Tourists are still dumping bags of poo in a beautiful Peak District village as a potential solution is objected to, a local business owner has said.
John Search, 61, who works at The Peak Hotel, has lived in the area for 15 years and told The Express last year that some visitors to the scenic area leave litter, dog poo and "bags of human s***". Now Rick Ellison, the owner of the hotel said when asked if it were still happening: “It is, yeah.” He added: “I don't think it's really changed that much from what I've seen.”
Proposed Campsite Rejected
Alongside the installation of ANPR cameras, he thinks there is a solution: a new campsite that people can use. But Mr Ellison noted that Castleton Parish Council had rejected the idea.
In Peak District National Park planning documents dated December 2025, it was noted that parish councillors considered proposed 35 motorhome pitches on an agricultural field in Holmesfield Farm just north of the village as “detrimental” to Castleton. They objected to the plan because of “access issues”, an “impact on landscape and character”, the “capacity of infrastructure”, a “loss of privacy for neighbouring properties” and “noise and disturbance”. Officials refused the application.
Local Perspective
Mr Ellis, who lives in the next village along from Castleton, has property that backs straight onto an existing site where people are allowed to stay for a certain amount of weekends a year. He said: “And do you know what? I've never heard any noise. “They have little fire pits or isolated areas where they can have a barbeque or things like that, and it's supervised. “I've never had any issues. It's not a blot on the landscape. It's nothing.” Mr Ellis added: “I don't see the problem with [the proposal], especially if they put trees around it. “That will sort of camouflage it, won't it?”
It has also been suggested that a ULEZ-style charging system for cars could reduce a large amount of traffic in the area. But Mr Ellis is not convinced about the idea. The Express contacted Castleton Parish Council, the Peak District National Park and High Peak Borough Council for comment.
