As part of our camping trip to the Peak District, we visited the famous Dovedale stepping stones – a popular and beautiful location to visit with the family.
After sharing some of our photos on social media, I had a few questions about what to expect when visiting the Dovedale Stepping Stones, so I thought I’d share some bits of information to help you when you visit.
If you have any other questions, please let me know, but I hope this helps 🙂
Where do you park?
You can park at Dovedale carpark itself or a mile away at Ilam Park.
How much is parking? Is it free for National Trust members?
Parking is £3 for the day (correct July 2020) and is not free for National Trust members.
National Trust members can park for free at Ilam Park, but not at the Dovedale carpark. If you are not a National Trust member, parking at Ilam Park costs £3.50 for up to 4 hours or £5 for over 4 hours.
Can you pay by card at Dovedale carpark?
I’d advise taking coins with you for parking. You can pay at the kiosk by card, however there was no kiosk when we arrived!
Do you need to book online to visit? Is it free to visit?
Dovedale is free to visit and you do not need to book online – you just pay for parking or walk from wherever you are walking from! It is also not necessary to book to visit Ilam Park, although they are experiencing increased demand this summer.
What time is best to visit?
Dovedale is extremely popular and many people have told me they have had to queue to get onto the stones themselves. We visited around 9am on a Tuesday morning in July and had the place near to ourselves. By the time we came back, around 10.30am, be carpark was busy and there were many people heading for the stones. There is no real good answer to when to visit, but I do suggest weekdays, offpeak and as early as possible!
How far are the stepping stones from Dovedale carpark?
The carpark is 0.5 miles from the stepping stones or about 1 mile from Ilam Park. You can also cross farmland from Ilam Park, which is a 1.5 mile walk.
What else is there to do?
Although the highlight for many is the stepping stones, there are some beautiful walks around. You can head up to the stunning views at Thorpe Cloud by either crossing the stones and following the marked trail, or by crossing the little bridge about half way along the path and following the trail from there.
You can also make your visit longer by visiting Ilam Park, where you can find even more beautiful walks, facilities and a tearoom too. There can be queues around the stepping stones at peak times, so you may wish to have a plan B by exploring some of the other beautiful areas.
Are there toilets available?
There are public toilets in the Dovedale carpark that are 20p to use. There are also toilets at Ilam Park. Disabled toilets are available at Dovedale with a RADAR key and and Ilam Park, where they are also currently working to upgrade the park with a Changing Places facility.
Can you get refreshments?
A kiosk at Dovedale car park sells hot and cold drinks and snacks throughout the day, although it was not there when we arrived. Following lockdown, they encourage contactless payment. You can, however, visit the tea room at Ilam park for hot and cold food, drinks and snacks, or take a picnic. BBQs are not allowed.
What are the opening hours?
Dovedale car park is open from 9am – 7pm daily. Ilam Park is open from 9am – 7pm, with the tearoom open from 10am – 4pm. (Times correct as of July 2020)
What is the postcode of the carpark?
Dovedale car park (not National Trust) – DE6 2AY
Ilam Park car park – DE6 2AZ
Is it accessible for wheelchairs and pushchairs?
The stepping stones or the bridge (which includes steps) are not accessible to cross the river, and the Thorpe Cloud route is steep, so not suitable for wheelchairs or pushchairs. The path is gravel along the side of the river, so pushchairs or wheelchairs could follow the path. There is also a disabled toilet in the Dovedale carpark, which can be accessed with a RADAR key.
The team at Ilam Park are also upgrading their facilities to improve accessibility.
For more information about visiting Dovedale and Ilam Park, click here.
