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Castleton, like many attractions in
Derbyshire, has a nickname; 'Gem of the Peaks'. The village lies
between the Dark and the White Peak areas of the Peak District.
There are 4 spectacular caverns awaiting visitors: the Blue John,
Speedwell, Peak and Treak cliff Caverns. Between them they present
a dazzling display of stalactites and stalagmites. Blue John,
a translucent fluorspar peculiar to this area has been mined
since Roman times and today 5cwt of stone a year is chiefly made
into jewellery for tourists. |
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The George Hotel, Hathersage |
....in the centre
of Hathersage village in the heart of the Peak District, a Derbyshire
hotel ideally located for walking, bird-watching and cycling,
about 5 miles east of Castleton. |
....featuring contemporary
décor, award-winning cuisine with friendly and unobtrusive
service. |
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Peak Cavern is in the centre of the
village, underneath Peveril Castle. It has the largest natural
cave entrance in Britain and the second largest in the world.
Speedwell Cavern, at 600'
below ground, is the deepest cave accessible to the public in
Britain. Venture down 100 dripping steps and take the boat -
ride through a quarter mile- long tunnel that was blasted out
in search of lead. At the end lies the Bottomless pit, a pool
where 40,000 tons of mining rubble were dumped without raising
the water level. The village itself is
a delightful cluster of stone cottages and interesting inns,
ringed by the limestone hills. It sits
beneath the protection of a castle keep known as Peveril Castle.
Built in Norman times by William I's illegitimate son William
Peveril, it was to protect the king's rights to the forest that
then covered vast areas of the Peak District. |
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Places of Interest
in the Peak District
Places to take the kids
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