This varied walk includes the lower section of Lathkill Dale, provides a chance to visit the village of Youlgreave and includes a section of Bradford Dale. Walking is generally easy and the route is mostly well signed.

Lathkill Dale is one of the prettiest of the Derbyshire Dales and lies about 3 miles from Bakewell

The river Lathkill is a very secretive and shy watercourse as it disappears and hides in places, allowing sections of the river bed to become dried out in summer or during drought conditions. This is because of the abundance of old lead mining shafts and workings which draw and entice the water underground.

A particularly attractive area of Lathkill Dale is the section below Over Haddon where crystal clear water bubbles up from swallet holes to flow into deep pools known locally as The Blue Waters. The colour could be attributed to the purity and clarity of the water but also to the rich mineral content as the water flowed through limestone bedrock.

There is a succession of some 12 weirs beyond The Blue Waters which were constructed to encourage trout to breed and as fishing pools in the 19th century (fishing rights on the river are strictly private). Here the river Lathkill becomes tranquil and serene, its calm surface being perfect for ducks, moorhen and coot.