Peveril Castle in Castleton, Derbyshire, for families
The history of Peveril Castle in Castleton goes back to the Norman Conquest, but the view goes back to the Princess Bride.
Why visit Peveril Castle
The main reasons to visit Peveril Castle in Castleton, Derbyshire are that it looks kinda cool and it’s really old. As a visitor experience, there’s not an awful lot to this moody hilltop ruin, and there are certainly better things to do in Castleton if you’re on a tight schedule. But if you have a spare hour, fancy a look around and want to get an impressive view of the village, it might be worth your while.
Peveril Castle was built shortly after the Norman Conquest of 1066, and became the base for the Keepers of the Forest of the Peak – a large royal hunting ground.
The keep, which is the only part of the castle still standing in anything like a recognisable form, was built under King Henry II in 1174.
However, Peveril Castle fell into disrepair in the 16th century when it was largely used for impounding stray and confiscated livestock.
More recently, it gained popularity after being the subject of a 1789 watercolour by William Turner and lending its name to Peveril of the Peak by Sir Walter Scott.
Visiting Peveril Castle with children
The history of Peveril Castle is told in a very small museum section before you start on the zig-zagging path up to the castle itself. There are also a few signs outside, but frankly it’s not especially gripping, and children are likely to skip the reading and throw themselves into the ascent.
The path upwards is a series of switchbacks, as it would otherwise be punishingly steep.
Once at the top, there are a series of ruined walls – good luck stopping your kids from climbing on them – and the keep.
You can go inside the keep, which has a certain gothic majesty with the window frames still just about intact.
There’s also the opportunity to nip down stone steps and into little passages. One of these leads to the garderobe, which delights children when they realise it was a medieval toilet, and the human waste dropped though a hole in the floor onto the grass below.
Peveril Castle review: The best bit
The views are the best part about the climb up to Peveril Castle. To the north, you can see Castleton and Mam Tor, but the underrated part is Cave Dale to the south.
Before visiting, or shortly afterwards, it’s worth watching the Princess Bride (on Amazon Prime video here) with the family. Substantial chunks of the film were shot in Cave Dale, and it’s fun seeing whether the children recognise this.
Infants, juniors or secondary?
Energetic juniors who want to charge up the hill as fast as they can and then explore the keep are most likely to enjoy a trip to Peveril Castle.
Peveril Castle entry prices
Peveril Castle is managed by English Heritage, with English Heritage members getting in free. Otherwise, there’s a 15% discount for booking online, with tickets costing £6.80 for adults and £3.60 for children. There are various family tickets available too, with the cost for two adult and up to three children being £17.20.
Prices were last checked and updated on 18 November 2024.
Full day, half day or a couple of hours?
You’ll get a couple of hours at best – and more likely just one – out of Peveril Castle. Treat it as part of a wider day out in Castleton rather than a destination in its own right.
Attractions near Peveril Castle
Other nearby attractions that can be combined with a visit to Peveril Castle include:
- The Castleton Caves – Peak Cavern, Treak Cliff Cavern, Blue John Cavern and Speedwell Cavern.
- Chatsworth House near Bakewell.
- Higger Tor in the Sheffield section of the Peak District.
Nearby cities
Peveril Castle is in the Derbyshire Peak District.
Other cities within a 90 minute drive of Peveril Castle include Sheffield, Manchester, Bradford, Leeds, Wakefield, Doncaster, Stoke-on-Trent, Derby and Nottingham.
Is it open on Mondays?
Peveril Castle is usually open daily, but switches to weekends-only in the winter months.
More information
For more information, visit the Peveril Castle section of the English Heritage website.
