Winnats Pass and Castleton

A road winding through tall, grassy peaks with clean pass lines and layers of rock - it’s no wonder Winnats Pass was one of my most saved from Instagram. I hadn’t planned to take pictures here - so many others have done it so much better with dedication to the right light and the climb to the top - but in the end I couldn’t help myself. 

I was on my way to Castleton and the Peaks had started to take a different feel than where I was earlier in the day - drinking it all in the van passed through wall lined narrow lanes and I was delighted when the Maps app instructed me to turn right on Winnats Pass. I knew it was going to be epic - I remember the feeling of driving through Cheddar Gorge - but this is something else. As the landscape envelopes you have no choice to surrender and take it in. I desperately wanted a lay-by so I could let the car behind pass so I could drive through the pass at a snail pace but alas felt a bit moved on. 

Parking at the caves car park (one of the few machines in the Peaks that accepts cards) I headed by foot back through the pass. It feels a lot steeper on foot than by vehicle. I made it as far as 2/3rds through before heading back, changing lens and enjoying the descent. As it’s me I couldn’t resist a small climb at the end which was so worth it for the views. 

Winnat’s Pass is a limestone gorge, once thought to have been formed by a collapsed cavern but was actually formed millions of years ago when submerged in water. When what is now the sunken road over Mam Tor collapsed the pass became a popular thoroughfare and It’s name comes from ‘Windy Gates’ due to the swirling winds that can be experienced throughout the pass. It is also home to a locals ghost story that you can read more about here.

Back to the van for a peppermint tea (was much appreciated by a thirsty rambler!) and then Monty and I headed to Castleton. Note that Castleton car park gets busy and only accepts coins so you might be better staying put at the end of Winnats Pass (a ten minute walk) or parking along the road into Castleton if you’re not visiting on a weekend or bank holiday. 

Castleton (Castle Town) is nestled in Hope Valley of the White Peak and is steeped in history. The ruins of Peveril Castle rise from behind the pretty cottages and around Castleton are some of the Peak Districts most famous mountains including Mam Tor and Kinder Scout.

We explored some more, popping into a few shops and checking out some of the little lanes. I throughly recommend following your nose here as each turning will lead to a new view. There are many walks you can do from Castleton including heading on up to Peveril Castle or you can go a bit further afield. My own epic walk up Mam Tor will be on the blog soon.

There was so much to see in Castleton - Monty and headed through the back streets to the general store where I picked up a couple of delicious sausage rolls (a pork one for Monty, a veggie one for me) and then popped into Plant & Planet where you can do your refills and by some great zero waste or plant based products (I found this kinda thing is hard to come by in the Peak District unlike Dartmoor where it’s abundant).