We've been wanting to do this walk all year, so here we are, finally got round to it, hopefully before all the droves of people who descend on Dovedale in Summer shake off their cobwebs and walk along the dale at 1/2 a mile an hour!

The walk I've found goes from Ilam car park, through Ilam, Manifold valley, Castern Hall, Hopedale, Stanshope, Hall Dale and then back through Dovedale itself. This is a total of 8 miles, although it can be shortened if neccesary.

For anyone who doesn't know Dovedale, the valley itself is 2 miles long and there are lots of places of interest along its route including the famous stepping stones, which we will be crossing especially for Billysmum :D, limestone rock formations with names such as the 12 apostles, and lovers leap, and high up in the sides of the valley are caves with names such as Reynard, which was named after a local "brigand".
A good website for further information is www.derbyshireuk.net/dovedale.html

There is no way I can see to get there by public transport, so we'll have to rely on the kindness of people with cars to get there for this one. With this in mind, would anybody able and prepared to offer someone a lift please post a.s.a.p. so we can see what car spaces we'll have. I'll start the ball rolling by saying that I've got room for one person at the moment in my car.

With the starting point being a little bit further from Sheffield than normal, I'm going to suggest we start the walk at 11.00, to allow people to have plenty of time to get there. Here are the instructions for finding the starting point as copied from the walk book :-

From Ashbourne Market take the A515 road to Buxton. Half-a-mile past the derestriction sign turn left onto the Thorpe, Ilam, Dovedale road. In two miles turn left signed again Thorpe, Ilam, Dovedale. Pass the Peveril of the Peaks Hotel and then drive through Thorpe vallage staying on the same road. Drive down into Dovedale, where the views are breathtaking. Cross the Dove then turn sharp right signed ‘Car Park’ passing the entrance to the Isaak Walton Hotel. In a quarter-of-a-mile turn into the car park.
Grid Ref : S.K. 146509

I hope this walk interests everybody, because having been once myself, I can say that it is a lovely area to visit, and one not to miss.

Well, should be going on this one, along with Hemlock minor no 1 & other half - good chance to meet up before May day weekend! Could squeeze another one in - will be stopping accross the road from you neo to pick up Jr no 1 & other half - do you want a lift?

Thinking about it, I could offer lifts to 2 people in my car, providing their bums weren't too big that is! Maybe we can organise a measuring session before we go :o

I'll put my hand up for this one!

I'll put my hand up for this one!

Great! You can help me get lost seeing as you were there the previous time I went :(

Well, should be going on this one, along with Hemlock minor no 1 & other half - good chance to meet up before May day weekend! Could squeeze another one in - will be stopping accross the road from you neo to pick up Jr no 1 & other half - do you want a lift?

Thanks for the kind offer Hemlock but I was planning on taking my car to add to the number of available lifts, as this is a definite no public transport trip.
It also alows me a cake shop visit without having to worry about squeezing in:hihi:
So anyone want to book a seat on my charabanc?

Not so sure anyone will want to go in scoobz new car (http://picasaweb.google.com/neotericwalks/PadleyGorgeSunday20April2008/photo#5191355167178159938) though :hihi::hihi::hihi:

Hi There

I am a walking fan, I organise walks after work around Rivelin Valley, just short ones as it gets dark too soo.I would love to be part of the walking group.I will not be able to come this week, but would like to be kept up to date on the next one that you are going on.

Thanks

I would like a lift please as i haven't a clue where i am going! I will surrender a place however for people who haven't got a car if this becomes necessary. To avoid bottom measurements will opt for a lift with neo please! If that is OK i could get to Norfolk park area just let me know what time you are leaving.

I would like a lift please as i haven't a clue where i am going! I will surrender a place however for people who haven't got a car if this becomes necessary. To avoid bottom measurements will opt for a lift with neo please! If that is OK i could get to Norfolk park area just let me know what time you are leaving.

Actually, the bottom measuring is going to take place anyway, it's a new rule that I've just brought in. But we'll fit you in a four-seater rather than a 5, if thats what you prefer, it'll be no problem. Incidentally, would you oprefer to be measured clothed or partially or fully disrobed? :D:D

Can I just flag up a potential issue that will affect those trying to move round Sheffield or get out of Sheffield on that morning?

It's the half marathon on the morning of the 27th- please plan your travel around the route and road closures for that.

Can I just flag up a potential issue that will affect those trying to move round Sheffield or get out of Sheffield on that morning?

It's the half marathon on the morning of the 27th- please plan your travel around the route and road closures for that.

Yeah, cheers for that Medusa, I'd already spotted it on one of those information boards on Penistone Road this morning, and thought to myself that I'm going to have to plan my route round it. These blooming runners, why don't they walk everywhere like we do :rant:

I would like to go on this and would need a lift, thanks.

