• Telephone: 07989 218860
  • Email: info@naturalderbyshiretours.uk

The Best of the White Peak (April to July)

The White Peak is the central and southern part of the Peak District National Park and gains its name from the geology of the area. It’s typified by a series of stunning, water carved limestone dales and is famous for its gin clear rivers such as the Dove, Wye, Manifold and Lathkill.

Dipper on the Dove at Beresford Dale

A Dipper on the Dove at Beresford Dale – just one of a few special birds we can expect to find!

The river valleys are well wooded and play host to a fabulous array of bird species, whilst the higher reaches of the dale sides are craggy, rock strewn and home to some fantastic flora and fauna. Between the iconic dales and rivers farming is the main land use and the well grazed fields are enclosed by traditional drystone walls and dotted with charming villages which are always a joy to visit.

Our walk is designed to follow a route that takes in a good cross section of these habitats and gives us the best chance of encountering the White Peaks fantastic wildlife.

We start in one of the area’s pretty villages, before climbing up into the farmland and pasture above the houses where we hope to see Skylark, Meadow Pipit and possibly Brown Hare. The farm buildings and cottages have good numbers of nesting Swallows and Swifts which are always a joy to watch!

Early Purple Orchid

Early Purple Orchid

Dropping down into one of the White Peaks many ‘dry’ dales (formed by glacial meltwater carving a deep narrow valley in the local soluble limestone before finding a route underground leaving a dry valley) the steep bare grass sides bring a welcome splash of colour as Cowslip, Primrose, Bluebell and Early Purple Orchid crowd the slopes and Butterflies such as the Common Blue and Orange Tip delight as they flit between the flowers. We’ll be listening out for the ‘see-tack’ of the migrant Northern Wheatear that return to breed here in early Spring.

Further down the dale sparse scrub and stunted trees start to appear on the upper slopes – these areas are home to the Common Redstart and we should get great views of this jewel of a bird.

Common Redstart

A male Redstart showing well

As the dale becomes more wooded we’ll encounter more birds as Blackcap, Garden Warbler and Willow Warbler give their delightful songs and Spotted Flycatcher dart from their perches in pursuit of flying insects. Reaching one of the Peak Districts famous rivers, we head upstream where we should encounter one of its most famous residents – the charismatic and entertaining Dipper! Grey Wagtail are very likely and Willow and Marsh Tits can be encountered as well as Mandarin. Peregrine, Kestrel, Buzzard and Raven are all possible above the craggy slopes.

We’ll finish back in the village in plenty of time for a well deserved ice cream!

Species seen on previous walks: Dipper, Grey Wagtail, Kingfisher, Willow Tit, Marsh Tit, Mandarin, Little Grebe, Peregrine, Buzzard, Kestrel, Raven, Wheatear, Common Redstart, Spotted Flycatcher, Treecreeper, Nuthatch, Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, Garden Warbler, Blackcap, Linnet, Swallow, Swift, Grey Heron, Brown Trout, Early Purple Orchid, Dingy Skipper, Common Blue, Orange Tip, Brimstone

And with a slice of luck!: Pied Flycatcher, Red Kite, Stoat, Brown Hare

Duration: 5-6 hours

Cost: Adults £35, Under 16 £20 (must be accompanied by an adult). There is a 10% discount when two or more adults book. No deposit required!

Need to know: The weather can be very changeable in the Peak District in Spring so come prepared –  Heavy rain may lead to a postponement/cancellation – Some paths are steep and rocky and may be slippy but don’t worry we’ll take our time.


Share this

What Our Visitors Say ...

