Nemo’s Cales Dale, Lathkill Dale and Bradford Dale Walk

The highlights of this circular walk are the three dales the walk passes through - each one has something different to offer.

First on our route is Cales Dale, it is narrow and steep sided, with a hidden cave high up on the valley side.

Lathkill Dale is the longest on our walk and probably the most dramatic and attractive. A rough gravel trail leads along much of this first dry (in summer) section of our walk. Overhead loom the limestone cliffs with scree slopes swooping down to the path. Mining for lead took place in Lathkill Dale between the 13th and 19th centuries. Although the dale is now densely wooded, evidence of mining is still visible. The miners dug a sough to lower the water table enabling them to work lower down and stay dry. During dry summers the River Lathkill may not appear above ground until reaching the springs at Psalm Pool.

The water of the River Bradford runs clear in the shortest of the dales on our walk, Bradford Dale. The sheer limestone crag popular with rock climbers has the unusual name of Rhienstor and is right on the path adjacent to the river. Our walk takes a turn to the right to follow the river upstream towards Bradford Dams. The river valley widens now with cattle and sheep grazing beside the water, little bridges span the clear waters. The walk continues through the attractive outskirts of Youlgreave to Bradford Dams. The dams are a series of trout pools, which date from the 1890’s. The dale is worth exploring further, but our walk crosses over a bridge and up back into Youlgreave for a well earned pint!