Hiking Around

Leave only footprints, take only pictures and memories!

Dovedale via Baley HIll, Thorpe Cloud & Bunster Hill - Route.

Distance: 10 miles / 16 kilometers

Time: 7 hours

Grade: Easy/Moderate

Map: OS Explorer OL24 - The Peak District, White Peak Area.

Start point: Near The George Public House, Alstonefield village.

Grid Reference: SK 129 556

Nearest Post Code: DE6 2FY

Serial Distance Grid Reference Description
01 0.00 miles SK 131 555 Take the road passing the George pub on the right, carry on down the road passed St Peter’s Church. Just beyond the graveyard, there is a footpath sign on the right. You can follow the road down into Milldale or alternatively take the well-signed scenic obvious path down through the fields to Milldale.
02 1.00 miles SK 139 547 Follow the lane passed the telephone box and café and carry straight on to the Viators Bridge, over the River Dove. When over the Viators Bridge, ascend the zigzag path on the left up the hill. At a wall on the right, follow the right side of this wall. Head diagonally over to the wire fence alongside the copse and follow the fence and cross a stile, and meet a wall which leads to top of Baley Hill.
03 1.82 miles SK 149 540 From the summit along the ridge keeping left near the wall, at the cross tracks, turn right to follow the path to Hanson Grange.
04 2.00 miles SK 148 538 After about 375 yards passed Hanson Grange take the path on the right for The Nabs. Carefully descend the steep grassy hillside.
05 2.50 miles SK 142 536 After the descent of The Nabs turn left and follow the tarmac path along Dovedale valley for about 1¾ miles or so. This part of the route is level flat tarmac with the exception of the stepped path over Lovers Leap, the trail passes various caves and spots of interest.
Note - This part of the trail is very, very popular and can become congested with walkers, strollers and photographers.
06 4.35 miles SK 151 513 Eventually the huge hill of Thorpe Cloud comes in to view to the front. It is worth climbing the hill which adds 1 hour to the walk, the view from the top is well worth the effort.
07 5.50 miles SK 147 510 There are two options here:
(i) Cross the river by the famous stepping-stones, and turn left and keep going to the car park, or
(ii) Carry on down the left bank to reach a wooden bridge, then cross the bridge and turn left towards the car park.
At the car park entrance, to the right of the public toilets, cross a stile on the right, signed 'public footpath to Ilam', go up some wooden steps and through the gap in the trees to another stile.
08 5.75 miles SK 143 508 Cross the stile and carry on in the same direction with the Izaak Walton Hotel over to your left. Follow the path heading NW on a bearing of 50 degrees.
09 6.50 miles SK 138 512 Continue on a level path around the western slope of Bunster Hill and passed St Bertram's Well (a holy well or sacred spring) named in honour of St Bertram. At the stone wall cross over the stile. The trail bears right NNE with a short ascent. Continue for about 600 yards to a crossing in the track, turn right heading towards Ilamtops farm.
10 6.82 miles SK 139 522 At Ilamtops farm the trail bears right passed Air Cottage to the western edge of Dovedale Wood some of the oldest woodland in England.
11 7.00 miles SK 142 523 At Dovedale Wood turn left to follow the western edge for about ½ a mile
12 7.60 miles SK 137 516 Descend the steep path through the woodland down to the River Dove.
13 7.70 miles SK 141 531 The trail turns left and follows the River Dove for about 1¼ miles back to Viators Bridge at Milldale.
14 8.90 miles SK 139 547 Cross over the Viators Bridge at Milldale and back up the hill for the last mile back to the car park at Alstonefield.