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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.
Out-and-back
About
Bronze Age artefacts were found in this limestone cave set within one of the Peak District's most striking natural arches.
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.
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.
Before you go
- Boots with good grip essential. Stepping stones may flood; check conditions before setting out. The detour up to Reynards Cave is steep and loose underfoot.
- The steep path to Reynards Cave becomes very slippery after rain; stepping stones may flood after heavy rainfall and could be impassable.
- Not suitable for buggies or wheelchairs.
Map
Open mapReviews
Read all 5READ - 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.
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.
Tips
0Is Reynards Cave suitable for children?+
Older children who are confident on their feet will love it, but it is not suitable for very young children or toddlers in buggies, the steep, loose-soiled scramble up to the cave requires sure footing. The flat riverside path and stepping stones earlier in the walk are family-friendly, but the cave approach involves real scrambling and should not be underestimated.
How busy does it get, and when is the best time to visit?+
Dovedale draws around two million visitors a year and gets very busy at weekends, bank holidays, and during school holidays, car park spaces can run out by 9am on peak days. The gorge quietens noticeably once you move past the stepping stones toward Reynards Cave, so arriving early or on a weekday gives you the best experience.
Do I need special clothing or footwear?+
Sturdy hiking boots with a good grip are genuinely necessary, not just recommended, the climb to the cave is steep and the limestone rocks around the arch become very slippery when wet. There is no dress code beyond practical outdoor clothing suited to the weather and the terrain.
Featured in
1 guide
Showing the start and the waymarked paths nearby. The route line is added with a GPX file.
Boots with good grip essential. Stepping stones may flood; check conditions before setting out. The detour up to Reynards Cave is steep and loose underfoot.
- 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.
Trail details
- Route typeOut-and-back
- Terrainriverside, limestone gorge, woodland, rocky scramble
- Best seasonSpring, Summer, Autumn
- Dog friendlyYes
- Buggy or wheelchairNot suitable
The steep path to Reynards Cave becomes very slippery after rain; stepping stones may flood after heavy rainfall and could be impassable.
Getting there
- ParkingNational Trust Dovedale Car Park
- Parking cost£6 up to 4 hours / £8 all day; free for NT members
- PostcodeDE6 2AY
Features
Getting there
- ParkingNational Trust Dovedale Car Park
- Parking cost£6 up to 4 hours / £8 all day; free for NT members
- PostcodeDE6 2AY
Reviews
5 on GoogleREAD - 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Tips
0Questions
7Is Reynards Cave suitable for children?+
Older children who are confident on their feet will love it, but it is not suitable for very young children or toddlers in buggies, the steep, loose-soiled scramble up to the cave requires sure footing. The flat riverside path and stepping stones earlier in the walk are family-friendly, but the cave approach involves real scrambling and should not be underestimated.
How busy does it get, and when is the best time to visit?+
Dovedale draws around two million visitors a year and gets very busy at weekends, bank holidays, and during school holidays, car park spaces can run out by 9am on peak days. The gorge quietens noticeably once you move past the stepping stones toward Reynards Cave, so arriving early or on a weekday gives you the best experience.
Do I need special clothing or footwear?+
Sturdy hiking boots with a good grip are genuinely necessary, not just recommended, the climb to the cave is steep and the limestone rocks around the arch become very slippery when wet. There is no dress code beyond practical outdoor clothing suited to the weather and the terrain.
Do I need to book, or can I just turn up?+
The trail and cave are free to visit with no booking required, just turn up. No booking is needed for parking either, but spaces fill quickly on busy days, so arriving early is strongly advised.
Is the route accessible for people with limited mobility or wheelchair users?+
The flat riverside path from the car park is largely accessible, but the climb to Reynards Cave involves a steep, rocky scramble with handholds that is not suitable for wheelchair users or anyone with limited mobility.
Where do I park, and how much does it cost?+
The National Trust Dovedale car park is the closest starting point. Dovedale and Ilam Park car parks are free for National Trust members, and non-members pay £3.50 for up to 4 hours or £5 for all day. If the main car park is full, Ilam Park car park is a nearby alternative.
Can I bring my dog?+
Dogs are welcome on the trail, and the route is genuinely dog-friendly. As Dovedale is a National Nature Reserve, dogs must be kept on leads at all times throughout the gorge.