Welcome to Castleton, Hope & Edale

Things to do in Castleton in the Peak District & Derbyshire

Close to mysterious Mam Tor, locally known as the 'Shivering Mountain', Castleton is one of the most beautifully-situated villages in the Peak District.

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 and there are numerous show caverns to explore

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. Plus, there are lots of places to stay in Castleton including hotels, self-catering cottages, B&Bs and more.

The pretty village of Hope is situated where the River Noe and Peakshole Water meet, and has a range of hills to the north including Win Hill and Losehill.

Hope village was mentioned in the Doomsday book as having both a priest and a church and the present church, dedicated to St Peter dates from around the 13th century and is famous for it's gargoyles, a Norman font and there is the stump of a Saxon Cross in the churchyard.

The village has a selection of cafés and pubs and has local greengrocers and a deli as well as farmer's butchers and gallery. The town has an annual beer festival, well dressing and other events. There is a large campsite in the village and a 4 star spa hotel on its outskirts.

Other places of interest nearby include the delightful Derbyshire village of Bradwell, which contains clusters of cottages and character houses that spread up the sides of a deep gorge before opening out onto lush meadows in the Hope Valley.

Edale is a small village at the start/end of the UK's first and most famous long distance walking path, the Pennine Way.

The village itself grew from the herdsmens' shelters or 'booths' at what are now the hamlets of Upper Booth, Barber Booth, Ollerbrook Booth and Nether Booth. The central 'booth' was Grindsbrook Booth, now usually called Edale Village.

The village has two popular pubs, a café and local shop. The village has a railway station on one of England's most spectacular railway routes: the Manchester to Sheffield train line. There are two camping sites in Edale as well as others in outlying 'booths'.

Activities in Castleton, Hope & Edale include paying a visit to Treak Cliff Cavern, an underground wonderland of stalactites and stalagmites, rocks, minerals and fossils. Oaker Farm Cottages & Haddy's Hut is a great choice for accommodation during your stay.