- Distance 46.6 mi 75 km
- Duration 3–5 days
- Ascent 1,800 m 5,900 ft
- Descent 1,910 m 6,250 ft
- Difficulty Moderate
What is the Limestone Way?
The Limestone Way crosses the White Peak on rock "formed 300 million years ago", from a Norman castle above Castleton to the River Dove at Rocester. It runs 46 miles (74 km) through dry dales, old lead-mining villages and green rolling farmland, and it opened in 1986.
Cave Dale starts it, a rocky gully under Peveril Castle, and grassy dales lead down to the railway viaducts at Miller's Dale. Across the plateau lie the old lead villages of Monyash and Winster. On Harthill Moor the path squeezes between the gritstone towers of Robin Hood's Stride, where legend says Robin jumped from one to the other.
The last days turn green and gentle, past the dressed wells of Tissington and over the Dove at Coldwall Bridge into Staffordshire. The trail ends at Rocester, on the site of a Roman fort, where it meets the Staffordshire Way.
Limestone Way route map
How hard is the Limestone Way?
A moderate walk, never high or exposed: the top of Bradwell Moor, soon after the start, is about 460 m (1,510 ft). The effort is in the stiles, which come all day, the rocky floor of Cave Dale and a short, steep flight of steps at One Ash.
Most walkers take four days. The first, Castleton to Monyash, is the longest, with food only at Miller's Dale. Mud and cattle are part of most days, and the dales and lanes are wettest in winter.
Waymarks are good through Derbyshire, a green and white roundel, but they thin out in the Staffordshire fields, where stiles hide in hedges. Carry a map or the GPX for the last day. With short days to choose from, it makes a good first long walk.
Itineraries and official sections
Pick a day count and the 3–5 day splits show where you would sleep each night, or read the route as the official town-to-town sections.
When is the best time to walk it?
- January, winter
- February, winter
- March, fair
- April, best
- May, best
- June, best
- July, best
- August, best
- September, best
- October, good
- November, fair
- December, winter
Best months: April, May, June, July, August, and September
The months for a first walk are April, May, June, July, August and September, when the days are long and the paths at their driest. You can walk it in any month.
Winter brings mud and flooding: Peter Dale can flood, and the lanes near Priestcliffe turn to deep mud. Tissington fills with visitors in Ascension week, when its wells are dressed, so book beds early if your walk falls then.
Rain is possible in any month. The Midlands see their fewest wet days from March to September and the most from October to January, so pack waterproofs whenever you go.
Rain days each month:
- January, 13 rain days
- February, 11 rain days
- March, 10 rain days
- April, 10 rain days
- May, 10 rain days
- June, 10 rain days
- July, 10 rain days
- August, 11 rain days
- September, 10 rain days
- October, 12 rain days
- November, 13 rain days
- December, 13 rain days
Driest: March, April, May, June, July, and September — still 10 rain days.
These are averages for the English Midlands, which take in the whole walk.
How do I get there and back?
Castleton is about 2 miles from Hope station, on the line between Sheffield and Manchester. A bus runs from Hope and Sheffield into the village; check times before you travel.
Rocester has no station. Buses run to Uttoxeter, which has trains, and to Ashbourne and Derby, or take a taxi to Uttoxeter. Check times before you set off, especially on a Sunday.
Midway, a spur follows the trail's old line from Bonsall to Matlock, which has a station.
Frequently asked questions
The walk
How long does the Limestone Way take?
Four days for most walkers, and that is our recommended plan. Our plans run from 3 to 5 walking days. The 3-day has days of about 14 miles (22 km) to 17 miles (27 km); the 5-day keeps them to about 7 miles (12 km) to 12 miles (20 km), counting the walk to the hostel above Miller's Dale.
Which direction should I walk?
The trail is waymarked from Castleton to Rocester, and our plans run that way, saving the gentle farmland for the end. Some walkers start at Rocester instead, so the limestone dales come last and the trickiest waymarking comes on the first morning. The planner reverses any plan.
Getting set
Do I need to book accommodation in advance?
Yes, especially at Thorpe, Bonsall and Brassington, where only a few rooms take one night. Many beds near the trail are self-catering cottages let for longer stays. Youlgreave has the most choice. Book early for late spring, when Tissington dresses its wells.
Can I get my bag transferred?
Not on its own. There is no stand-alone bag service on the Limestone Way; bags move only as part of a booked walking trip, walked from Rocester to Castleton. Most walkers carry their own pack, so pack light: every stile is easier with a small bag.
This site & app
Is this the official Limestone Way website?
No. This site helps you plan your days, beds and a GPX. For the printed route guide and official information, use Derbyshire Dales District Council's page. Derbyshire Dales District Council
Do I need an account?
No. Pick a Limestone Way plan and move your stops right away. You only give an email if you want a link to keep editing on another device, and the GPX downloads without one.
Can I download a GPX of the Limestone Way?
Yes. Open a plan and export the whole walk, or one file per day, for your phone or watch. Each section page has its own GPX too. Where the waymarks on the ground differ from the line, follow the waymarks.
Plan your Limestone Way
Choose your dates and pace, adjust overnight stops on the map, then export GPX files built around your route.
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