Peak District National Park Run - Castleton, Mam Tor & The Great Ridge

You hear the phrase ‘Micro Adventure’ used a lot these days and I guess thats what we’re doing here at Run Adventurer, getting out for lots of short adventures, a travel vlog for walkers and runners and people who just love the peace and beauty of nature and today wow, its a special one.

We’re in Castleton in Derbyshire. There’s loads of Limestone here from an ancient coral reef and lots of caves including Blue John Cavern, Peak Cavern and Speedwell Cavern and of course the English Heritage Peveril Castle to visit (a 12th Century Norman Castle). The area is famous for it’s Blue John or Derbyshire Spar, a semi-precious purple and yellow Fluorite mineral used to make jewellery, cups and bowls.

I’ve started from the pay and display car park in Castleton which is ideal to explore the village and local sites and with the Bulls Head and Ye Olde Nags Head just a few yards from the start / end you are perfectly positioned to have something to eat and drink after your walk or run.

We’re heading up towards Peveril castle and up to Cave Dale a natural gorge carved through the limestone by glacial melt water and deepened by the collapse of caves. In fact as you head up Cave Dale you are actually walk across the top of Peak Cavern and half way up there is a small cave with warm air blowing out of it that I assume is a ventilation shaft for the cavern.

Beyond Cave Dale we head up onto the exposed plateau and over to Windy Knoll at Dark Peak near Winnats Pass and the up onto the so call ‘Shivering Mountain’ Mam Tor.

You head up a well worn stone path to the summit and then we head along the Great Ridge which separates Edale Valley from Hope Valley. The ridge drops down to Hollins Cross then back up to Back Tor and on to Lose Hill with stunning views all the way. We then drop back down into Hope Valley and take the path which brings us back into Castleton. The way I went was just over 8 miles, there is a slightly shorter alternative that I point out of about 7.5 miles.

The Route

Starting from the Pay and Display Car Park turn left into Cross street, at the bend turn left into Back Street. At the common go straight on to the left of the common and then at the bend take the path on your right for Cave Dale.

Follow the track through the gorge at the top where you meet another track continue straight on the path then bears left up a rise and over a field to a farms track. Turn right here and then at the bend turn left and follow the track all the way to the road.

Cross the road and head through Windy Knoll. At the next road again go straight on up the field to the stone slab track and stairs the head up to the summit of Mam Tor.

Follow the path along the Great Ridge passing Hollins Cross, Back Tor and finally up to Lose hill. Here the path drops down into Hope Valley. After a short distance at a stile, the path forks, you can go either way, I went left, heading down following the path which goes down the hill then left and right into an adjoining field and continues down until you eventually come out by a house. Here the path forks again and we turn right which continues straight on down into the valley. Eventually you will meet another path where we turn right. The path is marked Castleton. Just follow the path which eventually comes out by the playing fields on Hollowford Road. Turn left and follow the lane back into Castleton. You can turn right on the cut into the car park or go straight on to Cross Street to visit the pub or chip shop.