Confirmed · Peak District and Surrey · Village
Castleton and Cave Dale
A Westerosi marketplace; Westeros countryside in Cave Dale in Game of Thrones. Open to visitors; allow 2–3 hours with the walk.
- On screen as
- A Westerosi marketplace; Westeros countryside in Cave Dale
- Series and episodes
- House of the Dragon Season 1 · House of the Dragon Season 1, Episode 10
- Access
- Open to visitors
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours with the walk
- Where
- Castleton, Derbyshire
On screen
How Castleton and Cave Dale appears
House of the Dragon came to the Peak District for two kinds of scene. In Castleton, the market place and its old stone buildings were dressed as a busy Westerosi market. Above the village, Cave Dale, a narrow dry valley with limestone walls and grassy slopes, was used for Westeros countryside, and VisitBritain links it to The Black Queen, the final episode of season one. The story places these scenes in the Crownlands and beyond; in reality you are in a Derbyshire village with Peveril Castle on the hill above. Set dressing was temporary, so the market place looks like an ordinary village square today.
The real place
What you can visit
Castleton is a popular Peak District village known for its show caves, Peveril Castle and the shop selling Blue John stone. The market place is a small square by the church, with pubs and tearooms nearby. Cave Dale starts through a narrow rocky gap at the edge of the village and climbs steadily up a stony path between limestone walls, with views of Peveril Castle's keep from below. The dale is free to walk. Peveril Castle is run by English Heritage and needs a ticket.
Cave Dale is a working limestone valley with livestock: close gates, keep dogs on leads and expect loose stones underfoot.
VisitBritain: East Midlands film and TV itinerary ↗Castleton is on the A6187 at the head of the Hope Valley, about 40 minutes from Sheffield. Use the main village car park, which charges and fills on fine weekends. Hope station on the Sheffield to Manchester line is about two miles away, with buses. The Cave Dale path is steep, rocky and slippery when wet; it is not suitable for wheelchairs or buggies.
Gallery
More views of Castleton and Cave Dale
Common questions
Planning a responsible visit
Was House of the Dragon filmed in Castleton?
Yes. VisitBritain lists Castleton's market place as a Westerosi marketplace, and Cave Dale behind the village as Westeros countryside in the season one finale.
How hard is the Cave Dale walk?
Moderately. The path climbs steadily over loose limestone from the village, with a narrow rocky section at the start. Allow an hour or two for a there-and-back walk in sturdy shoes.
Is Peveril Castle in House of the Dragon?
It overlooks Cave Dale but was not named as a filming location. It is an English Heritage site with its own tickets.
Plan your visit
Build it into the day.
Peveril Castle and one of Castleton's show caves, such as Peak Cavern or Speedwell.
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Map
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