The chocolate box village of Castleton is a haven for hikers, nature lovers and history buffs. Situated in Derbyshire’s Peak District National Park, Castleton is half an hour from Sheffield, making this trip to the UK National Park a perfect mini adventure from London. I recently had the opportunity to spend 24 hours in the village of Castleton Peak District and was pleasantly surprised at how much we could fit into such a short time. We even got to spend the night in a Gothic mansion turned youth hostel in the Peak District!
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Whilst in the Peak District, you might also like to check out:
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Arriving in Castleton Peak District
Arriving at 1.30pm, we dropped our luggage at YHA Castleton Losehill Hall, the Gothic Victorian mansion that we would be spending the night in.
Steeped in history and set in 27 acres of picturesque parkland and streams, it’s hard to believe this majestic building is only a few minutes away from the local train station, Hope.
The Castleton youth hostel has been recently refurbished so rooms all have en suites and the amenities you would need for a stay in the Peak District.
I was excited to explore the mansion but first we were off to do one of the best Peak District walks.
Hike to Hollins Cross, Castleton Peak District
We geared up and set off on a two hour circular hike from the Peak District hostel to the top of Hollins Cross.
The weather was perfect, and I soon had to start removing layers due to the incline. The landscape was painted in a warm auburn glow and after a short while we reached the Great Ridge.
From the top we were blessed with panoramic views of both Castleton and Edale, and continued along to Hollins Cross in the distance. We hiked slowly, and stopped often for photos, whilst still building up an appetite for dinner.
Staying at YHA Castleton Losehill Hall, Peak District
After the hike we headed back to the Castleton hostel around 4.30pm. We had time to settle into our rooms, shower and explore more of the stunning gothic mansion.
Originally built in 1882, YHA Castleton Losehill Hall has recently been refurbished, and includes a licensed bar and several social areas as well as 146 beds in 36 rooms, many of which are en-suite.
As the hostel Castleton is surrounded by so much woodland it’s great to get outside and explore the surrounding area, we even bumped into a few chickens in the garden.
If you want to wander further then Castleton village is only an 8 minute walk away, where you can enjoy a traditional afternoon tea at one of the tea rooms or visit the independent shops in Castleton Derbyshire.
The Supper Club at YHA Castleton Losehill Hall
Aswell as the usual hostel facilities, YHA Castleton Losehill Hall also offers The Supper Club every night at 7pm.
The Supper Club is an opportunity to enjoy a hearty two course meal for £9.95 with other guests, where you can share travel experiences and make new friends. The daily menu changes, but is designed to replenish you after a day exploring the National Park.
We stayed on a Tuesday night and after an afternoon of hiking it was no surprise to see a table of empty plates which were once filled with chicken pies, mash potatoes and vegetables. Though, unsurprisingly we all seemed to make space for the chocolate fudge cake dessert!
However I was most astonished at how accommodating the kitchen was with everyones dietary requirements. The cut off for ordering is 6pm and this was enough notice for vegan, lactose free, and gluten free options to be catered for.
Evening entertainment at YHA Castleton Losehill Hall
After dinner we made our way to one of the lounges. A spacious room with high ceilings, large windows and a beautiful fire place. The perfect spot for us to enjoy some board games whilst getting to know the group better.
We spent three hours, laughing in front of the roaring fire playing HeadsUp until we said our goodbyes and rested our wary legs.
Hike Winnats Pass, Castleton Peak District
After a full English breakfast at the hostel we headed out to explore more of the area. The landscape was shrouded in mist, but as we walked we noticed the sky was starting to clear.
We detoured via Castleton village and past the independent shops, tea rooms, and pubs. Looking up we saw the imposing remains of Peveril Castle, standing high above the village.
Peveril Castle is one of England’s earliest Norman fortresses, and perched high on the top of Castle Hill means there are some spectacular views from the top especially towards the highest peak in the national park, Kinder Scout. We didn’t have time for this hike but its a short climb and one that you can fit into your day quite easily.
We were headed towards Winnats Pass so carried on through the village and past the green fields until we found a route which required some scrambling to reach the top.
