The Wolfscote Dale and Beresford Dale circular walk is a gorgeous route through several of the Peak’s prettiest dales. It’s an easy stroll through limestones gorges, rolling farmland and alongside the picturesque Dove river. There’s even the chance to visit an ancient cave that used to be home to a hermit in the 19th century.
The majority of the walk is flat, so it’s a good option when you’re looking for an easy trail, that’s still very scenic. It’s also a lot quieter than many of the surrounding dales, so if you like a bit of peace and serenity, this is the one for you.
Here’s everything you need to know about the Wolfscote Dale and Beresford Dale circular walk.
Wolfscote Dale and Beresford Dale circular walk
The stats
Distance: 5.9 mile (9.5 km) circuit
Elevation gain: 155m
Difficulty: Easy
For the majority of the way, the walk is flat. There are a few short climbs, but nothing steep. Much of the track is a good gravel path, with a few sections along grass and on dirt trails.
Unusually for the Peaks, there was no mud at all on this track. We were visiting after quite a long dry spell, but still encountered mud on other tracks in the area, so I’d say that generally speaking this is a good year round track.
The walk is signposted in places, but not throughout. You’ll need a map, or a screenshot of our directions below.
Starting the trail in Hartington Village
The walk begins in the village (parking details below) and heads towards the hamlet of Biggin. Walking from the village centre along the B5054, turn right onto Hall Bank (a road on the west of the village).
The first 450m of the trail are all along the road, but it’s quiet and passes some pretty cottages, so it’s not too much of a hardship. Hall Bank then curves left and begins heading quite steeply uphill.
In fact this is one of the only steep bits of the whole walk, but it doesn’t take long to reach the public footpath on the right, where the track significantly flattens (450m from the parking area).
You’re now traversing several fields, with either gates or stiles and you can always see where you are headed. After 300m in the fields, you’ll see a gap in the wall and from there you’ll join Highfield Lane - a proper footpath to follow again.
You’ll head right along the footpath and the wide gravel track makes for easy walking.
You’re surrounded by rolling green farmland and picturesque dry stone walls, so though this is the least exciting part of the walk, it’s still quite scenic.
Roughly 1.8km into the walk you’ll reach a junction and keep straight. You’ll arrive at a road 350m later.
From here you head right and luckily it’s just 50m on the quiet country lane before you turn right onto the public footpath and into Biggin Dale (it’s signposted).
It’s from here that the walk becomes much more beautiful and you’re properly out in the countryside.
Strolling through Biggin Dale
You’ll head along the flat grassy path, which for us in summer was lined with hundreds of beautiful purple thistles.
It was wonderfully peaceful, with the only sounds being that of the herds of sheep that would startle as we passed.
The further you walk through Biggin Dale, the higher the hills on either side of the path become.
It’s not as dramatic as Wolfscote Dale, which you’ll arrive at next, but it’s definitely a lovely section of track.
After 800m you’ll see an arrow and a gate to the left. Pass through the gate and then keep right, along the stony path.
You’ll soon see a signpost pointing you towards Wolfscote Dale, so you know you’re on the right track.
After a further 750m easy walking through the dale, you’ll come to a pretty patch of woodland. With mossy trees and stones it has a completely different feel to the rest of the walk.
Roughly 400m into the woodland, you’ll arrive at what we christened ‘nettle avenue’. Luckily it’s only short, but with dense nettles on both sides of the path, you want to watch out if you have bare legs!
It’s not long before you enter Wolfscote Dale, although there’s no signpost to actually show you when exactly that is (or not that we saw anyway!).
Following the limestone gorge
As you continue along the flat stony path the scenery starts to get more dramatic. Just over 5km into the trail you’ll suddenly see some huge limestone cliffs emerge in front of you.
It’s a spectacular sight even on a very overcast day as it was when we visited.
The stretch walking beside the towering cliffs was my favourite of the whole trail. Just a couple of hundred metres later you’ll reach a signpost and head right, towards Hartington village.
You’re now following the picturesque River Dove, with some fantastic limestone cliffs dotted at various intervals along the way. The path is smooth gravel and completely flat.
It’s a really nice leisurely stroll, much like the nearby Dovedale to Milldale Track.
This whole section of the walk is so relaxing and very scenic. Whilst it isn’t quite as dramatic as Dovedale, it doesn’t see any of the crowds, which makes it feel very serene.
The next 2km continue in much the same way and then you’ll see a small cave high on the hillside to your right.
You can cut up the steeper grassy path directly to it, or continue on straight very briefly and take the narrow gravel track, which is shallower.
The cave is known as Frank i' th' Rocks Cave and is said to be named for a 19th century hermit, who made it his home.
It’s only tiny, but very easy to walk up into and it’s a good place to sit and relax looking out at the stunning views over the river. It’s just a 30m detour each way to get to the cave.
After visiting you head back onto the main track and through the gate. From here continue straight on at the junction and you’ll come to a small wooden footbridge a few hundred metres later.
Cross the bridge and turn right, you’re now entering Beresford Dale.
Onto Beresford Dale
You’ll head into a patch of woodland as you wander alongside the river. It’s very different to the open scenery of Wolfscote Dale and keeps the walk nice and varied.
Just 350m beyond the footbridge, 8km into the walk, you’ll come to Pikes Pool.
It’s a popular wild swimming spot, with a steep limestone crag inside the water which makes it very atmospheric.
Unfortunately for us, despite the fact we visited after a long dry spell, there has been a couple of days heavy rain just before we walked the track and the pool was quite flooded.
This made for murky uninviting water, so it’s one we’ll have to test out another time!
After passing Pike Pool, you’ll have another 400m in the shady woodland before you emerge into an open field. You’ll now pass through the field, which begins heading very gradually uphill.
The path is easy to follow and 450m later you’ll come to a signpost and follow it, keeping an eye on the smaller signpost ahead where you’ll veer left.
The next few hundred metres are steeper, but it doesn’t take long to cover before the trail flattens again. Keep straight at the next junction (5.6 miles/9.1km into the track) and you’ll soon begin passing holidays cottages.
The trail heads through the small gate at the end of the row of holiday cottages, which leads you down some stairs.
You’ll pop out at the Hartington Farm Shop and turn right. It’s then just 400m back to the car park in the village.
Parking for the Wolfscote Dale and Beresford Dale walk
Parking for the trail is at the main parking area in Hartington village - it’s by the roundabout in the centre and alongside Church Street. It’s free parking and time is not limited.
There isn’t a whole lot of spaces, but there were several still available in the middle of the day in August, so you shouldn’t have trouble.
Hartington is located just over 20 minutes from Buxton, Bakewell and Ashbourne, and an hour from Sheffield.
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