Blore Pastures, Ilam Hall + Park Walk From Blore Pastures | 4-Mile Route

A lovely short walk from Blore Pastures on the edge of the White Peak area, the route takes in gorgeous views of Thorpe Cloud and Bunster Hill. Being just under four miles, it’s a perfect walk to fit into a morning, afternoon or evening walk (when the clocks change!)

There’s also plenty to spot along the way – see the River Manifold bubble up from under the ground, and take in the views (maybe tea and cake) at Ilam Hall and Park. Also, you can see the Gothic Revival cross at the centre of Ilam village.

Here you will find details on how to get to the start of the walk at Blore Pastures, route information, a map, a GPX file, plus a detailed step-by-step guide of the walk.

This route was suggested, walked and created by a guest hiker for Peak District Walks, Laura Jacklin. 

Let me know in the comments if you’ve done this walk around Ilam Park and what you think!

Blore Pastures + Ilam Park from Blore Pastures

gpx file

Blore Pastures + Ilam Park walk map

© Crown copyright and database rights (2024) OS 002572460

Walk start point

Start grid reference: SK 1356 4979

Car parking address: Blore Pastures Car Park, Moor Lane, Ilam, Ashbourne, DE6 (Google location)

This is a small sized car park. It used to be free but it’s now a pay-and-display car park. 

Public transport

There are no public transport options for this walk.

Facilities on the walk

There are no public toilets available at the start of the walk at Blore Pastures. However, there is a cafe, toilets and a shop at Ilam Hall on the walk.

Other useful information

There are five stiles on this walk, a mix of stone stiles and wooden stiles, so may not be suitable if you’re walking with a dog.

There are a couple of roads on this walk, so please take care whilst walking the route, especially if walking with children. There’s one from the car park, which cars frequently come down into Ilam. The two other roads you walk along are fairly quiet, but take care to watch for traffic as there are no pavements.

Would you know what to do in an emergency situation?

We have a guide with what to do, who you need to call and also some useful kit that should be in your backpack. Ask us any questions in the comments or via our social media.

Happy hiking + stay safe

read here

Peak District weather

Check the weather for your walk location and hills. We’d recommend that you check a few resources and for hill walks look at the weather conditions in the valley and on the hilltop as they can greatly vary.

• BBC Weather for Ilam
• Met Office weather for Ilam
• Met Office weather and/or MWIS (Mountain Weather Information Service) for the Peak District

Ordnance Survey walk map

The map required for this walk is the Ordnance Survey OL24 – Peak District (White Peak Area). Check prices here with Ordnance Survey or Amazon. If you’re hiking in all weather the Active OS maps are good to have as they are laminated so better on rainy days.

View both Peak District map options here.

And don’t forget your compass, I recommend the Silva Expedition or the Silva Classic compass.

For online maps, I recommend OS Online App (I have been using it for many years and it is worth getting if you want to start walking more). Check prices here for the one-month or annual option with the OS Online App. All the walks on the website are created using OS Online + you can download them to the App.

See both maps that cover the Peak District here.

Want to learn more map skills? Check out our Guided Walks with map reading skills here.

Blore Pastures + Ilam walk route

Stage 1 – Blore Pastures to Upper Musden (ruined farm)

Distance: 1.2 miles/ 2 km

Grid reference SK 1356 4979

Go across the road and over the stile directly opposite the car park into the field (photo below). Follow this path straight across the field (turn around to admire the view of Thorpe Cloud and Bunster Hill) until you reach a stile by a wooden gate leading onto another small road. Hop over the stile and bear right, heading up the road.

Shortly, you will reach a public footpath signpost on the right-hand side of the road, pointing to a farm track through a wooden gate (photo below). Go through the gate and walk along the farm track, with views down to Dovedale on your right, and a small wood on your left known as Hazelton Clump. The track bears to the left slightly as it goes downhill, where you’ll reach a wooden gate.

Head through the gate and follow the track up the hill, which begins to look less well-defined. Ahead is a small collection of trees, the ruined farmhouse, and a dew pond of Upper Musden will come into view.

Stage 2 – Upper Musden to Ilam Park

Distance: 1.4 miles/2.3 km

Grid reference SK 1226 5042

As you approach an open wide gate, you’ll see a footpath signposted ‘Calton’ off to your left. Here’s where you have the option to detour to Musden Low trig as an out and back.

If not, then walk through the open gate, immediately on your right you’ll see a stone stile over a drystone wall (photo above). Go over and head straight across the field, where you will go over another stone stile and be able to admire the view of Thorpe Cloud and the Dove Valley.

The path now bears left, heading gradually downhill and keeping an old drystone wall on your left. You will reach a wooden stile next to where a gate would have been, continue over the brow of the hill then follow the path downhill, which is lined with hawthorn trees on either side (photo below).

You’ll then take a subtle path off to your right (this can easily be missed so take your time), and follow it down to a small wood, looking towards Thorpe Cloud and Bunster Hill. At the bottom of the hills, you will reach a small wooden gate in a drystone wall. Head through it, and straight over the field where you will go through a stone gap in another drystone wall (photo below) and follow the path over the field to the trees, where you will reach a footbridge.

Stage 3 – Ilam Park to Blore Pastures

Distance: 1.1 miles/1.8 km

Grid reference SK 1318 5056

Walk over the footbridge, crossing the River Manifold and reaching a National Trust sign for Ilam Park. Head right, following the path to a gate (ignore the path going uphill to the left). Head through the gate, following the path through the parkland with trees on your left and a barbed wire fence on your right, which becomes a wall (photo below).

You’ll shortly see some steps on your left into the woods – don’t take this and continue straight on. Soon on the left of the path you will see a metal fence around some water, and can see a river bubbling up from below. This is the section of the River Manifold, which runs underground from Wetton Mill through the limestone and resurfaces at Ilam Park.

After this, the path bends to the left. Take this and then head towards a stone turret. Head into the turret and up the stairs, into the grounds of Ilam Hall (photo above). At Ilam Hall, there is a youth hostel, toilets, a shop and a lovely café. If you are there during the day, it’s well worth stopping for a cup of tea and a slice of cake.

After some refreshments, head back the way you came and towards the church on the grounds. Take the path signposted ‘Pedestrian route to Dovedale and the stepping stones’ and through the metal gate (photo above). If you fancy it, stop at Ilam Church where you can see a Saxon font and impressive tombs. Venturing onwards, follow the path onto the main road through Ilam and towards Ilam Cross (photo below), a Gothic Revival memorial to Mary Watts-Russell from her husband Jesse Watts-Russell, a politician.

From the cross, follow the road over the bridge and continue to walk along it. You’ll pass over a cattle grid and the road begins to go uphill. Keep going until you reach a public footpath sign on your left, pointing across the fields (photo below).

Follow this sign, and walk across the field with views back to Thorpe Cloud and Dovedale on your left. You will reach a wooden gate in the wall. Head through it and you’ll find yourself back at Blore Pastures car park.

Ask me questions about this walk in the comments below.

Other information

Read next: 15 BEST Walks in the Peak District

More walks in the Peak District

Love the walks in the Peak District? You might like these White Peak walks.

• Dovedale Walk (Bunster Hill + Thorpe Cloud) | 7-Mile Route
• Alstonefield Walk (Via Milldale + Dovedale) | 7-Mile Route
• The Roaches Walk + Hen Cloud From Upper Hulme | 7-Mile Route
• Pilsbury Castle Walk From Hartington | 8-Mile Route

Or check out all our Peak District walking routes here

View walks directory here

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