The following walks were done in anticipation of any future Weekends Away by our group at HF's Peveril of the Peak hotel in Thorpe near Ashbourne. All four routes started at the hotel or in neaby villages. Though short, they did involve some steep ascents.Day 1 - Thorpe, Dovedale, Milldale and Moat Low, 7 miles, 300m ascent.
Day 2 - Wetton, Ecton, Manifold, Thor's Cave, 6.2 miles, 340m ascent.
Day 3, Thorpe, Oakover Park and Mapleton, 7.2 miles, 145m ascent.
Day 4, Ilam Park, Manifold and Castern Hall, 6.5 miles, 200m ascent.
Day 1 - Thorpe, Dovedale, Milldale and Moat Low, 7 miles, 300m ascent.
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| Leaving the hotel and approaching Lin Dale, Thorpe Cloud (287m) in the distance |
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| Stepping Stones in Dovedale at the bottom Lin Dale |
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| Both the road up to the Stepping Stones from the National Trust car park and the alternative path on the opposite side of the Dove were flooded and only just passable |
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| Evidence of ash dieback in Dovedale |
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| Housing for a ram pump which used flowing water from the Dove to raise some of it up to farms on higher ground |
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| Limestone feature - Jacob's Ladder |
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| Money tree - coins knocked into felled tree trunks by passers-by who hope it will bring them good fortune |
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| Viator's Bridge, Milldale |
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| Viator's Bridge from the Staffordshire side |
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| Steep climb out of Dovedale, looking back on Milldale |
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| Distant view of Newton Grange on the Ashbourne to Buxton road |
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| Target for the day - Moat Low (340m), a Bronze Age barrow enclosed by a stone wall. It is one of the highest points in the area with fine views towards Minnninglow, Chrome Hill and Parkhouse |
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| Fine views to the East from the road back, Gag Lane |
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| And back to Thorpe |
Day 2 - Wetton, Ecton, Manifold, Thor's Cave, 6.2 miles, 340m ascent.
Exploring the high ground north of Wetton before dropping down past Ecton Copper Mine to the Manifold Trail, returning past Thor's Cave.
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| Royal Oak, Wetton, just round the corner from the free car park in Wetton |
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| Steady climb past the local reservoir towards Ecton Hill |
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| Mine workings in evidence all around |
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| Ecton Hill (369m) - fine views all round including Ratcliffe on Soar Power Station |
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| Ecton Mine Engine House - drawing of the Duke of Devonshire's Watt steam engine (1795) used to pump water from the Duke's 400m deep copper mine, 280m of which was below the Manifold River |
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| Ecton Mine buildings |
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| Down to the Manifold Trail at Dale Bridge |
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| The Disappearing River - the Manifold disappears underground entirely in dry conditions only to emerge near Ilam Hall |
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| Not that way - that's the cycle track on the old Leek Manifold Light Railway |
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| About to cross the river again and climb back up to Wetton |
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| Thor's Cave was formed naturally into a cavern and prehistoric humans and animals were some of the first settlers there |
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| Taken during a previous visit which included a (better) route to Thor's Cave |
Day 3, Thorpe, Oakover Park and Mapleton, 7.2 miles, 300m ascent.
The walk explores the area to the south of Thorpe outside the White Peak and the high ground on both sides of the Dove.
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| St Leonard’s Church, Thorpe |
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| Coldwall Bridge, so wide because 250 years ago it used to carry the main route across the Dove from Derbyshire to Staffordshire |
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| Salt lick |
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| Blore Hall (now owned by the Holiday Property Bond) |
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| St Bartholomew's Church, Blore |
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| One of many ancient oaks in Okeover Park, many damaged |
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| Okeover Hall, a Grade II listed country house, the family seat of the Okeover family who have been in residence since the reign of William Rufus |
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| Okeover Corn Mill - now with an Archimedes screw for generating electricty |
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| Mapleton Bridge across the Dove |
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| The Okeover Arms - a welcome coffee stop |
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| St Mary's, an unusual 18th century church, Mappleton |
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| Looking back at Mapleton as the route climbs up to higher ground and a path towards Thorpe |
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| Route from Thorpe (in blue) compared to a March 2015 route which started in Ashbourne |
Day 4, Ilam Park, Manifold and Castern Hall, 6.5 miles, 200m ascent.
