The seventeenth century Castle Hotel is a former coaching inn in Castleton, an old lead mining village in the Peak District. The village is the venue for the traditional Garland or Oak Apple Day ceremony which takes place every 29 May to celebrate spring. Although it is based on a pagan festival, in the seventeenth century it became associated with the story of Charles II hiding in an oak tree to avoid Cromwell's soldiers. During the celebration King Charles and his Lady ride through the village from pub to pub carrying a three foot high garland of flowers and oak leaves. Finally they place the garland on the church tower.

The village is also known for Blue John, a rare banded form of fluorospar, which is mined nearby and used for a variety of decorative purposes. The Castle Hotel itself is said to be haunted by four ghosts. One of Charles II's soldiers only appears from the knees upwards, but the other ghosts can be seen in their entirity. An elderly housekeeper still monitors the premises, and Cooper, a man in a pinstriped suit, still sneaks in by a former side door so that his wife wont catch him ing on the sabbath. There is also a lady in grey called Rose, though her history is unclear. Some say she is a jilted bride, others that she is a former chambermaid.