(S/E) Leave the front door of The Peak Hoteland turn left towards the village centre, following the main road (How Lane) as it bends left. At the Old Nag’s Head follow Back Street.
Turn right into the churchyard and left at the church door to exit the churchyard into Castle St. Turn left then right, signposted ‘Peak Cavern’.
(1) Beyond the stream turn left and walk between cottages to view Peak Cavern. On your return, turn left uphill past Rose Cottage. Turn left at Dales House and beyond a signpost to Speedwell Cavern, follow the stony path beyond the end of the tarmacked road.
Beyond a gate follow the path ahead along a wall with steep slopes to the left. After a gradual climb to a kissing gate descend to the road at Speedwell Cavern.
(2) Turn left past the cavern entrance then follow the broad grassy verge up Winnats Pass, to the right of the metalled road beyond the cattle grid.
(3) At the top of the gorge, just before a second cattle grid, take a footpath on the right which runs behind a farm. Pass through a gate and go straight across the field opposite to a road. Cross the road (if omitting the optional climb of Mam Tor, take the left-hand path to Windy Knoll Cave and walk through the quarry beyond, climbing the bank at the rear and turning left to rejoin the route before step (4)).
(4) For the ascent of Mam Tor, take the right-hand path and follow it until it meets a road. Cross the road and walk up the hill to a gate, then up a flight of stone steps to the road at Mam Nick. Go through a gate on the right and follow the paved path beyond to the summit of Mam Tor.
(5) Return by the same route, walking back down the steps and down the field to return to the road by Windy Knoll (4). Go through the gate opposite and follow the track to the right of a quarry. Follow the wall beyond to the road.
(6) Turn right and then immediately left, along the driveway towards Rowter Farm. Follow the metalled drive then, beyond the farm entrance, follow the stony track beyond. Ignore paths to right and left then, at a junction with a bridleway, bear left.
(7) Beyond a gate and wall stile turn left along the Limestone Way past two gates, then swing right, away from the wall, aiming slightly left of the distant Win Hill. At the bottom of a dry valley, turn right signposted “Public Bridleway to Cave Dale”. Keep to the valley bottom as the dale deepens and becomes rockier, with a dramatic moment when Peveril Castle comes into view.
(8) Having passed below the castle, at the foot of Cave Dale go through a gate into Pindale Road.
(9) Turn left then right down Back Street. At the main road turn right and follow it past the primary school and round the bend to The Peak Hotel. (S/E)
