trip to castleton

Today we took a short trip out to Castleton. It's a gorgeous little town.

Outside the Devil's Arse - also called Peak Cavern (but that's not as fun) where rope-makers used to live and work. Also one of the 'Seven Wonders of the Peak District'. The entrance to this cave is the largest in Britain, and the cave itself is one of the only naturally formed caves in the area.

The name Devil's Arse came from the 'rude noises' (as our guide explained the flatulent sounds) that would sound from the cave when the flood waters drained. 

It got really cramped in some places. I only had to bend in half (benefits of being short!), but I did feel bad for the other tall people that were practically crawling on their hands and knees! In the olden days, when the wealthy would go on tours of the 'Seven Wonders of the Peak District,' they would have to get in these tiny little boats that look just like coffins and lie flat to travel the cave. There were also, obviously, no electric lights so it was pitch black. Our guide turned off the lights in one of the large caverns for us to see what it would've felt like, and a little 2-year-old boy in our group stated loudly "It's my bedtime now!"

All decorated up for Christmas!

After our tour, we walked through the village and, even though it was freezing cold, it was so nice!

And of course we had to stop for some chips in the local fish and chips shop!

I love these little day trips out to beautiful little villages in the Peak District. Its such gorgeous countryside - quintessential English country with rolling green hills and sheep everywhere! 

We're heading out to Bruges, Belgium on Wednesday to spend a couple days there. I'll post about that as soon as I can when we get back!