Speedwell Cavern from Castelton

This Peak District walk follows a relatively low level circuit of the head of the valley offering good views of the Great Ridge. You are also able to see the large landslip on the flank of Mam Tor.

Technical sheet

n°292989

Creation:
4 Jul 2016

Last update:
13 Mar 2024

Last review:
27 Jul 2020

Activity: Walking
Distance: 5.89 km
Calculated time: 2h 05
Difficulty: Easy
Return to departure point: Yes
Vertical gain: + 140 m
Vertical drop: - 142 m
Highest point: 310 m
Lowest point: 189 m

Country: United Kingdom
Area: Peak District
District: Castleton
Start/End: N 53.34315° / W 1.77816°
Hour-by-hour weather

Avalanche risk bulletins

Discover Visorando Premium

Downloads

Open in the mobile app

Download GPX GPX

Download PDF PDF

Description

Start: Large pay and display car park adjacent to the Castleton Tourism Information Centre (S33 8WN). Grid ref. SK 149 829.

(S) Exit the car park and turn left along Buxton Road and walk as far as the T-junction. Turn right here along Back Street which leads to the Market Place. Here bear right and continue along The Stones which leads directly into Goosehill. Towards the end of this lane take the signed footpath (grid ref. SK147826) bearing right towards Speedwell Cavern with the wall to your immediate right. This path climbs gently offering good views to your right of the Castleton Ridge.

(1)Reaching the road by Speedwell Cavern (grid ref. SK139827), take the footpath almost opposite (just to your right). This leads through a field to a junction of paths (not too evident) where you turn right down to another road (grid ref. SK139828). Turn left along this road, which is the old main road to Buxton but now closed after the large landslip on the southern flank of Mam Tor. Continue along this road for just under a mile to reach the site of the landslip where an information board tells the story of what happened.

(2)Continue to the end of the tarmac (grid ref. SK132839) where the old road bends sharly to the left. Take the signed footpath on the right and follow a track to Mam Farm. Stay on the track past the farm to the next house. Keep to the right of this property following the path across a number of fields to reach a complex junction of paths and track just to the east of Woodseats (grid ref. SK137842).

Follow the track eastwards for a short way until you reach a no access sign. Here take the path away from the track following a wall which should be immediately on your right to meet with one of the main paths leading up to the Castleton Ridge (grid ref. SK141841).

(3)Turn right here and follow the clear track which leads into Hollowford Road and takes you into Castleton. Reaching the main road, go straight ahead to turn right into Buxton Road and the car park.(E)

Waypoints

S/E : km 0 - alt. 191 m - Car park beside Tourism Information Centre
1 : km 1.64 - alt. 257 m - At road, take footpath opposite
2 : km 2.84 - alt. 291 m - Take signed footpath on right
3 : km 4.12 - alt. 256 m - Turn right and follow track
S/E : km 5.89 - alt. 190 m - Car park beside Tourism Information Centre

Practical information

Parking : There is a large pay and display car park adjacent to the Tourism Information Centre at grid ref. SK149829.

Refreshments: This circular walk starts from Castleton, which is a popular spot for tourists. There are plenty of opportunities for refreshment in the village either before you start the walk or after you have returned.

Terrain: Please note that the walk can be very slippery in wet weather!

Reviews and comments

3.5 / 5

Based on 4 reviews

Reliability of the description
3.5 / 5

Clarity of route map
3.8 / 5

Route interest
3.3 / 5

zen8019

Jul 27, 2020 at 04:25 EDT

Was looking for a quiet walk and didn't expect Castelton to be so busy. Arrived at starting point to full car park, busy roads and loads of people - not what we were after that day (this was a Friday in summer holidays) - so we abandoned that walk for an ad-hoc one - looked like it might be a nice walk though. It might be worth adding this type of information to the review process and walk creators - how busy or not etc.

Stevew103

Jan 28, 2019 at 09:27 EST

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of walk : 27/01/19
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

Lovely walk. Nice and frosty so mud was frozen in most places although some water and muddy parts. Beautiful views of the hills and the Hope Valley. We climbed up to Hollins cross the day before so this was always going to be easier. Nice walk.

PaulW1963

Apr 16, 2018 at 06:06 EDT

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of walk : 15/04/18
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

Good walk. We were very lucky with the weather on the day but, it was very heavy going through the mud. Would be an excellent walk with a nice dry week before hand.

TimH

Mar 21, 2018 at 13:57 EDT

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of walk : 19/03/18
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

At this time of year (March) you have to be prepared for ample mud and running water coming off the hills, and the occasional snowdrift. It was very slippy in places and its definitely only an easy walk in drier weather when the footing is better and more stable. That being said we went with our eyes open, wishing we had brought a pole or stick for support and thoroughly enjoyed our walk. Its all at relatively low level, but the slippiness in wet weather does need to be taken into account, particularly on the early part of the walk after leaving Castleton and getting onto the sloping fields.

Graham Carter

Feb 19, 2018 at 08:51 EST

Overall rating : 2 / 5

Date of walk : 16/02/18
Reliability of the description : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Clarity of route map : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★☆☆☆☆ Very disappointing

Unfortunately due to all the rain we have had during the winter, the path was horrendously muddy, so much so you couldn't walk on it. Thereforetried walking like a goat on the slopes was a big mistake, as slipped 4 times in the mud, which my delightful hubby found very amusing. Gave up after an. Hour getting nowhere and went back to the car. Will try it again if we have a really hot summer, as I am sure the walk would be worth doing.

Other walks in the area

Cave Dale and Winnats Pass from Castleton

Departure from Castleton (Derbyshire)

This Peak District walk from Castleton takes you south and crosses some typical limestone scenery, providing some good views across the valley to Castleton's Great Ridge. You walk through Cave Dale and are also descend through the dramatic Winnats Pass.

Hollins Cross & Lose Hill from Castleton

Departure from Castleton (Derbyshire)

A Peak District walk that takes in some of the highlights of the area to the north of Castelton. The route is varied, offers some wonderful views and is generally easy to follow.

Mam Tor and Cave Dale from Castleton

Departure from Castleton (Derbyshire)

Hollins Cross, Mam Tor and Cavedale are highlights of this Peak District walk from Castleton. The walk includes both Dark and White Peak scenery and generally follows well marked footpaths.

Castleton to Mam Tor inc Winnats pass

Departure from Castleton (Derbyshire)

A picturesque walk with some steep climbs. Starts in Castleton and takes the limestone way through Cave Dale. The walk then works is way overland to Mam Tor and along the Great Ridge to Back Tor. From here the walk goes towards Blue John Cavern before descending via Winnat's Pass and then over the field back to Castleton. Some steep climbs most notably Mam Tor and Back Tor - also some steep and rocky terrain/descents.