"I had a half-day walk with Antony, hoping to see a Ring Ouzel, and to see Waders in their nesting habitat. I achieved both of these, and saw several other good birds as well, including an owl and several Pied Flycatchers (another first for me). Anthony was not only very knowledgeable but also good company, and I would recommend his walks for anyone who enjoys wildlife but would benefit from some local expertise."
Tim Bucknall - Dorset.
"Antony's guided tour began in Hartington, and included an upland area, Biggin Dale and Wolfscote Dale. This gave us experience of a great variety of habitats, and a chance to see lots of birds, including ravens, rooks, jackdaws, a peregrine falcon, wheatears and stonechats, dippers and wagtails and chiffchaffs. The weather was variable, but Antony made the whole tour really entertaining and informative. He is extremely knowledgeable about all aspects of nature, and birds in particular. Just as important, he is a very friendly and approachable guide, always willing to engage in discussion on any aspect of the area. We felt that, in addition to having a most interesting walk, we came away with really useful advice about how to observe birds on our future walks. The weather improved as we walked along the River Dove, and we were treated to some very special moments of bird observation, aided by Antony's telescope and tripod. We would highly recommend Antony to anyone keen to learn more about local wildlife as part of a most enjoyable walk in Derbyshire."
D & C Longson - Derbyshire.
"My mum and I had a fantastic bespoke walk with Antony around the Brassington area and Rose End Meadows in Cromford. Beautiful scenery, glorious sunshine and a wealth of interesting facts about the flowers, birds, insects and butterflies we met along the way. We had a truly magical time watching a Silver-washed Fritillary dancing and gliding around right in front of us for fifteen minutes. The walk was a birthday present for my mum and Antony took the time to find out what her specific interests and level of knowledge were in advance so that he could plan the route accordingly. He even sent us more information afterwards to confirm a couple of butterfly and dragonfly IDs. Antony really knows his stuff and his enthusiasm is infectious. He also has an unbelievable eye and ear for tiny creatures, plants and sounds that would have passed me by completely. A relaxing, hugely informative and very enjoyable day all round. Many thanks again, Antony!"
L Breakwell - Nottingham.
"Thank you ever so much for the Dawn Chorus experience last Saturday. Even though the weather was terrible we really enjoyed it. We all said would do it again regardless of the weather."
J Tagg - Derbyshire.
"Thoroughly enjoyed two fantastic nature walks with Antony in September 2020. Loved our walk on the Eastern Moors spotting moorland birds and lots and lots of red deer, just starting their rut. Our second walk was an early morning exploration of the very different habitat of the Derwent river and Cromford Canal. Spent ages watching a beautiful pair of dippers dabbling in the river, a streaking Kingfisher and tons of little Grebe diving in the clear water. Antony was an absolutely brilliant guide. He has amazing knowledge about every single species of bird, mammal and lots of plants across the Peak District and knows exactly where to find them. He has such a friendly and welcoming manner that you never feel you're not 'expert' enough and he patiently answers every question. I would thoroughly recommend a nature walk with Antony to get to know the Peak District through the eyes of a wildlife fan! Very best wishes and see you next spring!"
N Marshall - London.
"Antony was not only very knowledgeable about swifts but also provided valuable information to participants on the walks regarding support for the various swift habitats in their neighbourhood. Highly recommended."
D Howson - Derby.
"A great evening watching swifts, and learning about other local wildlife. The leader was very friendly and knowledgeable. He gave us lots of interesting information about swifts, and how we could help with their conservation. There was plenty of time to ask questions, and the walk was taken at a leisurely pace to enable everyone to keep up and get involved. A lovely evening stroll that everyone seemed to enjoy!"
H Naylor - Derbyshire.

Walking Tours In Derbyshire

  • Walking based wildlife tours in Derbyshire for up to 4 people (walks for larger groups can be arranged).
  • Walks to suit all abilities/fitness’s.
  • Full day, shorter and bespoke walks available.
  • Expert local guide.
  • Prices include use of optics and identification books/charts, a delicious packed lunch (full day walks only) and hot drinks.
  • Transport for up to 4 people available to and from accommodation.
  • 5% of each booking will be donated to the Derbyshire Wildlife Trust.

Contact Us

Contact Us

Telephone:
07989 218860

Email:
info@naturalderbyshiretours.uk

natural derbyshire tours


Copyright © 2024 Natural Derbyshire Tours | HTML Sitemap | Privacy Policy
Web design, Web hosting & SEO by Website Design Derby Ltd

Skip to content