Last Updated on February 8, 2024 by Natalia
Cave Dale, a towering limestone valley in the village of Castleton is a wonderful walk to do with some of the most the most beautiful scenery in the Peak District. Glacial water carved out this wonderful valley, which was home to a reef bustling with life around 330 million years ago. The walk through Cave Dale is on our list of 7 easy Peak District walks and also provides some of the best views in the Peak District, with 50-metre high limestone cliffs, a view of Peveril Castle and more. This stunning spot is currently somewhat undiscovered, but it’s bound to get more popular over time – so we recommend visiting now before everyone else hears about it! Find out everything you need to know before you visit with this guide to the Cave Dale walk in the Peak District!
Cave Dale Parking
There are two car parks in the village of Castleton which offer parking within walking distance of Cave Dale, at postcode S33 8WN or S33 8WH. Parking costs between £6 and £7 for the day, depending on which car park you use.
The cheaper option is the Peak Cavern Car Park, which conveniently accepts both cash and card payments. Parking at the Peak Cavern Car Park costs £6 per day.
Alternatively, you can park at the Castleton Car Park which costs £7 per day. Unfortunately it’s only possible to pay in coins at this car park, so make sure to have some available if you want to park there.
Both car parks near Cave Dale can get busy, especially on weekends, so it’s best to arrive early to guarantee a space.
Cave Dale Parking postcode – S33 8WN or S33 8WH.
Another option is to park at the Mam Tor car park and do a circular walk to Cave Dale from there. Parking at Mam Tor is free for National Trust members, or £5 for non-members.
Walking Routes
Cave Dale walk
The Cave Dale walk starts in the village of Castleton, along a small footpath between Bargate and Pindale Road. Follow the footpath in between the cottages, and continue on past the Cave Dale information board through the cave-like entrance.
It will only take a few minutes at most to walk through the entrance until you reach the dale itself. Almost as soon as you set foot inside Cave Dale you’re treated to some amazing views, with the steep valley cliffs towering above you.
A footpath cuts through the middle of the valley, with fantastic views to enjoy as you walk. The path is at an incline, so it’s a bit of a workout at times, but nothing too strenuous if you have a reasonable level of fitness.
Take the time to stop and enjoy the views behind you as you walk through Cave Dale, as there are lovely views in both directions. We found ourselves stopping regularly to appreciate the beautiful nature and to take plenty of photos!
The further along the path the more impressive the views get, as you have a higher vantage point to look back over the dale. As you wander further up the path you will eventually come to a point where you can take a sharp right, which will lead you towards Peveril Castle as well as a viewpoint over Cave Dale.
This viewpoint allows you to enjoy the dale from a different perspective, and you’ll also have lovely views of the Peak District’s countryside. In total it should only take around 30 minutes to walk from the entrance to Cave Dale and up to the viewpoint, so it’s one of the easier hikes of the Peak District.
Once you’ve enjoyed the views you can either head back the way you came, or head back down the side of the hill towards Castleton.
Click here to see the Cave Dale and Castleton walk with AllTrails!
Cave Dale and Mam Tor Circular Walk
If you’re looking for a longer route then you can enjoy a circular walk to Mam Tor, Lose Hill, Cave Dale and Winnats Pass from Castleton. It’s also possible to do a similar circular walk starting from the Mam Tor car park.
Starting in Castleton you can follow the instructions above to walk Cave Dale, and then from there head down from the viewpoint in the direction of Winnats Pass. There is a stone wall at the bottom of the hill, which will lead you there if you follow it to your left – but you can also use maps.me if you want to check you’re on the right route!
At Winnats Pass you have two options – walk through the middle of the gorge or climb above it. We personally climbed over Winnats Pass, but we were slightly disappointed we couldn’t get a great view of it from above. For that reason we’d recommend walking through to see if the views are any better.
You do get some lovely views of Winnats Pass just as you reach it though, so if you’re climbing above then make sure to take pictures before you climb. The climb is quite steep and is a good workout, so if you’re after something easier then we recommend walking beside the road through the gorge.
After either climbing or walking through Winnats Pass you’ll want to make your way towards Mam Tor, which will be to your right. The path you need to take depends on the route you took either over or through the gorge, so either follow your gut or use maps.me to find the quickest path.
You should end up heading towards the Mam Tor car park, from which it’s around a 15 minute walk to the peak. There are some brilliant views of the Peak District from the top, so make sure to take time to enjoy the view.
From the top of Mam Tor you can continue onwards in the direction of Lose Hill. It’s up to you whether you want to walk all the way to Lose Hill, as it is possible to turn off earlier if you’re feeling tired and want to head back towards Castleton. The turning towards Castleton will be on your right side as you walk along the ridge from Mam Tor.
This circular walk should take around 3-4 hours if you only visit Cave Dale, Winnats Pass and Mam Tor.
Click here to download the Cave Dale, Winnats Pass and Mam Tor circular walk with AllTrails!
Tips for visiting the Cave Dale walk
Castleton Bakery – While you’re in the area we recommend visiting the Peveril Store and Bakery. It’s a good place to get a drink or a quick bite to eat, and the bakery even has vegan options!
Wear walking shoes/boots – It’s best to wear walking shoes or boots if possible, as the path up Cave Dale is rocky and uneven at times. If you’re planning on doing the longer circular walk then it’s even more important to have good footwear.
Avoid rainy days – It’s best to wait for clear and dry weather to visit Cave Dale to enjoy the walk and views to the fullest. If you don’t have any choice then it’s still worth visiting in the rain, but it’s much more enjoyable on a sunny day!
Visit Peveril Castle – If you want to visit Peveril Castle then tickets start from £7.50 per adult, and £4.00 for children. Find out more by visiting the English Heritage website.
Check out some of our other favourite places in the Peak District which are Stanage Edge, Thor’s Cave and Bamford Edge.
Please note that some links in this article are affiliate links, which means if you make a purchase we make a small commission at no extra cost to you. This money is used to support this website and cover the costs of keeping it online and free to access!
Like this guide to the Cave Dale walk in the Peak District? Pin it!
