This beautiful village with its own castle and caves is just an hour’s drive from Manchester

While the Peak District doesn’t have a shortage of countryside beauty spots, there is one location oozing history, ancient caves and its very own castle.

Castleton, which can be found just down the road from the popular Mam Tor walking trail, has been a huge hit among visitors for decades, mainly thanks to its quaint stone cottages, scenic walking trails and rich history.

One of its more prominent features, however, is the ancient ruins of Peveril Castle, which overlooks the village and boasts beautiful views over Castleton, the neighbouring Hope Valley and the rest of the Peak District.

Built some time between the Norman Conquest of 1066 and 1086, the castle also got a mention in the Domesday Book for being one of England’s earliest Norman fortresses.

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Though Peveril Castle isn’t the only attraction point Castleton has to offer, with the more adventurous of visitors being known to flock down into the depths of its four caves.

Peak Cavern is arguably the most renown cave in the village, with it boasting the largest cave entrance in Britain at 60 ft high. Its unique shape has also earned it the peculiar nickname, ‘The Devil’s Arse’ (a whole different reason to visit in itself).

According to Historic UK, Peak Cavern was the home to the last of Britain’s troglodytes who lived in houses within the cave’s mouth.

Read More: There’s a ‘lost village’ where cars are banned just down the road from Manchester

Also in Castleton is the Speedwell Cavern, an underground cave wherein guests can take a boat ride to see an old lead mine which was flooded and washed out decades ago.

Treak Cliff Cavern, the third cave found in the village, is famous for its stalactites and stalagmites formations and has been considered a site of special scientific interest.

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And lastly, the Blue John Cavern has become well known among adventurers for its six natural chambers, all with their own distinguishable features. The most popular chamber is known as the ‘waterfall cavern’, which displays stalagmites in a way that makes them resemble a frozen waterfall.

And if hiking and cave dwelling isn’t your cup of tea, Castleton houses a number of restaurants, cafes and pubs ideal for those wanting to escape the city for a bit of countryside solace – Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese Inn and Ye Olde Nags Head are the old worldly pub highlights.

There are also a number of local shops selling jewellery and other items made from the beautiful stones and gems found in the nearby caves.

You can walk to Castleton from Edale or Hope train stations which you can get to from Manchester, or it’ll roughly take an hour to drive from the city – depending where you are.