Castleton has won the hearts of visitors over the years, it was also crowned UK’s fourth ‘most instagrammable village’ in 2020.placeholder image
Castleton has won the hearts of visitors over the years, it was also crowned UK’s fourth ‘most instagrammable village’ in 2020. | Simon Dell

The idyllic Derbyshire village that is a must-visit beauty spot in the UK

Ria Ghei
By Ria Ghei

Senior Reporter

Published 25th Feb 2026, 11:21 GMT

Castleton is around 40 miles or an 80 minute drive away from Derbion, making it ideal for a day-trip from Derby.

We may still officially be in winter however today (Wednesday, February 25) Derby is set be as hot as Greece.

We reckon warm days filled with sunshine are the perfect time to explore our beautiful county.

You may perhaps feel a little spoiled for choice as the region has plenty of serene villages and hidden hamlets to explore.

Get the latest updates - follow us on our Facebook page

Castleton is one of the Peak District’s hidden gems and a real beauty spot to check out this year.

Various glowing Tripadvisor reviews include people saying the village is ‘unbelievably scenic’ a ‘chocolate box village’, with ‘beautiful lanes and roads around the amazing village’, and ‘delightful, where a photograph can be taken on every corner’.

Castleton really comes into its own thanks to its location in the heart of the Peak District National Park.

Visit the atmospheric Medieval ruins of Peveril Castle, built in 1086 for William Peverel, who was one of William the Conqueror’s most honoured knights.

Another big tourist draw is the village’s four feature caves of Blue John Mine, Treak Cliff Cavern, Speedwell Cavern and Peak Cavern.

Here you can spot the rare mineral Blue John and see breath-taking stalactite and stalagmite formations during you visit to the caves.

Here is our photo gallery capturing the beauty of Castleton.

Cave Dale, a limestone valley craved by glacial meltwater, offers beautiful views over Peveril Castle.

9. Castleton

Cave Dale, a limestone valley craved by glacial meltwater, offers beautiful views over Peveril Castle. Photo: Wiktoria Wrzyszcz

Set two centuries before the events of the hit HBO fantasy epic Game of Thrones, viewers of House of the Dragon can expect to see some familiar Peak District places. These include Castleton’s famous limestone valley of Winnats Pass like never seen before, transformed by CGI technology, and Cave Dale under Peveril Castle's ruins.

10. House of the Dragon: Winnats Pass, Castleton

Set two centuries before the events of the hit HBO fantasy epic Game of Thrones, viewers of House of the Dragon can expect to see some familiar Peak District places. These include Castleton’s famous limestone valley of Winnats Pass like never seen before, transformed by CGI technology, and Cave Dale under Peveril Castle's ruins. | Visit Peak District & Derbyshire

See the true beauty of the historic village through an aerial view of Peveril Castle ruins in the Peak District.

11. Castleton

See the true beauty of the historic village through an aerial view of Peveril Castle ruins in the Peak District. | Alexey Fedorenko - stock.adobe.com

Mam Tor was ranked as the second best place for watching sunsets and sunrises across the country - only beaten to the top spot by Snowdon

12. Mam Tor

Mam Tor was ranked as the second best place for watching sunsets and sunrises across the country - only beaten to the top spot by Snowdon | Photo: Copyright (c) 2017 Lukasz Pajor/Shutterstock.

Previous
3 / 4
Next Page
Related topics:Peak DistrictBeautyDerbyTripAdvisor
Follow us
© 2026 Iconic Media Group Ltd. All rights reserved.Cookie SettingsTerms and ConditionsPrivacy notice