Earl’s Drive, Dimmingsdale – Dimmingsdale Mill Pond loop from Oakamoor

Hiking trails & Routes

Staffordshire Moorlands

Oakamoor

Earl’s Drive, Dimmingsdale – Dimmingsdale Mill Pond loop from Oakamoor

Moderate

4.8

(24)

hikers

Earl’s Drive, Dimmingsdale – Dimmingsdale Mill Pond loop from Oakamoor

02:06

7.34km

170m

Hiking

Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels. The starting point of the route is accessible with public transport.

Last updated: October 8, 2026

Waypoints

Start point

Bus stop

Get Directions

60 m

Picnic table at Hawksmoor Nature Reserve

Highlight • Rest Area

Hawksmoor NT Nature Reserve . Good place to take a lunch break

Tip by

558 m

Sutton's Wood

Forest

2.01 km

Earl's Road

Highlight • Forest

Quiet track with good views of the surrounding countryside.

Tip by

2.99 km

Threap Wood sits on the border between Alton and Oakamoor in Staffordshire. It's a beautiful woodland that is a far cry from much of the hustle and bustle that surrounds the area, and features a wonderful variety of flora and fauna.

Tip by

3.40 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 stunning views through the centre of the valley, overlooking lakes, streams and woodland.

It’s the best way to get the full Dimmingsdale experience, with the majority of all other routes through the valley joining to this magnificent drive.

source: Ramblers Retreat

Tip by

4.39 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 mill described as new in 1741 and converted to corn grinding in 1784. Single high breast water wheel and three pairs of stones.

The Alton Mill, situated at the mouth of Dimmingsdale, is still known at the Smelting Mill even though it had longers use as a corn mill. In 1741 Geroge Talbot, Earl of Shrewsbury, leased out a 'newly erected building for the smelthing of lead commonly called a smelting mill, refinery and slag hearth...' at Alton Common. In 1760 lead was still being smelted and the site had a smiths shop, two houses, a barn, nine acres and a pool. The will of Edward Coyney, 1772, mentions his share in the mill along with his share in the mines at Ecton, which is the most likely source for the lead being produced at Dimmingsdale.

Source: Churnet Valley Guide

Tip by

7.34 km

End point

Bus stop

Way Types & Surfaces

Way Types

4.06 km

1.44 km

1.04 km

802 m

Surfaces

3.54 km