Jeri’s Steps: 28,496
Miles walked: 11.6
Elevation: 1,410
Pints: none (wine)
Churches: none
Stiles: 6
Benches: 2

We returned to the trail today after over a week of recuperation.  The Izaak Walton hotel in Thorpe was very special; a country house hotel providing really good service.  Last night we had dinner in the hotel with views across to Thorpe Cloud.

The day started sunny and we descended across the field from the hotel to the path to Dovedale. Closer to Thorpe, Dovedale tends to be crowded, especially near the stepping stones, but this morning it was relatively empty.  The path runs right next to the Dove river almost all the way to Milldale apart from a gentle rise of steps where the river turns a corner.  We were passed twice by an older walker who said that this valley was the loveliest in the world. We had to agree. He also told us Milldale had a cafe and within the hour we had reached it along with a large group of walkers.  The hamlet was charming and the tea was welcome, along with lemon drizzle cake and a ‘nelson square’.

We progressed up the valley towards Wolfscote Dale, donning rain gear at one point, and had our lunch sitting at one end of a wooden footbridge near another set of stepping stones.  Then after half a mile, we turned east away from the river and took a gentle ascent up Biggin Dale which was delightful; quiet now we had left the water behind.  The banks to either side were steep but not covered in trees and shrubs, just sheep.  At Heathcote a farmer who was repairing a footpath entrance helped us by letting us take a more direct route across his land avoiding his cows, and we joined the Tissington trail.  Then it was easy walking to the cycle centre at Parsley Hay where we waited for our taxi to Buxton although for the final 15 minutes of walking we endured a downpour.

And the good news was that Jeri’s leg seems to have returned to form; we kept the walking slowish and tried to avoid pounding the tarmac. Here’s hoping it continues to heal nicely…