Limestone Way

Limestone Way

A walk through the White Peak area of the Peak District National Park, from Rocester to Castleton.

3 to 8 nights
28-47 miles
Easy / Moderate to Demanding

From £370 per person

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About the trail

From the impregnable keep of Peveril Castle to the dramatic gorge of Cave Dale, the Limestone Way explores some of the most spectacular sights the White Peak region of the Peak District National Park has to offer.

This area is full of craggy limestone outcroppings and ancient woodland awash with wildflowers, and it’s rich in historic villages, too. It all comes together as an unparalleled mix of dramatic landscapes, tranquil spaces, and welcoming, stone-built settlements.

We offer multiple holiday options along this trail. If you wish to experience the entire trail, simply select the first option from the list below.

Choose your route

  • Limestone Way
  • Limestone Way Highlights

About this route

4 to 8 nights
47 miles
Easy / Moderate to Demanding
2nd January to 24th December

From £480 per person

Limestone Way

Our Limestone Way walking holiday takes in 48 miles of the White Peak region of the Peak District National Park.

This trail showcases some of the finest scenery on offer in this area, featuring limestone crags, quiet woodlands, sweeping valleys and the gorge of Cave Dale, to name just a few. Coupled with a smattering of ancient villages and historic landmarks along the way, this walk has plenty of attractions to entice and entertain walkers from start to finish.

Available tours

Code Tour Duration Difficulty Price per person
LIME1 From Rocester(T) to Castleton 4 nights, 3 days walking Demanding £480
LIME2 From Rocester(T) to Castleton 5 nights, 4 days walking Moderate £600
LIME3 From Rocester(T) to Castleton 6 nights, 5 days walking Moderate £715
LIME4 From Rocester(T) to Castleton 8 nights, 7 days walking Easy / Moderate £955

Limestone Way 4 nights, 3 days walking

£NNN per person
  • Itinerary
  • What's included?
  • Extra nights?
  • Tour facts
  • Route profile
  • Travel info
  • Weather
  • Holiday Highlights

Important information

The ancient custom of well dressing occurs in many Derbyshire towns and villages between May and September. Due to the increase in people visiting such villages and taking part in well dressing celebrations, availability at accommodations in the surrounding area can be affected. If you would like to walk during this time, please contact us to discuss availability and we will be happy to assist.

Please note that Castleton, Monyash, Youlgreave, Bonsall and, most famously, Tissington, all hold well dressing celebrations. For more information about well dressing, where and when the events occur, please check the Visit Peak District website here.

Start

Travel to Rocester(T) where your first night's accommodation will be booked

Day 1

Rocester(T) to Brassington(L). 16 miles (26km) / 2014 ft (614 m) ascent

Day 2

Brassington(L) to Monyash(L). 17.5 miles (28km) / 2005 ft (611 m) ascent

Day 3

Monyash(L) to Castleton. 14.5 miles (23km) / 1640 ft (500 m) ascent

Finish

Depart from Castleton after breakfast

Your Itinerary

This itinerary lists our preferred overnight stops for this tour. Sometimes there may be a shortage of available accommodation in a preferred location, in which case we will transfer you from the trail to your accommodation and back again at no extra charge. Overnight stops marked with a (T) will always require transfers as standard.

Overnight stops marked with an (L) have very limited accommodation, and therefore more often than not will also require a transfer, particularly on bank holidays and weekends. We will use non-transfer accommodation wherever possible.

The daily mileages quoted are average trail miles only and do not include the distance from the trail to your accommodation. We do not expect you to have to travel more than a mile from the trail to your accommodation in most cases; should your accommodation be further than this, transfers will be provided as standard if practical. A very limited number of stops will require you to travel on foot up to two miles off the trail, however these instances will be clearly communicated to you if applicable.

Further transfers may also be required due to some accommodations having a two-night minimum booking policy, especially at weekends.

Below are the additional costs that may apply depending on your requirements. Dog-friendly tours are subject to a Daily Dog Charge, which will be listed below if applicable. Our standard prices per person are based upon two people sharing a room; if you are on your own, or are part of a group but require a room of your own, then the Solo Traveller or Single Supplements apply respectively:

A note about transfers
Solo Traveller Supplement
£60.00 per person / per night
Single Supplement
£55.00 per person / per night


You can add rest days at any of the overnight stops:

Extra night (Standard)
£65.00 per person / per night
Standard
Interactive
© Contours Walking Holidays Limestone Way map
Rocester to Castleton
47 miles (75 km)
2nd January to 24th December

Holiday highlights

Relaxing in quiet, cosy villages such as Tissington, Brassington, Youlgreave and Castleton.

Marvelling at the white limestone formations dotted along the route.

Dipping from fields hemmed with drystone walls into dells carpeted with moss and steep-sided gorges cloaked in woodland.

What's included?

  • 4 nights' accommodation in en-suite rooms (where available) in selected B&B’s, hotels, inns and guesthouses along the trail, or a short distance away via taxi provided at our expense.
  • Breakfast each day.
  • Door to door luggage transfer.
  • Maps with the route marked on and a guidebook or route notes describing the trail.
  • An information pack containing an itinerary, instructions on how to find your accommodation each night and a kit list.
  • Detailed travel instructions on how to get to the start of your holiday and back from the end of it.

Extra Nights & Rest Days

Taking an extra day to explore the sights and sounds of Derbyshire can be the perfect way to extend your holiday.

Castleton is a wonderful place to explore at the end of your holiday. With a range of caverns and show caves; the imposing ruins of Peveril Castle; quaint tea rooms; shops selling the area's famous Blue John and surrounded by wonderfully steep hills including Mam Tor, it is not surprising that Castleton is so popular.

