Castleton
The beautiful village Castleton is situated at the head of Hope Valley in the heart of the Peak District National Park. It’s popular for its stunning show caves, rich history, adorable shops, famous Christmas lights, cosy pubs as well as the the ancient Castleton Garland Ceremony, Winnats Pass, Cave Dale and the multiple footpaths in the area. The village is surrounded by hillsides and overlooked by the famous Mam Tor and the 11th century Peveril Castle. Castleton is within easy commuting distance of Sheffield and Manchester.
The history of Castleton
Castleton was founded after the building of Peveril Castle in 1086, the castle was built by William Peveril, son of William the Conqueror. There was possibly an Anglo-Saxon settlement on the east side of the village near Hope as there’s an embankment running through the village, and S shaped strip fields on the east side, known as furlongs.
The village developed under the protection of the garrison and grew and prospered from this period. The population was made up of farmers, retailers, men at arms and others. Castleton was on the main packhorse routes and an important stopover in coaching days in later centuries. It was also a lead mining and market village. The oldest part is by the river, Peakshole Water near Cavern Walk. Castleton is now designated a conservation area and much of its history can be read in its layout and architecture, if you know what to look for.
Pubs, cafes and restaurants
The village is full of places where you can enjoy a delicious meal or drink in front of a roaring pub fire, outside a quaint cafe or at a beautifully decorated dining table. Find out more about the Castleton locals here.
Peveril Castle
The imposing ruins of Peveril Castle stand high above Castleton. They’re actually situated directly above Little Lilac Cottage. Mentioned in the Domesday survey, Peveril Castle is one of England’s earliest Norman fortresses. Climb up to the castle at the top of the hill to enjoy breath taking views over Hope Valley.
T: 0143 362 0613
W: www.english-heritage.org.uk
Castleton’s Caverns
There are four spectacular caverns, which you can explore on guided tours. Treak Cliff cavern and Blue John cavern contain beautiful caves decorated with stalactites formations, and Blue John stone. Peak cavern is the resurgence of a huge river system, its enormous entrance are the remains of a rope-making walk. Speedwell cavern is an old lead mine, where you can be taken along a flooded tunnel by boat.
The Blue John Cavern
The world-famous Blue John Cavern has been said to be the finest that can be seen by the general public in Western Europe.
T: 0143 362 0638
W: www.bluejohn-cavern.co.uk
Treak Cliff Cavern
Guided tours are available in the Cavern, which is famous around the world for its unique and huge deposits of Blue John stone and houses some of the most stunning cave formations found in the UK.
T: 0143 362 0571
W: www.bluejohnstone.com
Peak Cavern
The largest natural cave entrance in the British Isles and also known as ‘The Devil’s Arse’. A series of unique events, screenings and concerts take place year-round in the spectacular cave.
T: 0143 362 0285
W: www.peakcavern.co.uk
Speedwell Cavern
Take an amazing boat trip 450m under the Hills of Castleton to the awesome Bottomless Pit.
T: 0143 362 0512
W: www.speedwellcavern.co.uk
Mam Tor
At the top of Mam Tor, the remains of an Iron Age fort can be seen. The falling away of the side of the hill has led to it being nicknamed ‘The Shivering Mountain’. The stone surfaced footpath leading you to the top of Mam Tor will reward you with one of the most remarkable view points in the Peak District.
Winnats Pass
The pass is one of the most phenomenal limestone gorges in the Peaks. There are several theories explaining its formation, including one that it was formed under water during the growth of a reef by a lagoon current. There’s a challenging but satisfying 5-mile hike starting in Castleton, which takes you above Winnats Pass and has truly superb views.
Cave Dale
This is a spectacular valley, which can be seen from Castle Hill. It can be entered by walking between two cottages in Bar Gate above the Market Place where a signpost shows the beginning of the Limestone Way to Matlock.