DERBYSHIRE PEAKS and DALES

6th October 2008: Six Dales from Millers Dale.    Web page by Bryan Benn and Sunnydale

Start/Finish: Millers Dale, (church),

Highest point: Circa 350m

Distance: circa 14 kms

Weather: Mainly cloudy

Vertical altitude gain: circa 250 m

Time: 5 hrs 40 mins

Millers Dale ChurchI'd walked my first Derbyshire Dale (Lathkill Dale) just a few days before and was keen to walk another! Especially as 'sunnydale', my guide and companion for the day, knows many of the Dales like old friends.

But today wasn't going to be a walk in just one Dale!Sunnydale had put together a circular walk that would start by the church at the end of Millers Dale and would also take us through Cressbrook Dale, Water-cum-jolly Dale, Ravensdale, Tansley Dale, Tideswell Dale....and then finally back along Millers Dale to our start point.

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Six Dales From Millers Dale, 6th Oct 2008

Mill wheel at start of Millers Dale Small waterfall in Millers Dale

The walk started opposite the church and next to an old Mill Wheel. We set off, following a narrow tarmac road, passing a small waterfall shedding water off the hills from recent heavy rain.

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Six Dales From Millers Dale, 6th Oct 2008 continued River Wye in Millers Dale

The road ran parallel to the swollen and fast flowing River Wye, where water cascaded noisily over the rocky river bed.

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Six Dales From Millers Dale, 6th Oct 2008 Cliffs by side of Millers Dale

Two climbers check out their route up a cliff face. Their dwarfed figures give some idea of the steepness of the cliffs in the Dale.

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Six Dales From Millers Dale, 6th Oct 2008 Cottages in Millers Dale

Pretty stone cottages add to the variety of scenery, with a recently developed Litton Mill in the background.

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Six Dales From Millers Dale, 6th Oct 2008

Whirlpool forming in River Wye in Millers Dale Stream flowing across small carparkin Millers Dale

  A small whirlpool in the River Wye and a flooded lay-by, where water ran from a nearby stream, across the road and into the river.

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Six Dales From Millers Dale, 6th Oct 2008

Litton Tunnel notice Litton Tunnel on Monsal Trail

At Litton Mill, we crossed the river and joined the Monsal Trail for a just a short while. Almost immediately we came to the closed Litton railway tunnel, where our upward path was clear to see.

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Six Dales From Millers Dale, 6th Oct 2008 Path above Litton Mill in Millers dale

Looking back along our path that had climbed steeply away from the Monsal Trail. Way below us, the river side footpath was flooded and virtually impassable on foot!

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Six Dales From Millers Dale, 6th Oct 2008 continued

View from Millers Dale path View from Millers Dale path View from Millers Dale path View from Millers Dale path

Views of Litton Mill, the River Wye and Cressbrook opened up below us from our high vantage point. The scenery had been spectacular so far and although it was early October, much of the foliage was still quite green.

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Six Dales From Millers Dale, 6th Oct 2008 Millers Dale path next to the River Wye

As we dropped down from our high point, we used these steps to get back down to the River Wye. We could hear the roaring sound of water in the distance.

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Six Dales From Millers Dale, 6th Oct 2008 River Wye in Millers Dale

The weir at Water-cum-jolly Dale, where the power of the water surging over it was quite deafening.

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Six Dales From Millers Dale, 6th Oct 2008 River Mye in Millers Dale

For a short time, the sun shone on the turbulent waters, bathing them in dappled light. A welcome sight after a generally cloudy day.

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Six Dales From Millers Dale, 6th Oct 2008 River Wye in Milers Dale

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Six Dales From Millers Dale, 6th Oct 2008

Building on Millers Dale path Sign to Ravensdale

At the end of Water-cum-Jolly Dale we passed an unusual 'castle' style building, before beginning a long steady climb up a narrow road to the start of Ravensdale.

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Six Dales From Millers Dale, 6th Oct 2008

Cottages and cliff in Ravensdale Flooded path in Ravensdale

The charming Ravensdale Cottages with high cliffs behind and flood water on the footpath at the start of the beautiful wooded Dale.

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Six Dales From Millers Dale, 6th Oct 2008 Footbridge in Cressbrook Dale

Yeti more flood water! This part of the path is normally dry during the Autumn months....but not today!

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Six Dales From Millers Dale, 6th Oct 2008

Fungii growth In Cressbrook Dale Fungii growth In Cressbrook Dale

Sunnydale's love of nature shone through as she photographed these lovely fungi specimens on a tree in the edge of the river.

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Six Dales From Millers Dale, 6th Oct 2008 Moss and river in Cressbrook Dale

A sunny dale photographed by Sunnydale! A lovely combination of filtered sunlight, fast running water, trees and moss created a lovely scene in this superb Dales walk.

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Six Dales From Millers Dale, 6th Oct 2008 Insect in Cressbrook Dale

We left that beautiful place and suddenly were out in the open part of Cressbrook Dale, with far more water flowing than is usual for October. Maybe that is why we saw such a lovely dragon fly, (inset), warming itself on a rock.

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Six Dales From Millers Dale, 6th Oct 2008 Fairy Tree in Monsal Dale

Careful use of the stepping stones was needed to cross the path. They certainly came in useful when negotiating the flood water in the Dale!

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Six Dales From Millers Dale, 6th Oct 2008 Cave on Cessbrook Dale

The local expert guiding me on the walk had pre-selected the lunch spot! A flat area right next to this small but distinctive cave.

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Six Dales From Millers Dale, 6th Oct 2008 Fairy Tree in Monsal Dale

From that high vantage point, we were able to enjoy a peaceful lunch looking down over a sodden but rather lovely Cressbrook Dale.

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Six Dales From Millers Dale, 6th Oct 2008

Path up to Litton Dale Path up to Litton Dale

Refreshed and rested, we began the steady climb up the very pretty Tansley Dale, where a variety of wildflowers cover the bank side in the Spring and Summer.

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Six Dales From Millers Dale, 6th Oct 2008 Stone walls near Litton

At the top of Tansley Dale, we came to the small village of Litton. Expertly crafted dry stone walls enclosed seemingly endless paddocks, making an interesting sight.

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Six Dales From Millers Dale, 6th Oct 2008

Sheep gate near Litton Tree lined path near Litton Dale

A 'doorway' for sheep in a stone wall and a lovely avenue of Beech trees, bathed in sunlight, at the start of Tideswell Dale.

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Six Dales From Millers Dale, 6th Oct 2008 Path through Tideswell Dale" class="floatcenter" /> Tree lined path near Litton Dale

The lovely tree lined path working it's way through Tideswell Dale.

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Six Dales From Millers Dale, 6th Oct 2008

Wood carving in Tideswell Dale Wood carving in Tideswell Dale Wood carving in Tideswell Dale

A selection of carvings by a local craftsman that put old tree stumps to excellent use!

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Six Dales From Millers Dale, 6th Oct 2008 Cave in Tideswell Dale

Tideswell Dale has a number of small disused caves, carved out of the the rocks on one side of the river. As the water wasn't too high here, we were able to take a closer look.

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Six Dales From Millers Dale, 6th Oct 2008

Caves in Tideswell Dale Caves in Tideswell Dale Caves in Tideswell Dale

The caves in Tideswell Dale.

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Six Dales From Millers Dale, 6th Oct 2008 Fisherman in Millers Dale

We re-entered Millers Dale and as we saw this fisherman, it became clear how much the Dales have to offer. Not just for walkers like ourselves, but for people with a variety of other interests too.

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