A gentle stroll from one of the most popular villages in the Peak District

• Distance - 7.18 kilometres
• Terrain -mainly very well used footpath
• Map - Explorer 1, The Dark peak
• Refreshments & Parking in Castleton (although parking is in VERY short supply most of the time)

Click on this image to order the map for this walk direct from the Ordnance Survey

There is a large car park in Castleton, and pay and display parking on the road out to Blue John Caverns, but get there early or out of season. From where ever you park, walk down the A625 (the main road) and when you see The Nags Head, turn down Back Lane. Past the little village green, take the path signposted between the cottages. This leads up Cave Dale, with Peveril Castle posed precipitously above your right shoulder.

As the dale climbs and narrows, you may hear a roaring noise, coming from a shaft on the right which is a vent for the Peak Cavern show cave below. Eventually the dale peters out, and another path joins from your right. Follow the waymarks (You are on the Limestone Way)  as the terrain opens out, until you meet a substantial track. Turn right down the track, past Rowter Farm and then right again on to the B6061 and right (again !) down Winnats Pass

At the head of Winnats, on the left hand side is a farm - take the footpath just after the farmhouse, through the farmyard. into the field and head for the dip in the horizon where a path takes you near Blue John Cavern and through the buildings of Treak Cliff Cavern

Where the footpath after Treak Cliff Cavern reaches the road, you can either walk back along the road to Castleton, or follow the footpath to Speedwell Cavern and take the road back from there.