The bodies of the two, still holding tightly onto one another, found a final resting place on the banks of the river close to the site of their first meeting. Cornered at the edge of a steep cliff above the Bosque, Wah-Wah-Tee and her brave chose to embrace one another and leap into the swollen river below rather than face a lifetime apart. The two hoped to elope but were thwarted in their effort to run away quietly at night by Wah-Wah-Tee’s father and brothers who objected to the union. As recounted by Decca Lamar West in her popular 1912 booklet The Legend of Lovers’ Leap, Waco Indian maiden Wah-Wah-Tee secretly accepted a marriage proposal from a handsome Apache brave despite the enmity between their tribes. On September 3, 1920, the Cameron family acquired the remaining 191 acres between Cameron Park and Lover’s Leap, thereby ensuring the bluff would remain a central attraction in one of Texas’ largest municipal parks.Īssociated with the cliff is a folktale involving two star-crossed Native American lovers. The Camerons originally leased the land to the federal government with the understanding that when Camp MacArthur troops no longer needed it as a recreation space, it would be added to Cameron Park. Though it had been the site of many picnics and romantic excursions, Lovers’ Leap had yet to receive formal designation as a park site. On June 28, 1917, the Cameron family purchased a tract of sixty acres featuring the cliff area known as Lovers’ Leap. Thanks are also due to Dan Seagrave for use of his photograph of Dovedale and Thorpe Cloud (CC BY-NC 2.0 via Flickr).ĭovedale is managed and cared for by the National Trust.A picturesque limestone bluff situated high above the Bosque River, Lovers’ Leap is as dangerous as it is beautiful. He has been recently described as one of Britain’s most knowledgeable countryside writers. Roly Smith is a keen walker and the author of over 90 books on the British countryside. Created by the Royal Geographical Society (with IBG), the Discovering Britain website features over 350 walks and viewpoints which explore the stories of Britain’s landscapes. This text was originally developed by Roly Smith for Discovering Britain. Reynard’s Cave © Beth via Flickr (CC BY-NC 2.0) The more adventurous might want to scramble up the steep slope to reach it, but it is slippery and eroded, so take care. A few steps further on and high up to the right you can see the natural arch of Reynard’s Cave. ![]() Photos taken in the late 19th-century show much more of the rock formations the reason why a winter or spring visit to Dovedale can be so rewarding.įollow the steps that lead down through the trees from Lover’s Leap past the barely visible, yew-clad needles of Tissington Spires over to your right. The thickly-wooded nature of this part of the dale often obscures the views of the natural rocks – a relatively recent phenomenon since grazing was removed from the dale. Again it is this humble grey rock which is responsible for the fascinating features we find in Dovedale. The limestone here produces an alkaline soil which is perfect for these plants. Mezereon plant © via Flickr (CC BY-NC 2.0)ĭovedale’s ash woods – now threatened by ash die-back disease – are nationally important and support the rare pink-flowering shrub mezereon. Lover’s Leap gets its name from a girl who attempted suicide from this high point, but was saved by her billowing skirts! The steps up to the high point were said to be built by Italian prisoners of war during World War Two. ![]() Steps up to Lover’s Leap © Matt Fascione via Geograph (CC BY SA 2.0) ![]() Over the centuries since then, they have been further shaped into craggy towers by water gradually dissolving the rock or repeatedly freezing in cracks until the rock weakens and crumbles away. Pinnacles like these are made of harder bands of limestone that were left were behind after the erosion of the last Ice Age. Opposite, rising out of the ash woods, you can just make out the rock pinnacles known as the Twelve Apostles. This is a fine place to view the lower portion of Dovedale. Lover’s Leap © Trevor Harris via Geograph (CC BY SA 2.0)
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