Youlgrave, Alport & Middleton
in the Derbyshire Peak District

NB this website is under construction

Home
About the villages
Visitor information
Events
Organisations
Notices
Links
Contact us
Welldressing
Walking

"There is no finer county in England than Derbyshire," wrote Jane Austen.  "To sit in the shade on a fine day and look upon verdure is the most perfect refreshment."  Spot on, of course, although I would suggest that a leisurely walk along Bradford Dale is a little more interesting than simply sitting in the shade.  Plus a pint of beer in one of Youlgrave's three pubs is to my mind the most perfect refreshment.

Still, the fine county of Derbyshire has fewer finer walking areas than Youlgrave.  The delightful contrast of secretive little dales and open rolling pasture, criss-crossed with a maze of drystone walls and ancient barns; crystal-clear rivers and densely-wooded hillside, home to an array of flora and fauna.  And throughout it all there are miles and miles of wandering footpaths, all of them splendidly varied.

The broad, firm track that shadows the River Bradford for most of its length takes in trout pools and clapper bridges, ducklings and dippers, and for generations has been enjoyed by all ages and abilities.  Much of the main path is wheelchair and pushchair-friendly, and in the central section there are even a few benches for the weary or the dilatory.

However, as you explore further up Bradford Dale into Middleton Dale the paths become steeper and more challenging, traversing the plunging valley sides and lush vegetation.  Radiating out from Youlgrave, meanwhile, are myriad field paths that bound up and down the undulating hillside, and which at every stile offer changing views over the surrounding White Peak and far-off moors to the north.  They connect with neighbouring villages like Elton, Monyash and Over Haddon, and link to local gems such as Lathkill Dale.

If all you fancy is a short, peaceful stroll and a bit of a Jane Austen with a dripping ice cream from Meadow Cottage Tea Garden then Youlgrave is certainly your place.  But at the same time the area also attracts the more dedicated walkers.  The routes of the Limestone Way and White Peak Way both pass through the area, the village pubs all welcome walkers, and the handsome youth hostel in the centre of Youlgrave has long been a popular stop-over for the boots and rucksack brigade.  In short, there's a bit of something for everyone - so long as you leave the car or bus behind and use your legs to explore.  As someone once said, looking back tired but contented on another fine ramble in Youlgrave: "Tis better to have walked and ached than never to have walked at all".