Moderate
2h 15m
5.3 miles
Valley Trail
Cave Dale sits behind Peveril Castle in the Peak District village of Castleton. The 11th century Norman castle overlooks the dale giving it an aura of historical significance, but the dale’s formation is just as fascinating. It’s thought to have been carved through millions of years of evolution, originating from an ancient reef. Intricate limestone edges protrude along the dale, possibly the result of melting glaciers or the inside of a collapsed cave – we don’t know for sure. This beauty spot, surrounded by old lead mines extracted after conquests, has become a staple for local walks in Castleton. It also featured in The Princess Bride and Game of Thrones prequel, House of The Dragon. Ascending to the roof of Peak Cavern, this walk treats you to stunning elevated views of Castleton village, Winnats Pass and Mam Tor.
Cave Dale Walks
- Short: Castleton to Cave Dale circular walk
- Medium: Castleton to Cave Dale and Winnats Pass circular walk
- Long: Castleton to Cave Dale, Winnats Pass and Mam Tor circular walk
Highlights
Why go on this trail?
The Cave Dale and Winnats Pass circular trail from Castleton is a rewarding walk that showcases some of the Peak District’s most dramatic scenery in Hope Valley. The route begins with a taste of the buzzing village ‘centre’ and a walk up the rugged limestone valley of Cave Dale, offering views of the historic ruins of Peveril Castle perched above. The path continues over open hills before descending through the awe-inspiring Winnats Pass, a steep gorge flanked by towering limestone cliffs. This moderate circular walk takes around 2–3 hours and combines geological wonders, rich history, and panoramic views, making it a must-do for visitors to the area.
Preparation
Gear: Outdoor gear is recommended but not essential. Comfortable clothing is adequate in dry conditions but shoes with good padding and grip are needed. In rainy/wet conditions, waterproof trousers and boots are essential, hiking pole recommended for extra balance on a steep slope.
Dogs: Dogs are not recommended for this trail, especially during rainy/wet conditions as certain parts aren’t very accessible and you may need to turn back. There are also sheep roaming and dangerous cliff edges/roads around Winnats so it’s best to keep them on a lead in dry conditions.
Terrain
Elevation: The highest point is Winnats Pass at 421 metres above sea level. Moderate incline going up from Cave Dale with a short-lived steep inclined slope. There is an average ~11% gradient going down Winnats Pass.
Terrain: Rock paths, dirt paths, smooth roads.
Styles: Yes
Local Amenities
Everything you need is in Castleton village. Our recommendations were picked for their close proximity to the Cave Dale walk.
Supplies:
- The Old Barn
- The Outdoor Shop
Toilets:
- Castleton Public Toilets (visitor centre)
Places to eat:
- Three Roofs Cafe
- Tilly’s Cafe
- Blueberry Cafe (visitor centre)
- Rose Cottage Cafe & Bistro
- 153o Italian Restaurant
- Dolly’s Tearooms
- Castleton Fish & Chips
Pubs:
- The Bulls Head
- The George
- The Castle
Getting there
By car: Use your GPS or Google Maps to get to Peak Cavern Pay & Display Car Park, Castleton, Hope Valley S33 8WN or Castleton Car Park – HPBC, 1627 Cross St, Castleton, Hope Valley S33 8WH. Free parking is available further out the village along Old Mam Tor road. You’ll reach this road at the end of the route anyway but it can be difficult to find a spot at peak times.
From Manchester:
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Train to Hope (Derbyshire):
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Take the train from Manchester Piccadilly to Hope (Derbyshire).
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Journey time: ~45–55 minutes.
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Trains run regularly, typically every hour.
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Bus or Walk from Hope to Castleton:
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From Hope Station, it’s a 5-minute taxi ride or ~2-mile walk to Castleton.
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Alternatively, check local buses like the 272 if they are running through Hope.
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From Sheffield:
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Bus 272 (First South Yorkshire):
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Direct bus from Sheffield Interchange to Castleton.
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Stops at: Hunters Bar, Ecclesall, Fox House Inn, Hathersage, Hope, and then Castleton.
