Hiking The Dovedale Little Dipper

bootsandbanter
2 days ago
5 min read

Guide to one of the White Peak's most enjoyable rollercoaster walks, from Hartington to the River Dove

📍Route: Hartington → Sheen → Brund → Field Head → Revidge (Ethel) → Warslow → Ecton Hill (Ethel) → Wetton Hill SW Top → Wetton → Alstonefield → Milldale → Mill Dale → Wolfscote Dale → Hartington

📏Distance: 26.5 km

⬆️Ascent: 815 m

⌛Time: 6 hours 20 minutes

Weather: Rain initially then sunny, very humid and warm

Mood: Sleep deprived but trail inspired

The 'Dipper' is a hugely popular trail event in a wonderful part of the Peak District National Park, based in Hartington. It is open to both runners and walkers, with two distances to choose from, which both explore a beautiful part of the white peak area. The Big Dipper is closer to 27-miles than 26! The Little Dipper although only 15 miles it's not to be underestimated though, as you don't get to avoid the best hills.

Full disclosure, this probably wasn't my finest piece of planning. I'd been out the night before, crawled into bed at 2 am, and four hours later somehow convinced myself that walking nearly 30 km with over 860 metres of ascent sounded like an excellent idea. I'm still not entirely sure how I pulled it off, but the hills were calling, and I answered.

Dovedale Little Dipper, the quieter side of the White Peak

View towards Ecton Hill from Wetton farm fields

I came across this challenge again accidentally online.

At first glance, the Dovedale Little Dipper doesn't look particularly intimidating. At 25 km with around 860 metres of ascent, it isn't the biggest day out in the Peak District. But one look at the elevation profile tells a different story.

This isn't a route with one big climb followed by an easy finish. Instead, it's a relentless series of short ascents and descents. It's a true rollercoaster of a walk, and that's exactly why the name Little Dipper fits so well.

The reward? One of the most varied routes I've walked in the White Peak, linking together peaceful villages, rolling limestone hills and a spectacular riverside finish through some of the Peak District's most beautiful dales.

Hartington to Sheen

The walk begins in Hartington before leaving the village on quiet country lanes. The opening kilometres ease you gently into the day, crossing rolling farmland and classic White Peak scenery of dry-stone walls, grazing livestock and wide-open views.

Almost as soon as I set off, the rain arrived. My first thought was, here we go... this is going to be one of those hikes. Thankfully, it was little more than a passing shower.

Although the profile already begins to ripple, the gradients are kind enough to let your legs warm up before the more demanding middle section arrives.

Across the limestone plateau

The route continues through Sheen and Brund, remaining mostly on peaceful lanes and farm fields. Loads of cows and sheep around.

This is classic White Peak walking. Open fields stretch towards the horizon, scattered farms dot the landscape, and every gentle rise reveals another patchwork of green beyond.

Navigation is straightforward.

Climbing towards Revidge

Somewhere around Field Head (before Revidge)

Beyond Field Head, the route begins its first significant climb towards Revidge, reaching the highest point of the day at just over 400 metres. For those who are doing the 95 Ethels and the 87 Trigs bagging this top is both.

It's not a brutal ascent, but from here onwards, the route develops a rhythm of climbing, descending and climbing again.

The views become more expansive with every metre gained, making the effort worthwhile before the descent towards Warslow begins.

Down to Warslow and across to Ecton

Ecton hill - an ethel. Views across towards Wetton Hills

From Warslow I’ve continued south towards Ecton.

The views towards Ecton Hill are spectacular. St this point the skies were clearing too and the contrast of blue and green were making everything feel more alive.

The climb from the Dale Bridge to towards Ecton Hill is pretty steep. I have descended this route before. The wind has picked up, and it was welcome.

Not long after I reached Ecton Hill trig point. 3 other people have summited same time as me and were standing around the trig chatting. I grabbed a quick photo and carried on. This summit is also an Ethel and a Trig from the challenge. As previous one I have already been here before via different route, so not much of novelty for me.

Wetton and the heart of the rollercoaster

The section between Ecton and Wetton is probably where the route really earns its name.

There aren't any monster climbs, but the repeated short ascents and descends gradually begin to add up. I even added an extra hill not on the route – went up Wetton Hill Southwest top and ate my sandwich there with very nice views.

Wetton to Alstonefield

Leaving Wetton, the route heads east across gently rolling farmland towards Alstonefield.

Alstonefield is a lovely limestone village. There was some sort of village celebration and people out enjoying this perfect summer day.

Down to Milldale

Leaving Alstonefield, the route follows Millway Lane before beginning a long, gradual descent towards Milldale.

The change in scenery is immediate. Open farmland gives way to steep limestone valley sides as you descend towards the River Dove.

At Milldale I stopped at the usual place, i.e the ice cream shop and rewarded myself with a raspberry ripple.

Wolfscote Dale to Beresford Dale, the perfect finale

From Milldale, the route follows the River Dove north through Wolfscote Dale before continuing towards Beresford Dale.

After a day of constant undulations, this section feels like a reward. It was my favourite part of the wholewalk.

The walking is noticeably flatter, allowing you to simply enjoy the surroundings rather than focus on the next climb. Limestone cliffs rise above the river, woodland lines the banks and the clear water gently wind its way through one of the most peaceful corners of the White Peak.

Unlike the busier southern end of Dovedale, this stretch feels wonderfully quiet. It's the kind of place where it's easy to slow your pace, take in the scenery and reflect on the day. The stretch is around 6 km, and I couldn’t get enough of it. Blue skies, zero wind, warmth, fantastic scenery.

Following the River Dove through Wolfscote Dale to Beresford Dale is a superb way to finish the route, and one of the highlights that makes the Little Dipper stand out from many other White Peak walks.

🔍 Final Thoughts

The Dovedale Little Dipper is a brilliant example of how a walk doesn't need huge mountains to be memorable.

Its charm comes from variety. Peaceful villages, quiet country lanes, rolling limestone hills, constant but manageable climbs and a stunning riverside finale combine to create a route that keeps changing from start to finish.

The elevation profile tells the story perfectly. It's a rollercoaster rather than a mountain, with every climb flowing into another descent before rising once more. Yet somehow, it never feels repetitive.

If you're looking for a quieter White Peak adventure that combines rolling countryside with one of Derbyshire's finest limestone dales, the Dovedale Little Dipper is well worth adding to your list.

Looking back, I'm still amazed how much I enjoyed this walk considering the lack of sleep. Maybe it was the rolling hills, maybe it was the beautiful dales, or maybe fresh Derbyshire air really is the best cure. Either way, I'd recommend tackling the Dovedale Little Dipper, although perhaps after a full night's sleep.