The forecast was dry but VERY windy, so we decided to stay low rather than risk being blown off the high peaks. So we parked in Hartington, and walked down the river Dove (in the footsteps of Izaak Walton & his fishing bro Charles Cotton).

We passed a GCSE Geography field trip, measuring the river flow rates with doggie biscuits, much to the interest of the local ducks. Then we turned away into the aptly named Narrowdale and across the fields down to Alstonefield.

We found a sheltered spot in Alstonefield churchyard for lunch

After lunch we climbed over the ridge and dropped back down to the river Dove

The stroll back up the river was lovely, through woods and below cliffs. It had clearly  been managed for fishing, with little weirs every 50 yards or so to make deep fish pools.

We saw a bit of a scrap between a red kite and a peregrine falcon, which looked like it ended in a no-score draw. Also a dipper, plenty of wagtails, a family of redstarts, all the hedge-birds…

We got back to the village for a well-deserved pint and some people watching, then back to the B&B for a cup of tea and a shower.

We went to the Old Sun for supper, then had an amble round the more exclusive looking areas of Buxton, before a final nightcap and home to bed.

28,000 steps, 9 miles, 0 geocaches 😦