Dove Dale

Given the beautiful weather forecast and a free choice I would have been walking in the Lakes today, but I had family commitments to fulfil. I had promised to take my daughter and her three friends to Alton Towers today, as a birthday treat. I managed to avoid going in with them, fortunately, but was limited in where I could walk, by having to collect them about 5pm. I chose a route to bag three trig points around the Dove Dale and Ilam area and was walking by about 09:30. Although this is much later than I would normally start, I had chosen a route off the much beaten track, hoping to avoid the majority of the grockles. I parked in the little car park by Thorp Cloud, the main Dove Dale car park, but it had toilet facilities, which is always nice and its only 2 quid to park there all day. Much easier than the alternative, which is a road side spot in Ilam village or the more expensive car park by Ilam Hall. I would then follow footpaths (where possible, and trespass where not) to collect three trig points at Musden Low, Soles Hill and Wetton Low before dropping into Hall Dale and entering prime tourist country at Ilam Rock and walking back through Dove Dale to the car.