Castleton YHA weekend, 3rd-6th May 2013

We stayed at Losehill Hall YHA in Castleton in the Peak District. In years gone by the hostel was in Castleton village itself, but is now located in Losehill Hall, a short walk away. Losehill Hall is a Victorian gothic mansion set in spacious grounds and was previously the headquarters of the Peak District National Park Authority. Following a massive refurbishment it opened in 2012.

On our first day we did a circular walk taking in Stanage Edge, a large gritstone edge popular with walkers and climbers. Parking in Hathersage we walked past North Lees Hall, thought to have been visited by Charlotte Bronte in 1845, and subsequently the inspiration for Thornfield Hall in her novel Jane Eyre. North Lees Hall is now looked after by the Vivat Trust, a charity set up to rescue dilapidated historic buildings and to let them as holiday accommodation.

North Lees Hall accommodates 6 people and would undoubtedly be an atmospheric place to stay, but unlike Losehill Hall not all the bedrooms are ensuite, and it is considerably more expensive! On the way up the edge the rain began, but almost as soon as waterproof trousers were donned it stopped. We walked along the Edge for some distance and then retraced our steps, continuing across the moor and round to make a circular walk back to Hathersage, where we refreshed ourselves in Cintra’s tea rooms.

The next day we walked from the hostel, going through Castleton itself and past Peveril Castle. This was built by William Peveril, thought to have been an illegitimate son of William the Conqueror. Walking up the Limestone Way, we then looped round and over Mam Tor, continuing along Back Tor and then turning back down the valley to reach the back of the hostel. Another fantastically sunny day.

On our last day we had a shortish walk near Grindleford, through the Longshaw Estate owned by the National Trust.

Jenefer  11th May 2013