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Valley
Dovedale
Valley of just over three miles cut by the River Dove, owned by the National Trust, with stepping stones in the wooded ravine.
A mini guide to
Dovedale, Ashbourne & the White Peak South
The River Dove's stepping stones, rail trails and the market town of Ashbourne
Photos
1 / 7Welcome to the area
The River Dove's stepping stones, rail trails and the market town of Ashbourne
Ashbourne is a market town in the Derbyshire Dales, 14 miles north-west of Derby, and the usual gateway to the southern White Peak. Dovedale, a valley of just over three miles cut by the River Dove, is owned by the National Trust and has stepping stones at its southern end below Thorpe Cloud, a limestone hill. The river is the county boundary, so the far bank is in Staffordshire.
Ilam Park, a 158-acre National Trust country park, lies in Staffordshire on the River Manifold. The Manifold Valley has an eight-mile shared-use path on a former light railway and Thor's Cave above it. The Tissington Trail follows the old Ashbourne to Buxton railway for 13 miles, and Hartington, Alstonefield and Tissington are villages to explore on foot or by bike.
Highlights
Start here
If you only have a few hours, these are good places to begin.
Hill
Thorpe Cloud
Isolated limestone hill at the southern end of Dovedale, with a viewpoint north up the dale.
Country park
Ilam Park
158-acre National Trust park on both banks of the River Manifold, five miles north-west of Ashbourne.
Trail
Manifold Way
Eight-mile shared-use path from Hulme End to Waterhouses on the old Leek and Manifold Valley Light Railway.
Cave
Thor's Cave
Natural cavern in a limestone crag above the Manifold Valley, reached by a stepped path.
Limestone cliff
Beeston Tor
Limestone cliff above the meeting of the Hamps and Manifold, with caves of archaeological importance.
Find your way
On the map
The map shows Dovedale, Ashbourne & the White Peak South and the streets around it. The Getting there page lists nearby stops and stations.
Insider tips
Before you go
1
Dovedale is busy
The National Trust land in Dovedale attracts about a million visitors a year, so arrive early for the stepping stones and the walk beneath Thorpe Cloud.
2
Cross a county line
The River Dove forms the Derbyshire and Staffordshire boundary, so Ilam Park and the Manifold Valley are in Staffordshire even though Ashbourne is the post town.
3
Walk or ride the old railways
The Tissington Trail follows the former Ashbourne to Buxton line, and the Manifold Way follows the old Leek and Manifold Valley Light Railway.
4
Thor's Cave
Reached by an easy stepped path from the Manifold Way or from Wetton, the cave is a symmetrical arch about 33 feet (10 meters) high.
Tips from the Britlens editors
Explore this guide
Everything for Dovedale, Ashbourne & the White Peak South
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Open the mini guide →Photo credits
- Dovedale, Ashbourne & the White Peak South (area photo): Paul Albertella from Manchester, UK, CC BY 2.0, source
- Dovedale: Paul Albertella from Manchester, UK, CC BY 2.0, source
- Thorpe Cloud: Medenmaun, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Ilam Park: Andy Potter, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Manifold Way: No machine-readable author provided. Hogyn Lleol assumed (based on copyright claims)., Public domain, source
- Thor's Cave: Martin Spamer, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Beeston Tor: Bill Boaden, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Tissington Trail: Tim Heaton, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Tissington: Simon Burchell, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Tissington Hall: Joe Empson, CC BY 2.0, source
- Hartington: David, CC BY 2.0, source
- Alstonefield: Row17, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Ashbourne: David Hallam-Jones, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- St Oswald's Church: Martyn Glover, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Hathersage, Longshaw & Eyam: Neil Theasby, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Buxton & the Northern Peak: Eugene Birchall, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Castleton, Hope Valley & Edale: Peter Barr, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Bakewell, Haddon & Monsal: Kmtextor, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Matlock Bath, Matlock & the Derwent Valley: Janine Forbes., CC BY-SA 2.0, source
Photos from Wikimedia Commons, used under the licences shown. All photo credits
Keep exploring the Peak District