How to get there

• The area can be accessed at the eastern side from the B6465 at Monsal Head and at the western end from the A6 at Wyedale, Topley Pike (SK103724). The B6049 also gives access at Tideswell, Tideswell Dale and Miller's Dale.
• The Valley can be found on the Ordnance Survey Landranger Sheet 119 and Explorer Map Sheet OL24, Peak District - White Peak.
• Public transport: buses from Sheffield stop at Tideswell and Miller's Dale.

Overview

The Wye Valley (site map) is situated in the Peak District National Park, in the south-west of the SBSG recording area. It was formed when meltwater from the last ice age cut through limestone rock to form a steep-sided valley through which the River Wye meanders. Impressive cliffs overlook the river at Monsal Head. The valley continues upstream in an east-west direction through Water cum Jolly Dale, Miller's Dale and Chee Dale with much spectacular scenery along the way. Cressbrook Dale, Tideswell Dale and Monk's Dale join the Wye Valley from the north. The area was once totally wooded but farming and industry led to deforestation, although areas of ancient woodland can still be found in places such as Cressbrook Dale. With the growth of industries such as lead mining and limestone extraction came the railway, part of the Midland Line linking Buxton and London. Closed in the sixties, the track now forms the Monsal Trail which gives recreational access from Bakewell. Villages such as Cressbrook, Litton Mill and Miller's Dale grew up to service the railway and industries.

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There are several nature reserves in the area. Chee Dale SSSI (SK120727), Miller's Dale Quarry SSSI (SK140731) and Priestcliffe Lees SSSI (SK147730, SK155728) are managed by Derbyshire Wildlife Trust. Cressbrook Dale and Monk's Dale are part of the Derbyshire Dales National Nature Reserve, managed by Natural England. Tideswell Dale (SK415374) is managed by the Peak District National Park Authority. Visit here or here for more background on the limestone dales.

Facilities

Pay and display car parks with toilets can be found at Miller's Dale Station (SK138732), Tideswell Dale (SK154742) and Monsal Head (SK185715). There are a few free parking spaces at Upperdale (SK176721). Wheelchair access is available down the Tideswell Dale trail and along the Monsal trail from Miller's Dale station. Walking along parts of Monk's Dale and Chee Dale can be difficult, particularly in wet weather, whilst Water cum Jolly Dale is sometimes impassable after heavy rain. Alternative routes are available.

Likely species

The area is relatively underwatched by birders. It is too large to cover in one day but a gentle stroll along one of the dales and up onto the surrounding farmland is likely to reveal most of the area's birds. One suggested route starts at Tideswell Dale car park (SK154742) and goes down the dale to the river. Turn left to Litton Mill and then right up the footpath to the Monsal Trail. Cross that and continue up hill towards Priestcliffe. From the top of the hill either retrace your steps or turn right along the hillside and take the next footpath down to the valley again. Follow the road back to Tideswell Dale and up to the car park.

April to July is the best time to visit when the area is alive with bird song, and both resident and migrants are busy nesting.

The river is home to common wildfowl such as Mallard and Tufted Duck. Teal are occasional visitors to Water cum Jolly Dale whilst Mandarins have bred in Miller's Dale and Chee Dale. Dippers are particularly visible in spring as they speed along the river. Also active are Grey Wagtails which nest at several spots along the valley. Little Grebes are more secretive but are sometimes given away by their high-pitched trills.

The surrounding woodland and scrub is home to the valley's speciality bird, the Marsh Tit, which is rare in other parts of the SBSG recording area. Tideswell Dale, Miller's Dale and Cressbrook are particularly good spots to see this bird. Blackcaps, Garden Warblers, Willow Warblers and Redstarts are very common in most of the area. Other warblers include Chiffchaff, Common Whitethroat and Lesser Whitethroat. Wood Warblers are not common but have occasionally been recorded as have Pied Flycatchers. Spotted Flycatchers are frequently seen darting backwards and forwards from their perches in search of insects. Other woodland birds include Nuthatch, Treecreeper and Bullfinch. Green and Great Spotted Woodpecker are often seen and heard whilst Lesser Spotted has been recorded in Chee Dale.

The unimproved grassland on the valley slopes is home to Meadow Pipits, Linnets and Skylarks. Wheatears can sometimes be found on the rocks and dry stone walls. Swallows, House Martins and Swift are seen flying overhead. Swallows nest in many of the farm buildings, whilst House Martins can be best seen nesting at Miller's Dale station and Swifts in the cottages at Miller's Dale. The commonest breeding raptor is Kestrel but Buzzards are becoming more common and are frequently seen flying along the valley. Sparrowhawk and Peregrine are occasionally recorded. Late winter and spring is a good time to see displaying Ravens, whilst the commonest corvid is the Jackdaw, whose noisy calls are such a feature of the area.

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Other points of interest

With its many nature reserves, the Wye Valley and accompanying limestone dales are home to a varied and often rare flora. The quarries around Miller's Dale or the scree slopes of Priestcliffe Lees are good places to see orchids. Bellamy's Bank (SK156730), which overlooks the river near the bottom of Tideswell Dale, marks the spot where David Bellamy was inspired by the diversity of the local flora to take up botany. The nature reserves are also good places to see a range of butterflies and other insects. Water voles are sometimes seen along the river banks although they are increasingly being threatened by mink.

Jenny Kingsland