There are many attractions within a short walk or driving distance from Hope.
Castleton Caverns included the Blue John cavern, Treak Cliff, Speedwell and the great Peak Cavern, just outside Castleton village all clustered around the infamous Winnat’s Pass. Most of the caverns are open all year round, but opening times are usually restricted in January and February. Nearly all the mines are part natural, part mine workings and contain natural chambers, veins of Blue John, fossils , stalactites and stalagmites and each cavern has its own unique atmosphere and attraction. It’s a great place to take the children and fantastic way to spend a rainy day if you are on holiday in the Hope area.
Bagshaw Cavern
This cavern is a largely natural cave system, which was discovered by lead miners in 1806. It isn’t open to the general public, but is available for those who fancy an ‘Adventure caving for beginners,’ giving access to a greater part of the cave for those who are prepared to get themselves dirty and be instructor led. Much of the cave system involves a certain amount of crawling and climbing up ladders, but some of the equipment can be hired, although a helmet, lamp and suitable clothing are necessary. The show cave descends 102 steps to the chamber and a horizontal passage and has features called the Elephant’s Throat and the Chandler’s shop. There are some fantastic stalagmites to be seen.
Derwent Dams
The upper valley of the Derwent is surrounded by gritstone edges and dominated by three great reservoirs, constructed by the Derwent Valley Water Board to provide water for Sheffield, Derby, Nottingham and Leicester.
Their major claim to fame is their association with the Dambuster squadron of the RAF, who used the Derwent Reservoir to practice the famous raid on the Ruhr dams. The upper two dams are Howden and Derwent and the lower damn is Ladybower. They are stunning areas of natural beauty and a walkers, cyclists and pony trekkers paradise. The wildlife to be seen in each season is unrivalled and there are various trails and easy to navigate walks for all abilities and ages.
Hathersage
Hathersage is a gorgeous little village with lots of amenities, cafes, restaurants and pubs as well as a wonderful little selection of shops. Not far from Hope, Hathersage church is certainly worth a visit, featuring the grave of Little John, which lies under a new tree to the South of the Church. Tradition has it that he was a Hathersage man and died in a small cottage near the church, which was pulled down in the 19th century. It is certainly true that a very tall man is buried here, for the grave was opened in 1782 and the skeleton of a man about 7 feet tall was discovered and for many years an ancient longbow and cap were on show in the church.
Castleton
Castleton village is very close to Hope and is home to not only the most chocolate box beautifully laid out little place, very famous for its Christmas lights, but also lots of visitor attractions and spectacular natural scenery. Winnat’s Pass is a long collapsed limestone cave system, a steep sided limestone valley with cliffs on all sides, which climbs out all the Hope Valley onto the limestone plateau area above. Mam Tor is nicknamed the Shivering Mountain due to its natural erosion during heavy rain. Part of the mountain has fallen away and the visitor can see the inside layers, as well as climbing to the top and taking off in a paraglider or hang glider, if they are an extreme sports enthusiast. Castleton Caverns are a mixture of four spectacular natural show caves, each having its own unique atmosphere and attractions. Peveril Castle stands above Castleton on the clifftop flanked by the steep sides of Cave Dale. It has a very impressive view in all directions and is open to the public, its ruins still impressive all the years after it was built around 1066.
Stanage Edge
Stanage is the largest and most impressive of the gritstone edges. Situated high on the moors above Hathersage it is visible for miles away through most parts of Hope Valley. It stretches an impressive length of six kilometres or 3.5 miles, from its northern tip of Stanage Edge, to the southern point near the Cowper Stone. It is famous for being a mecca for rock climbers, but also a popular spot for walkers.