River Dove, Derbyshire

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Coordinates: 52°49′N 01°35′W / 52.817, -1.583

Dove (Derbyshire & Staffordshire)
River
The traditional source of the River Dove (SK031684), nowadays usually dry
Country	England
Regions	Staffordshire, Derbyshire
Districts	Beresford Dale, Wolfscote Dale, Milldale, Dovedale

Tributaries
- right	River Manifold


Source	Dove Head
- location	Axe Edge Moor, Peak District, England
- elevation	84 m (276 ft)
- coordinates	53°13′N 1°57′W / 53.217, -1.95
Mouth
- location	Newton Solney, Derbyshire, England
- coordinates	52°49′N 01°35′W / 52.817, -1.583

Length	72 km (45 mi)

The River Dove is the principal river of the south-western Peak District, in the East Midlands and is around 65 km / 40 miles in length. It rises on Axe Edge Moor near Buxton and flows generally south to its confluence with the River Trent at Newton Solney. 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.

1 Dovedale
2 References
- 2.1 External links
3 See also

[edit] Dovedale

The River Dove at Dovedale

Main article: 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]