The tea shops, dales and villages of Derbyshire’s Peak District National Park attract millions of tourists in the Summer months, but visitors with dogs may find themselves marching nose to tail on the most popular walking routes and dogs have to be on leads on many of the multi-user trails.
Between January and May, and October to December, the Peak District is a paradise for walkers and dogs. Accommodation is easy to find, and nearly all the rural pubs welcome dogs.
Easy to get to from towns North and South on the M1 or the M6, as well as quick access from Lancashire and Yorkshire, this is where Jem gets his long walks and a break from checking out motorway pitstops.
These walks and pubs will be going onto a new section of the website later in the year - so here’s a preview of what’s on offer, just in time for a weekend or spontaneous break.
LATHKILL DALE WALK (An easy 5 miles or so)
This easy path running alongside a babbling brook has the extra charm of warm and welcoming pubs at both ends of the dale.
We usually start at the Bull’sHead in Monyash, pictured above. Car parking is free in the village car park, and also at the very start of the walk in a lay-by opposite the public WCs.
If you start at the pub, turn left and pass the church on your right. Follow the lane downhill and then turn right at the kissing gate just after the walkers’ WCs.
Follow the clearly marked public footpath across a couple of fields and this brings you to the head of the dale, pictured above.
Keep straight ahead, and gradually the stream will emerge on your right. It becomes stronger and broader as the walk goes on.
The scenery of the dale is idyllic today, and yet there are reminders of its industrial past to be seen just off the path.
Bateman’s House, on the right after a couple of miles, once housed the lead mine manager and was built right on top of the main mine shaft.
Keep following the stream as far as the footbridge and Lathkill Lodge, and then turn left to walk up the hill to Over Haddon village. Here you’ll find the Lathkil Hotel, a free house with award winning ales, and a buffet table groaning with freshly cooked fare. On our most recent visit we counted 7 dogs in the bar, all lying quietly under tables whilst their humans tucked in!
Then return to the stream and retrace your route to Monyash. The dale always looks different on the way back, and usually takes us twice as long after a Lathkil lunch!
There is one squeezer stile on this walk, and one short climb from the valley bottom to the Lathkil Hotel.
Pub info
In Monyash: The Bull’s Head, DE45 1JH. Tel 01629 812372
In Over Haddon: The Lathkil Hotel DE45 1JE. 01629 812501 or 01629 814041.
Both offer accommodation, and dogs are welcome.
The nearest town is Bakewell.
