PEAK CAVERN
PLAN YOUR VISIT
INFORMATION
Location: Off the A6187 Hope Valley Road at Castleton (SK150829).
Visit: The delightful riverside walk to the cavern takes you past former lead miners’ cottages. Before opening out into a spectacular limestone gorge, arriving rather suddenly at the entrance to the awe-inspiring cavern, the largest natural cave entrance in the British Isles. The vertical cliffs are 280 feet high, with Peveril Castle rising majestically above.
Refreshments: Several cafes, pubs, and restaurants in the village suit all tastes.
Castleton: The village takes its name from the castle, ‘ton’ of Anglo-Saxon origin and meaning ‘an enclosure.’ It is most famous for its four caverns, of which only Peak Cavern is an actual cave. The cavern lies directly beneath the castle and has a dramatic entrance. A sparkling little stream flowing from the cavern takes you through the oldest part of Castleton. Along the main street are many gift shops, cafes and restaurants to suit all tastes.
PEAK CAVERN
The cavern once contained houses, and there is still evidence of soot from the chimneys on the roof. There was even a 1794 report of an alehouse in the cave. Until lead mining ended in the late 19th century, the ropemakers who inhabited the cave supplied rope for Castleton’s lead mining industry. Tour guides use some of the remaining rope-making equipment to demonstrate their skills to visitors. The cavern is open to the public, but exceptionally heavy rainfall can flood the cave and force closure. The old name given to the cave by the locals, of the ‘Devil’s Arse’, is now increasingly used in promotional material.
Guided tours take about one hour to complete. The tour guides provide detailed information about the cavern’s history interwoven with many amusing anecdotes. Visitors are encouraged to join in the ropemaking demonstration. Before Christmas, Carol Concerts are held yearly in the cavern, which has excellent acoustics. Other events take place throughout the year, and pre-booking well in advance is essential.
