Castleton is famous for its caves and this walk passes them all. There's Treak Cliff Cavern with its stalactites, Odin Mine, the oldest lead mine in the Peak District, Blue John Cavern, famed for its decorative quartz, and Speedwell Cavern where visitors travel by boat. Then there's Windy Knoll Cave, where pre-historic animals sheltered, which looks very tempting but a notice warns that the roof might fall down! Finally, tucked away behind the houses in Castleton, there's the massive entrance of Peak Cavern. But Titan the biggest of them all lies out of sight and only accessible by cavers. Only recently discovered the shaft is nearly 500ft in depth, the deepest in the UK.
LOCATION: Castleton, Peak District
START: Turn left at bottom of Winnats Pass, free parking opposite & beyond Treak Cliff Cavern
Grid ref: SK135831 Postcode: S33 8WA
DISTANCE: 5 miles
GRADE: Moderate
TIME: 3 hours
MAP: Explorer OL - Dark Peak Landranger 110
REFRESHMENTS: Dolly- n Ted's Tearoom and Castleton pubs
EN ROUTE: Mam Tor, Windy Knoll, Rowter Farm, Goosehill Bridge, Speedwell Cavern, Blue John Cavern, Cave Dale, Odin Mine, Peak Cavern
This walk was originally published by
The Manchester Evening News