Dove Dale from Milldale

We left the car in the small public car park in Milldale and first stop was the kiosk which sells refreshments to buy some sausage rolls. We sat by the old sheep wash in the river while the mallard ducks swam hopefully by us in case of any food being dropped.
Afterwards we crossed the “Viator's Bridge” and made our way along the riverside path in the direction of Thorpe and when we arrived at the two large rock shelters known as Dove Holes, we followed a narrow path on the left which gradually rose through a small wood to break out into pastureland higher above Dove Dale where the path became indistinct.
We followed this alternative high level route for some time heading eventually back down towards the river not far below the footbridge by the limestone spire of Ilam Rock.

After crossing the footbridge we made our way back to Milldale on the Staffordshire side of the river eventually dropping back down on a narrow and slippery path.