CASTLETON CAVERNS WALK
THE WALK
The Castleton Caverns walk is excellent. It offers magnificent views, a Norman Castle, four of Europe’s most spectacular caverns, and a historic village to explore.
LOOK OUT FOR
Route Point 2 – St Edmunds’ Church still retains box pews, a Norman arch, and a valuable Breeches Bible from 1611. By an attractive old tree on the green stands a war memorial in the form of a cross.
Point 3 – Cave Dale is one of the most beautiful parts of Castleton. At the start of the walk, cliffs rise almost perpendicular, and Peveril Castle towers above.
Point 6 – Winnats Pass is one of the most impressive features of Derbyshire limestone country, with steep, craggy sides rising on either side of the road.
Point 7 – Pieces of Blue John are found worldwide, including in the White House and the Vatican. The world-famous cavern is of outstanding educational and geological interest. Treak Cliff Cavern is famous for its stalactites. Both caverns are open to the public.
Point 8 – Speedwell Cavern is known to visitors for its half-mile subterranean boat trip.
Point 10 – Peak Cavern once contained houses, but there is still evidence of soot from the chimneys on the roof. There is even a 1794 report of an alehouse in the cave. Carol Concerts and other events take place in the cavern, and booking in advance is essential.
WALK DETAILS
Length: 4.5 miles.
Start: On the A625 Sheffield to Chapel-en-le-Frith road. The car park is on the village’s west side (SK149830).
Terrain: Castleton Cavern Walk starts with a long, rocky climb up Cave Dale, which can be very wet underfoot after heavy rain. After leaving Cave Dale, the walk begins to flatten out, but there are some short, sharp descents as you return.
Refreshments: The village has several pubs, restaurants, and cafes to suit all tastes.
THE ROUTE
1. For Castleton Caverns Walk, leave the main car park at the bottom and walk by a stream between a group of houses before turning right at the end and then straight over the main road.
2. As the main road bends to the right, continue straight on past the church and the village green to follow the road as it swings left. Soon after, take a footpath sign on the right between two cottages.
3. Follow the rocky path up steep-sided Cave Dale past Peveril Castle, continuing in the same direction through several gates, eventually with a wall on the right as the walk begins to level out.
4. At an Information Board, turn right through a metal gate stile and continue close to the wall on the left to another stile leading into a large field. Cross the field diagonally to a stile by a gate to walk down a farm track for a short distance.
5. At the end of the farm track, go over a stile and turn right along a wide-walled lane. Then, go right again at a lane junction, walk about one mile to the B6061 and turn right.
6. At the junction, follow the road to the right towards Winnats Pass. Just past Winnats Pass Farm, on the left, go through a stile and head behind the farm buildings.
7. Take the path indicated by the sign in the centre of the field down to the right to Blue John Cavern. Continue in the same direction around the hillside to Treak Cliff Cavern.
8. From the cavern, take the concrete path to the right, going through a gap in the rail signed ‘Winnats’ across the fields to Speedwell Cavern.
9. Just below the cavern, on the right-hand side of the road, take the path beside a National Trust Sign. Then, keep close to the wall on the left, and go back to Castleton.
10. On reaching Castleton, take the first road on your right and walk around to the entrance of Peak Cavern. On the return journey, keep close to the wall on the right and go down to the bridge over Peakshole Water.
11. Cross the bridge and continue to the right past the entrance to Peveril Castle, turning left by Castleton Hall. On the corner by the Castle Hotel, go to the left down the dip in the road and turn right to return to the walk’s starting point.
Castleton
