The Circular Cave Dale Walk from Castleton
The Cave Dale walk (Cavedale) is one of the shortest Peak District walks, but due to its convenience behind Castleton village and how the valley is so beautiful to walk through – you do not want to miss it. Also, the short walk offers fabulous views of Peveril Castle and the Hope Valley and is often called a ‘hidden gem’.
You will likely be instantly blown away by the rugged limestone valley as you walk through the narrow entrance.
If you desire, you can make it longer and head towards Winnats Pass or Mam Tor, so there are plenty of different walking routes available depending on what you fancy. This post outlines the Cave Dale circular walk from Castleton – one of Derbyshire’s best dales. If you want to combine it with Mam Tor and Lose Hill, you can read our guide for inspiration.
The landscape of Cave Dale has changed and evolved over millions of years. Interestingly, 330 million years ago, Cave Dale (and Castleton) would have been an ancient limestone reef. Then in the 11th century, when the Normans built Peveril Castle, they positioned it at the top to use the valley’s steepness as a natural defence from invaders!
Below Cave Dale is Peak Cavern – also known as ‘The Devil’s arse’, a cave system.
Today, there are still new discoveries being made in the area, and it was used as a film set for a famous scene in the 1987 film ‘The Princess Bride’. So, funnily enough, as we walked through Cave Dale for the first time – we said, ‘wow – this place could easily be in a movie scene’.
Therefore, we were not suprised when we were watching the new series of House of the Dragon (Game of Thrones) and we saw a scene that was set here. It is magic! You are now visiting a TV set of one of the most famous TV shows in the world.
Cave Dale Walk from Castleton Details
Distance: 2.8 Miles or 4.5km
Time: 1.5-2 hours
Walk Type: Circular Walk
Elevation Gain: 241m
Where to park for Cave Dale?
Cave Dale Parking is at the Castleton Car/ Coach Park Car Park. This car park is next to the Visitor Centre and cafe and has accessible toilets that you can use open from 10 am -5 pm.
The biggest tip is to bring coins for the machine because it does not accept card payments or bank notes. You can pay by phone, but we witnessed a woman struggling with this, probably not having service.
The costs are as follows:
£1.60 for 0-1 hour
£2.50 for 1-2 hours
£4.00 for 2-4 hours
£6.00 for up to 10 hours
£7.00 for 24 hours.
Alternatively, you can park at Peak Cavern Car Park, which is £5 all day and accepts cash and card payments. There is some free parking in laybys, but of course, these fill up very quickly and are only accessible during the week.
The nearest train station is Hope Station, and from here you will have to catch a bus to Castleton.
About Cave Dale
How was Cave dale formed?
Cave Dale was initially formed by glacial meltwater carving a narrow valley within limestone soluble locally. The river later discovered a way underground and left a dry valley with caverns.
Later, the caves beneath Cave Dale collapsed, making the valley deeper, like a gorge towards the northern part.
The Castleton entryway towards Cave Dale (which you go through on our route) had a narrow natural arch discovered recently around 200 years old. It was a remnant of the roof’s collapse.
The lower slopes of the dale are covered with massive amounts of scree frost on the limestone cliffs causing this rock to shatter.
How big is Cave Dale?
The northern portion of the dale is located in the town of Castleton, where the valley’s sides are nearly perpendicular and more than 50 metres (160 feet) in height.
The dale gently rises when it leaves Castleton for around 200 metres (220 meters) before it becomes steeper, leading to a stunning view along the dale that takes in Peveril Castle and Lose Hill behind.
After the viewpoint, the dale swings west and levels out with gentle gradients.
Can you climb at Cave Dale?
Yes, some rock climbers use the cliffs on the northernmost point of Cave Dale, and there are several routes that fall into the Extremely extreme category.
Cave Dale Weather
Remember to check the weather forecast to plan your day.
We usually check the BBC Weather and Met Office Weather.
Cave Dale Map
Cave Dale is located on grid reference SK149824.
7 Top Tips for the Circular Cave Dale Walk from Castleton
- The Ordnance Survey Map is OL1- Peak District (Dark Peak Area). You could also download the All Trails App to help guide you.
- Wear walking boots due to the mud, as after rainfall, it can become quite slippery on the rocks through the dale. There is also a shallow stream that runs over the rocky path, so make sure you are prepared for this.
- There are no stiles on this walk, and it is dog friendly. However, remember to clean up after your dog and keep them on a lead due to grazing livestock.
- Arrive early in Castleton because the car park gets full quickly, especially on weekends and during school holidays. In addition, many walks close by, such as Mam Tor, the Great Ridge and Winnats Pass, so the area gets bustling.