I would like a lift please as i haven't a clue where i am going! I will surrender a place however for people who haven't got a car if this becomes necessary. To avoid bottom measurements will opt for a lift with neo please! If that is OK i could get to Norfolk park area just let me know what time you are leaving.
I would like to go on this and would need a lift, thanks.

OK I've got busy lizzie and nooka so far. I will arrange pickup times and locations via PM; just need to make sure I avoid any half marathon traffic restrictions so need to do some research first.

That make one more seat left then it's standing room only:hihi::hihi:

I can offer lifts if any one else needs one.

Hi There

I am a walking fan, I organise walks after work around Rivelin Valley, just short ones as it gets dark too soo.I would love to be part of the walking group.I will not be able to come this week, but would like to be kept up to date on the next one that you are going on.

Thanks

Hi,
the walks are posted as a new thread about one week in advance of the actual walk; so you just need to keep checking back at regular intervals.

Generally we have a medium/longish walk each Sunday and a shorter evening walk every Thursday - sometimes we have a social gathering like this Thursday we are going for a meal.

All you need to do is turn up at the start and you are sure of a warm welcome, just look at all the posts by newbies over the past year or so.

I know what you mean about light evenings I'm so much looking forward to walking on those long and hopefully warm and dry summer evenings:)

A visit to Arbor Low, The Stonehenge of the north, could be included in this walk.

I believe that Isac Newton discovered the ' law of gravity ' at Ilam.
He watched a Apple fall of a tree and asked himself:' Why did it fall to the ground and not blow away '.

I last stayed over night at Ilam Hall Youth Hostel in 1956 then walked up the dis-used railway track up the Manifold Valley to Thor's Cave, Wetton and onto Harper Hill, Buxton before drooping in to Chee, Tor and Millers Dale to stay over night at Ravenstor Youth Hostel.( A long time back that ).

I'm almost certain that the next day, instead of continuing on to Edale ( Rowland Cote ) Having met a young School Teacher leading a school party from Holgate ?? School near Sutton or Kirby in Ashfield. Nottinghamshire. and was being given a rough time by some of the pupils. We took the party over and walked to Hartington, next day to Ilam Hall Youth Hostel where they were picked up by a coach. We returned via Elton Youth Hostel to Leam Hall hostel. prior to walking back home over Totley Moors and home.
( Is anyone from that party on the Forum )

Later in life I got to know that Alderman J.G.Graves bought Ravenstor for use as a youth hostel. He may have also have bought Leam Hall. Both are controlled by the National Trust I believe.

The River Manifold ran under ground at that time, only emerging on the surface when it rained very heavy though it permanently runs on the surface after meeting the Dove near Ilam. I understand that it runs underground due to a slip in the limestone rock foundation and it is a start for the River Trent.

If it is fine and clear the summit of ' Thorpe Cloud ' is the place for long distance photographs. unless its fenced off these days.

I'll probably join this walk to give the young buck the stories off old. We also did it, before your lot!!

The Sunday on my calender is called,' Rogation Sunday '.
What doe's that mean?
Scoobz treats us all to dinner at the ' Issac Walton Hotel? '.

The Sunday on my calender is called,' Rogation Sunday '.
What doe's that mean?
Scoobz treats us all to dinner at the ' Issac Walton Hotel? '.

Major Rogation
The first Rogation, the Greater Litanies, was introduced as a Christian substitute for the Roman pagan celebration Robigalia, which was a special celebration to pray for crops. This day is observed on April 25. If Easter falls on this day, the latest possible, the Rogations are transferred to Tuesday, April 27.

Nowt to do with me Albert, as you can see. Doubt if I can afford to treat myself to dinner at the Isaac Walton nevermind a cart load of walkers, it's so expensive in there. Doubt if there'd be any change out of £3 for a pint in that place, so goodness knows what a meal would cost.

I'll be there in spirit. ;-)

Well that was a magnificent walk with some of the best scenery possible. The weather couldn't make its mind up between warm showers or gorgeous sunshine so the coat went on and off a number of times.

