60 Ashwood Dale. 



About a mile along Ashwood Dale, upon the right, 

 is a lateral cleft in the rocks, the upper end of which, in 

 wet weather, gives opportunity for a beautiful waterfall. 

 This little retreat is called " Sherbrook Dell," while the 

 cliff at the entrance is known as the " Lover's Leap," 

 from the same kind of legendary story that connects a 

 similar name with many another such rock in romantic 

 countries. Thirty centuries ago the white cliffs of old 

 Leucadia saw Sappho leap from their brow for lack of 

 the love of Phaon ; and foolish men and women will 

 doubtless do likewise to the end of time. 



In dry weather, when no water tumbles into the gorge, 

 Sherbrook Dell is the pleasantest way back to Buxton. 

 Else, we must retrace our path. Either way, the number 

 of plants seen on every hand is truly remarkable. Not 

 far from the Lover's Leap grows the Greek-valerian, a 

 plant found wild in only two or three other places in 

 England ; and mingling with the cistus and the clustered 

 campanula may be seen the fronds of the limestone 

 polypody and the bladder-fern. 



Pursuing the road, as if bent upon reaching Bakewell, . 

 by and by we enter MILLERSDALE. Unless there be 

 some special object in going by the coach-road, this 

 lovely spot is best reached, however, by rebooking at 

 the Buxton " Midland " offices, there being a station in 

 the heart of the dale, and the run thither occupying only 

 a few minutes. Here the great curiosity is CHEE TOR, 

 a mighty rock, deep-seated and broad enough to have 