The hike from the hostel to the top of Winnats Pass had taken us around an hour and a half and in contrast to the day before we had only seen four other people walking the trail.
The view from the edge was that of the colourful autumnal surroundings.
We spent half an hour at the peak, taking photos and enjoying the peace and quiet, before heading down the hill towards the road on a much gentler decline.
Hike Mam Tor, Castleton Peak District
Following Winnats Pass we crossed the road and ascended Mam Tor, also known as the Shivering Mountain.
As one of the most famous walks in the Peak District, it was full of visitors, including several children. As the weather was pleasant, we saw several adrenaline junkies paragliding off Mam Tor as we hiked by.
Our route back took us along the Great Ridge in the opposite direction. We passed Hollins Cross and towards the hostel and onto the train station.
In 24 hours we had squeezed in 6 hours of hiking, a relaxing dinner, and an evening of board games, all in a beautiful setting. Such a great way to enjoy a mini break from London and take advantage of natures autumnal colours.
Other Things to do in Castleton Derbyshire
Our 24 hours were all about hiking and connecting with like minded travellers. However, there are plenty of things to do in Castleton, especially if you’re visiting the Peak District with kids.
Castleton village is known for its four caves and caverns, accessible by guided tour.
Treak Cliff cavern and Blue John cavern contain beautiful caves decorated with stalactites formations, and blue john stone.
Peak cavern is the resurgence of a huge river system. In its enormous entrance are the remains of a rope-making walk.
Speedwell mine is an old lead mine and visitors are taken along a flooded tunnel by boat.
If you have more time, you can head to Barber Booth on the other side of Hope Valley which has a beautiful short walk to Rushup edge.
How to get to Castleton in the Peak District
The closest Peak District train station to Castleton is Hope. Northern Railways runs two services an hour from Sheffield to Hope for £6 one way.
The journey takes around 25 minutes. Sheffield is well connected and only two hours away from London on East Midlands railway, but remember to book early to get a good price.
If you need more convincing, check out the epic Youtube video from our trip too!
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Disclaimer: This article is sponsored by YHA but as always opinions are my own.
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What an amazing hiking trail! It’s the first time I’ve ever heard about the Peak District and it immediately found its place on my bucket list. The medieval architecture of the Castleton village and these beautiful landscapes… looks like a perfect place for a hiking trip 😀 I have to finally pay a visit to the UK, it’s so close, yet I still haven’t been there.
There’s so many closeby places I haven’t been but I’ve been making a conscious effort to get out there and explore, hence this trip! It’s a beautiful part of the country, I hope you get to see it soon!
Those hikes look absolutely stunning and such a great idea to be one with nature for a break from bustling London city life. Gothic is also my favorite style of architecture so that mansion would be so neat to see in person! Great day trip guide!
You’d love the building in person! It’s in gorgeous surroundings too
Oh wow what a gorgeous place to explore – so many fantastic hikes and trails and the village is just like a chocolate box. This place is going on my list
Laura x
The trails are brilliant around there and you can choose a day or just an afternoon of hiking so you can explore the village
Never thought about staying in a YHA, but I’ve looked into it just now and the buildings are incredible and like something out of Downton Abbey! This one in Castleton is on the top of my list
This was my first time and I am making a list of all the ones I want to stay in in the future!
Oh wow, I was looking for such a place! I love stone houses and the atmosphere of sleepy villages and towns. I have a great flight connection from Katowice to London, so I’ll try to get there. These hiking trails are very picturesque, it would be wonderful to wander there and look at the green landscapes. Already watching your photos I feel very relaxed and delighted with the beauty of this place.
The hikes and the village are both beautiful, if you plan to visit for a longer period of time check out Sheffield city too it’s only half an hour away from the Peak District
Pinned & saving this blog for later because I’ve never heard of the Peaks & they look absolutely gorgeous! Hoping to travel to England (as soon as it’s safe!) & I’ll be using your blog as a guide to the Peaks.
Castleton looks so cute!! And the hike looks amazing! Definitely adding this to my staycation bucket list 🙂
This place looks so beautiful! I’d love to go there one day and definitely do that hike! Thanks for sharing.