A long day, so I'll post the photos after I've had something to eat! :)

A great day! Glad we were in the car on the way back when the storms started! My new toy made it 8.49 miles walked, with an average walking speed of 3.2 mph. My toy even says I did a top speed of 9.4mph - neoteric reckons its broke - he says I'm not a mararthon runner:o
I reckon it must have been when I ran down a really steep bit:D
Great to have a bit of historical interest from our great leader - well done - even though the rest of the class were misbehaving - you'll have to set them homework:loopy:
Lovely ice cream near the end - glad Scoobz managed to get his head round the maths in the end - accusing me of not being able to count:o:o
Hemlock jr & other half enjoyed it as well:)

Sorry I couldn't be there this time, it sounded like a great walk. Hope to join you again on the next available Sunday :)

It certainly was a great walk

Here are my photos (http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/saulmcintyre/Dovedale) :)

Great walk in fantastic scenery, and wonderful weather even. Good job we don't let the weatherman put us off isn't it. Still, not need him once I get my new home weather station :). Everybody else has their toys, so why can't I have one too :suspect:

Good turn out again, with 16 people according to my reckoning, these being Hemlock, Mr Hemlock, Jnr Hemlock No1 & partner, Taxman, Neoteric, Billysmum, Scoobz, Sherwood1, BusyLizzie, Nooka, Parkwoman, Rob, Fuzzle, Mr Inkie, Inkie major. Some memorable moments today, including "getting off" with the dog in the pub, finding an apparently empty pub, the stepping stones, looking for a rock that looked like a tumble dryer and lambs that had been reserved for indian restaurants by having their menu number already painted on them :o

Hope everybody enjoyed the information that I spent all Friday evening compiling; it was really heartwarming for me to see how everybody was paying such close attention when I was relaying it to the group, and as promised, below is todays test paper for people to have a go at.........

1. What was the name of the pub, and who was it named after?
2. What was the name of the book which made Isaak Walton famous?
3. Spell complete
4. How old was he when he wrote the book, and how old when he died?
5. How many mistresses did the moneylender who bankrupted Stanshope Hall have?
6. How many Apostles were there?
7. Why is the Lions Head rock so called?
8. Who died after falling from Reynards Cave, the Dean, the lady or the horse?
9. What saved the maiden who leapt from lovers leap, her Bustle, some bushes, or St Johns Ambulance?
10. What was the name of the dog in the pub?

A great day! Glad we were in the car on the way back when the storms started! My new toy made it 8.49 miles walked, with an average walking speed of 3.2 mph. My toy even says I did a top speed of 9.4mph - neoteric reckons its broke - he says I'm not a mararthon runner:o
I reckon it must have been when I ran down a really steep bit:D
Great to have a bit of historical interest from our great leader - well done - even though the rest of the class were misbehaving - you'll have to set them homework:loopy:
Lovely ice cream near the end - glad Scoobz managed to get his head round the maths in the end - accusing me of not being able to count:o:o
Hemlock jr & other half enjoyed it as well:)
Terrible things these GPS machines - our Tom Toms could never agree and now our Garmins are telling us different stories, my screen reading was 8.17, but the recorded track points came to 9.2 miles; will have to get some running practice in to keep up with Hemlock - mind you just point me a cake shop or a pub and I reckon I'll beat anyone.
Anyow less of this idle banter onto the serious walking business - a really great day out and this walk has plenty of wow factor especially walking down Dovedale - some spectacular rock formations, I was really wary of those stepping stones - why didn't anyone lend me a stick:hihi:
Nice to see scoobz had been doing his homework and providing us with some education - just writing my 100 lines out now sir:)
Will upload my photos later and transfer my route onto Google Earth.

1. What was the name of the pub, and who was it named after?
The Watt Russell Arms

2. What was the name of the book which made Isaak Walton famous?
Something about Fly fishing?

3. Spell complete
Complete
4. How old was he when he wrote the book, and how old when he died?
Dunno

5. How many mistresses did the moneylender who bankrupted Stanshope Hall have?
Nope Sorry..
6. How many Apostles were there?
12

7. Why is the Lions Head rock so called?
Because when seen in profile it resembles a lion's head
8. Who died after falling from Reynards Cave, the Dean, the lady or the horse?
The Dean

9. What saved the maiden who leapt from lovers leap, her Bustle, some bushes, or St Johns Ambulance?

Some Bushes
10. What was the name of the dog in the pub?
D'oh, should know this...Clifford or something, :confused:

.................................................. ..

That was definitely my favourite walk. The scenery was amazing and the lambs were sooo cute. I'm pleased that I managed the stepping stones, even though I had a helping hand.
I must have been paying more attention to Scoobz than I thought as I got 8 questions right:thumbsup:

Here are my photos (http://picasaweb.google.com/paulinezel/SFDovedaleWalk27408)

.................................................. ..

5/10 must do better!

Must pay more attention to scoobz
Must pay more attention to scoobz
..
Twas the Watts Russell Arms? - named after Uh:huh:
and didn't old Isaak write the Compleat Angler and spelled it with an A - oh did I hear someone say that Angler is spelled with an A anyway:hihi:
Thought he was about 60 when he wrote the book and lived to 90 something
Thought he had 2 mistresses and 12 apostles and does it look like a lion or summat. Must have missed the story about the Dean the lady and the horse - but it sounds interesting:hihi:
Was that Neilys stick that saved the maiden? and your new doggy friend - now what was he called something begins with H I think Hector?

