The walk to Alstonefield takes you through spectacular Dovedale and the delightful hamlet of Milldale.
Churches come in all shapes and sizes but few are smaller or more primitive than Milldale Methodist Chapel - no electrics, no toilet, no crumb of comfort in the pews, an 1835 time capsule!
There is an easy climb out of the valley up to Alstonefield and a slightly more adventuress path down Gipsy Bank back into the valley.
Alstonefield is an old Saxon settlement whose church was dedicated by St Oswald, Archbishop of York in 892AD, though the present building is comparatively modern - 12th century. Like many villages around here its main trades have been farming and lead mining. There is good food to be had at ‘The George’ public house.