Flowing through a deep and spectacular valley, the Lathkill is one of the Peak District’s key trout fishing rivers. In common with many limestone areas, in its upper reaches, the river is not permanent. In times of high rainfall, the Lathkill tumbles out from a large but shallow cave in the upper reaches of the dale. At other times, you can see it seeping out of the river bed further down the valley near Cales Dale. Once established, the river flows steadily, over weirs and forming large ponds where large trout are caught. It passes under the medieval Conksbury Bridge and on to Alport and its confluence with the Bradford. Together the two rivers join the Wye near Haddon Hall.



Lathkill Dale Nature Reserve

Much of the dale upstream of Over Haddon is a nature reserve which is accessed via several paths. One of the common ways is to walk from Monyash. In the Spring, there are early purple orchids abound whilst in the mid-summer months the rare plant ‘Jacobs Ladder’ comes into flower.

Books

Quite a bit has been written about this important Peak District dale, here is a small selection of books available on amazon.

Derbyshire Wye and Lathkill Dale

Lathkill Dale Derbyshire: Its Mines and Miners (Landmark Collector’s Library)

Lathkill Dale: Its Mines and Miners

Short Circular Walks in Lathkill Dale (Short Circular Walks S.)

History of Lathkill Dale National Nature Reserve

Lead mining

lathkill dale ,derbyshire dales national nature reserve

Man in Lathkill Dale

Lead Mining Remains

Closer to Over Haddon lie the remains of the Mandale lead mine. You can see the pillars and the line of the aqueduct as well as the ruins of the engine house and sealed off abandoned shafts (access is available to cavers click here for information).

The top end of Lathkill Dale.

Cliffs at the Monyash end of Lathkill Dale

 

Image: the river Lathkill.

One of the weirs of the river Lathkill.

The next few images are of the Mandale Mine remains.

Image: Mandale mine aqueduct, Lathkill Dale.

Remains of the aqueduct

Image: Mandale Mine entrance - locked.

Mandale Mine entrance – locked.

Image: the lower reaches of Lathkill Dale

The River Bradford

Walks in and around Lathkill Dale

There are loads of possibilities around and about based on Youlgrave, Monyash and Over Haddon. Here are 3 walks to whet your appetite.

Youlgrave Circuit

From Youlgrave church, follow the main street south west to the triangle where you can take Moor Lane (care: no footpath). At the end of Moor lane is a car park (alternative start). Almost opposite the end of Moor Lane is a stile, cross this into the field. Follow the footpath round the north side of Low Moor Farm and after a while drop steeply down into valley. Follow the valley path a short way to join the main dale.

Turn right (downstream if the river is visible). Follow the river past the point where it becomes permanent. Carry on alongside the river, past Lathkill Lodge and the Over Haddon road until you reach a road bridge. cross the river on the road and on the bend, take the path on your left. Follow this to reach the end of Coalpit Lane which takes you uphill, back into Youlgrave. For a longer version, follow Lathkill Dale to its end at Alport then return to Youlgrave via Bradford Dale.

Monyash linear

Start in Monyash and take the B5055. Enter Lathkill Dale at the narrow top end and walk down it as far as you like. Return the same way.



Short Monyash circular walk

From the crossroads at the centre of Monyash, go south then south east along Rakes Road. At the right hand bend, take Derby land. After a few yards, milking lane leaves Derby Lane. Take this and continue along the footpath to One Ash Grange farm. Several routes meet here. You want the one that leaves due east. This drops you steeply into a valley. Turn left and follow the path into Lathkill Dale proper.

Here you have several options. Stroll down the dale and back. Cross the dale and head steeply up to Haddon Grove farm. From there, you can follow the path through the  fields back to the B5055 and thence back to Monyash. Or turn left and head up the Dale back towards Monyash. Go straight over the B5055 and through the fields to Horse lane. Take a left, then another left onto Chapel Lane to get back to the centre of Monyash.

Lathkill Dale Tourist Information Centre

… doesn’t exist! The closest is at Bakewell:

Old Market Hall
Bridge Street
Bakewell
DE4 1DS
Open: March to October – 9.30am until 5.30pm daily
November to February – 10.00am until 5.00pm daily
Tel : 01629 816558
Fax: 01629 814782

Please contact the tourist information centre directly to verify current opening times.

Accommodation near Lathkill Dale

We have centred the map on Bakewell, this being the nearest town. All booking is handled securely via booking.com so you can be assured that I don’t get my hands on any of your personal details.


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