, usually has ample parking. On busy days you may have to use the pay and display car park on the B5054 a short way from the centre in the direction of Hulme End. This walk explores Beresford Dale, through which the River Dove flows, before climbing up to the village of Alstonefield from where the route descends back into Dovedale for a return along the river to the start.

To start the 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 Wolfescote Dale. The path is well used and easy to follow and initially crosses open pastures before entering woodland. You are now in 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 to the other side of the river and continue south to a second footbridge at the end of Beresford Lane (grid ref. SK128586).

Turn right down Beresford Lane and after a short distance take the signed footpath on the left. Continue until where the track bends left towards the buildings at Narrowdale (grid ref. SK126576). Here bear right onto a bridleway. At the end of the wall on your left, bear left uphill towards the flank of Narrowdale Hill. Go through the wall and walk left and continue on this footpath/track. Where the track bends left, continue straight ahead across fields and a track to reach a road (grid ref. SK126563).

Turn left along the road for about 600 metres and at grid reference SK129558 bear left onto a track. Keep left walking northeast until you reach a footpath sign on the right hand side (grid ref. SK130558). Turn right here and almost immediately left to follow a well walked path across a number of fields. The path leads into a walled track and continues northeast towards Gypsy Bank and Dovedale.

Continue steeply down into Dovedale. Cross the river using the stepping stones and turn left along the opposite river bank. Continue through Wolfescote Dale to reach the bridge at Beresford Lane. Cross the bridge and return along the path used for the outward part of the walk back into Hartington.

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