Hay Dale

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Hay Dale
Hay Dale on Limestone Way.jpg
Hay Dale on the Limestone Way
Length0.75 miles (1 km)north–south
Width120 metres (394 ft)
Depth30 metres (98 ft)
Geography
Location Derbyshire, England
Coordinates 53°17′25″N1°49′15″W / 53.2902°N 1.8207°W / 53.2902; -1.8207
Hay Dale Nature Reserve Hay Dale Nature Reserve Sign.jpg
Hay Dale Nature Reserve

Hay Dale is a short dry valley near Buxton, Derbyshire, in the Peak District of England. It is part of a longer valley that runs for approximately 4 miles (6.4 km) north–south from Peak Forest (on the A623 road) to the River Wye at Millers Dale. This valley has several names along its length: from the northern end running downhill these are Dam Dale, Hay Dale, Peter Dale and Monk's Dale. There is a farmland plateau on either side. [1]

Hay Dale is part of the Derbyshire Dales National Nature Reserve. Natural England manages the reserve which covers five separate dales of the White Peak (Lathkill Dale, Cressbrook Dale, Hay Dale, Long Dale and Monk's Dale). The Carboniferous limestone rocks of the reserve were formed 350 million years ago from the shells and sediments of a tropical sea. The landscape was then sculpted by the ice sheets from the last Ice Age 20,000 years ago. The reserve contains ash woodland, limestone grassland and many wildflowers including early purple orchid, cowslip, common rock rose and thyme. Butterflies are abundant and include the brown argus. [2]

Early Purple Orchid in Hay Dale Early Purple Orchid in Hay Dale.jpg
Early Purple Orchid in Hay Dale

The Limestone Way and the Peak District Boundary Walk long-distance footpaths run along the length of the gentle valley floor. The Pennine Bridleway crosses the northern end of the dale, dividing it from Dam Dale. Where the Limestone Way crosses the A623 road about 1 mile (1.6 km) north of Hay Dale, the route of the old Batham Gate Roman road runs east–west. [1]

Access into Hay Dale from the north is via a footpath from Peak Forest through Dam Dale. From the south, the dale can be reached from the village of Wormhill along the Pennine Bridleway and through Peter Dale. A minor road running west from Wheston marks the southern end of Hay Dale and the start of Peter Dale. [1]

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Deep Dale is a short steep-sided gorge near Buxton, Derbyshire, in the Peak District of England. It is distinct from another Deep Dale, near Sheldon, 4 miles (6.4 km) to the east.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Monk's Dale</span> Valley in the Derbyshire Peak District

Monk's Dale is a short steep-sided dry gorge near Buxton, Derbyshire, in the Peak District of England. The dale is cut into a plateau of farmland and lies to the east of the village of Wormhill. The head of the valley leads into Peter Dale to the north. Miller's Dale is at the foot of the valley to the south.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cressbrook Dale</span> Valley in the Derbyshire Peak District

Cressbrook Dale is a dry carboniferous limestone gorge near Bakewell, Derbyshire, in the Peak District of England. The dale is cut into a plateau of farmland and lies to the south east of the village of Litton. Cressbrook village is at the foot of the valley to the south.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Peter Dale (Derbyshire)</span> Valley in the Derbyshire Peak District

Peter Dale is a short dry crag-sided valley near Buxton, Derbyshire, in the Peak District of England. There is a farmland plateau on either side. The northern end of the valley leads into Hay Dale at Dale Head and the foot of the valley leads into Monk's Dale. Hay Dale and Monk's Dale are both part of the Derbyshire Dales National Nature Reserve managed by Natural England. The Carboniferous limestone rocks of all these dales were formed 350 million years ago from the shells and sediments of a tropical sea. The landscape was then sculpted by the ice sheets from the last Ice Age 20,000 years ago.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tideswell Dale</span> Valley in the Derbyshire Peak District

Tideswell Dale is a short dry limestone valley near Tideswell village, Derbyshire, in the Peak District of England. There is a farmland plateau on either side. The foot of the valley leads into Miller's Dale on the River Wye, which the valley's Brook Head stream runs into.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Middleton Dale</span> Valley in the Derbyshire Peak District

Middleton Dale is a steep-sided, carboniferous limestone valley in the Derbyshire Peak District of England. The village of Stoney Middleton lies at the eastern foot of the dale and the village of Eyam lies about 600 metres (660 yd) to the north, through the side valley of Eyam Dale. The dale is cut into the surrounding gritstone uplands of Middleton Moor and Eyam Moor. Dale Brook stream runs down the dale into Stoke Brook and on into the River Derwent 1.5 kilometres (1 mi) beyond Stoney Middleton. The Delf is a secluded, wooded side gorge with a stream between Eyam and Middleton Dale. Opposite The Delf, water gushes from Hawkenedge Well and flows into Dale Brook.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wye Valley, Derbyshire</span> Valley in the Derbyshire Peak District

The Wye Valley is the limestone valley of the River Wye in the White Peak of Derbyshire, England. The source of the River Wye is west of Buxton on Axe Edge Moor. One main channel runs underground through Poole's Cavern. The river flows though Buxton Pavilion Gardens and then along a culvert under the town centre. After leaving the flat area of central Buxton, the Wye Valley becomes distinct as a gorge running east for 10 miles (16 km) before the valley broadens at Ashford-in-the Water.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Long Dale</span> Valley in the Derbyshire Peak District

Long Dale is a carboniferous limestone valley near the village of Elton, Derbyshire, in the Peak District of England. The dale is cut into the plateau of Gratton Moor and Smerrill Moor and lies to the north of the hamlet of Pikehall, which is the venue of the annual Y Not Festival. Midway down the valley it turns sharply left and is known as Gratton Dale. Most of the valley is dry but Rowlow Brook flows down the lower part of Gratton Dale towards Dale End and onwards to become the River Bradford at Youlgreave.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Taddington Moor</span> Hill in the Derbyshire Peak District

Taddington Moor is a limestone hill between the villages of Taddington, Flagg and Chelmorton in the Derbyshire Peak District. The moor is an upland farming landscape. The summit at Sough Top is 438 metres (1,437 ft) above sea level.

References

  1. 1 2 3 OL24 White Peak area (Map). 1:25000. Explorer. Ordnance Survey. West sheet.
  2. "Derbyshire Dales National Nature Reserve (NE154)". Natural England. 18 July 2014. Retrieved 24 March 2020.