❄️Hartington 9 miles🐑Biggin Dale🐑Gypsy Bank🐑Alstonefield🦆Beresford Dale❄️

This walk starts from the charming Village of Hartington with its stone cottages and duck pond in the centre of the village. Surrounded by stunning countryside, many ancient tracks and routes meet in the village.

Our route heads to Dale End and into Biggin Dale, a large part of this Dale is a Designated National Nature Reserve. It is unspoilt with an abundance of limestone loving plant and wildlife. The sides of the valley are rocky at first, but become thickly wooded as the path follows the River Dove. The lower section of Biggin Dale is strewn with scree boulders which can be a bit tricky underfoot.
It soon joins Wolfscote Dale, different in character and terrain with steep limestone rocks and craggs.
After a short walk along the Dale,
our route leaves the riverside path and climbs steeply up the hillside to Gypsy Bank. The Tissington Trail and railway bridge can be seen in the distance high up on the hill. Gipsy Bank evidently takes it name from once being the rendezvous for Romanies.

Reaching the top, our path joins Gipsy Lane to Alstonefield, an Alstonefield deed which dates back to 1687 refers to this lane as leading to Bakewell. Land here was given by a local man named Bowman for use as a Quaker burial ground. The last barn on the right before meeting the road into Alstonefield is still known as Bowman’s Barn.

Alstonefield is surrounded by rolling countryside, pretty stone houses and a country inn which surrounds the Village Green.
The local market was held on the Village Green from 1308 until around 1500. Annual cattle sales were also held in the yard of the George Inn until earlier this century.
St Peter’s Church, a Grade 1 listed building, is 12th Century in part and contains some interesting features, there is a two-decker pulpit of 1637 and in the churchyard can be found fragments of a 10th century cross shaft with interlace decoration.
A circular memorial stone dated 1518 in the churchyard is believed to be the oldest legible gravestone in England.
There's also a 16th Century Rectory and an ancient tithe barn which was used in the middle ages to store rent and one-tenth of farmers produce required to give to the established church.

Leaving this characterful village, our route heads along pastures and up through the scenic hills of Narrowdale with stunning views around us.
Our path heads down to join a route through part of the beautiful Beresford Dale.

The beautiful Beresford Dale, softer in character with the sounds of the babbling River Dove flowing through this stunning wooded dale. This beautiful Dale emerges onto scenic rolling pastures which takes on a scenic return to Hartington.

A moderate walk along undulating grassy and rocky uneven paths, as well as a challenging hillside climb..

Toilets in Hartington at the start and in Alstonefield at our lunch spot

Bring a packed lunch, plenty of snacks and water to keep you going, the lunch spot is always weather dependent
Picnic stops and breaks along the way as always..

Walking boots are strongly advised, a walking pole helps especially ascents and descents
As always check out the weather and dress accordingly

Doggies are always welcome ❤️ 🐾🐾🐾

Look forward to sharing another adventure with you all...👩‍🦯🐕🧑‍🦯🦮
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