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Want to visit the real Robin hood’s cave 2026? Robin hood has captured the imagination of many generations the world over. The hero of old in green attire robbed from the rich and gave to the poor. It is not clear whether Robin Hood was a real person but there are certainly several place names that are linked to him in Folklore. Thought to be from Loxley (a town in north Sheffield), his adventures were played out in Sherwood forest (near Nottingham).
Hathersage village (also near Sheffield) is home to Little John’s grave. When you find the real Robin Hood’s cave you quickly realise that it is the perfect setting for an outlaw hero to hide out. Sheltered from the bitter British elements. A sandy floor make the cave dry and comfortable to sleep in. The cave itself is tricky to access, providing safety from the infamous sheriff of Nottingham and wild bandits.
As a teenager I grew up in Sheffield and found this cave to be an amazing camping spot. Frequented by the occasional climber and the odd weirdo like me – this is a fantastic place for sleeping wild. The cave is sufficiently dry and sheltered so no tent is needed even in the rain – all you need is a warm sleeping bag and a good roll matt. I am super excited to share the secrets of Robin Hood’s cave with you.
Before you read on here is an important disclaimer: To get into the real Robin Hood’s cave you need to be willing and able to climb a little. For someone with some experience of climbing it is possible to get to the cave without any special climbing equipment. Never attempt anything on rocks that you do not feel fully equipped and experienced for. We cannot accept any responsibility for accidents or injuries caused by attempting to get to Robin Hood’s cave. This adventure would not be suitable for a family with young children.
Not for you? Don’t worry – you can still enjoy this beautiful area with a Stanage Edge walk.
Where is the real Robin Hood’s cave?
The real Robin Hood’s cave is located on Stanage edge near Hathersage village in the Peak District. It is located 800m north west of the Stanage edge trig point (GPS coordinates 53.34877, -1.63454). There is another smaller cave and ledge right next to it (this smaller cave is located just before you get to Robin Hood’s cave if you are walking from the trig point). This can easily be confused for the real Robin Hood’s cave. The real Robin Hood’s cave is deeper and more sheltered. It is also harder to access as you will need to be able to do a little climbing to get to it. Remember if you climb down you also need to be able to climb back up again.
How do you get to Stanage edge?
Unfortunately there are no public transport connections to Stanage edge. The only way to get close to Stanage edge is to travel by car, bike or walk from Sheffield (it’s a fairly long walk). There are several parking places around Stanage Edge. One of the best spots is the upper Burbage bridge car park.
This car park is free for parking, however during peak times it can be very busy. We recommend arriving early to find a spot. If the upper burbage bridge car park is busy you can also park in the layby on the left hand side of The Dale (the road that leads down into Hathersage). On the other side of the road (the right hand side) there is a path that leads up on to Stanage edge. Alternatively you can park on the road below Stanage edge, but this is not ideal for accessing Robin Hood’s cave. We recommend accessing the cave from the top path. If you park below Stanage edge you will need to walk up to the top path and then walk along the cliffs to find the top of the cave following the information in this guide to help you find the exact spot.
This is NOT the real Robin Hood’s cave
Just before you reach Robin Hood’s cave you will see a ledge and small cave. This is a scenic spot but it is not the real Robinhood’s cave. Once you are here the real cave is very close – just a few metres further along the path.
Once you are there how do you find the real Robin Hood’s cave?
The best and easiest way to access Robin Hood’s cave is from the path that runs along the top of the Stanage Edge cliffs. A cliff top path may sound a little unnerving – but the path is wide and runs a safe distance from the cliff edge itself. The most challenging part of the adventure is actually climbing down into the cave itself. To identify the exact location of Robin Hood’s cave we recommend using a GPS device (many phones have inbuilt GPS and allow you to see your location on maps). Also pay careful attention to the rocks that mark the top of Robin Hood’s cave.
Fortunately the rocks are fairly prominent and unique as you walk along Stanage edge, so there is minimal risk of confusing the location. Just before the real Robin Hood’s cave you will see a ledge leading to a smaller and less sheltered cave. Just past this cave you will find the rocks that mark the top of the real Robin Hood’s cave. Once you have found the top of the Real Robin Hood’s cave, the final challenge is getting into the cave itself. Remember this requires a sufficient level of skill, competence and a careful assessment of the route and conditions.
How do you get into the real Robinhood’s cave?
If you feel confident in your ability to climb down to the Robin Hood’s cave, look for a gap in the ground between the two prominent rocks. This hole in the ground is wide enough for many adults to fit down. You will need to assess this for yourself. Here’s a picture of the hole you climb down to get to the ledge.
If you are able to hang down into this hole you will find that there is a rock to get your feet on. Lowering your body further brings you to a ledge which is part way down the cliffs. Robin Hood’s cave is round to the right. Although the ledge that leads to the cave is relatively wide take care because you are still only part way down the cliff edge and there is still a substantial drop to the bottom.
Once you are in Robin Hood’s cave you will find it warm, dry and sheltered with a sandy floor. There are other routes to climb down but these are more risky because they expose you to drops. We recommend the hole in the ground route because this just drops down onto the ledge – because you are surrounded by rocks as you lower yourself there are no sheer cliff drops as you lower yourself down.
How do you get back out of the cave?
The safest way to get back out of Robin Hood’s cave is to climb back up through the hole- the route that you came down. This is pretty physically challenging as there is not much room to manoeuvre your body. It is much easier if you have a friend so you can help each other. There are other routes out of the cave but these have higher risks: some people have down-climbed from the ledge to the bottom of Stanage edge. Another route back to the top path is to climb the rock face in front of the hole (that you climbed down).
If you enjoyed this don’t miss our epic guide on other EPIC caves in Yorkshire and the Peak District. Looking for other things to do in the Peak District? Don’t miss our ultimate guide on Peak District Family walks.
Need more danger in your life? Near Stanage Edge there is also an epic view point on Bamford Edge with a rocky outcrop – the perfect spot for a WOW insta shot!
