Now that autumn has arrived many people will be looking to find some beautiful areas to visit across Britain in order to see the extraordinary seasonal change in scenery, and this quaint little village should be marked as your next place to visit in the UK.
If you are looking for a charming place to see the autumn leaves, look no further than Castleton Village, located in the heart of Derbyshire National Park, England.
Despite having a population of less than 600 people, this little hamlet has exploded in popularity on social media because it is surrounded by steep hills and woodlands, which also have a lovely stream called Peakshole Water running through it.
Not only that, but this beautiful medieval village is rich in history as it has a castle built by William Peveril, the favoured knight of William the Conqueror and is overlooked by the ruins of Peveril Castle which the area even more of a fairytale look about it.
CN Traveller has named Castleton one of the “prettiest spots in the UK” to see falling autumn leaves and one travelling expert named Emma Whittle has described the village as one of the most “magical places” she has ever been to.
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One of the most wonderfully unique things about Castleton village it is the only place in the world where the semi-precious stone Blue John can be found. It is a rare form of fluorite which looks purple-blue in colour and is found in the caverns right next to the village.
This beautiful mineral is used to make jewellery and ornaments which are sold locally, and there are four incredible caves nearby that are available for guided tours. Two of the local caverns, Blue John cavern and Treak Cliff cavern, contain the Blue John stones, another called Peak cavern has a huge river system contained within while the next last cavern is an old mine which visitors are taken along by boat.
Near Castleton is Man Tor, a historic hill in the area where the remains of an old Iron Age fort can be seen. The large slope on the hill has led to it being nicknamed the Shivering Moutain, and it is believed an Iron Age tribute lived here named the Brigantes.
Castleton is surrounded by many hiking trails and scenic walks, and one of the most photogenic areas nearby is Winnats Pass, which has a dramatic view at the very top and is said it be one of the most beautiful in the national park. There is also the walk to Cave Dale, which has a beautiful view of Peveril Castle as you climb.
Inside the village itself, there is also plenty to do, as Castleton is known for his delicious traditional fudge made by the Real Fudge Company. There are over fifty mouth-watering flavours to choose from but also has a wide selection of traditional sweets, chocolate, toffee and marzipan for all sweet tooths to enjoy.
Castleton also has both a museum and visitor centre so visitors can learn more about the rich local history of this Norman village which also has deep connections to the Iron Age. There are both archaeology and geology displays worth a look at as well as a carved head which is believed to be the symbol of a god the local Iron Age tribe may have worshipped.
However, no classic English countryside village is complete without a cosy pub to relax in after a long day of seeing the sights, and in Castleton, there are six drinking spots to choose from despite the small size of the village.
There is Ye Olde Nags Head, the Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese Inn, the Bulls Head, the George as well as teashops, specialist shops and beautiful hotels set in historic buildings, so there is always something to do in this brilliant little village.
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This story originally appeared on Express.co.uk
