Dovedale Stepping Stones – there’ll be a handrail next

…or perhaps a conveyor belt?

We haven’t seen yet with our own eyes, but are taking some friends to walk up from Dovedale at the weekend so will be able to report back.

According to the latest Ashbourne News Telegraph, the ‘Stunner’ as it is known locally, once again Health and Safety has gone mad. The much-loved, uneven, slippery Stepping Stones over the Dove have been ‘levelled and brought up to a consistent height’ by bonding new stone on the top. It is Derbyshire limestone, which appears to make it all right…

It does seem a shame but we’ll refrain from being too quick to judge  until we’ve seen for ourselves. It’s not as if the Stepping Stones are the only way to cross the river:  there is a footbridge across the river earlier on, that cautious souls always use and which everyone has to when the level of water is too high or  too cold to risk a soaking.

Meanwhile, the challenge of crossing the stones has been a source of constant fun and entertainment to all. It may lose some of the drama when we all have to don hard hats and safety harnesses and sign disclaimers before stepping off.