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This Cathedral Cave walk is a fantastic family adventure through the dramatic landscapes of Little Langdale. Created as part of the area’s slate mining industry in the 1700s, Cathedral Cave and the surrounding quarry remains offer a fascinating glimpse into the Lake District’s industrial heritage, with slate from these hills still visible on traditional buildings across the region.
Now managed by the National Trust, the site is free to visit year-round and makes for an exciting day out with cave exploration, old quarry tunnels, and plenty of opportunities for little adventurers to scramble and explore. Take care as the old quarry has uneven ground and steep drops, so children should be closely supervised throughout and dogs must be on a lead. If tackling the longer tunnel, bring a headtorch.
Also, have change handy for honesty-box treats along the route.
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When planning your visit to the National Park, please arrive early or late in the day to avoid crowds if visiting over sunny weekends or school holidays. Please also take all litter home with you, don’t bring BBQs, and park your car in designated parking areas. Also, please use these walks as a guide; access and stiles may change.
PARKING INFORMATION: Please do not rely solely on the postcode for parking directions. In the National Park, a postcode can cover a large area. Postcodes are only provided as guidance. Please either use the Google Maps point or what3words, which are provided on every walk guide.
Cathedral Cave walk map
On all Lake District family walks it’s a good idea to have an Ordnance Survey paper map with you, even if you have your phone on you. For this walk you need the Ordnance Survey Explorer OL7 (English Lakes South-eastern Area). It’s also a good opportunity to show young kids the map features and get them started with map reading.
Need to know
DISTANCE OF WALK: 6km / 3.8 miles
TERRAIN: rocky and uneven footpaths.
PARKING: Tilberthwaite car park. Click here for Google Map point on your phone. Postcode is: LA21 8DG. Pay online using RingGo (37331).
WALK HIGHLIGHTS: Cathedral cave, tunnels to explore (bring a torch), remains of old slate buildings.
HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE: Allow 3 hours for this walk.
TOTAL ASCENT: 201 metres
FACILITIES: There are no public toilets. You can pick up ice-cream and sometimes cake treats from farms along the way, though this is not always guaranteed.
The route
START: Tilberthwaite car park
Click here for Google Map point
Grid reference: NY 3062 0102
Post code: LA21 8DG
what3words: ///grin.giraffes.symphony
Route follows an anticlockwise direction.
1. From the car park, head left along the road. After 150 metres the road bends to the right and then it’s a further 400 metres to Tilberthwaite Farm.
2. At the farm, follow the track through the farm yard. There are free roaming chickens so keep dogs under close control. Then take the path that heads to the right and go through the gate.
IMPORTANT: Look out for the freezer on the left as you walk through. It is loaded with ice creams and you can either leave cash, or bank transfer with the details on the front of the freezer. The route takes you back through here at the end of the walk so this is an amazing treat to finish with!
3. Continue along this bridleway for almost 2km. There are a couple of gates to walk through and you need to ignore a little path going off to the right when your track heads left. Just stick to the path. Along the way you will notice huge spoil heaps from various quarries piled high.
4. You will pass a huge house being constructed on your left, when the path swings to the right. Shortly after this, you will come to a sign on your left next to a stone stile in the wall. Go over the stile and follow the worn path that heads up and slightly left.
ALTERNATIVE ROUTE: This route outlined in this walk guide takes you through a 100m tunnel and involves some slippery/narrow steps. If you want an easier route to Cathedral Cave, ignore the stile and continue along the bridleway and take the next left turn onto another obvious track. This will take you to the front (main) entrance of Cathedral Cave.
5. As soon as path levels out (after about 30m), head off the path into the clearing on your left. In the clearing on your right you will see the entrance to the tunnel.
6. Enter the tunnel and have your torch read. The tunnel is approximately 100 metres long. Keep right to avoid flooded areas.
7. Scramble over the rocks at the end into daylight keeping right as much as possible. You are now on the level where you can look through the ‘window’ into Cathedral Cave. This is on your right as you emerge from the tunnel, and there is a large basin to your left.
8. From here, you can scramble down the rocks in the basin to get down into the main cave. But if you don’t fancy this with little ones, instead go up the narrow steps on the other side of the basin to the window. At the top of the steps, you emerge into a lovely area with lots of piled up slate ‘houses’ for the kids to explore, and spots that are ideal for a sit down and snack.
9. Then head to the right and follow the path down and around the side of the hill, arriving to the main entrance of the Cathedral Cave. This is also where you’ll arrive if you too the alternative route at Step 4.
10. The tunnel into Cathedral Cave is short, and visibility is good. This opens out into the huge cavern with plenty of light coming from the opening above. Enjoy exploring the cave!
11. After exploring Cathedral Cave, turn left out of the main entrance and head down the path and through a gate. Continue following the path. You will see the famous Slaters Bridge on your right and further along you arrive at Low Hall Garth Hut, where if you’re lucky you might find some home-baked treats.
12. From here, the path turns left and starts to climb. You will pass High Hall Garth on your right. Continue to follow the path here, and then through the gate onto open ground.
13. Around 150 metres after the gate, you’ll reach a signpost. Follow the path signposted ‘Tilberthwaite 1m’. The route continues through another gate, gradually uphill. Along the way you’ll spot more evidence of the area’s old quarry workings.
14. The path eventually starts to drop down, and you will find yourself back at Tilberthwaite Farm. Turn right into the farmyard (remember they have ice creams in the freezer!) and follow the track back to the car park. Time for a well deserved picnic! And if the weather is kind to you, the stream is perfect a paddle or a little explore.
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