Thursday 11 October 2012

Derbyshire and The Peak District: A dog walker's guide


When you've got dogs, it is sometimes hard to find walking routes suitable for them.  Treks you think look great on the OS map can often be obstructed by stiles and other hazards.

That was the reasoning behind Peter Naldrett's latest book Derbyshire & The Peak District: A Dog Walker's Guide - published by Countryside Books.

Talking about the book, Peter said "I know from my own experience that it is hard to be sure, once you are off your home patch, where you can walk safely with your dog without the frustration of getting lost, finding your route blocked with impassable stiles or encountering busy roads.  I have put together this collection of dog-friendly walks so that others can discover Derbyshire and The Peak District’s glorious countryside without these frustrations'.

The 20 circular routes have been designed with maximum off-lead time and minimum exposure to roads, and vary in length from 2 to 5¾ miles.  Each walk has information on the distance and terrain, livestock likely to be encountered, number and type of stiles en route and, in an emergency, the nearest veterinary surgery.  In addition to the clear, numbered route instructions, each section also includes a matching numbered map, information on how to get to the start, places of interest along the way, and local pubs and cafes which welcome dogs.


The routes give dogs and their owners the chance to explore the glorious countryside of Derbyshire and the Peak District, with walks beside the river Dove in beautiful Dovedale; over Monsal Head with its breath-taking views; around Torside Reservoir and Ladybower Reservoir, surrounded by lush meadows and woodland; through Poolsbrook Country Park, a glorious example of regenerated land; and along the river of Lathkill Dale with its tumbling weirs and lovely views.

There is also the chance to see the historic ‘plague village’ of Eyam; the ancient packhorse trail on Stanage Edge; impressive Chatsworth House; and many charming and picturesque villages such as Tissington, Osmaston and Milton.


‘I hope my book will provide readers and their dogs with many happy hours of inspiring and enjoyable walks together’ says Peter Naldrett.  ‘Happy walking!’


DERBYSHIRE & THE PEAK DISTRICT: A DOG WALKER’S GUIDE by PETER NALDRETT is published by Countryside Books and is available from all good booksellers, some local garden centres and attractions and direct from the publishers at www.countrysidebooks.co.uk.



And don't forget we put information about the dog-friendliness of each walk on our website, and we've made some specific dog-friendly walking videos in association with Bob Martin.  Here's our walk along Ladybower Reservoir in the Peak District...





1 comment:

  1. Of all of the ones mentioned, Isle of Man most jumps out at me. I have always been a bit fascinated by islands - the isolation of them perhaps? - I look at the Isle of Man sort of stuck right in the middle of the Irish Sea and it just seems like it would be a unique place to visit. I have also heard that its got the remnants of a unique dialect (Manx Gaelic I think?), and from a map I just looked at it does have a mountain peak of 625 meters. Not the Alps, but surely a place to get a great view of the entire island from.

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