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Residential Visits

Losehill Hall, a gothic mansion with sheep grazing on the lawn

Castleton 2027

Our Year 6 residential at YHA Castleton Losehill Hall, July 2027

Three days, two nights and a whole lot of adventure in the Peak District! Every summer our Year 6 children head to Castleton for their residential, and it is always one of the highlights of their time at Sparken Hill.

Last July our leavers explored caves, climbed rocks, built dens and walked the hills, and they came home taller in confidence than when they left. Now it is your turn, Year 6. We would love every one of you to come with us.

Why residentials matter

Independence
Looking after your own things and routines
Friendship
Working as a team and making new friends
Resilience
Facing challenges and trying new things
Learning
Seeing classroom learning in the real world
Confidence
Stepping outside your comfort zone
Memories
Moments you will remember for life

Where we stay

Losehill Hall is a Victorian gothic mansion, built in 1882, set in 27 acres of parkland in the heart of the Peak District National Park. The fields are grazed by sheep from a nearby farm, so you might meet some up close! Children sleep in bunk rooms of up to six, with boys and girls in separate rooms. Every room has its own en-suite and all bedding is provided. There are common rooms and games areas for the evenings too.

The grand staircase inside Losehill Hall The lounge at Losehill Hall A bunk room with an en-suite

What will we do? Lots!

Inside a Castleton cavern
Go underground
Explore the famous Castleton caverns, such as Peak Cavern or Treak Cliff.
The path along the Great Ridge
Walk the hills
Guided walks around Mam Tor, Winnats Pass and the Great Ridge.
Peveril Castle above the valley
Step back in time
Visit Peveril Castle, built by the Normans soon after 1066.
A child rock climbing
Climb and abseil
Adventurous activities led by qualified outdoor instructors.

There will also be rocks and minerals to study (including the rare Blue John stone), team challenges, and evening games and quiz nights back at the hall.

Castleton 2026: what last year's Year 6 got up to

Archery, climbing, abseiling, campfire cooking, wildlife spotting and plenty of laughs. Here are just a few of their memories.

Pupils in climbing helmets ready for the day A pupil learning archery with an instructor Pupils climbing a gritstone rock face A pupil abseiling down a rock Pupils cooking over a small campfire A pupil looking through binoculars

Did you know?

Blue John, a purple and yellow banded stone, is found naturally in only one place in the world: the hills around Castleton.

Mam Tor is nicknamed the Shivering Mountain because its crumbly slopes keep slipping. It stands 517 metres tall.

There is a replica Celtic settlement in the grounds of Losehill Hall.

Safe, supported and for everyone

Your child will be with Sparken Hill staff they know, with a staff-to-pupil ratio of 1:10 or better, 24-hour supervision and first aid trained staff at all times. All meals are provided and every dietary need and allergy is catered for. For information about the cost, please see your child's class teacher.

We don't want any child to miss out. If you have any questions about the cost, please see your child's class teacher.

Any questions? Email Y56@sparkenhill.com, call the office on 01909 534060, or just ask your child's teacher.