Dove Dale

DATE 07.05.2012 | DISTANCE 8.2KM | HIGHEST POINT 287M

Posted by Matt | Filed under PEAK district

 

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AFTER A FAMILY CHRISTENING IN ASHBOURNE YESTERDAY, WE TOOK THE OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE LUCAS ON HIS FIRST PROPER HIKE. DOVE DALE SEEMED LIKE THE IDEAL LOCATION. PICTURESQUE, GENTLE WALKING, PLENTY OF FEATURES AND A FUN CLIMB UP THORPE CLOUD. perfect for children! IF ONLY THE RAIN WOULD HOLD OFF.
THE STEPPING STONES WERE SWIFTLY TACKLED AND LUCAS CLAMBERED HIS WAY UP THORPE CLOUD WITH LITTLE NEED OF HELP. AS WE MADE OUR WAY UP, he COMMENTED ON HOW BEAUTIFUL THE VIEWS WERE. IT WAS A VERY CUTE MOMENT THAT MADE US ALL SMILE. NOAH SHOT UP AHEAD OF US AND WAITED PATIENTLY EVERY 50 FEET OR SO AND ONCE WE REACHED THE SUMMIT, WE ALL CHEERED FOR LUCAS.
THE WIND WAS BITING ON THE TOP AND LOOKING AS IF IT WAS ABOUT TO RAIN SO WE MADE OUR WAY BACK DOWN QUICKLY. WE THEN FOLLOWED THE RIVER DOVE PASSING LOVERS LEAP, TISSINGTON SPIRES, PICKERING TOR, ILAM ROCK AND JUST AS THE RAIN STARTED TO POUR HEAVILY, WE REACHED DOVE HOLES.
IT DIDN'T LOOK LIKE it WAS GOING TO LET UP SO AFTER TAKING A BREAK IN THE DOVE HOLES CAVES AND SHELTERING FROM THE RAIN, WE HEADED BACK.
THE RAIN PERSISTED ON THE RETURN JOURNEY AS WE TRUDGED BACK TO THE CAR. we had lunch and lucas slept all the way home:)
 

 

DOVE DALE WITH THORPE CLOUD BEHIND THE TREES
FOLLOWING THE RIVER DOVE
NOAH FLYING ACROSS THE STEPPING STONES
insanely happy on the stepping stones. looking strangely pale though
his first little scramble at the start of the thorpe cloud ascent
very happy lucas. 'it's beautiful, i love it' he said
lucas getting a helping hand from natalie
lucas chose a more direct route up to his brother
noah (8) and lucas (3) on the summit of thorpe cloud
THORPE CLOUD SUMMIT VIEW
noah holding his brothers hand to reassure him on the descent
bUNSTER HILL
LOOKING BACK TO THORPE CLOUD AND THE STEPPING STONES
Tissington SPIRES
FOLLOWING LUCAS ACROSS THE BOARDED SECTION OF THE PATH
IT WAS EASIER GETTING TO THIS POSITION THAN IT WAS GETTING BACK
iLAM rOCK. CREATED FROM REEF LIMESTONE AS ARE THE OTHER ROCK FORMATIONS THROUGH DOVE DALE.
sHELTERING IN DOVE CAVE FROM THE RAIN. oUR TURNAROUND POINT TODAY
THE THORPE BOYS