Winnats Pass at Night: Timelapse Photography in the Peak District
Sunset to sunrise from the cliff topsLast updated: October 2026
Winnats Pass at night is one of the most dramatic sights in the Peak District, and one of the easiest places to shoot a night timelapse from a wild camp. From the car to my pitch took 15 minutes. From there I shot timelapse after timelapse as day turned into night: headlights snaking up the road through the gorge, the lights of Castleton and the Hope Valley coming on below, and clouds rolling across the stars.
Here’s how the night went, where to set up, and the kit I used.
Winnats Pass night timelapse at a glance
| Location | The ridge above Winnats Pass, near Castleton |
|---|---|
| Car to pitch | About 15 minutes |
| Sunset | Drops to the south, so no sunset over the gorge |
| Sunrise | To the east, the same direction you face from Mam Tor |
| Subjects | Headlights through the gorge, Castleton’s lights, clouds over the stars, the tent |
| Kit | Canon 5D Mark IV, DJI Mavic 2 Pro, GoPro, MSR Access 2 |
| Edited in | Lightroom Classic, LRTimelapse and DaVinci Resolve Studio |
Why Winnats Pass for timelapse photography
It’s a nice easy one. It was raining all day in the Lakes, the Peak District was calm, and I had the Manchester half marathon on the Sunday, so I wanted something easy on the Friday. Winnats was perfect.
The road through the gorge is what makes it. As it gets dark, the headlights snake up and down the pass, and the village lights come on below. Then, once the traffic stops, it’s pitch black and quiet, and you’ve got the stars.
Parking and the walk in
Parking has changed since I was last there. There are red routes along the road now, so I couldn’t park at the bottom and walk up like I’d planned. I parked at the top instead, walked past the farm by the cattle grid and took the path on the right, which takes you straight onto the top. I’ve put the exact parking spot in the video and the GPX on my Patreon.
Check the signs and the red route carefully before you leave your car.
Choosing the pitch
I arrived at ten past four, about three hours before sunset, so I was late. My MSR Access 2 is bright orange and can be seen from space, which is great for mountain rescue and less great for keeping a low profile, and there were still crowds on Mam Tor. So I pulled it back a little from the ridge, just off the edge, where it’s tucked away from the road on either side.
Be careful near the edge. In places a foot to your right is a long way down.
The sun sets to the south, so there’s no sunset over the gorge. But sunrise is to the east, so I pitched with the door facing east to watch it from the tent. In autumn the sun was up around seven, so there was time for a coffee first.
Shooting into the night
I spent hours on the camera, timelapse after timelapse, including plenty of the tent. I didn’t even bother with a meal. Priorities. By nine o’clock it was pitch black and really quiet, and the traffic through the pass had stopped. Bliss.
It wasn’t a perfect night. Two guys were walking about at around one in the morning, which unsettles you a bit, and then the rain started bouncing down, just to round things off. I had a terrible night’s sleep.
Sunrise
At six I was up and had a timelapse running as the sun came up. You could already see headlights going up Mam Tor, because everyone goes up there for sunrise. This is why you do it: up here on your own, with a cup of coffee and that view. By eight I’d had three or four coffees and was packed away. Very efficiently, for obvious reasons.
Testing my 4-season kit
It wasn’t cold: 20°C when I left the house, 16°C up there, dropping to 12°C. But I packed my full 4-season setup to make sure it all fits in the bag before winter. The only things missing were gloves and a hat.
- Tent: MSR Access 2.
- Sleeping bag: Rab Mythic 600. It’s under a kilo and I’ve never been cold in it.
- Mat: Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XTherm MAX, the long wide version, inflated with the Flextail pump, which doubles as a torch.
- Down layers: a Rab Mythic Ultra down jacket and Rab Argon down pants. You just can’t get cold in them, which matters when you’re stood about shooting timelapses for hours.
- Shell: the Rab Cinder Downpour, a light cycling shell that keeps the rain off.
- Base layers: cheap ones underneath, with the down on top.
- Cooking: a cup kit and the Jetboil.
I’d rather carry it and have it than not have it and be cold. There’s nothing worse than being cold. You can’t get comfy, you can’t sleep, and your night’s ruined.
The hardest part: leaving the house
This was my second camp in a month, and I’m trying to make it a habit. There’s a kind of darkness that keeps you in the house: not wanting to pack your bag, sort your meals or pick somewhere to go. The best part of wild camping is buying gear. Anyone who says otherwise is lying. The hardest part is getting it together and getting out of the door.
As soon as you’re in the car, it clears. So pack your bag the night before, set your alarm, have a couple of coffees and get gone. Don’t let the negatives waste your days off.
Tips for a night timelapse at Winnats Pass
- Arrive with time to spare. I was late, with three hours of light left. Give yourself longer to find a pitch and set up.
- Pitch back from the edge. It’s safer, and you won’t be on show to everyone on Mam Tor.
- Face the door east for the sunrise.
- Shoot the traffic before it stops. The headlights through the gorge are the best part of the evening.
- Pack warm layers, even on a mild night. You’ll be standing still for hours.
- Leave no trace, and check the parking rules.
New to wild camping? Read my guide to beginner wild camping in the Peak District at Winnats Pass.
Winnats Pass timelapse FAQ
Is Winnats Pass good for timelapse photography?
Yes. The road through the gorge gives you headlight trails, Castleton’s lights come on below, and once the traffic stops you get the stars. It’s only about 15 minutes from the car.
Where does the sun rise and set at Winnats Pass?
The sun sets to the south, so there’s no sunset over the gorge. It rises in the east, the same direction you face from Mam Tor.
Where do you park for Winnats Pass?
There are red routes along the road now. I parked at the top, walked past the farm by the cattle grid and took the path on the right onto the top. Check the signs before you leave your car.
What kit do you use for night timelapses?
A Canon 5D Mark IV, a DJI Mavic 2 Pro for aerials and a GoPro, edited in Lightroom Classic, LRTimelapse and DaVinci Resolve Studio.
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