Outdoor Adventures at Castleton

Marcus Leach enjoys getting out in the great outdoors in the Peak District while on a recent stay at Castleton Club Campsite.

The more we’ve travelled the more we’ve come to realise that not all campsites are equal. The same goes for Caravan and Motorhome Club sites. While all are of an exemplary standard and have excellent facilities and amenities, the reality is they are just not all equal. Take Castleton as a prime example.

Nestled in the heart of England’s Peak District the quaint little village of Castleton is home to a charming Club site that is surrounded by some of England’s most picturesque mountains and landscapes. Whether you’re seeking a little tranquility or want to fill your days with hiking and cycling adventures, it’s the perfect base for those eager to be at one with nature. It’s for this very reason that I find myself here, ready to reconnect with the beauty of the UK after two years traveling through Europe, Asia and Africa in our motorhome.

Given the brevity of my visit, three days to be precise, my plan was simple; see and do as much as possible on two feet and two wheels with a particular walk and climb (more of which later) as non-negotiables. Arriving in the second week of March I was surprised at how busy the site was, but then that is testament to how popular the region is and how much there is to do, no matter what time of the year it is. It also helped that the weather was, unusually for March, perfect for being in the great outdoors.

Having recently come back from the mountains in Austria, where we were camping in temperatures as low as minus fifteen, it was liberating to set off on my first walk in short-sleeves, even if the wind chill later forced me to add an extra layer. I wouldn’t say I ever longed for the ‘green hills of home’ while we’ve been travelling, but given their prominence in my childhood there was always a knowing that a visit here wouldn’t be long in coming once we made it back to the UK. Because there’s no denying that, with the right weather, we have some incredible places to visit without crossing into Europe, something the following three days would remind me of on a near constant basis.

Hiking

The Peak District is blessed with an almost endless array of hikes, walks and rambles that criss-cross its verdant green hills. However, there are a few that stand out from the rest, and it just so happens that one of the best walks in the National Park starts and finishes a stone’s throw from the Caravan and Motorhome Club’s Castleton site. I’m talking about ‘The Great Ridge Walk’.

Starting in Castleton and covering eight miles the walk is, without doubt, one of England’s finest ridge walks, offering spectacular views over Edale, Hope Valley and even the edge of Kinder Scout on a good day. Not to mention reaching a high point at Mam Tor, known locally as the shivering mountain, from where some of the Peak District’s most iconic views can be savoured.

For those looking for an alternative, maybe shorter walk that still offers great views, then the Cave Dale circular is a great option at just shy of three miles. Aside from the views, the highlight of this walk, in my opinion, are the ruins of Peveril Castle. Dating back to the eleventh century and built by Henry II you can either pay to visit the inside of the remaining tower and walls, or simply admire it from the outside. Whichever option you take it’s a ‘must see’ of the area.

Cycling

Such is the topography of our fair lands that we are not blessed with the sorts of mountain ranges that offer up the dizzying roads and iconic cycling climbs that Europe boasts. That’s not to say we don’t have our fair share of beautiful cycling routes though, several of which can be found in the Peak District and one in particular that passes the front gate of the Castleton site. But be warned, when it comes to cycling shorter climbs don’t always mean easier climbs, as those who head up Winatts Pass will soon discover.

Bizarrely, given the amount of cycling I have done in the UK over the years Winatts Pass was one of the few climbs I hadn’t done before arriving in Castleton. At just shy of a mile in length and with an average of twelve percent it packs a punch, as well as seeming quite daunting with its vast sheer cliffs on either side making you feel mighty small compared to nature. Thankfully it’s over before it gets too unpleasant, with the added bonus of spectacular views from the top from where the best route is to continue on towards Chapel-en-le-Frith, taking a right at Sparrowpit to take you across to Slackhall and thus avoiding the A6. Another right turn here will take you back through Rushop and down into the Edale Valley where, once you reach Hope, you take a right and head back towards Castleton and a well earned coffee and cake.

Suggested Route: https://www.komoot.com/tour/1459781713

While there are some flatter roads to be found, the very nature of cycling in the Peak District is that you will, at some point or other, need to head up and over the hills and mountains that characterise the region. That said, with a moderate level of fitness, or even the assistance of an e-bike, there are several great loops that can be enjoyed that don’t have to be too taxing. And thanks to a variety of great cafes and cake shops, you can always break up your ride with some wonderful stops along the way.

Castleton and Surrounding Area

For those looking for activities that are a little less taxing there’s plenty to see and do within a short distance of the site, the highlight of which being a visit to the Blue John Cavern. Of the four main caves near the site Blue John is the most impressive, with excellent stalactite formations and an abundance of the blue John stone. Speedwell Cavern offers visitors the chance to explore the flooded tunnel and a huge subterranean lake by boat.

In the village itself there are a number of places to eat. The best option for coffee and cake is Castleton Coffee Co. which has some amazing home-baked cakes and pastries on offer. Many of the pubs serve what I would call standard pub grub, although if I had to pick one it would be Ye Olde Nags Head.

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