Castleton is famous for its four main show caves:Peak Cavern, Speedwell Cavern, Blue John Cavern, and Treak Cliff Cavern.Each cave offers a unique experience, from the large natural entrance of Peak Cavern (also known as the "Devil's Arse") to the underground canal boat trip at Speedwell Cavern.Blue John and Treak Cliff Caverns are known for the rare Blue John stone, which is still mined in small quantities for jewelry and ornaments.

Castleton caves

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  Peak Cavern:

  Known as the "Devil's Arse," this is the largest natural cave entrance in Britain and the only one of the four that is not a mine.Historically, rope-makers lived and worked inside the large entrance chamber.

  
  
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  Speedwell Cavern:

  Located at the foot of Winnats Pass, this is an old lead mine that features an underground canal boat tour through its natural chambers.

  
  
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  Blue John Cavern:

  One of the only places in the world to see the ornamental Blue John stone in situ, which is a type of fluorite.

  
  
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  Treak Cliff Cavern:

  Also a source of Blue John, this cave has a mix of naturally formed sections and old lead mine workings with many stalactites and stalagmites.

  
  

Additional points of interest

• Peveril Castle:

  A historic castle that looms over the village of Castleton and is the reason for its existence.

  
  
• Blue John Stone:

  This rare, semi-precious stone is only found in this area and is used to make jewelry and ornaments.

The Derbyshire village of Castleton is famous for itsfour show caves, rugged limestone geology, and the rare semi-precious mineral, Blue John. Located in the Peak District National Park, it is also known for its stunning natural features like Winnats Pass and is overlooked by the Norman-era Peveril Castle.

The four show caves of Castleton

The local geology has created an extensive cave network, with four key caverns open to the public, each offering a unique experience.

The four show caves of Castleton

The local geology has created an extensive cave network, with four key caverns open to the public, each offering a unique experience.

Blue John Cavern

Blue John Cavern

• Unique mineral:This is one of only two caves in the world where you can see the rare Blue John stone in its natural state, a distinctively banded form of fluorspar.
• Historical mining:Historically a working mine for the mineral, the cavern features large natural chambers like the "Crystallised Cavern" and "Lord Mulgrave's Dining-Room".
• Accessibility:Tours take you through the illuminated chambers, but the trip involves a significant number of steps, making it unsuitable for those with mobility issues

Speedwell Cavern

• Underground boat trip:This former 18th-century lead mine features an underground canal, which visitors explore by boat.
• "The Bottomless Pit":The journey takes you to a vast, cathedral-like chamber more than 200 meters underground, which contains a subterranean lake known as "The Bottomless Pit".
• Accessibility:Visitors must descend 106 steps to reach the boat's landing stage, making it inaccessible for some visitors

Peak Cavern

• Largest entrance in Britain:Known locally as "The Devil's Arse,"
  Peak Cavern
  features the largest natural cave entrance in the British Isles.
• Natural wonder:It is the only one of the four show caves that is entirely natural, without mine workings.
• Ancient community:A community of rope makers lived and worked inside the cave mouth until 1915. You can still see a rope-making demonstration as part of the tour.

Treak Cliff Cavern

• Blue John stone and formations:Another of the world's two Blue John mines, this cave is a geologist's delight, with beautiful stalactites, stalagmites, and other rock formations.
• Part-natural, part-mine:The cave system includes both natural passages and old mine workings.
• Viewpoints and cafe:After your tour, you can enjoy views over the Hope Valley from the on-site cafe.