Dovedale - am I remembering it wrong?

[summerlemons]

I used to visit Dovedale in the Peak District several times a year as a child, in the late 80s and early 90s. IIRC, it was a beautiful spot that was peaceful and chilled - I remember (and family photos seem to back this up) there only ever being about 10 to 15 other people there at any one time. Getting across the stepping stones was easy as there were so few people there.

I’ve been wanting to revisit as it holds happy memories for me. But having looked it up on TripAdvisor, the reviews are shocking - people saying it’s packed to the gills, long queues to walk across the stones, litter left everywhere, people barbecuing and setting up tents.

Is this really the case and is it a recent development, or has it always been like this and I’ve got a case of rose tinted specs?

Similarly Bakewell people are saying is very busy nowadays, but I remember as a child driving up there with my parents - I don’t remember us not being able to park or the place seeming especially crowded.

Any insights would be helpful as I’m hoping to book a week away, but don’t want to waste my money if it’s no longer worth visiting! I’d be looking at early September time.

Both are as described to you unfortunately. Dovedale is really grim in the summer.

I always liked Lathkill Dale.

Has it become wildly more popular then? Or am I just remembering it wrong?

There’s some articles this morning about there being a massive brawl at Dovedale. That will give you an insight into what it’s like now!

We live just over an hour away from Dovedale and yeah, it has become a lot busier over recent years. Still a gorgeous place but very busy on sunny days, especially around the stepping stones.

I'd still visit if the stepping stones weren't central to your visit. We did a hike starting at Dovedale car park and up over the hills round there and it was quiet once we left the main area.

I’m in my 50s and my memories of it are the same as yours. Little boys with bad haircuts, ill fitting shorts and snake belts jumping between the stones and maybe a couple of other families with dogs.

I said to my husband a couple of year# ago, let’s go to dovedale, it’s magical. We couldn’t get into the car park.

It's become a lot more popular.

I used to go as a child and remember it as you do. I used to take my children a fair bit because it's only an hour away from us. I last went 5 years ago and it was far more like the more recent description you gave. People all along the river, the stepping stones were crowded bit I will say that most people didn't seem to be interested in going beyond that so once we'd passed the stepping stones, it was a lot quieter.

I'd imagine you'd be ok early September though because the schools will be back.

I live nearby and go quite often. Never really seen littering or other anti-social behaviour but, yes, in the summer expect to queue to use the stepping stones. And they really need a one-way system as people will start across from both sides at the same time, or will not give way when they know they've just joined and there's a massive queue the other side - nightmare!

The carpark has got much better since the National Trust took it over a couple of years ago. Before then it was cash to a man with a bumbag and it took ages to get in when busy and then it was poorly maintained and hard to work out the spaces. However, once the person in the car in front inexplicably paid for me, which was nice! Now it's fine and capacity seems better to me.

We still go but are prepared to not bother with the stones.

I remember Bakewell being really busy when I last visited and that must be 15-20 years ago.

Bakewell is impossible to visit unless you go on a Tuesday in February, and I'm not really joking. It's rammed in the holidays and any weekend with decent weather. Castleton is nearly as bad, and I'd certainly avoid Dovedale.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-13681809/Moment-huge-brawl-erupts-Dovedale-stepping-stones-beauty-spot.html?ito=native_share_article-nativemenubutton
I'm not saying that this happens every day, but there's just too many people visiting.

Lathkill Dale is lovely - it does get busy, but it's tolerable and still very pleasant.

Regarding Bakewell, I live very close by and my husband works there. In typical peak times it can be busy, with swarms of people in the narrow shopping streets, queues for the chip shop and Bakewell pudding shop etc but it’s fine. The Carpark availability is huge and you can usually always park. If you’re looking for other options, Castleton with the Peak Caverns is a great day out, Hatgersage, and Chatsworth Estate.

@Bivvy - they're all great days out, it's true. However, we've often struggled to find a parking place in Bakewell, even on a regular Sunday, and I'm going to say gets more busy for comfort. I sometimes park at Chatsworth and walk along the river there. There are lots of dogs, but it's spacious enough. As I've said, Castleton is also lovely, bit again, can get very busy and the carpark full.

I think it's the population pressure now, most places get busy in good weather and at holiday times.

Unfortunately many lovely places are just overrun with people. More people, more cars, more arseholes who don’t respect the countryside. The trend for ‘Wild swimming and ‘wild camping’ are problems too. People dump litter etc.

We used to visit a lovely secured beach around 10 years ago. Went again recently and it was full of rubbish, people blasting out music disturbing the peace and having barbecues then leaving their debris there.

I went to both Dovedale and Bakewell in June 1985. I was on my honeymoon. There were more than 15 other people there, but it was a bright sunny day, and we had no problems parking or getting around. Lovely memories. Looks like best kept that way.

Dovedale is between two major cities. It does get very busy, like lots of places do. Go on a term time weekday and it’s not so lively. Or what we did last time we went to the peak district in a summer holidays heatwave: out of the cottage at 7:30 for some exercise and relaxing with a book in the shade by 11am (we didn’t pick the peak District due to a love of 30 degree heat!!)

Why is everywhere that used to be nice and secluded absolutely rammed with arseholes now though? It can't be down to population growth surely, as the population of the UK hasn't gone up by anything like the same % as the number of people at beauty spots!

There are still loads of beautiful places close to Dovedale, I would still book your holiday and maybe if you really want to visit try an early or a late walk rather than a middle of the day one. It will be packed during school holidays on a sunny day but far less so once the schools go back and once the hot weather is over.
The Peak District is such a beautiful place and there are so many glorious spots just off the beaten track, don’t let the bad reviews put you off entirely!

I remember going to Sandbanks down in Poole about 15 years ago and it being lovely and quiet such a nice beach (so much nicer than Bournemouth where there was hardly any space).

Went back about 5 years ago and it was horrible and busy. Queues for everything.

I think people travel more now especially for day trips. The roads are better and cars are more reliable plus more people have cars. Also the cars are more entertaining kids can have their devices,screens in them which keep them quiet on the journey. In the 80s and 70s driving two hours on a day trip with only I spy for entertainment would have been most parents idea of hell on earth

I don’t remember it being that quiet as a child.

I last went in 2021, outside of summer and it was still absolutely beautiful.. actually even more so that I remembered. I guess avoid weekends/summer holidays and you will be fine.

the steps were flooded last time I went but still gorgeous

Also, there are significantly more dogs now. I'm not a dog hater, but if you have narrow paths and lots of dogs, a pleasant walk can be difficult. I was on a very narrow path and a man came towards me with a dog. He signalled to it, and it sat down to the side to let me pass. I thought that was very considerate, and thanked him. Some dogs are not so well trained, though and are excitable, that can be problematic in very busy areas.