Must pay more attention to scoobz
Must pay more attention to scoobz

Put my piccies up here (http://picasaweb.google.com/neotericwalks/DovedaleSunday27April2008)

Must pay more attention to scoobz
Must pay more attention to scoobz

And you can see where we went on Google Maps here (http://maps.google.com/maps?q=http://bbs.keyhole.com/ubb/download.php?Number=1159837&t=k&om=1)

Must pay more attention to scoobz
Must pay more attention to scoobz

And you can fly over our route in Google Earth here (http://bbs.keyhole.com/ubb/download.php?Number=1159837)

Must pay more attention to scoobz
Must pay more attention to scoobz

Twas the Watts Russell Arms? - named after Uh:huh:
and didn't old Isaak write the Compleat Angler and spelled it with an A - oh did I hear someone say that Angler is spelled with an A anyway:hihi:
Thought he was about 60 when he wrote the book and lived to 90 something
Thought he had 2 mistresses and 12 apostles and does it look like a lion or summat. Must have missed the story about the Dean the lady and the horse - but it sounds interesting:hihi:
Was that Neilys stick that saved the maiden? and your new doggy friend - now what was he called something begins with H I think Hector?


8/10, excellent attempt. And don't believe Billsmum when she says she also got 8, she never could count :o Message to Nooka - Come on, have a go please!

Great pics today btw, from you, Hemlock and Taxman. Amazing to see how the weather changed as we went along, as can be seen from the photos.

Good turn out again, with 16 people according to my reckoning, these being Hemlock, Mr Hemlock, Jnr Hemlock No1 & partner, Taxman, Neoteric, Billysmum, Scoobz, Sherwood1, BusyLizzie, Nooka, Parkwoman, Rob, Fuzzle, Mr Inkie, Inkie major.

I was there too!!!! :D (well in spirit anyhow!!!) My fav bit were the stepping stones too. :wink:

It was certainly different to going to the parents for Sunday lunch, followed by my daughter's classmates 5th birthday party, where the professional entertainer got all the kids to scream every five minutes!!!! :suspect:

Ij have it on good authority that the name of the dog in the pub was Hector.

Ij have it on good authority that the name of the dog in the pub was Hector.

D'oh! Yes it was. Extra point to Inkie Major

That was definitely my favourite walk. The scenery was amazing and the lambs were sooo cute. I'm pleased that I managed the stepping stones, even though I had a helping hand.
I must have been paying more attention to Scoobz than I thought as I got 8 questions right:thumbsup:

Mind you, those BBQ's around there were a bit expensive weren't they? :P

Yeah did you see the sign £25, what do you think that you got for your money? :hihi:

A lovely walk felt further than it was with the hills and warm weather.

A lovely walk felt further than it was with the hills and warm weather.

I don't know, I was ok with this walk - just the hills which got me, as usual - could have walked further if necessary - unusual for me:D

What a beautiful place that was! Thanks to those who suggested and organised this walk, and to all those that drove us there and back in the rain! We were very lucky we missed that soaking on the way home! And did you all see that gorgeous double rainbow? Did you find out the name for it Neo?

So much to see and take in on this walk, the picture postcard village of Ilam, the skipping lambs, the statuesque rocks, the rambling riverside, the spectacular views, the scrumptious ice cream, this walk had it all! Hope we can do it again some time!

Some great photos by everyone to remember it by aswell! Taxman - I am going to pinch a copy of the one of me very ungracefully using the stepping stones! :hihi:

Some great photos by everyone to remember it by aswell! Taxman - I am going to pinch a copy of the one of me very ungracefully using the stepping stones! :hihi:

You are most welcome :)

What a beautiful place that was! Thanks to those who suggested and organised this walk, and to all those that drove us there and back in the rain! We were very lucky we missed that soaking on the way home! And did you all see that gorgeous double rainbow? Did you find out the name for it Neo?

So much to see and take in on this walk, the picture postcard village of Ilam, the skipping lambs, the statuesque rocks, the rambling riverside, the spectacular views, the scrumptious ice cream, this walk had it all! Hope we can do it again some time!

Some great photos by everyone to remember it by aswell! Taxman - I am going to pinch a copy of the one of me very ungracefully using the stepping stones! :hihi:

I'ts just called a plain old secondary rainbow and is seen outside the primary bow. Secondary rainbows are caused by a double reflection of sunlight inside the raindrops. As a result of the second reflection, the colours of a secondary rainbow are inverted compared to the primary bow, with blue on the outside and red on the inside (a bit like rainbow sky's avatar).
The dark area of unlit sky between the primary and secondary bows is called Alexander's band, after Alexander of Aphrodisias who first described it.

PS : I notice you look far more graceful holding an ice cream - almost like carrying the the Olympic flame:)