Dove Dale (Isaak Walton) - Ilam - Wetton - Stanshope - Dove Dale

Paul John Bridgett

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Dove Dale (Isaak Walton) - Ilam - Castern - Wetton - Stanshope - Hall Dale - Dove Dale

This walk is mostly along field-paths with a long valley section on the return along Hall Dale and Dove Dale, from Pickering Tor and Ilam Rock to the infamous Dove Dale stepping-stones across the river.

The first section passes through the model village of Ilam, with its ornately decorated cottages around the hall now partly used as a YHA hostel and quite a showcase hostel at that. The rest of the hall is run by the National Trust.
The National Trust features quite a lot in this walk, also caring for much of Dove Dale.

Most of the walk is not difficult, with only one climb worthy of note and one short section of Hall Dale which can be tricky.

The pub used on this walk is The Olde Royal Oak in Wetton. The pub offers a good, reasonably priced menu, with excellent locally produced ham a speciality, also offering a choice of hand-pulled beers. There are plenty of tables outside, though they do not like you eating your own food in the beer-garden area. I have not known comment when using the tables in the car park if having purchased drinks. In wet weather they do request muddy boots be removed or covered and provide a rack in the entrance porch to store them out of the way.

England - Central England - Staffordshire - Peak District

Features

Birds, Flowers, Food Shop, Great Views, National Trust, Nature Trail, Pub, River, Toilets, Wildlife

5/14/2012 - Darren Fretwell

Completed this walk on Saturday 13 May. The walk guide was spot on as usual and the walk itself very enjoyable. The pub in Wetton was ideal, a warm welcome by the staff and local ham that was the best I've ever tasted. Exactly 10 miles long but I would advise you to avoid the last section on a weekend as it was packed solid with families, dogs and pushchairs with everyone wanting to walk across the stepping stones. Definitely a mid week walk.