Dovedale Circular walk from Thorpe (5.3km)

Unsurprisingly, due to it’s stunning beauty and iconic stepping stones across the River Dove, Dovedale is one of the most popular hotspots in the Peak District National Park, and Dovedale car park (£4.50 cash only, free for NT members) is often exceptionally busy. However, this Dovedale circular walk starts from the much quieter village of Thorpe, and leads you around Thorpe Cloud, across Dovedale Stepping Stones. It’s easily one of our top 10 Peak District walks with kids.

This is a much quieter route. But to avoid crowds at Dovedale Stepping Stones, plan to start this Dovedale circular walk either early or late in the day, especially on sunny weekends.

This route also includes an optional detour up Thorpe Cloud from Dovedale Stepping Stones. This is a steep 20 minute climb (1.4km detour up and down) with superb views. Or perhaps just leave that to another day; it’s up to you.

Did you know that there are other Peak District stepping stone walks? You may also want to try out Chee Dale Stepping Stones and Hathersage Stepping Stones. Or perhaps check out our Peak District river walks.

Dovedale circular walk map

On all Peak District family walks it’s a good idea to have an Ordnance Survey paper map with you, even if you have your phone on you. For this walk you need the OS Explorer Active Map OL 24 (White Peak). It’s also a good opportunity to show young kids the map features and get them started with map reading.

The route directions below follow this map in an anti-clockwise direction.

Get a printable download of this walk

Need to know

DISTANCE OF WALK: 5.3km / 3.3 miles (add on 1.4 km if you take the detour up Thorpe Cloud)

TYPE OF WALK: circular river walk with stepping stones.

PARKING: FREE parking at Narlow Lane Car Park. Click here for Google Map point, postcode is DE6 2AT.

WALK HIGHLIGHTS: Dovedale Stepping Stones, Thorpe Cloud, paddling in the River Dove.

HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE:  Without kids, this is a 2 hour walk, but with young kids it is closer to 3 hours (longer if it’s a sunny day and you want to picnic by the river and maybe have a paddle).

ACCESSIBILTY: This Dovedale circular walk is not pram friendly or wheelchair friendly (although the short section between Dovedale car park and Dovedale Stepping Stones is). The path down to Dovedale Stepping Stones is a steady descent, and there’s also a short steep section uphill towards the end of the walk.

TOTAL ASCENT: 147 metres (it’s an additional 138 metres if you climb the detour up Thorpe Cloud)

FACILITIES: There are public toilets (20p coins) and a little ice-cream hut (card only) at the main Dovedale car park. There is also the Dog Inn pub at the start/end of this walk, do check their website for opening times.

The route

START: Narlow Lane Car Park
Click here for Google Map point
Grid reference: SK 1636 5046
Post code: DE6 2AT
what3words: ///cookies.purified.surpasses

Route follows an anticlockwise direction.

1. Exit right out of Narlow Lane Car Park and walk towards the The Old Dog pub. Cross the road, and continue straight ahead with the pub on your left.

2. Continue for 400m down the road, along the pavement, past the sign for Thorpe. At the bend in the road, take the footpath on the right next to The Peveril of the Peak sign.

3. Follow this footpath for 100m through a wooden gate, to a stone stile.

4. Take a left, following the public footpath to Dovedale. The angular summit of Thorpe Cloud will soon come in to view. Follow the footpath to the right of Thorpe Cloud, keeping the ‘Danger – When Red Flags are flying’ signs as the rough route of the footpath (the footpath isn’t entirely obvious, but keep aiming for the right hand side of Thorpe Cloud).

5. Follow the footpath in the valley, with the drystone wall separating you and Thorpe Cloud on your left. The fencing prohibits you crossing over to take the footpath up to Thorpe Cloud. Continue the footpath down to Dovedale Stepping Stones.

Once you arrive at Dovedale Stepping Stones, you can take the footpath up to the summit of Thorpe Cloud should you wish. It’s a 20 minute steep ascent (1.4 km extra there and back) and the views are well worth the effort. You can follow this Thorpe Cloud walk from step 3.

The view from the summit of Thorpe Cloud below, should you wish to take the detour:

6. Cross over Dovedale Stepping Stones. You may have to wait your turn on a busy day. When there has been very heavy rain, the stepping stones are sometimes submerged. If you are unable to cross (or you’ve caught them at a busy time and don’t want to wait), you can follow the footpath to the left of the River Dove (with the river on your right).

7. Once you’ve crossed over the Dovedale Stepping Stones, take a left and continue the flat and even footpath for 500m to a wooden bridge on your left.

8. Cross over the footbridge and take the footpath immediately on your right, climbing over a wooden stile. Then follow the footpath across the fields, keeping close to the River Dove on your right.

9. This footpath leads out on to the road, to the left of St. Mary’s Bridge. Turn left and walk along the road for 100m. Just after the small group of buildings, there is a footpath on the right.

10. There are two footpaths here. Take the one on the right that leads right up the hill to this gate (see photo below). This section is a bit steep.

11. Once you’re through the gate, continue straight ahead, a bit more uphill. The footpath then levels off as you approach the farm buildings. The footpath then leads you out to a lane, through a metal gate, to the left of the farm building. Continue on the footpath straight ahead.

12. This leads you out onto a road, and you’re back in the village of Thorpe. Continue straight ahead along the road to St Leonard’s Church, which was founded in Norman times.

13. Take the footpath to the left of the church, continue around the back of the church to the right, and then you will see a footpath baring a sharp left. Take this sharp left through the woods, eventually leading you back out onto another road.

14. Once you reach the road, take a left to the T-junction and then a right. Follow this road back to the car park. You will soon be retracing your steps from the beginning of this Dovedale circular walk.

---

You may also like to read:
Ilam Park walk (pram friendly, 1.6km)
Stepping Stone walks in the Peak District
Thorpe Cloud walk (2.5km)