A view of Reynards Hall in Dovedale

The River Dove (from the old British word dubo meaning dark) seen here, rises on the high moorlands of Axe Edge and runs southwards for 45 miles to join the River Trent. Reynard's Hall is now known as Reynard's Cave, and is a naturally formed limestone arch.

Dovedale was made famous by Izaak Walton and Charles Cotton who wrote 'The Compleat Angler' in the 17th century. In the 18th century and later, a popular summer activity with visiting gentry was to visit the beauty spots of Dovedale and Ilam. As road transport improved and the arrival of the railways brought easier travel, Dovedale continued to grow in popularity with visitors. Many of the weirs across the river were built to increase the feeding area for trout and so improve the fishing. The river also powered several mills. The conservation value of the Dove Valley was recognised by the National Trust through its acquisition of the South Peak Estate, much of which lies in Dovedale and Wolfscote Dale. Dovedale was proposed as a separate National Park in the 1930s. It was eventually included within the Peak District National Park when it became Britain's first National Park in 1951.