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Frequency: Hourly on most days.
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Journey time: ~1 hour 15 minutes.
This is the easiest and most direct public transport route into Castleton.
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Alternative via Train:
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Train from Sheffield to Hope (Derbyshire).
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Then proceed as above (walk or local bus to Castleton).
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Local Buses to Castleton:
BLUE Route (Peak Sightseer open-top bus):
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Stops: Castleton ↔ Mam Tor ↔ Blue John Cavern.
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Operates: Daily from 24 May to 7 September, and weekends until 27 October.
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Times from Castleton (toward Blue John Cavern): Every hour from 10:00 to 17:00.
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This is a tourist-friendly, hop-on-hop-off option ideal for sightseeing.
87A (South Pennine Community Transport):
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Operates Wednesdays only.
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Route: Castleton → Mam Tor → Blue John Cavern.
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Departure times from Castleton: 11:01, 11:26, 11:51, 12:16.
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Only practical if you’re visiting midweek.
From other parts of the Peak District:
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Use the 272 Bus from Bakewell, Baslow, or Hathersage (connects to Castleton).
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From Buxton: Train to Edale or Hope, then transfer via local transport or walk.
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From Matlock or Bakewell: Bus 173 or 171 to Baslow or Hathersage, then transfer to 272.
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Cave Dale and Winnats pass walk route
Step 1 - Castleton car park to Cave Dale
There are two main car parks (or use visitor centre for bus stop) in the village. If parked at Castleton Car Park HPBC, head to the entrance roundabout and turn left, then right at The Bulls Head down Castle Street. It’s hard to miss because, well, there’s a castle straight ahead. But if you want the instagrammable stream picture, start at Peak Cavern car park and follow the path down (south) to The Stones bridge on your left and continue straight on.
Following either road, you’ll reach The Old Barn and war memorial at Market Place. Keep going up the road sticking to your right to Pindale Road where there’s a sign pointing to Cave Dale on the right between the houses.
Step 2 - Cave Dale to Winnats Pass
Go through the short cave-like entrance until it opens up into the dale. All you have to do is follow straight up. Look out for Peveril castle on your right and don’t forget to look back down the dale to get amazing pictures of the dale and castle together.
At the top of Cave Dale, continue straight on through the wooden posts. Large puddles can form in this area after extended rain.
After 5-10 minutes the stone wall on your right will corner off. Take a right up the steep rocky slope. This brief scramble may be a bit challenging for some, especially during wet seasons so take outdoor gear such as a hiking pole for extra grip up the slope when muddy. Note: while the path ‘ends’ here on Google Maps, the path continues towards Bradwell Moor. I believe you can eventually turn off to the right and come back at the top of the slope.
At the top of the slope, continue forward into the field on your right side. Shortly after, there is a signpost on your left pointing you to Winnats pass. Go over the style steps on the stone wall and continue in the same direction following the wall. From here, all you need to do is use Mam Tor in the distance as your reference (centre right in image above) to get to Winnats Pass.
Head through the field to the top left/northwest with Mam Tor in the background. If you look close enough you’ll see a gate.
Go through the gate and continue straight on following the stone wall on your left until you reach near the edge of Winnats Head. When the wall corners off, follow it around to walk across the summit of Winnats Pass, where you’ll be treated to the viewpoint overlooking Castleton through the beautiful limestone edges.
Step 3 - Going down Winnats Pass
The summit will take you round to the road at the top of Winnats Pass. Now you need to go down. Since you’ve already come from the hilltop, we recommend walking through the gorge for a different POV. But you can also cross the road and head up the hill on the other side towards the right. Both options will take you down to Speedwell Cavern. Rather than walking on the road, which is often used by cars, cross the road towards the metal gate on your left and then go through the wooden gate. Now you can follow the path down on the other side of the road.
All you need to do now is keep going past Speedwell Cavern car park, down Arthurs Way and veer right on Buxton Road back into the village. Peak Cavern car park is on your right or when you get to the roundabout go left into the HPBC car park. The main road is full of hotels, pubs, cafes and shops to enjoy in Castleton.
