Mum’s friend was in the UK, visiting from Poland, so we decided on a day trip out into the countryside to Castleton, a beautiful village situated in the Hope Valley, in the heart of the Peak District National Park. Surrounded by hillsides and overlooked by Mam Tor (the shivering mountain) and the ancient Peveril Castle, the village is popular for its show caves (including The Devil’s Arse), Blue John stone and walking.
We arrived and parked in the car park next to the visitor centre. In was very chilly and nearly lunchtime, so we went straight over to the Bull’s Head for a drink and some food first. The Bull’s Head is a family run inn offering excellent food and drink and comfortable Bed & Breakfast accommodation in Castleton. The say to offer a warm welcome in comfortable surroundings and I think that was a fair description on such a cold day!
After lunch we had a walk up to Peveril Castle (also sometimes known as Castleton Castle or Peak Castle), a ruined 11th-century castle overlooking the village. It was the main settlement of William Peverel and was founded some time between the Norman Conquest of 1066 and its first recorded mention in the Domesday Survey of 1086. The imposing ruins of the castle stand high on the hill above Castleton, offering panoramic views across the Hope Valley and Cave Dale. The castle is reportedly haunted by a white knight and others have spotted a phantom horse and hound near the keep 👻
Time to go home and the spectacular drive from Castleton up past Speedwell Cavern up through Winnat’s Pass is an absolute must…. the views are simply stunning! Winnat’s Pass is a hill pass and limestone gorge in the Peak District of Derbyshire. The name Winnats comes from ‘Windy Gates’ as one of the windier entrances into Castleton and the Hope Valley. It was very steep, so I am so glad we were driving up!