The National Trust has warned visitors that treading on famous stepping stones is unsafe.
Visitors to the Peak District are being urged to steer clear of the iconic Dovedale stepping stones after storm damage left the crossing unsafe.
The National Trust has issued a warning following an incident five months ago when severe weather knocked one of the stones out of position.
It turns out the popular route across the River Dove remains too dangerous for walkers, with the trust confirming the crossing is still not safe to use.
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The beloved landmark attracts thousands of ramblers each year, but for now they'll need to find another way across.
The 16 limestone stepping stones have quite the history, having been placed across the River Dove back around 1890.
They were originally laid down to accommodate the growing number of Victorian walkers keen to explore the area.
The stones form a crossing that links Derbyshire and Staffordshire, making them a landmark for hikers in both counties.
The National Trust has issued a warning to not walk on the Dovedale stepping stones as one stone was damaged in the winter
|GETTY
The National Trust took ownership of the route and surrounding land in 1934, though Derbyshire County Council handles any repair work needed on the stones themselves.
Derbyshire County Council has explained that the particularly wet winter has prevented restoration work from going ahead.
Charlotte Hill, the council's cabinet member for potholes, highways and transport, said that because "this winter has been particularly wet" the restoration has not been able to be done.
She said they plan to "carry out the repair in the next couple of months" and advised walkers not to use the stones and use a different route.
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The wet weather over winter has meant that restorations were unable to take place
|GETTY
This isn't the first time repairs have taken a while. When Storm Barbet washed away a stone back in October 2023, it took almost a full year before the crossing reopened to walkers in September 2024.
A National Trust spokesman said: "One of the stepping stones at Dovedale became dislodged after heavy rain over the winter months, making the route unsafe.
"Derbyshire County Council, who is responsible for the care of the stones, are aware of situation.
"Signage is in place to advise visitors that the stones are not safe to use."
For those still wanting to cross the River Dove, there is a bridge that sits just a few hundred metres away offering an alternative route.
Despite all the warnings and signage, though, some visitors cannot resist and have continued hopping across the stones anyway.
The warning comes just weeks after an interesting find at another National Trust property in Wiltshire.
Experts examining an 18th-century oil painting called "Stourhead in its Infancy" discovered hidden details beneath the surface using infrared imaging.
Claire Reed, a curator at the trust, described the find as "incredibly rare and incredibly exciting".
The concealed imagery includes a horse-drawn carriage with passengers and a dog that had been deliberately painted over.
The discovery has prompted a rethink about when the artwork was actually created, with costume details suggesting it dates from around 1785 to 1800.
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