Dovedale stepping stones: Walkers warned against crossing river

People are being warned not to cross Dovedale stepping stones, one of the Peak District's most popular landmarks, due to two stones being dislodged.

The National Trust said the stones had been "toppled over" by debris which was washed down the River Dove during Storm Babet.

They are due to be repaired but this can only happen when water levels are low enough.

The National Trust said this could take months.

Craig Best, the National Trust's general manager for the Peak District, said: "The hazard is really obvious in terms of not being able to use them, but we do have a sign up in our main car park and we make some suggestions on alternative routes."

The stepping stones normally allow people to walk across the River Dove.

Speaking about how the stones became dislodged, Mr Best said: "We saw a huge volume of water come down in quite a short period, and as a result of that the River Dove burst its banks.

"There was a load of debris - trees and branches - that were up against the stepping stones.

"As you can imagine there was a lot of pressure from the water and all that wooden debris, so unfortunately two of those stepping stones have toppled over into a different part of the river."

Parts of pathway alongside the River Dove have also flooded, and some people have reported getting into difficulties while walking there.

Mr Best said people should "make their own judgements" about whether or not to go there.

"Water levels will fluctuate, so when you visit you might find the level is low enough for you to use, but some days if we get a bit more rain you might find the path is under water," he said.

The stepping stones were first laid around 1890, as the area became increasingly popular with Victorian tourists.

Thousands of people travel from all over the country and beyond to cross the stepping stones every year.

Debra Rimmer, who recently travelled about 60 miles (97km) from Bolton, said she was "gutted when I got there and couldn't cross them".

"All the river had burst its bank and you couldn't get past so I had to go an alternative route," she said.

"You couldn't even walk round there. Some were trying to walk round there but I wasn't risking it."

Dovedale is the name given to the limestone valley above the River Dove.

The river follows the county boundary between Derbyshire and Staffordshire, meaning people can walk from one county to another by crossing the stepping stones.

The stones were acquired by the National Trust in 1934, and Dovedale was declared a National Nature Reserve in 2006.

In 2010 they had limestone blocks cemented on top, which was described at the time as "vandalism" and "typical health and safety gone mad".

It is not uncommon for the stones to be submerged during periods of heavy rainfall and the stones have also been dislodged before, including in July 2012 and 2016.

The stones are on National Trust land but they form part of a public right of way and are therefore maintained by Derbyshire County Council.

The National Trust said it is liaising with the council regarding the repairs.

A spokesperson for Derbyshire County Council said: "River levels remain high which means we will have to wait to retrieve and reset the stones but we will do this as soon as conditions allow.

"We're sorry for any disappointment, but hope visitors understand the need to ensure the stones are safe."

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