Hop over stepping stones across the River Dove at Dovedale

If you didn’t know any better, you’d swear that you were in the French Dordogne, while swimming through the water at Dovedale.

The walk to this point takes you past the Alpine-esque houses of Ilam village, before gentle paths lead you to the beautiful limestone gorge.

Here, you can hop in and go for a swim before settling down on the banks for a picnic; no doubt you’ll want to traverse the great big stepping stones that have helped people across the river since the beginning of the 19th century.

After stopping for some homemade ice cream, continue your walk onwards, or head back to Ilam Park and finish with a quick cuppa at the Manifold Tea Room.