If your idea of a perfect day is exploring an historic castle, two castles in the Peak District will not disappoint and are a stone’s throw away from our hotel and country inns nearby.
Peveril Castle
The first Peak District castle on our list is the imposing ruins of Peveril Castle. As one of England’s earliest Roman fortresses, there’s a wealth of history connected to the site and it stands on a high hill overlooking the Hope Valley providing pretty special views. Once you’ve finished exploring the ruins, there is a small visitor centre with interactive displays which give a good insight into the Peveril Castle history for those history buffs among you.
Peveril Castle history – Peveril Castle is a ruined 11th-century castle. It was established soon after the Conquest of 1066. The Castle was later named after William Peveril and was sited to control the area, which included hunting and mining. The Castle sits above the town of Castleton which was an important income for the Castle’s estate. Williams’s son forfeited the Castle to King Henry II and it was Henry who re-built some of the Castle’s domestic buildings and added the keep (source English-heritage.org.uk).
How to get there: Peveril Castle is located in the small town of Castleton and is an approximate half hours’ drive from our Derbyshire hotels – The Cavendish Hotel Baslow, The Devonshire Arms at Beeley and The Devonshire Arms at Pilsley. If you feel like stretching your legs, there is also an 8km circular Peveril Castle walk which uses the Limestone Way and starts at Castleton, view the route here.
Peveril Castle tickets: English Heritage members can explore for free. Non-members are £6.90 for an adult and £4.10 for children over 5.
Find out more and plan your visit here
Bolsover Castle
Bolsover Castle is the Peak District castle which has the richest history, it was built in the early 17th century and is the epitome of a fairy tale Stuart mansion. Designed to impress it still meets that goal even today. The main castle is somewhat of a ruin, however the nearby Little Castle which was built by Sir William Cavendish in 1612 is still lovingly preserved and the richly coloured walls, sumptuous drapes and impressive painted ceilings are definitely a delight to behold. Other areas to explore include the terrace range, the Fountain Garden and the newly restored wall walk. Bolsover Castle events are also very popular and they run a range of activities and events throughout the year. View the calendar here.
Bolsover Castle history – the castle was founded in the late 11th century by William Peveril. It fell into disrepair from the mid-14th century onwards until it was resurrected by Sir Charles Cavendish in 1612 whereby its ruins provided the setting for Little Castle. The design of Little Castle was intended to copy a Norman great tower and the interiors were no less impressive with round Romanesque vaults and great windows providing panoramic views. Many of the walls in Little Castle are still lavishly adorned with rich paintings (source English-heritage.org.uk).
Bolsover Castle events – the Castle runs several seasonal events throughout the year particularly around Halloween and Christmas which prove popular with families. However, their renowned ghost tours do provide some entertainment for the grown-ups. With tales of supernatural sightings and horrors from history gone by. You can view the full calendar of events here: Bolsover Castle Events
How to get there: Bolsover Castle is located in Bolsover and is an approximate 40 minutes’ drive from our Derbyshire hotels – The Cavendish Hotel Baslow, The Devonshire Arms at Beeley and The Devonshire Arms at Pilsley. Bolsover Castle parking is plentiful in the town of Bolsover.
Bolsover Castle tickets: English Heritage members can explore for free. Pre-booked tickets via the website offer the best value for money at £12.60 per adult and £7.60 for children over 5.
Find out more and plan your visit here