River Dove, Derbyshire
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The River Dove, Derbyshire is the principal river of the south-western Peak District, in the English Midlands. It rises on Axe Edge Moor near Buxton and flows generally south to its confluence with the River Trent, near Burton upon Trent. For most of its way it forms the boundary between the counties of Derbyshire and Staffordshire.
From Hartington to its confluence with the River Manifold at Ilam the river flows through a scenic limestone valley, usually known simply as Dovedale. However, from Hartington south to Ilam, the dales are more properly named:
- Beresford Dale, Wolfscote Dale, Mill Dale, Dove Dale.
Much of the dale is in the ownership of the National Trust, being part of their South Peak Estate. Dovedale itsef was acquired in 1934, with successive properties being added until 1938, and Wolfscote Dale in 1948.
Dovedale was declared a National Nature Reserve on 13th October 2006.
The river is a famous 'trout stream'—Charles Cotton's Fishing House, which was the inspiration for Izaak Walton's The Compleat Angler, stands in the woods by the river near Hartington. It is also the focus of the annual cross-country running event, the Dovedale Dash.
At the Southern end of Dovedale stands Thorpe Cloud (942 ft/287 m at grid reference SK151510) an isolated limestone hill (a reef knoll) and a fine viewpoint north up the dale and south across the Midland plain. On the opposite bank is the higher but less isolated Bunster Hill (329 m at grid reference SK141516) - this also apparently a reef knoll.
The River Dove cap is currently being put in place. The idea behind it is a sustainable flood management plan.
Dovedale was featured on the 2005 TV programme Seven Natural Wonders as one of the wonders of the Midlands.
