Peveril Castle

The ruins command the hilltop above Castleton like a broken tooth. Peveril Castle sits high enough that the climb alone sorts the casual stroller from the committed walker, and frankly that's part of its charm - you earn the views across the Hope Valley rather than stumble upon them by accident.

What remains is mostly Norman stonework from the 12th century, with the keep standing as the main draw. The site isn't large - you can walk the perimeter in twenty minutes flat - but the vantage point over the limestone ridges and the Castleton gorge makes it worth the effort. On a clear day you can see why someone bothered building a fortress here in the first place.

This works best for history types and serious walkers rather than families with toddlers. The path is steep and uneven in places, and there's no coffee stand at the top to justify the slog for the reluctant. Allow an hour if you're taking photos and poking around the ruins properly.

If you're based at Castleton Caravan and Motorhome Club Campsite - just 0.7 miles away - it's an obvious half-morning outing to combine with a visit to the nearby show caves. Laneside and Derbyshire Hills campsites are equally close, making this a natural fit for a week exploring the Hope Valley's limestone landscape. The climb itself is short enough not to exhaust you before you've got the rest of the day ahead.