Castleton

Castleton is a small town in the Peak District National Park in Derbyshire. Its two main claims to fame are the 12th-century Peveril Castle and a series of four show caves, where minerals including Blue John, unique to this area, have been mined. To the north lies the gritstone of the Dark Peak; to the south the limestone landscapes of the White Peak. The surrounding countryside has much to offer the walker, rock-climber and potholer.

Get in
Castleton has an excellent bus service from Sheffield and the east (there are no services through Winnats Pass to Chapel-en-le-Frith and the west), and though not directly on the Hope Valley line, train tickets are accepted on the bus between Castleton and Hope Station (which is!).

Do
Castleton is home to the only Blue John mines in the world which tourists can visit, and four major caves/caverns. Each has a very different feel, from the natural splendour of Peak Cavern to the disconcerting underground river trip (and well-rehearsed guides' patter) of Speedwell. The four caverns are as follows:

Connect
As of March 2024, Castleton and its approach roads have a basic mobile signal from Three, and 4G from EE, O2 and (in patches) Vodafone. 5G has not reached this area.

Go next

 * Edale
 * Sheffield