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CONSERVATION
Castleton’s buildings are largely built of local limestone. There are fossils in the limestone and they can easily be spotted in many of the buildings. Older cottages were roofed with gritstone slates. Blue slate was imported from Wales when road and rail transport improved in the 19th century.
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| Castleton with Mam Tor in background |
TOURISM IN CASTLETON
“Castleton should be given a wide berth on a Saturday or Sunday in Summer. On those days it overflows with the tripper, for whom it lays itself out to provide, and its streets are apt to be uproarious until the last brakes have gone singing down the vale”
This was written in 1905 (Highways and Byways in Derbyshire, JB Firth) and with the substitution of cars and coaches for brakes could easily have been written today. It helps us to realise that tourism is not a modern invention. Castleton was an established tourist centre over 400 years ago. The Peak Cavern was listed as one of the 7 Wonders of the Peak in the 17th century and was visited by Mary Queen of Scots.There are many places of interest in and around the village to attract the tourists. Treak Cliff Cavern, Speedwell Cavern, Blue John Mine and Peveril Castle are all in the Top Ten most popular attractions in the Peak Park. The Show Caves alone attract many thousands of visitors.
Castleton is also popular as a base for touring in the Peak Park and as a base for active sports such as climbing, caving, pony trekking, hang gliding, cycling and walking. Several Outdoor Pursuits centres have now been opened.
However 80% of the visitors are day visitors and the majority descend on Castleton on Summer Sundays. A special display of Christmas lights is one idea to boost the number of Winter visitors.
In a village such as Castleton there can be a problem in balancing the needs of the local residents with those of the visitor.
(From Peak National Park Visitor Survey 1986/7)
There is a small Information Centre in the village which is open every day between the beginning of April and the end of October and is it hoped to provide a much larger Heritage Centre in the near future.
The large number of tourists visiting Castleton causes problems both to the villagers and to the tourists themselves.
Erosion of the many footpaths around the sea, especially the area around Winnats Pass and the footpath to Mam Tor, has been the subject of a detailed study. Improvements such as surfacing paths in local stone or re-routing certain paths have been undertaken
Congestion in the village is a problem to locals and visitors. There is a large car park, with space for coaches, and public toilets but as peak times (Summer Sundays or during the Garland ceremony) the parking provision is not enough and the congestion spoils the character of the village and affects its enjoyment by all.
The importance of tourism to the local economy needs to be balanced against the danger of over-commercialisation. More and bigger car parks may increase visitor numbers and create even more problems.
“Castleton should be given a wide berth on a Saturday or Sunday in Summer. On those days it overflows with the tripper, for whom it lays itself out to provide, and its streets are apt to be uproarious until the last brakes have gone singing down the vale”
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| Coach in Castleton |
Castleton is also popular as a base for touring in the Peak Park and as a base for active sports such as climbing, caving, pony trekking, hang gliding, cycling and walking. Several Outdoor Pursuits centres have now been opened.
However 80% of the visitors are day visitors and the majority descend on Castleton on Summer Sundays. A special display of Christmas lights is one idea to boost the number of Winter visitors.
In a village such as Castleton there can be a problem in balancing the needs of the local residents with those of the visitor.
| ANNUAL VISITS TO THE MOST POPULAR AREAS IN THE PEAK DISTRICT NATIONAL PARK | |||
| Total Visits | % Hiking | % sightseeing | |
| Lower Derwent (inc Chatsworth) |
3,120,000 | 4 | 33 |
| Wye Valley (inc. Bakewell) |
2,560,000 | 11 | 18 |
| Hope Valley (inc. Castleton) |
2,220,000 | 8 | 15 |
| Dove & Manifold Valleys | 2,050,000 | 21 | 9 |
| Upper derwent | 1,240,000 | 13 | 6 |
(From Peak National Park Visitor Survey 1986/7)
There is a small Information Centre in the village which is open every day between the beginning of April and the end of October and is it hoped to provide a much larger Heritage Centre in the near future.
The large number of tourists visiting Castleton causes problems both to the villagers and to the tourists themselves.
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Congestion near Speedwell Cavern
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Congestion in the village is a problem to locals and visitors. There is a large car park, with space for coaches, and public toilets but as peak times (Summer Sundays or during the Garland ceremony) the parking provision is not enough and the congestion spoils the character of the village and affects its enjoyment by all.
The importance of tourism to the local economy needs to be balanced against the danger of over-commercialisation. More and bigger car parks may increase visitor numbers and create even more problems.
| NUMBER OF VEHICLES IN CASTLETON CAR PARKS ON SUMMER HOLIDAYS (1990 -Larger Car Parks only) | ||
| May | August | |
| Main Car Park | 676 | 686 |
| Peak Cavern | 96 | 115 |
| Speedwell Cavern | 205 | 255 |
| Treak Cliff | 52 | 94 |
| Winnats Pass | 124 | 124 |
| Blue John Mine | 407 | 461 |
| Mam Nick | 172 | 155 |
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| POINTS TO CONSIDER | |||||
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