Lathkill Dale and Fern Dale 2nd June 2018

Time correct, but date should be 2nd June 2018.

The main street in Youlgrave.

Is this the best place to be?

Bradford Dale.

A Jackdaw grooming a cow in a Buttercup meadow.

The River Lathkill from Conksbury Bridge.

The Cales Dale footbridge across the River Lathkill.

Lathkill Dale, East of Cales Dale footbridge.

Orchid in Lathkill Dale.

A different Orchid in Lathkill Dale.

Jacob's ladder in Lathkill Dale.

Jacob's ladder in Lathkill Dale.

Looking West down Lathkill Dale.

Fern Dale.

Fern Dale.

On the Limestone Way heading towards One Ash Grange Farm.

Looking back down the steps into Cales Dale - a good view now that we've just finished climbing them.

Looking over Cales Dale towards Lathkill Dale.

Walk stats: Distance: 9.4 miles (10.2 miles on my newest GPS). Climb: 702',

Time: 5 hours 32 minutes. On the move walking average: 2.4 m.p.h. (2.7 m.p.h. on my newest GPS).

Group: Martyn and Mike.

The drive from Leek to the start of the walk was a little on the bleak side, and at ties I needed to switch my fog lights on the car. We weren't anticipating good views.

 At least it was dry as we headed from the start towards Youlgrave. The cloud/mist lifted and the temperature rose, humidity was high all day and we only had a brief encounter with Sunshine half an hour before getting back to the car.

 Arriving in Bradford Dale, it remind us of what a beautiful part of the Peak District we were walking in at this time of the year.

 Lots of flowers were in bloom, and several superb Buttercup meadows adorned Lathkill Dale as we headed towards Conksbury Bridge.

 The River Lathkill at Allport gave a hint of what was to come, overgrown in many places with swathes of weeds.

 In fact the walk along Lathkill Dale as far as Cales Dale was very disappoint, not only did we fail to see a Dipper, most of the time w didn't see the river, with overgrown vegetation next to the path and overgrown weeds when we did get glimpses of the river.

 We did manage to find a find a place by the river near footbridge to the Mandale Mines.

 The best part of the walk was after we had passed the Cales Dale footbridge, and Lathkill Dale opened up. 

  We knew Jacob's ladder was a special flower in Lathkill Dale, but we were surprised to see how abundant it had become.

 We left Lathkill Dale via Fern Dale, a very pleasant side valley that w hadn't previously explored.

The descent into Cales Dale and the steep climb up the steps towards Calling Low is never a good experience, but reaching the top, allows opportunity for a rest and good views back towards Monyash and Lathkill Dale.

 Birds seen or heard tody included: Common chaffinch, willow warbler, Jackdaw, Rook, Greenfinch, Tufted duck, Mallard, Coot, Blackcap, European robin and Mute swan.

 We arrived back at the car, having had a good walk and looking forward to a pint of Hartingon Bitter at the Wilkes Head in Leek. It didn't disappoint, but you would't expect anything less from one of the best bitters brewed in the UK.