Dovedale

Today I took my 2 oldest girls for an early morning trek along from Dovedale Car Park, armed with my fly rod, hoping to make as many casts here and there, as they would let me, before getting bored and moving on without me. Driving through the mouth of Dovedale we pulled up to watch a lamb being born which proved a real winner with the girls, I suppose lambs being born everywhere started the day off on the right foot, and we all enjoyed the experience with no interruptions from the public.

Luckily it wasn't a bad day weather wise being calm, warm with cloud cover and mist clinging on where it could. The girls shot up to the stepping stones as fast as their wellies could get them there and things being quiet they gave me enough time to catch a brownie from the nursery pool. We quickly made our way upstream where I caught another fat little stockie before making our way uphill to the top of Lovers Leap. Usually when on my own I cross the Dove and walk around Lovers Leap but for the girls the only way was up, which tested an overweight, unfit, old mans legs to the max, and boy did I need a rest at the top.

I left them in there elements playing in a stream moving upstream from lovers Leap while making a few more casts and with no joy we eventually ended up having lunch on a log just below the boardwalks. I had 100 coins sticking in my butt from where the public had hammered them into the log - for luck. After spotting a few rises and a few LDO's floating about, I managed a couple of small wild brownies taken on my Grey Duster next to the boardwalk, before making a decision that the public floodgates had been opened, and it was time to make our way back.

I decided to carry the girls across the river and use the private bank walking back, also the

way back without any hills of course. We all watched a show offered by the dippers and Yellow Wagtails, totally fascinating the girls for a short while, bringing quality comments such as "its like a penguin Dad" and to my surprise I had to agree really. Arriving down towards the stepping stones again I carried them both back across and slotted into the bank holiday crowds that had risen from their pits. The girls insisted on crossing the Stepping Stones so while they tested their wellies again, along with 300 other kids, grumpy old dad joined the 5 min ques to cross. This day had truly gone from heaven to my idea of hell, which left me happy in my decision to wake the girls for the early start and after eventually getting the opportunity to cross the stones, we then dodged the crowds walking down towards the car park. I cannot advise anglers strongly enough to either make an early or late start fishing from Dovedale, as lunchtime during bank holidays can often resemble Alton Towers and getting away from it all is impossible.