Castleton, a town in the Peak District, is stunning. It sits atop Hope Valley, close to some fantastic hiking terrain. The village’s rich history is highlighted by the Norman Peverill Castle Keep, which sits on a hill overlooking the town and the National Park below. Hikers, mountaineers, and cavers flock to the village to test their mettle on the trails and in the Winnats Pass. The magnificent semiprecious stone Blue John is exclusively found and mined at Castleton, making the town and its caves famous around the world. Visitors flock to Castleton each December for the town’s many attractions, including its beautiful Christmas lights and a wide variety of fun holiday activities, as well as its fantastic Visitor Centre, which features a small museum illustrating life in the Hope Valley. You may find the picturesque settlements of Edale (where the Pennine Way begins), Hope, and Hathersage (which has an outdoor pool open during the warmer months) not far away. Spend the day at Alton Towers or check out the stately mansions of Chatsworth and Haddon Hall. Market towns of Ashbourne and Leek are a bit further away, but they’re still within driving distance, as are Buxton and Matlock Bath.
