Cressbrook Dale (also called Ravensdale) is a dry carboniferous limestone gorge near Bakewell, Derbyshire, in the Peak District of England.

The reserve contains ash and wych elm woodland and shrubs including dog’s mercury, field maple, guelder rose, hazel, bird cherry and dogwood.

The layers were deposited in a warm shallow sea in the Brigantian stage of the Carboniferous period (around 330 million years ago).

He was convicted and executed in Derby for killing Hannah Oliver, the toll-keeper at Wardlow Mires, for a pair of red boots.

In the early 20th century, Stone Age, Bronze Age and Roman artefacts were recovered from the cave including polished stone axes, an arrowhead, pottery fragments, beads and bronze brooches as well as human and animal remains.

[7] Ravensdale Cliff has numerous low- to middle-grade rock climbing routes up to 46 metres (151 ft) long on the main buttress.

[8] The cliffs of Water-cum-Jolly (at the foot of Cressbrook Dale) are an accessible and extensive area for climbers with over 400 routes.

[9] The large lead mining area at Tansley Dale, towards the head of the valley, is a protected Scheduled Monument.

The Monsal Trail bridleway runs along the Wye valley at the southern end of Cressbrook Dale.