BLUE JOHN CAVES & NORMAN CASTLES
MORNING
There are several show caves in the hills surrounding Castleton, but the most interesting one for families to visit is TREAK CLIFF CAVERN. A former lead mine, it’s home to some wonderful stalactites, as well as streaky deposits of purple-banded Blue John stone, a semi-precious mineral that’s found here and only one other place in the world. Tours [daily from 9am, from 10am from November to February | £12.50, under-18s £8.75, under-16s £6; Early Bird entry from 9am to 10am £10, under-18s £7, under-16s £4.50; under-5s free | book your timed entry slot in advance online] take around an hour and are cleverly done by personal audio guide (you download the app on to your smartphone beforehand). During your visit, you’ll see the Witch’s Cave, its walls and ceiling marbled with veins of raw Blue John; Fairyland Cave’s well-preserved stalagmites and stalactites; and the orange (iron), green (copper) and purple (manganese) flowstone that decorates the walls of Aladdin’s Cave, which “looked like something out of a pantomime” to the miners who discovered it – hence the name. Treak Cliff Cavern is just a mile west of Castleton, with parking lay-bys at the bottom of the steps that lead up to the cave.
AFTERNOON
A short but steep climb south out of Castleton takes you up to the ruins of PEVERIL CASTLE [open daily from 10am to 5pm from April to November, weekends only at other times of the year | £6.90, £7.40 or £8, depending on the time of the week and year (weekends are always more expensive); under-18s £4.10, £4.40 or £4.80; under-5s free; family tickets range from £11 to £20.80; free for English Heritage members | book in advance online], built on the ridge here in 1085 for William Peverel; as such, it’s one of England’s earliest Norman fortresses. You can just about make out the foundations of a hall and kitchens in the castle courtyard, entered through the remains of a gatehouse, although the square keep is in a better condition, including its garderobe (medieval lavatory); displays in the visitor centre explain the castle’s history and showcase archaeological finds made at the site. The views from up here are superb, across the Hope Valley to Mam Tor and the Great Ridge. Make sure you walk back down through CAVEDALE, a miniature footpath version of Winnat’s Pass, which flanks the castle to one side.
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