In one of the UK’s best-loved national parks, sits a small village surrounded by towering peaks and hills, served by a meandering river. Overlooked by the ruins of an 11th century hill-top castle, Castleton in the Peak District is best known for it’s impressive hiking routes and charming appearance:
Dating back to the Domesday Book of 1089, the charming village sits in the valley of a number of mountains and hills, all formerly the lands of famous Norman Knight William Peverel, for whom the castle was built. In the 1150s King Henry II regularly stayed at the castle and was where Henry chose to meet with King Malcom IV of Scotland. Today the castle forms part of the Duke of Lancaster‘s (The reigning King’s) estate.
Sitting under the eye of Mam Tor (known locally as the ‘shivering mountain’), the village is found at the edge of an area known as Hope Valley, and can be entered at the west via the stunning limestone gorge of Winnats Pass (image above). The breathtaking topography of the area also includes Blue John Cavern, which is the only known source of the rare semi-precious stone known as Blue John, favoured by the Romans and Victorians.
Located among such striking scenery, it is almost no surprise that a sudden turn down a modest residential row leads to a ‘secret valley’ known as Cave Dale (bottom image); an imposing limestone valley, which runs with a stream during rainy season. The valley provides bewitching views of the castle ruins, and leads hikers into the expansive countryside. Below is the network of caves collectively known as ‘Devil’s Arse’.
With dramatic landscapes and far-reaching history, Castleton seems to emit an enchanting aura; from its period stone cottages to its rambling river, which snakes between rows of cottages, under roads and down valleys. Bursts of colour and texture from the hillside trees mingle with wisps of smoke from chimney tops, independent craft shops, cafes and pubs bustle with visitors while street lanterns add an extra glow.
Find out more about Castleton at the tourist website here, or view more of the village’s beautiful cottages in this previous post. Alternatively, take a look at other nearby pretty places in previous posts such as Buxton or Bakewell.