Ramblers Retreat – Dimmingsdale Mill Pond loop from Alton Towers Resort

Hiking trails & Routes

Staffordshire Moorlands

Alton

Ramblers Retreat – Dimmingsdale Mill Pond loop from Alton Towers Resort

Easy

4.7

(11)

179

hikers

Ramblers Retreat – Dimmingsdale Mill Pond loop from Alton Towers Resort

01:24

5.11km

80m

Hiking

Easy hike. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels. The starting point of the route is right next to a parking lot.

Last updated: August 9, 2026

Waypoints

Start point

Parking

Get Directions

103 m

Ramblers Retreat

Highlight • Historical Site

Superb location for many walks. The food is all locally sourced where possible too.

Tip by

132 m

Ramblers Retreat Café

Highlight • Cafe

Nice little cafe that's popular with cyclists, situated on a quiet lane in the heart of Dimmingsdale.

Tip by

1.84 km

Bench with Forest View

Highlight • Forest

A welcome viewing bench after the ascent.

Tip by

2.58 km

Dimmingsdale Mill Pond

Highlight • Structure

The smelting mill is now much altered and is a private residence, but the former mill pond is a very popular place with walkers in National Trust's Dimmingsdale.

Lead smelting …

Tip by

3.57 km

Earl’s Drive, Dimmingsdale

Highlight • Trail

Earl’s Drive is the main route through Dimmingsdale.

Built by the Earl of Shrewsbury to allow his horse and carriage to travel through his private paradise, this gravelled route gives …

Tip by

4.02 km

Waterfall and Stepping Stones on Churnet River Tributary

Highlight • Waterfall

A very helpful arrangement of stones to cross over a tributary of the Churnet River.

Tip by

5.11 km

End point

Parking

Way Types & Surfaces

Way Types

4.21 km

848 m

< 100 m

Surfaces

3.26 km

836 m

794 m

167 m

< 100 m

Elevation

Nothing selected – click and drag below to see the stats for a specific part of the route.

Highest point (180 m)

Lowest point (120 m)

Weather

Tuesday 6 October

13°C

7°C

74 %

Additional weather tips

Max wind speed: 24.0 km/h

to get more detailed weather forecasts along your route

Comments

July 27, 2023,Thur 27th July 2023 - Dimmingsdale - Short steep muddy scenic walk

Dimminsgdale - 1st of 3 walks on Thursday 27th July 2023.
We wandered lonely as a clueless pair looking for somewhere to do a short walk till the owner of The Stables suggested Dimmingsdale & the Ramblers Retreat and the sculptures set round the lake at JCB (digger fame) world headquarters in Utoxetter.
That settled that, off we set, this …

January 27, 2023,The Lord's Bridge – Ramblers Retreat Loop from Alton

There aren't many parking spaces at the start of this walk. Though it isn't very busy so you should be okay. The old victorian railway is now disused but has been turned into a holiday let. Which is lovely to see such an old beautiful building, continue to be used. There are lots of different walking routes that can be …