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Easy Walk to the Dovedale Stepping Stones from the Car Park

By Dave Roberts   

on February 24, 2018    5/5 (1)

Posted as a walk in – Easy Walks in the Peak District, England, Europe, Peak District National Park, White Peak

Easy Walk to the Dovedale Stepping Stones from the Car Park

Route Essentials

Route Summary

An easy walk to one of the most popular locations in the White Peak – the Dovedale Steppingstones. One for the whole family.

See the end of the article for local information about parking, public transport facilities, pubs and cafes.

Distance

1.46 km

Ascent

58 m

Time

1 hour - or more with a generous picnic

Calculate the time using Naismith’s Rule and factor in your own pace.

Start Location

Dovedale car park

Difficulty

Very Easy Walk

Hazards

Falling off the stepping stones!

Weather Forecast:

Met Office Peak District Weather

Check out our Best Mountain Weather Forecast?
Remember that we cannot outline every single hazard on a walk – it’s up to you to be safe and competent. Read up on Mountain Safety , Navigation and what equipment you’ll need. 

Easy Walk to the Dovedale Stepping Stones from the Car Park Ordnance Survey Map and GPX File Download

View the full route map

Download file for GPS

Easy Walk to the Dovedale Stepping Stones from the Car Park

Dovedale is one of the most popular areas in the Peak District, and this circular walk to the Dovedale Stepping Stones is short and family friendly. The paths are excellent and easy to follow. Once at the Dovedale Stepping Stones, a view dominated by the flat-topped hill of Thorpe Cloud, you can return the way you came. Or alternatively, you can follow the return path on the opposite side of the River Dove. The Stepping Stones were laid down in the mid 19th century and have drawn day visitors in their droves ever since.

The Dovedale car park is found at the post code DE6 2AY– the link takes you to the Google Map page – but like any rural post code, needs some common sense to be applied after adding it to your sat nav! It currently costs around £3 to park, but while it’s a sizeable car park, it’s also going to be horribly busy in the peak season. If  you don’t like crowds, then you’ll be best coming here during term time in the week.

There’s also a catering ‘van’ here selling light refreshments and ice cream. We suggest you check out the Peak District National Park’s Dovedale Car Park page to check up on any details such as the car park opening times and so on.

Take a look for yourself as to how busy it can be with this Google Streetview!

You could extend your walk further up into Dove Dale, or walk to the top of the 287m high Thorpe Cloud for a bird’s eye view of the site. You could also squeeze in a visit to the National Trust’s Ilam Park, which has a tea room and facilities as well as walking in the Italian Gardens. The main building is now used as a Youth Hostel and would make an ideal base for exploring this part of the White Peak. Those looking for a stronger beverage can visit the Dovedale Bar at the the Izaak Walkton Hotel, just around the corner from the car park.

There’s a route from Ilam Park on the National Trust website that provides a slightly longer alternative walk. Or an even longer walk is the Circular Dovedale Walk from Alstonefield that makes a day of it for more seasoned walkers.

Local Information and Recommended Maps and Guidebooks

Route Summary:

An easy walk to one of the most popular locations in the White Peak – the Dovedale Steppingstones. One for the whole family.

Route Start Location: Dovedale car park

Distance
 Ascent
 Time
1.46 km 58 m 1 hour - or more with a generous picnic

Calculate the time using Naismith’s Rule and factor in your own pace.

Activivity Type: Very Easy Walk

Summits and Places on this Route

Facilities

Light refreshments, toilets  and the Dovedale Bar at the the Izaak Walkton Hotel

Hazards

Falling off the stepping stones!

Remember that we cannot outline every single hazard on a walk – it’s up to you to be safe and competent. Read up on Mountain Safety , Navigation and what equipment you’ll need.

Parking : DE6 2AY

Currently £3

Public Transport:

Traveline for UK Public Transport

Weather Forecast:

Met Office Peak District Weather

Check out our Best Mountain Weather Forecast?

Recommended Maps: 

Guidebooks:

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Dave Roberts

Dave Roberts founded Walk Eryri in 2004, with the aim of providing routes that are off the beaten track. Walk Eryri is now part of Mud and Routes which continues to provide more off beat routes and walks in Snowdonia and beyond. Dave has been exploring the hills of Eryri for over thirty years, and is a qualified Mountain Leader. Dave also established Walk up Snowdon, Walk up Scafell Pike and Walk up Ben Nevis just to mention a few.

More Posts by Dave Roberts

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