Lathkill Dale and Youlgreave

Distance: 17.5 miles
Terrain: some steep climbs. Total ascent: 200m (lowest point to highest point)
Location: Castleton / Ladybower Reservoir, Peak District. Start point SK222644 [location map]
Summary: Starting at Alport, along the Lathkill Dale, onto Limestone Way via Moneyash, Midshires way and on to Middleton, divert south East to pick up Limestone Way back to Youlgreave..
Map: Ordnance Survey Explorer OL24 (White Peak)

Summary: Starting at Alport, along the Lathkill Dale, onto Limestone Way via Moneyash, Midshires way and on to Middleton, divert south East to pick up Limestone Way back to Youlgreave.

The notes below are to accompany you, not to guide you. Use the map at the bottom of the page together with these notes and a paper map, preferably 1:25,00 (Explorer OL1)

The first half of this walk is down in dales and cycle routes and is beautiful. From Alport, use a track to get to Over Haddon, and then down into the Dale. The first part of the path alongside the water is marked with a brown line before changing to green later on. This means that it's not a public right of way, but some kind of concessionary path. It obviously has some history, because you first see this old sign which explains that it's free to use the path, except for the thursday of Easter week, when the toll is one penny!!

The map shows a good flow of water emerging apparently from nowhere. Look out for this point - there's a large cave mouth which springs forth the water, unless it's been very dry, in which case you can still see the cave but without the water.

The cycle path, an old railway, can be a bit flat and uninteresting in places, but has its moments

After leaving the cycle route and finding Middleton via Green Lane, a path takes you sout-east for some most amazing views.

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blog posts about this walk:

• http://peacockmedia.blogspot.com/2008/02/youlgrave.html

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Apologies for the small map - I'll post a better one as soon as I can.

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