Castleton

 Castleton is a little village in the Peak District outside Sheffield and it is famous for its caverns and its Blue John stone which is a  semi-precious ornamental fluorite. Castleton is also popular it’s walking trails so you will never be bored! It’s also famous for the iconic limestone gorge of Winnats Pass.

So here was day trip itinerary:

-            Treak Cliff Cavern – I booked tickets online as it was cheaper and wanted to make sure I was guaranteed entry. This cave is where the Blue John Stone is located. You go through the cave through a self-guided tour and you will also be instructed to download the audio guide to get the full history of the cave! The gems were so stunning. The cave was moderate size however it also had a small museum. The highlight for me though was the unique experience of stone polishing which comes with an extra cot but you can take the Blue John stone as a souvenir! I really enjoyed the polishing and it was beautiful to see the veins! Treak Cliff Cavern is also the starting point for the walk to Mam Tor which is a famous hill!

-            I then walked to the viewpoint of Winnats Pass which is  right opposite Speedwell Cavern and a short walk from the car park. You are guaranteed beautiful pictures!

-            I then booked a tour at the Speedwell Cavern which is an old lead mine but the highlight of this cavern had an underground waterway where you are able to go by boat. Best to book online to make  sure you get tickets! It as quite an experience and a very long boat journey. Our guide was amazing with great stories that happened in the mine. The waterway stops in a cavern which a high roof and once upon a time had a waterfall. I really enjoyed the boat ride! Bear in mind you will need to climb down and come back up the many flights of stairs which are uneven and quite slippery so take extra caution! It also is cold no matter what the weather is outside so take a sweater or cardigan.

-            I then did a small walk to see the Peak Cavern aka the Devil’s arse to see the largest natural cave entrance. The cave also hosts many events and you can visit it. Guides will walk you through the system, telling the history of the Peak Cavern rope makers.

-            On top of the Peak Cavern is the ruins of Peveril Castle which is quite an uphill walk but with beautiful views of Castleton. It was here that William the Conqueror’s trusted knight William Peverell built one of the first stone castles in England.

 

There were also plenty of places to eat with some unique shops too! You will thoroughly enjoy this gem of a village. Some of these caves also offer extra activities so do visit the websites to explore all events and book tours!