Ilam to Dovedale Stepping Stones walk (circular, 7km)

Located in Staffordshire, this easy-going, Ilam to Dovedale walk is one of the prettiest river walks in the Peak District. Starting from the grand 17th-century Ilam Park National Trust, this walk leads you down to Dovedale Stepping Stones along a footpath boasting stunning views of Bunster Hill and Thorpe Cloud, and then loops around the Rive Dove and River Manifold, to return to picturesque Ilam village.

There’s the Manifold Tea Room on the Ilam Park National Trust property if you need to refuel after (or before!) your walk.

Please note that the footpaths along this walk get exceptionally muddy in wet weather, especially in the second half, so be prepared. And on sunny weekends and school holidays, Ilam gets exceptionally busy, so arrive early or late in the day to beat the crowds.

Also, phone signal may be patchy at certain points on this walk, so make sure you’re clear on your route; you can also download a pdf walk guide to print out or follow on your phone offline.

If you prefer a slightly quieter route to Dovedale, then we suggest following our Dovedale circular walk from Thorpe.

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.

Ilam to 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.

Preview	Product	Price
	The Peak District: White Peak Area Map | Weatherproof | Peak…	£11.95	Buy on Amazon

This Ilam to Dovedale walk follows a clockwise direction.

Get a printable download of this walk

Need to know

DISTANCE OF WALK: 7km (4.4 miles)

TYPE OF WALK: circular river walk with stepping stones

PARKING: There is a National Trust car park at Ilam Park, which is free for National Trust members. For non-members, the charge is £6 for up to 4hrs or £8 for over 4hrs (coin machine or card payment in the ‘Grab & Go’ takeaway café). Click here for the Google Map point. The postcode is: DE6 2AZ. There are also a small number of roadside parking spaces in Ilam village but these get snapped up quickly. Dovedale is a very popular tourist destination so please remember to respect local residents.

WALK HIGHLIGHTS: Ilam Park, views to Thorpe Cloud and Bunster Hill, Dovedale Stepping Stones.

HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE:  Without kids, this is a 2.5 hour walk, but allow for 3.5 hours with young kids.

ACCESSIBILTY: Beware of some extremely muddy sections after wet weather

TOTAL ASCENT: 82 metres

PUBLIC TOILETS: There are toilet facilities at Ilam Park, as well as Dovedale Car Park (20p charge). For eating, there is a café at Ilam Park, and along the walk you will pass the Izaak Walton Hotel, which has a bar and restaurant.

The route

START: Ilam Park National Trust Car Park
Click here for Google Map point
Grid reference: SK 1312 5067
Post code: DE6 2AZ
what3words: ///broad.united.swooned

Route follows a clockwise direction.

1. From the car park, walk to the Welcome Hut and follow the path that leads to Ilam Hall. Walk through the arch on the left and continue straight ahead. 

2. Take the footpath on the right that leads you past The Holy Cross Church. After 130 metres this meets another footpath, take a left and follow this to the road. 

3. Follow the road down to the right, towards Ilam Cross. Then take a left at the junction, signposted towards The Izaak Walton Hotel. 

4. Just after the bend, take the steps leading uphill on the left. At the top of the steps, continue right. You will pass through a wooden gate signposted ‘Public Footpath to Dovedale’. Continue following the yellow arrows (it can get exceptionally muddy through here). 

5. Just past The Izaak Walton Hotel, the footpath bears downhill to the left and leads you to Dovedale Car Park. There’s a toilet here (20p) and an ice-cream hut over weekends and school holidays (cards accepted). 

6. Take the footpath on the left, behind the toilet block, which leads alongside the River Dove to Dovedale Stepping Stones. Cross over the famous Peak District stepping stones, and take an immediate right, following the footpath back downstream on the other side of the river to the wooden footbridge. If the stepping stones are impassable, retrace your footsteps back towards Dovedale car park, and take the wooden footbridge left across the river, just before the car park. It is here you can detour up to the summit of Thorpe Cloud if you wish.

7. Cross over the stile immediately next to the wooden footbridge and walk across the field, walking alongside the river, until you reach a wooden kissing gate. Continue along this footpath, keeping the river on your right. You will walk through one fence and three gates before reaching a bridge.

9. Walk alongside the river, passing through a wooden gate, and keep walking for 800 metres to Coldwall Bridge. Here, cross right over the bridge and walk uphill to the gate.

10. At the gate marking a footpath junction, take the footpath on the right, signposted ‘Ilam’, across the fields. This is the Manifold Trail, although it’s not a very obvious trail! At the metal gate, continue straight ahead, uphill to the wooden footpath sign (looks like a pole from this angle). Then where the path splits, take the footpath on the right through the trees. The footpath then twists and turns through the trees where previous walkers have tried to avoid mud. Keep going with the river on your right, spotting way-markers en route. 

11. You will exit from the woodland right next to the river into a grassy field. Continue along here for 1km back to Ilam Cross. Along the way you will walk over a wooden footbridge next to a weir. 

12. Continue walking back up the road to Ilam Park and retrace your footsteps back to the car park, again passing the church on your left, to complete this Ilam to Dovedale walk.