Alstonefield, Hall Dale, Milldale

Time: 1 hr 42 mins

Distance: 4.17 miles (6.71 Km)

Parking: Memorial Hall & Community Centre car park or Playing Fields car park, Alstonefield

OS Grid Ref: SK130556

Either turn left out of Playing Fields car park or right out of Community centre car park and take the signposted track opposite Yew Tree Farm (B & B).
When track takes 90 deg right, go through metal gate ahead or over stile to left.
Down through field until path bears right (gate added here recently) past large tree and arrives at a wooden gate.
Through gate then downhill past rought ground to road.
Directly over the road to track opposite.
Up track passing Grove Farm and Dovedale cottages on left.
Take the farm track left after cottages (by green triangle) signposted Milldale and Dove Dale.
After short distance take the gate on your right signposted Dovedale via Hall Dale.
Through gates and stiles heading towards the obvious deep sided valley of Hall Dale.
Down Hall Dale to river Dove at bottom.
Right at the bottom and follow path to bridge at Ilam Rock.
Over bridge and turn left.
Follow path to another bridge and the village of Milldale.
Past the hatch serving teas and coffees (no doubt having a quick stop by the river).
10 mtrs past the serving hatch take the steep narrow steps on your left.
Up to a gate then turn left after the gate heading uphill.
Pass through another gate where path steepens.
Where the gradient flattens out, bear right for top right hand corner of field.
Over stile and diagonally over next field to another stile.
Bear right and head to right hand end of field and road.
Turn left onto road and into village of Alstonefield.
Before village green turn left and keep the village green and George pub on your right.
Follow road to the double “T” junction and either turn left or right depending on which car park you’ve used.