Hay Dale is a short dry valley near Buxton, Derbyshire, in the Peak District of England.

It is part of a longer valley that runs for approximately 4 miles (6.4 km) north–south from Peak Forest (on the A623 road) to the River Wye at Millers Dale.

The Carboniferous limestone rocks of the reserve were formed 350 million years ago from the shells and sediments of a tropical sea.

The reserve contains ash woodland, limestone grassland and many wildflowers including early purple orchid, cowslip, common rock rose and thyme.

[2] The Limestone Way and the Peak District Boundary Walk long-distance footpaths run along the length of the gentle valley floor.