White Peak makes for a scorcher of a day out

THE final excursion for Halton Ramblers in the spring programme was to Ilam in Staffo fordshire on June 24.

Ilam is a very picturesque village with its Swiss chalet-style houses and matching school house.

Situated about four miles from Ashbourne at the entrance to the scenic Manifold valley, it sits in the Peak District National Park on the Staffordshire border with Derbyshire, close to the Dovedale Gorge.

It is in the White Peak area of the National Park, the white peak consists of gently rolling limestone plateau largely overlain by acidic wind blown soils and dissected by limestone dales which were cut by glacial meltdown.

In many places the dales are deepsided and contrast sharply with the plateau land above.

Ilam – pronounced ‘eye-lamb’ – is best known as the location of the neo-gothic Ilam Hall, a stately home built in the 1820s. It’s now a youth hostel owned by the National Trust, its large parklands being open to the public.

The groups favour the area for its splendid scenery and numerous network of footpaths allowing the groups to organise long and short walks suitable for everyone.

Richard Cage led a leisurely 5.6mile walk around Ilam. Heading out of the village to Ilam Hall they had a look around the grounds admiring the buildings before heading out into the parkland and back to Ilam.

Here they joined the Manifold Trail, eventually reaching the charming village of Thorpe before a short climb to Lindale and the famous stepping stones over the River Dove, turning south-westerly for their return journey.

The moderate C walk had been reccied by Ian Glover who had planned a nine-mile walk with a height of 1,700ft.

The first part of the walk followed the River Manifold then through lush green fields to the village of Stanshope. Turning to walk in a southerly direction the group descended to walk along Hall Dale to Dove Dale passing the cave, Lover’s Leap and the stepping stones The walkers took a welcome break at the Izaac Walton Hotel before returning to Ilam.

The B walk was 12.7 miles and 2,700ft of ascent led by Peter Gallagher, a hard walk for such a hot day. Starting from the hotel the group walked to Ilam village and onto the hall. Here they started their climb to Castern Hall where they had fabulous views of the area. Then they joined a riverside path to the village Wetton.

After a welcome break the group walked on to Alstonefield and the last few miles along the river walk of Dovedale.

Ray Brown led an 18 mile A walk, a classic walk up the River Manifold and down the River Dove, a popular walk done by people from across the world.

Climbing out of the dale to the high pastures to Axe Edge where the