- Take all litter home with you and respect the beautiful Cave Dale walk.
- Visit Peveril Castle after the walk. The visitor centre is close by!
- This walk is family-friendly. We saw lots of children walking with their families.
Circular Cave Dale Walk Directions in 4 Steps
Step 1: From the Visitor Centre to the Cave Dale Entrance
Leave from Castleton Visitor Centre and turn left towards the Bull’s Head Pub. From here, cross over the road and go down Castle Street and past The George Pub until you reach the small square with a War Memorial.
Turn left, go past the War Memorial and walk up through the houses where you will soon see a green sign for Cave Dale. Turn right to follow the sign, and you will quickly see an information board to your left, which will tell you everything you need to know about the area.
Go through the wooden gate to the small rocky entrance to the dale and continue up the stony path. You will soon arrive in the dale. It is genuinely incredible how close it is to the houses. Then, finally, a way will emerge that goes through the valley’s cliffs.
Step 2: Up through Cave Dale Valley
Continue walking up this rocky path, and you will have several points in the water to see the impressive Peveril Castle on your right. The trail begins to get steeper at this point, so take your time and admire the views as much as you can. Look up and down the valley – you won’t regret it!
The higher you go, the better the views you will have.
Tip: you can always turn back the way you came to make this an out and back walk. In our opinion, this is the most impressive part of the walk.
Eventually, you will come to 2 wooden posts on a wall that used to be a gate. From here, continue along this path that runs next to the stone wall.
Keep going through the metal gate and going straight through the field and the gate at the other side. From here, you will need to take an immediate right going uphill on the grassy track. A good tip is that you will have gone too far if you get to a four-post signpost.
You then need to walk straight up the grassy track, keeping the stone wall to your right as you go.
Step 3: Reaching the tops
The grassy path will begin to go downhill, and you should just keep going straight down and admire the views as you go. You will be able to see Mam Tor on your left-hand side.
Go over the stone style and keep heading downhill. You should be able to see the main road on your right and Castleton in front of you. You can detour to the right towards Peveril Castle and see beautiful views over Cave Dale from here.
After, keep going down the bank to the bottom. It can be pretty steep, so follow this path down to the stonewall.
It will take you to the main trail, where you will need to turn right through the metal gates, and you will take a small track to follow back into the village.
Possible extension from this position: If you want to extend your walk to Mam Tor, please follow our guide from Castleton: Mam Tor Walks.
If you would like to extend the walk to Winnats Pass, please click our guide to the Winnats Pass Walk.
Step 4: Back to Castleton
Go past the houses on the road and cross over the bridge. We enjoy taking the path next to the stone wall that follows the stream on the other side back into Castleton, over the road, and to the Visitor Centre.
Alternatively, once you are over the bridge, you can continue along the road and arrive at the war memorial from the beginning. Turn right down the road next to the George Pub.
Once you reach the main road, cross the road again and follow the path back to the car park.
Cave Dale walk completed!
Frequently Asked Questions about the Cave Dale Walk
Where is Cave Dale Castleton?
Cave Dale is in the Peak District in Derbyshire, England. The closest village is Castleton.
How high is Cave Dale?
Cave Dale is 50m (160ft) high.
How long is Cave Dale?
Cave Dale is 3/4 of a mile or 1.2km long.
Final Thoughts on the Cave Dale Walk
Although this walk is not as long as other Peak District walks, we believe that the rolling green hills and the limestone cliffs are a spectacular sight to behold.
It is beautiful that you can see something so beautiful next to a village instead of walking for miles because it makes the beauty accessible for people who may not walk a long distance. \
Although it is good to know that there is a steady incline throughout the walk, and despite its length, you should still go on this walk prepared.
If you have any questions about the Cave Dale walk from Castleton, remember to get in touch below. We’d recommend visiting Castleton village after the walk. Read our guide to the best things to do in Castleton for further information.
Alternatively, if you are searching for Peak District walks inspiration, then we have you covered. We love exploring this area as much as we can.
Please read:
- Mam Tor Walk
- Padley Gorge Walk
- Dovestone Reservoir Walk
- Ladybower Reservoir Walk
- Pots and Pans Walk
- Thor’s Cave Walk
- Bamford Edge
- Kinder Scout – The Tallest Peak
- Winnats Pass Walk Guide
Photo Credits: averagelives.com
We want to stress that ‘Average Lives’ cannot be held liable for any injuries or accidents that may occur while walking our routes. We strongly advise that you wear proper footwear to reduce the risk of injuries, and carry a paper map and compass to ensure your safety while walking. You can read more on our About Page.
