Hermit's Cave, Stanton in Peak/Elton

The raw minimalism of this pilgrim experience is encapsulated by a battered 14th-century crucifix carved in a hermit’s cave, a highlight of the Peak District Old Stones Way

‍Highlights

• Hermit’s cave with carved crucifix

This cave is miles from anywhere. Without iron railings blocking its entrance, it would feel as isolated and untouched as it was when a hermit called it home. A rudimentary but striking sculpture of Christ on the cross has been carved into the cave wall. It looks like a tortured figure, worn by age and vandalism. It was pretty much all the furniture the hermit possessed.

The hermit’s cave is small but dry, a dark place shaded by yew trees. At the back can be seen the crucifix carved into the rockface (see the photo at the top of this page).

A rule of life written for hermits in the 14th century dictates that they should have an image of the Saviour on the cross with arms outstretched. It depicts willing sacrifice, something the hermit’s own meagre existence emulated. The sculpture has been dated to the 14th century. A circle of four standing stones lies 400m away, visible from the footpath to the cave. It could indicate an even earlier Christian use of the cave since the first missionaries sought out and converted pagan sites. The Peak District Old Stones Way is on britishpilgrimage.org, and another route calling here, The Peak Wesley Way, can be found online.

The cave is a cramped space, scarcely more than a hollow beneath an overhanging rock, with little in the way of any recorded history. Its smallness tells its own story.

Directions‍

Footpath opposite drive to: Harthill Moor Farm, Cliff Lane, Alport, Bakewell DE45 1LL

W3W: skims.quitter.koala

GPS: 53.1577N 1.6605W

Head west through the village of Elton, and turn right to Alport at the end of the village. After 1.2 miles the track to Harthill Moor Farm is on the right; if driving, park well beyond this junction. The footpath is directly opposite the turning into the farm, leading diagonally across two fields towards a large outcrop of rock, Robin Hood’s Stride. After crossing the second field, 70m before the outcrop, turn left along another footpath, heading towards a second, smaller rocky outcrop 280m away. Enter the enclosure around this crag and turn right, downhill, following the base of the rocks until you come to a huge yew tree and the cave.