Limestone Way & Cave Dale Hike & Explore - Castleton, Peak District, Derbyshire, England, UK

Cave Dale is one of many limestone gorges and valleys that make up the Limestone Way, people would argue it’s the best of the lot making a splendid end to a hike or walk. The trail’s traditionally walked north to south, probably by the fact that it ended up in the town of Matlock. Cave Dale (sometimes spelt Cavedale) is a dry limestone valley in the Derbyshire Peak District, England. was initially formed by glacial meltwater carving a deep narrow valley in the local soluble limestone. The river then found a route underground leaving a dry valley with caverns underneath. Later on the caverns below Cave Dale collapsed making the valley even deeper and gorge-like at the northern end. The Castleton entrance to Cave Dale had a narrow natural arch as recently as 200 years ago, a relic of the roof collapse. The lower slopes of the dale have large amounts of scree, frost on the higher limestone cliffs having caused the rock to shatter. Halfway up the valley is an outcrop of basaltic lava with a few small columns. A b