The Hope Valley view
From the rim you take in the whole valley, Mam Tor and the cleft of Cave Dale, the real reason to make the climb.
Darren Copley from Sheffield — CC BY 2.0 · Danslandscapes — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Peter Barr — CC BY-SA 2.0 · Peter Barr — CC BY-SA 2.0
The Normans did not build this castle to defend a town or hold off an army. They built it to police the king's hunting ground. By 1086 the Domesday Book already lists it as William Peveril's castle, and once it passed to the crown it became the headquarters of the royal Forest of the Peak, a vast tract where only the king and his guests could hunt and where timber, pasture and the lead mines were counted and taxed. Around 1176 Henry II added the square stone keep that still stands on its limestone crag above Castleton. The king had been here long before that: in 1157, some twenty years before the keep went up, he received Malcolm IV of Scotland at the castle. The honest thing to say first: not much is left. One hollow keep, stretches of curtain wall and a lawn where the great hall stood. Nobody climbs to Peveril for the masonry, though; they climb for what lies beyond it. From the rim you take in the whole of the Hope Valley, Mam Tor and the narrow cleft of Cave Dale, and on the far side the ground simply drops away into the gorge of Peak Cavern, a fall steep enough that children reach for a parent's hand without being told. The keep's medieval latrine emptied straight over the cliff face, a detail the under-tens enjoy more than any of the history. Getting up is half the visit. From the small visitor centre on the Market Place a zig-zag path climbs steeply for ten to fifteen minutes, with benches along the way. It is no place for a pushchair (leave it down in the village) or for anyone unsteady on their feet, and the top is uneven ground plus a spiral stair inside the keep. There are no toilets at the castle itself, so use the ones at the visitor centre first. With children of six and up it feels like a proper adventure; with toddlers it is a carry. An adult ticket is £8.50 at the standard walk-up rate, less on off-peak weekdays, and 15% cheaper if you book online in advance. In season the castle opens daily 10:00-17:00 with last entry 45 minutes before closing, dropping to a 16:00 close at the end of October; from early November to mid-March it shuts for the winter altogether, so check the English Heritage site before driving out. Castleton sits in the heart of the Peak District, about an hour by car from Manchester or forty minutes from Sheffield; the pay-and-display village car park is a few minutes' walk from the visitor centre. Pair it with Peak Cavern directly below or Treak Cliff Cavern nearby, because the castle on its own is an hour, no more.
From the rim you take in the whole valley, Mam Tor and the cleft of Cave Dale, the real reason to make the climb.
A square stone tower of about 1176, still standing to its parapet, with a spiral stair and a latrine that emptied over the cliff.
The far wall drops straight into the cavern gorge, and the cave entrance itself is a few minutes' walk below in the village.
Market Place, Castleton, Hope Valley S33 8WQ
Under-fives or a pushchair: stick to the caves. The path is steep, the pushchair stays at the bottom, and the top is one tower and a view. From about six upwards it becomes a genuinely fun hour-long adventure that pairs neatly with Peak Cavern the same morning.
No, booking is not required and there are no timed slots; walk-up tickets are sold on the day at full price. Booking online by midnight the day before does save 15%, which adds up for a family. Do note the castle closes completely for the winter months.
