LIMESTONE WAY

Location: Derbyshire; Staffordshire

OS Maps: Outdoor Leisure 1, 24; Pathfinder 810

The Limestone Way heads south from Castleton to Bonsall, just south west from Matlock. This part of the route is a later extension of the original route from Matlock. The original southern part of the route from Matlock roughly follows the southern border of the Peak District National Park to Mapleton, from where it follows the Dove valley south to Rocester. At Rocester the route links with the Staffordshire Way. It is also possible to link Castleton with Edale to join with the start of the Pennine Way.

From Castleton the route south through the Derbyshire Dales offers some magnificent views and much of interest, including Peveril Castle built by William Peveril, a bastard son of william the Conqueror. Oxlow Rake, a little further on, was the site of intensive lead mining in the last century. The route continues through Dam Dale, Monks Dale, and Millers Dale to Monyash; then via Bradford Dale to Robin Hood's Stride, a rocky outcrop that, at dusk, might be mistaken for a gaunt manor. The route joins the Matlock spur at Bonsall, also a centre for lead mining mentioned in the Domesday Book.

The route now heads south west via Ible and crosses the High Peak Trail just north of the village of Brassington where there is a shop, pub and accommodation. After Parwich the Tissington Trail is crossed on the way to Thorpe village, dominated by Thorpe Cloud and the gateway to beautiful Dovedale. The route now follows the Dove and the Staffordshire border via Coldwall, Swinscoe and Ellastone to reach Rocester.