Dovedale

A spectacular spot for a picnic, you can enjoy some nibbles while taking in the dramatic hills which surround you. Four legged friends will love splashing around in the river while you hop, skip and jump over the stepping stones.

The limestone rocks around the river are the fossilised remains of sea creatures and were formed during the ice ages. Over the years the area has been populated with Bronze Age settlers, Romans, and Vikings.

Dovedale is a great starting point for some beautiful walking routes, including Thorpe Cloud, an isolated limestone hill with an elevation of 287 metres. The ascent is short but steep and worth the exertion for the fantastic views over the surrounding countryside.

If you don’t fancy the climb, you can have a wander from the car park to the stepping stones and back again which is around half a mile each way in distance. On a hot day there’s nothing better than dipping your feet in and having a paddle!

For a longer route, the Five Churches route is around eight miles long and takes in some of the most interesting religious buildings in the area including the Norman church in the village of Thorpe and Ilam Hall which is now a Youth Hostel.

There is a large National Trust car park here which is free for members, but be sure to get there early as Dovedale can get very busy on weekends, bank holidays and school holidays. Remember to check the weather forecast too as the stepping stones can be submerged after heavy rain.

In the car park there is stall a where you can buy light refreshments and ice cream and public toilets.