Castleton

About

Lying in the lee of mysterious Mam Tor, locally known as the 'Shivering Mountain', Castleton is one of the most beautifully-situated villages in the White Peak.

Whether you approach through the dramatic limestone gorge of Winnats Pass or from the Hope Valley, you'll appreciate the fabulous views created by its location on the cusp of the Peak District's breathtaking limestone and gritstone landscapes.

Whatever the weather, Castleton has something to offer visitors of all ages at any time of year. If it's fine and you're feeling fit, climb the steep steps up to the atmospheric Norman ruins of Peveril Castle, completed in 1086 for William Peverel, a favoured knight of William the Conqueror.

Castleton is the only place in the world where the semi-precious stone Blue John, unique to the Peak District and Derbyshire, can be found.

Some of the finest examples - including the largest known single piece of Blue John, The Pillar, can be found in Treak Cliff Cavern, where you can also explore a fairytale underground world of stalactite and stalagmites.

Like Castleton's other show caves, Treak Cliff was once a lead mine. Peak Cavern has the largest natural cave mouth in Europe - large enough for cottages and even an inn to be built inside in previous times. Nowadays the space it used for special events, including Christmas carol concerts.

Speedwell Cavern offers an underground boat ride  to the eerie 'Bottomless Pit', while Blue John Cavern, opposite Mam Tor, is the deepest of the caves and also contains examples of Blue John.

You can buy jewellery crafted from Blue John in the village, and Castleton Visitor Centre, with its museum and visitor centre, is a mine of information. Fortify yourself  in numerous cafés, tea rooms and pubs before heading off to tackle the Great Ridge Walk, one of the finest routes of its kind in the country.