DISCOVER DERBYSHIRE

AND THE

PEAK DISTRICT

 OVER HADDON WALK

THE WALK

Over Haddon, the starting point for this walk, sits perched on a ledge with glorious views over Lathkill Dale one of the most beautiful dales in England, the first to be designated as a National Nature Reserve in Derbyshire.

The river, one of the purest in the country, rises in a cave near the top of the dale and sometimes disappears underground in its upper reaches before widening out below Over Haddon. It is for the sheer beauty of the scenery, the wonderful walks and the natural beauty of its wildlife that visitors come to the village in droves at weekends and during the summer. The walk down Lathkill Dale is generally regarded as the highlight of the visit.

The tiny village of Alport at the confluence of the Rivers Lathkill and Bradford stands on the route of the old Portway from Nottingham to Castleton. It consists of an attractive group of cottages overlooking a handsome old bridge with a riverside corn mill completing the picture.

After walking up Dark Lane, Haddon Fields are crossed, where excellent views of Lathkill Dale are obtained as Over Haddon is approached.

WALK DETAILS

Length:   4.25miles.

Start/finish:   Over Haddon Car Park.

Location:   Off B5055 Bakewell to Monyash road.

Terrain:   A steep descent from Over Haddon and a steady climb up Dark Lane, otherwise easy walking.

THE ROUTE

1.      From the car park walk down the steep narrow lane to Lathkill Dale and turn left along the riverbank.

2.      On reaching a road, turn right to go over Conksbury Bridge, continue a short distance further along the road, before turning left onto a distinct path with the river below.

3.      Continue straight on through several fields along a well trodden path to arrive at the main road between Alport and Youlgreave.

4.      Turn left down the road for a few yards, then right to walk round the village before turning left back to the main road.

5.      Cross the road and keep straight on climbing steadily up Dark Lane, going through a farmyard with buildings on the right.

6.      On leaving the yard, turn to the left within a few yards, where you have the choice of either going over a stone stile, or through a gate stile.  

7.      Head to the right across a long field and go over a stile close to the half waypoint in the facing wall.    

8.      Maintain the same direction across the next field crossing a stile to the left of a field gate.

9.      Cross the Conksbury road that you encountered earlier on the walk and continue straight across another field taking care not to join a path leading off to the right.

10.     After crossing a stile, the path skirts round the steep drop to the river, before going over a stile in the wire fence on the right.

11.    Angle slightly to the right to walk through two fields in the direction of Over Haddon that now is clearly in view.

12.    Cross the wall at the right hand corner of the village road and turn left to walk back to the start of the walk.

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