Millican Dalton’s Cave Walk from Borrowdale
A circular Lake District walk around Castle Crag visiting Millican Dalton’s historic cave, with woodland paths, quarry trails and peaceful Borrowdale views.
If you’re craving a walk that blends history, nature and quiet adventure, this route delivers all three.
You move gently from village lanes into riverside paths, through peaceful woodland and onto old quarry tracks, before reaching the remarkable cave once home to the self styled Professor of Adventure, Millican Dalton.
This is more than just a walk. It feels like stepping into someone else’s story.
Expect mossy woods, uneven slate paths, quiet stretches beside the River Derwent and wide Borrowdale views, all wrapped into a rewarding half day loop.
Quick facts
Distance: 5.5 miles
Time: Around 2 hours 20 minutes at a relaxed pace
Route type: Circular loop
Elevation gain: Approximately 1063 ft
Terrain: Quiet road, woodland paths, rocky quarry trails and uneven ground
Difficulty: Moderate due to rough surfaces in places
Dog friendly: Yes on leads around livestock
Start point: National Trust Borrowdale car park, CA12 5XA
Facilities: Public toilets in Grange
OS map: Explorer OL4 The English Lakes North Western Area
Digital route: View the full route on Hiiker
Parking and access
We start from the large National Trust Borrowdale car park (around 60 spaces).
There is a much smaller car park in Grange, but it only holds a handful of cars. We always choose the main car park to avoid blocking lanes and to respect local residents. It only adds around five minutes onto the walk and makes life easier for everyone.
From the car park, head right along the road and cross the River Derwent into Grange. You will also find public toilets here.
Follow the track past Hollows Farm campsite and into the woodland.
From this point on, everything starts to slow down.
Route description
From Grange, the path leads gently into Low How Wood, where mossy banks and twisting trees create a calm, sheltered atmosphere.
You soon reach quarry paths on the lower slopes of Castle Crag. These were created during slate extraction in the 18th and 19th centuries and now form part of this unique walking circuit.
Part way around the loop you arrive at Millican Dalton’s Cave, tucked into the eastern flank of Castle Crag.
After visiting the cave, continue following the circular path as it wraps around the fell, with occasional open views looking down towards Derwentwater.
Eventually the track brings you back to the woodland near Grange, where you rejoin your earlier path and return to the village and car park.
What you will see on this walk
River Derwent and Grange bridge
A beautiful stone bridge crossing the clear flowing river, marking the gentle transition from village life into wild Borrowdale.
The woodland stile into Castle Crag woods
A simple wooden stile that marks your entry into peaceful woodland. Stepping over feels like leaving the busy world behind, as trees close in and the walk becomes calmer and more intimate.
Woodland paths through Low How Wood
Quiet leafy trails with moss covered banks and birdsong overhead. This is one of the most peaceful sections of the walk.
Borrowdale valley views
On the return side of the loop, you get lovely glimpses down the valley and towards Derwentwater through breaks in the trees.
A hidden quarry cave near the National Trust car park
A small quarried cave tucked into the rocks just beyond the car park. Easy to miss, but a quiet glimpse into Borrowdale’s slate quarrying past and a subtle preview of the adventure ahead.
Millican Dalton’s Cave
A split level quarried cave with two chambers once used as Dalton’s living room and bedroom. Inside you can still see his famous carved message:
“Don’t Waste Worrds, Jump to Conclusions”
Evidence of a life lived simply, close to nature.
Castle Crag
Castle Crag is one of the smallest fells in Alfred Wainwright’s guides, standing just under 1000 feet, but it feels far bigger in character.
It is the only Wainwright below 1000 feet and is believed to have once held an Iron Age hill fort, although quarrying removed much of the southern section.
If you wish, there is a steep slate path to the summit, but we chose not to include this with our children due to loose rock and exposure. Whether you add it depends on confidence and conditions.
Even without the summit, walking around Castle Crag is a unique Lake District experience, blending woodland intimacy with rugged mountain scenery.
Who was Millican Dalton
Millican Dalton was born in 1867 and later left behind a conventional London life to live simply outdoors.
He became known as the Professor of Adventure, offering guided camping and climbing trips long before adventure tourism was a thing.
In the 1920s he moved into this Borrowdale cave during summers, living frugally on homemade bread, foraged food and coffee, making his own clothes and lightweight camping equipment.
He led groups across the Lake District and even into the Swiss Alps, and was remembered for his Tyrolean hat, goatee beard and deep love of nature.
Visitors often spoke of the calm they felt in his company.
He lived this way for nearly fifty years before passing away in 1947.
Today his cave has become a quiet place of pilgrimage for walkers and adventurers, a reminder that a simple life lived well can leave a powerful legacy.
A moment of calm
Standing in the cave, listening to dripping water and distant birds, it is easy to imagine Millican lying awake at night, listening to the mountain stream and forest sounds around him.
This walk invites you to slow down.
It is not about ticking off summits. It is about reconnecting with nature, walking gently through woodland and stone, and remembering that adventure does not have to be loud.
Sometimes it lives quietly in a cave above Borrowdale.
About this walking guide
This guide is part of Outdoor Exploring Family and our Lake District walks collection.
The route has been walked by us and includes real landmarks, honest advice and family perspective to help you explore with confidence.
It is designed for anyone wanting a meaningful Lake District walk combining history, scenery and peaceful outdoor time.
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