Description
Winnats Pass (or Winnats) is a hill pass and limestone gorge in the Peak District. It lies west of the village of Castleton and looks down on the head of Hope Valley. This narrow gorge has a maximum gradient of over 28% and is a classic photography location. At the foot of the pass is the entrance to Speedwell Cavern, a karst cave accessed through a flooded lead mine, which is a popular tourist attraction.
The permanent closure of the A625 (aka ‘The Broken Road’) below Mam Tor due to subsidence promoted Winnats Pass as the main through route. From the tops of the pass you are provided with great views of Mam Tor, ‘The Great Ridge’ aswell as the towering chimney of Hope cement works not forgetting the steep slopes of Winnats pass passage itself.
Winnats Pass can be seen to cut steeply down through limestone rocks. These were formed approximately 340 million years ago as a reef fringing a shallow lagoon, with deeper water beyond. The presence of a small outcrop of fossiliferous rock (known as ‘beach beds’) at the base of Winnats Pass, close to Speedwell Cavern. This suggests that a underwater cleft or canyon once existed within the reef which caused the build up of shelly and crinoidal remains at its base.
Photography
The best time of day to photograph this location is sunrise. One of the most sort after shots is with a cloud inversion, with the best time to achieve this between the months of January – April, and September – November. These are the most favourable times of the year but great images can be taken outside of these months.
- Sunset
- Sunrise
- All year round
- Wide Angle
- Standard
- Telephoto
- Tripod
Photos
Winnats Pass
Map
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Parking
Parking is available at the top of Winnats Pass, but in limited supply.
Alternatively roadside parking is available on the A6187 Old Mam Tor Road or at Castleton Car Park adjacent to the Castleton Visitors Centre.
