The Limestone Way and Lathkill Dale

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Our view

"Historic mines and granges, pleasant limestone dales and abandoned millstones"

Walk directions

Turn right out of the car park then descend a narrow tarmac dead-end lane, which winds down to Lathkill Dale.

As the lane bends left across the river, fork right and through a gate on to a broad track to enter Lathkill Dale National Nature Reserve and the wooded dale bottom. At a footbridge it’s worth crossing over to visit Bateman’s House. Pass a couple of widenings of the river (millponds), then leave the dense woodland and traverse more open, rougher slopes.

Ignore a junction by a footbridge and continue up the main dale. Cross the valley bottom at the mouth of Lathkill Head Cave, then weave your way through the rocky debris below Ricklow Quarry. As you approach the head of the dale, the path crosses gentle grassy fields to a road.

Cross the road, and take its pavement leftwards into Monyash. Go along the main street to the green with its café and pub, and turn left at the crossroads on to Rakes Road. Continue straight ahead (turning on to the side road in each case) at two close-together junctions to end up on Milkings Lane.

Follow this attractive walled track eastwards. Where it ends continue ahead to Fern Dale, then follow Limestone Way fingerposts across a field, then along field edges. Cross to the other side of a wall and follow the track on its far side. Eventually you drop down to join a farm track into One Ash Grange Farm.

Go past large farm sheds, then veer left at a track junction by the old camping barn (occasional ice cream sales in summer). Go past old pig sties then fork right to descend between more barns. Drop down through a field, then some natural limestone steps drop down below a crag. Fork right and down to a valley bottom junction. Cross over this and go up the other side of the narrow dale via a long and steep flight of steps to the top.

Go through a gate and head roughly southeast across fields up to Calling Low, passing through a wood to the left of the buildings then across a field and a track. Follow a waymarker diagonally across a field, pass briefly through Bee Low Wood, then across several more large fields to a lane.

Turn left and walk down the lane for 600yds (549m). Take a footpath left, slanting northeast across several huge fields, aiming for distant Over Haddon. At Meadow Place Grange Farm follow yellow-topped waymarkers around a wall, then across the open farmyard, exiting via gates on the far side. Head slightly right over a field to a gated track that zigzags down the wooded hillside to the river. Cross a footbridge over the Lathkill and go up the tarmac lane back to the start.

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Location

Nearest postcode:

Additional information

Terrain - Generally well-defined paths, but limestone dale sides can be slippery after rain and there is one section of steep steps, several stiles

Landscape - Partially wooded limestone dale and open pasture

Dog friendliness - Keep on lead unless threatened by cattle.

Parking - Over Haddon pay car park

Toilets en route - At car park

Walks in Derbyshire Dog-friendly walks in Derbyshire

About the walk

'Lathkill is, by many degrees, the purest, the most transparent stream that I ever yet saw either at home or abroad...'Charles Cotton, 1676. Today, when you descend the winding lane into this beautiful limestone dale, you’re confronted by a seemingly timeless scene of ash trees growing beneath...

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Been on this walk?

Send us photos or a comment about this route. Or recommend a route of your own.

Find out more

Walking in Safety

Read our tips to look after yourself and the environment when following this walk.

Learn more

Get an AA guide

Explore our range of ‘50 Walks in’ guides - they’re the ideal companion for a ramble.

Learn more

About the area

The natural features of this central English county range from the modest heights of the Peak District National Park, where Kinder Scout stands at 2,088 ft (636 m), to the depths of its remarkable underground caverns, floodlit to reveal exquisite Blue John stone. Walkers and cyclists will enjoy the High Peak Trail which extends from the Derwent Valley to the limestone plateau near Buxton, and for many, the spectacular scenery is what draws them to the area.