River Dove, Central England
| Dove (Derbyshire & Staffordshire) | |
| River | |
 The traditional source of the River Dove (SK031684), nowadays usually dry
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| Country | England |
|---|---|
| Regions | Staffordshire, Derbyshire |
| Districts | Beresford Dale, Wolfscote Dale, Milldale, Dovedale |
| Tributaries | |
| - right | River Manifold, River Churnet |
| Source | Dove Head |
| - location | Axe Edge Moor, Peak District, England |
| - elevation | 84 m (276 ft) |
| - coordinates | 53°13′N 1°57′W / 53.217°N 1.95°W |
| Mouth | |
| - location | Newton Solney, Derbyshire, England |
| - coordinates | 52°49′N 01°35′W / 52.817°N 1.583°W |
| Length | 72 km (45 mi) |
The River Dove is the principal river of the southwestern Peak District, in the Midlands of England and is around 72 kilometres (45 mi) in length. It rises on Axe Edge Moor near Buxton and flows generally south to its confluence with the River Trent at Newton Solney. From there, its waters reach the North Sea via the Humber Estuary. For most of its way it forms the boundary between the counties of Staffordshire (to the west) and Derbyshire (to the east). The river meanders past Longnor and Hartington and cuts through a set of stunning limestone gorges, Beresford Dale, Wolfscote Dale, Milldale and Dovedale.[1]
The river is a famous trout stream. Charles Cotton's Fishing House, which was the inspiration for Izaak Walton's The Compleat Angler,[2] stands in the woods by the river near Hartington.
[edit] Dovedale
From Hartington to its confluence with the River Manifold at Ilam, the river flows through a series of scenic limestone valleys, known collectively as Dovedale. Dovedale is also particularly used for the name of that section between the stepping stones under Thorpe Cloud and Milldale. The Dovedale gorge is considered so scenic that it attracts a million visitors a year.[3] Good riverside paths make the whole route accessible to walkers.
Much of the dale is in the ownership of the National Trust, being part of their South Peak Estate. Dovedale itself was acquired in 1934, with successive properties being added until 1938, and Wolfscote Dale in 1948. Dovedale was declared a National Nature Reserve in 2006.
Dovedale's attractions include rock pillars such as Ilam Rock,[4] Viator's Bridge, and the limestone carvings Lovers' Leap and Reynard's Cave.[5]
[edit] See also
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to: River Dove, Derbyshire |
[edit] References
- ^ "The Peak District National Park - Fact Zone 8. Dovedale and the Dove Valley". www.peakdistrict-education.gov.uk. http://www.peakdistrict-education.gov.uk/Fact%20Sheets/fz8dov.htm. Retrieved 2008-04-04.
- ^ "BBC - Radio 4 - The Philosopher, Fish and the Dove". www.bbc.co.uk. http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/science/philosopherdove.shtml. Retrieved 2008-04-04.
- ^ "Dovedale - Dovedale in Derbyshire and the Peak District". www.derbyshireuk.net. http://www.derbyshireuk.net/dovedale.html. Retrieved 2008-04-04.
- ^ "Walks in The Peak District - Dove Dale and Wolfscote Dale walk". www.walkingenglishman.com. http://www.walkingenglishman.com/peakdistrict06.htm. Retrieved 2008-04-04.
- ^ "National Trust". www.nationaltrust.org.uk. Archived from the original on 2008-03-17. http://web.archive.org/web/20080317052126/http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main/w-vh/w-visits/w-findaplace/w-ilampark/w-east_midlands-places-southpeakestate/w-east_midlands-places-dovedale.htm#lovers_leap. Retrieved 2008-04-04.
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