When it comes to the colder, darker days of autumn and winter, we crave cosiness, warmth and all things festive. Christmas becomes all the more special when friends and family get together for a little trip, away from everyday life, and one place we’ll definitely be going this year to get those cosy vibes and see the twinkling Christmas lights is Castleton, just over in the beautiful Peak District.
Christmas in Castleton is a sight to behold and for many families, it is an annual pilgrimage to see the charming seasonal activities that take place in undoubtedly one of the most beautifully-lit villages in the Peak District. Every December, Castleton can be relied on to open its doors during the evening hours and welcome the entire family to enjoy Christmas across the whole village.
The village of Castleton has a truly magical appeal with matching dazzling Christmas trees outside nearly every shop, cafe and pub, with decorations attracting visitors from all over the country. So much effort is put into the village, making it a welcome Christmas time resort and there’s said to be nothing else in the country quite like the Christmas experience at Castleton.
The lights are usually turned on every November (November 16 this year), heralding the Christmas season and delighting visitors and locals. In December, the activities are orientated with children in mind to help families celebrate the Christmas period – there’s a Santa’s grotto to visit every weekend during December and usually another Father Christmas who parades up and down the village in a horse-drawn cart for children to ride in and marvel at.
Credit: @duffers102 via Instagram
Many of the shops in Castleton are open a lot later than normal to accommodate the special Christmas shopping needs of their visitors and they always get involved in the festive spirit themselves, usually running competitions and a themed event throughout the whole community. Castleton Visitor Centre is normally the first to begin the festivities, with quizzes and themes, activity weeks including crafting and games, coinciding their competitions with shops and eating establishments in the village.
Several of the Castleton show caves also make a great effort during the festive period, making an unusual but beautiful Christmas spectacle. Traditionally, carols by candlelight are held in Treak Cliff Cavern and the concerts are immensely popular and terrifically heart warming.
Peak Cavern sells tickets for an evening of carol singing and features a brass band, which takes place several times over the course of the month, providing all the festive vibes with mulled wine and mince pies for everyone on arrival. What more could you want? You can book a spot at the Christmas carol concerts at Treak Cliff Cavern here.
Castleton really is the perfect spot for a Christmas day out with the family, if not for the stunning cave activities, for the beautiful village and all the effort put in to make it such a cosy wonderland at Christmas time.
🚗 Castleton is just over an hour’s drive from Manchester city centre.
📍 Castleton Visitor Centre, Buxton Rd, Castleton, S33 8WN.