We are the East Staffordshire Ramblers. We open the way for everyone in the East Staffordshire area to enjoy the pleasures of walking.
This is a very pleasant and interesting walk which featured in a recent edition of Walk magazine. We start by walking through Ashbourne Tunnel, an old railway tunnel which opened in 1899 and closed in the early 1960s. It is now a walking route connecting with the beginning of the Tissington Trail. We walk along the Trail for a short distance before turning onto field paths and through Callow Top campsite to the charming village of Mapleton where we join the River Dove. We walk beside the Dove, eventually reaching Thorpe Cloud and the start of Dovedale, crossing the river on the famous stepping stones, recently reopened after being closed for the last year due to storm damage. The hills, river and countryside in and around Dovedale are truly spectacular, well worth the effort to get there. After crossing the river we take the uphill path through Lin Dale, again walking in the lee of Thorpe Cloud and after reaching the top we turn left through fields and lanes back onto the Tissington Trail at Thorpe Station. We then follow the Trail back to the Tunnel and on to our starting point.
Driving into Ashbourne on Clifton Road, take the left turn signed 'Leisure Centre' (brown sign). Turn right on Leisure Way and proceed past the Swimming Pool. P&D car park is on the left. Walk starts from Information Board at top of car park.
