Reynards Cave (Dove Dale)
A limestone cave framed by a dramatic natural arch high above the River Dove, reached via Dovedale's famous stepping stones.
Why go
- A genuine natural arch frames the cave entrance and delivers an open view down the entire limestone gorge that few flat valley walks can match.
- The gorge holds Bronze Age history: artefacts found in the cave are now in Buxton Museum, giving the scramble real purpose beyond the view.
- The flat riverside path past the famous stepping stones suits almost all abilities; only the final steep scramble to the cave demands confident footwear.
- Beyond the cave the valley narrows dramatically through The Straits boardwalks before opening to the monolith of Ilam Rock and the Dove Holes caves.
- Milldale village at the far end has a small refreshment cottage and free toilets, making it a natural halfway stop before the return leg.
Full route
- 1. From the National Trust Dovedale Car Park (DE6 2AY), pass the toilet block and follow the tarmac path alongside the River Dove heading north.
- 2. After roughly 640 m reach the iconic Victorian stepping stones; cross the River Dove here and continue on the east bank (skip if flooded and use the footbridge instead).
- 3. Follow the riverside path north past Lover's Leap viewpoint, climbing a short flight of steps to the rocky platform for views across the gorge.
- 4. Continue along the path; watch for a steep unsigned track on the right leading up to Reynards Cave. Scramble up carefully, hugging the right-hand edge for the most stable ground.
- 5. Pass through the wide natural arch and explore the short dry cave passage behind it; enjoy the open view down the gorge from the arch before descending the same way.
- 6. Return to the main valley path and continue north through The Straits, where wooden boardwalks carry the route above the river.
- 7. Pass Pickering Tor and Ilam Rock (a short detour over the bridge gives close-up views and access to a small cave at its base).
- 8. Continue to the Dove Holes caves on the left of the path, then follow the river the final stretch into Milldale village; cross the old stone bridge for toilets and refreshments.
- 9. Return south along the same riverside path to the car park.
Reynards Cave (Dove Dale)
Reynards Cave sits high on the eastern bank of the Dovedale gorge, tucked behind one of the Peak District’s most striking natural arches. Carved from reef limestone formed roughly 350 million years ago, the cave and its smaller neighbour Reynards Kitchen have yielded Bronze Age artefacts now displayed at Buxton Museum, making this far more than a scenic detour. The gorge itself is a National Nature Reserve owned and managed by the National Trust, and draws around two million visitors a year without ever quite losing its sense of wildness once you move beyond the stepping stones crowds.
The standard approach sets off from the National Trust car park at Dovedale, heading along the flat riverside path past Lover’s Leap before a steep, loose-soiled scramble up to the cave entrance. The arch is the highlight for most walkers: wide enough to stand inside, it frames a sweeping view down the gorge that more than rewards the effort. Boots with a decent grip are genuinely necessary, particularly after rain when both the approach path and the limestone rocks around the arch become slippery. The cave itself is a single short dry passage, level underfoot from old excavations, and tall enough to stand in upright.
Beyond the cave the valley narrows through a section called The Straits, where wooden boardwalks carry the path above the riverbank, before opening out again past the towering Pickering Tor and Ilam Rock on the way to the village of Milldale. The full out-and-back to Milldale covers roughly 6.1 miles with around 272 metres of ascent, though most visitors do a shorter section. Dogs on leads are welcome throughout, and the car park has toilets and a seasonal grab-and-go refreshment van.
Reviews
READ - Boots or approach shoes are an absolute essential, we went during dry days and the clay was still wet. The cave is a steep scramble made significantly harder by the polishing of rocks from so many visitors shoes over the years. The cave itself is small has been graffitid and there is broken glass throughout which has now started to make its way down the face and is easy to catch a finger or hand on during ascent/descent. Once a pretty place.
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Trail details
The steep path to Reynards Cave becomes very slippery after rain; stepping stones may flood after heavy rainfall and could be impassable.
Getting there
Routes
- 1. From the National Trust Dovedale Car Park (DE6 2AY), pass the toilet block and follow the tarmac path alongside the River Dove heading north.
- 2. After roughly 640 m reach the iconic Victorian stepping stones; cross the River Dove here and continue on the east bank (skip if flooded and use the footbridge instead).
- 3. Follow the riverside path north past Lover's Leap viewpoint, climbing a short flight of steps to the rocky platform for views across the gorge.
- 4. Continue along the path; watch for a steep unsigned track on the right leading up to Reynards Cave. Scramble up carefully, hugging the right-hand edge for the most stable ground.
- 5. Pass through the wide natural arch and explore the short dry cave passage behind it; enjoy the open view down the gorge from the arch before descending the same way.
- 6. Return to the main valley path and continue north through The Straits, where wooden boardwalks carry the route above the river.
- 7. Pass Pickering Tor and Ilam Rock (a short detour over the bridge gives close-up views and access to a small cave at its base).
- 8. Continue to the Dove Holes caves on the left of the path, then follow the river the final stretch into Milldale village; cross the old stone bridge for toilets and refreshments.
- 9. Return south along the same riverside path to the car park.
Facilities nearby
Business Info
- +44 1335 350503
- https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/peak-district-derbyshire/ilam-park-dovedale-and-the-white-peak
- Dovedale, Ashbourne, Derbyshire, DE6 2AY
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Reviews 4.6 · 5 reviews
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Posted on Google
READ - Boots or approach shoes are an absolute essential, we went during dry days and the clay was still wet. The cave is a steep scramble made significantly harder by the polishing of rocks from so many visitors shoes over the years. The cave itself is small has been graffitid and there is broken glass throughout which has now started to make its way down the face and is easy to catch a finger or hand on during ascent/descent. Once a pretty place.
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Posted on Google
Small cave in dovedale hiking trail. It a short ascent to the top but the path is challenging and you need to be fit to do it. Take care on rainy days as it can become slippery.
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Posted on Google
You will find this in middle of doing dovedale trail. A bit climb to reach at the top of cave but you will be satisfied once at top. Might need to think while coming down as its steep but has fun of its own.
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Posted on Google
Lovely view from above and below. Keep an eye out along the trail as you could easily walk past the turn off without knowing. Quite steep but lots of footholds. Be mindful if it’s wet as the larger rocks are quite smooth and you could slip.
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Posted on Google
Ok the hike up to the cave is very steep and precarious, we had hiking boots on and they worked well. When you get up to the top the view down is beautiful. As you come about halfway down to get out you will see another path off to the right, there is another cave to go in and this on you can go up inside a little way. We could have gone further but had no proper lights to explore so we stopped. There was a little dog that got all the way up here and back again also which was amazing. Sadly people have left loads of rubbish in the big cave and also made an area for a toilet which is foul. The hike up is really worth it, just take your time and go slowly, the rocks have shiny areas where many people have used them to hand hold over the years.