You can add rest days at any of the overnight stops:

Extra night (Standard)
£65.00 per person / per night

Tour Facts

Total distance: 46.5 miles (74.5 km)
Duration: 4 nights, 3 days walking
Minimum daily distance: 14.5 miles (23 km)
Maximum daily distance: 17.5 miles (28 km)
Code: LIME1 Grade: Demanding
Season: 2nd January - 24th December
Start of holiday: Rocester(T)
End of holiday: Castleton

Route Profile

Limestone Way Route Profile

Travel Information

Useful information and travel links that will assist you in your plans to travel to the start of the holiday and back from the end of it are sent to you with your full tour pack. A summary is given below:

By Air - The most convenient major city and international airports are Manchester and East Midlands.

By Rail - The nearest rail station to the start of the trail (Rocester) is at Uttoxeter (about 5 miles away). The nearest rail station to the end of the trail (Castleton) is at Hope (about 2.5 miles away).

By Bus - There is a bus service from Uttoxeter to Rocester, Monday to Saturday only, so a taxi would be required on a Sunday. Buses run from Hope to Castleton Monday to Saturday only, so a taxi would be required on a Sunday also.

From London - Trains run from London St Pancras International and London Euston stations to Uttoxeter. From there a bus/taxi will be required to Rocester.

Return To The Start - The easiest way to return to the start of the trail, is to take a taxi from Castleton back to Rocester as public transport options are very lengthy.

Weather Information

To find out more about the weather forecast for your chosen holiday's general location, please see the following websites:

  • MetCheck - This website allows you to look up detailed weather information for specific locations as far as six months in advance.
  • Met Office - This website shows regional area forecasts a few days in advance, with a general UK forecast description of up to 30 days in advance.
  • Mountain Forecast - This website shows what the forecast is like up on specific hills and fells, and offers forecasts a few days in advance.
"Approaching Matlock" by David Law (2022) "Approaching Matlock" by David Law (2022)
"Views from Pasture Lane" by Simon and Clare Parker (2022) "Views from Pasture Lane" by Simon and Clare Parker (2022)
"Limestone Way post" by Simon and Clare Parker (2022) "Limestone Way post" by Simon and Clare Parker (2022)
"Leaving Monyash towards Youlgreave" by Simon and Clare Parker (2022) "Leaving Monyash towards Youlgreave" by Simon and Clare Parker (2022)
"Wild Garlic at Thorpe" by Simon and Clare Parker (2022) "Wild Garlic at Thorpe" by Simon and Clare Parker (2022)
"The kind of sign we like!" by Simon and Clare Parker (2022) "The kind of sign we like!" by Simon and Clare Parker (2022)
"Mappleton Bridge" by Sarah Lanchbury (2021) "Mappleton Bridge" by Sarah Lanchbury (2021)
"Youlgreave Swimming Area" by Sarah Lanchbury (2021) "Youlgreave Swimming Area" by Sarah Lanchbury (2021)
"A Beautiful Old Handcart" by Pauline Ellington (2017 Photo Competition Winner) "A Beautiful Old Handcart" by Pauline Ellington (2017 Photo Competition Winner)
"Hey! You have Grass in your Teeth" by Pauline Ellington (2017) "Hey! You have Grass in your Teeth" by Pauline Ellington (2017)
"River Bradford at Youlgreave" by Pauline Ellington (2017) "River Bradford at Youlgreave" by Pauline Ellington (2017)
"Hay Dale" by Pauline Ellington (2017) "Hay Dale" by Pauline Ellington (2017)
"Cave Dale" by Val Ball (2017) "Cave Dale" by Val Ball (2017)
"Approaching Parwich" by Pauline Ellington (2017) "Approaching Parwich" by Pauline Ellington (2017)
"Ancient and Modern from Bonsall to Tissington" by Val Ball (2017) "Ancient and Modern from Bonsall to Tissington" by Val Ball (2017)
"Cave Dale" by Rod Bird (2016 Photo Competition Winner) "Cave Dale" by Rod Bird (2016 Photo Competition Winner)

Customer reviews from the Limestone Way

“Brilliant tour! We loved the Peak District and the organisation was excellent. We also had perfect weather, very good accommodation and great pubs for dinner. We loved every bit of it. This was my third trip with Contours and I can recommend it to everyone.”
Ms Ettelt, UK
“It was our wonderful holidays. It was wonderful, full of adventures and we enjoyed it. Will book another holiday with you next year”
Mrs Franko, Slovenia
“An enjoyable, scenic route on the Limestone Way.”
Mr O’Brien, UK
“Generally this is a lovely walk. Particular highlights were Cave Dale, and sections between Winster and Bonsall and Brassington and Parwich.”
Mr Parish, UK
“We thoroughly enjoyed our first walk with Contours. We much enjoyed the walk and you will certainly be hearing from us again.”
Mr Ellicock, UK
“Contours staff were helpful, well informed and very efficient at all times during the booking of this year’s walking holiday.”
Mr Pearce, UK
“Well organised, everything worked. What was noticeable was the high regard in which all the suppliers hold Contours.”
Mr Morris, Hong Kong
“A fantastic walk through stunning countryside! We’ve already booked another holiday with you.”
Mrs Parker, UK
“Thank you for a wonderful hiking tour, we thoroughly enjoyed it. Every now and then it was hard to find the right track but that didn’t really bother us. Luckely there’s GPS”
Mrs Van Den Berg, Netherlands
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