397 'A' Walk from Bakewell 2019

Walk Leader: Mark Stanford
Total Distance: 12 Miles
Total ascent/descent: 1800ft

BAKEWELL ‘THREE RIVERS’ A WALK

This will be a good stretch for the A party, 12 miles with 970 feet of ascent.

We leave Bakewell heading South to the West of the River Wye after crossing the Lock Bridge. Passing Haddon House we gain height crossing Haddon Fields as we head for Shinning Bank Quarry, with views of the impressive Haddon Hall across the river. The old quarry now provides refuge for the critically endangered White Clawed Crayfish as well as habitat for nesting birds on its cliffs.

Skirting the quarry we follow the path to Alport, where the Lathkill and Bradford rivers converge.

We follow the Bradford where we’ll stop for lunch at a spot of exceptional pastoral beauty.

Joining the Limestone Way we face a stiff climb on a zigzag path out of the valley, before heading across fields to Cales Dale. The well made stepped path descends quickly to the foot of the dale where we follow the track to the adjoining Lathkill Dale with its rugged limstone cliffs.

The Lathkill is our third river which we follow downstream, watching out for dippers as we go, until meeting the lane to the charming village of Over Haddon. The lane gives us our final steep climb, so a quick breather before following a mix lanes and footpaths across the fields to return to Bakewell for further refreshment.