Dovedale Stepping Stones, a beloved Peak District landmark, has reportedly become a "no-go zone" for locals, with many deliberately avoiding the area during periods of hot weather. The site, located a few miles northwest of Ashbourne, Derbyshire, has been plagued by littering, antisocial behaviour, and violent altercations in recent years.
Mass brawl and litter crisis
In July 2024, a mass brawl erupted after two groups of walkers reportedly wouldn't let each other cross, and after a child had reportedly been "hit." More recently, the National Trust, which oversees the site, urged visitors to take their rubbish home after volunteers were left clearing bags of waste following a particularly busy spell.
Following a recent spell of warm weather and mounting concerns expressed online, Derbyshire Live headed to the stepping stones to assess the situation. On a warm but overcast Saturday, with forecasters predicting only a slight chance of rain, crowds of visitors still descended on the site in considerable numbers.
Overflow car park and queue chaos
The overflow car park was already in use, though drivers first had to negotiate a narrow but manageable stretch of road - one that proved rather challenging for those behind the wheel of larger German four-by-fours. A lengthy queue had formed at the parking machine, where visitors are charged a flat fee of £6 regardless of how long they stay. Even a trip to the toilet comes at a cost of 50p, which itself proved problematic when an impatient visitor attempted to force the door open, causing it to jam momentarily.
The path leading to the stepping stones is a pleasantly calm and peaceful route, with the dramatic hills looming overhead providing breathtaking panoramas. However, the tranquil atmosphere transformed into something resembling rush hour the moment walkers arrived at the stepping stones, where a five-minute queue to cross quickly shattered any sense of serenity.
Tempers fray at the crossing
As one group attempted to cross while another felt they had right of way, one woman shouted: "Are you not going to let us through?" Having eventually made it across with her young children, the woman, who preferred not to be named, said: "It's the same whenever you come, people will just keep crossing the stones without any regard for those on the other side. I've not been here for a few years, partly because of that, to be honest. I wouldn't come here at all if my kids didn't love it so much."
She added: "It just attracts the wrong crowd. 90 per cent of people know how to act, but the other 10 per cent really can make it miserable for the rest of us. I'm all stressed now, and I've only just got here."
Lost respect for the countryside
Large crowds inevitably bring litter, and Lucy Hartley, from Derby, says "people have lost respect for the countryside." The 44-year-old said: "I've been here before and seen people with barbecues, which are banned, and then they'll pack up and leave all their rubbish, and the barbecue, behind. I think whoever looks after Dovedale does a good job at cleaning it up, but you can still see bits of debris wrapped around trees in the river, and people won't stop."
She added: "It's always been busy here, since I was a little kid, even, but it's just ridiculous nowadays. We could do with some rangers here to keep an eye on people, even when it isn't as busy, like it is here today. They'd make a killing off fines, and it might just stop people from treating Dovedale like crap. Until then, it's only going to get worse."
Longstanding visitors disillusioned
While younger families continue to flock to the area, longstanding visitors have grown increasingly disillusioned. Derek Brayford, 72, from nearby Leek, said: "The place has become a no-go zone when it's really hot, to be honest. We're only here today because we saw there was a chance of rain, but it's still mayhem. People seem to be behaving themselves for now, but I'm sure there will be problems later in the evening. It's inevitable. The car park is chaotic and full of terrible drivers pushing in and honking horns, and the litter and attitude of some people is shocking. We used to come with our kids when they were little, and we used to bring the grandkids until only recently, but the last few years, it has really lost its way."
Derek added: "This has always been the best attraction in the area, but for me, maybe in the whole of the Peak District, but it's too far gone. People still come, but they don't respect it. They should just tape it off if it carries on."
