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Venues I Love – Mam Tor, Castleton

Castleton is a lovely village in the middle of the Peak District, about 30 minutes drive outside of Sheffield.

It is an amazing place to be for photographs, be it wedding fun or engagement photos.

I first knew of Castleton back when I was 17: one of the modules in my A-Level geography course was about erosion and the effects of nature on man made substances.

When I went to Sheffield on my university visiting day, I took a trip out to Castleton to see for myself Mam Tor, the village of Castleton, and the ruins of the old A625 which were abandoned due to the mountain quite literally sliding down the hill!  In 1979 the authorities finally gave up trying to keep the road open after having to repair it numerous times a year, and it became a famous walking route.  Certainly for me, it was always a fantastic place to visit to go walking and take in the views.

YFFUK Your Favourite Frame Mwasuku Peak District Castleton Mam Tor bride and groom doing star jumps with their bridal party in the peaks with a gorgeous background setting
YFFUK Your Favourite Frame Mwasuku Peak District Castleton Mam Tor Bridal bride and groom looking at the mountain top
YFFUK Your Favourite Frame Mwasuku Peak District Castleton Mam Tor Bridal party throwing rose petal confetti

Which is why it was such an amazing thing when Louie and Stacey were looking for somewhere near Sheffield to go for some “bridal party fun” photographs!  We threw around several ideas, but Mam Tor stuck, and I’m so very glad it did.  Why would you want to do Bridal party fun?  Well it links in very nicely with my theory on spending quality time together.  You’ll find my article on that below.

As you can see, the only road is totally destroyed, with sections sliding down the hill, and what remains being seriously cracked and torn.  But as a place to take photographs, it really is something special.  For a start, look at those views, they really are to die for!!!

YFFUK Your Favourite Frame Mwasuku Peak District Castleton Mam Tor Bridal Party pointing at the page boy who is dancing close to the camera
YFFUK Your Favourite Frame Mwasuku Peak District Castleton Mam Tor bride drinking from the champagne bottle celebrating the happiness
YFFUK Your Favourite Frame Mwasuku Peak District Castleton Mam Tor bride standing on the old cracked road with her bridesmaids holding the train of her dress blue skies and killer views
YFFUK Your Favourite Frame Mwasuku Peak District Castleton Mam Tor Bridal party standing on the edge of the old cracked road toasting to the bride and groom with views of the valley behind them

Also, because of the continuously varying surface level of both the road and the landscape, it makes for some seriously interesting angles to play with.  Particularly helpfully, in certain places where the old road has left divots and pools of water, you can get some very pleasing reflections.  This led to one of my all time favourite wedding photographs.  This really was a case of when everything comes together perfectly, there is something beautiful to behold!!!

YFFUK Your Favourite Frame Mwasuku Peak District Castleton Mam Tor Bridal party reflected in the water pool in the old road holding smoke bombs grenades of different colours

Two things are VITALLY important that you MUST notes.  Firstly, you’ll see that we used confetti.  This was rose petals, and fully biodegradable.  You’re right in the middle of the Peak District, it would not be appropriate to use paper.  Secondly, for the smoke grenade photos you MUST seek legal permissions to do so.  This needs to be from both the landowners, but also the councils as well.  For me, part of gaining these permissions was explaining the steps taken to avoid litter, waste, damage and risk to the public.  Long story short, my backpack became a rubbish bag for the grenade ring pulls and caps, and we carried with us a water bowser to extinguish the grenades to take home afterwards.

YFFUK Your Favourite Frame Mwasuku Peak District Castleton Mam Tor Bridal party standing on the edge of the old cracked road bride in the middle with her bridesmaids linking arms
YFFUK Your Favourite Frame Mwasuku Peak District Castleton Mam Tor groomsmen hoisting the groom on to their shoulders

I will admit it took me some time to achieve this, but it was well worth doing.  Please, whatever you do, don’t just go up there and use paper confetti and smoke grenades without the appropriate permissions and authority.  The last thing I would want is others being unable to do similar as a result of a blanket ban.

So, Mam Tor, it’s a special little place with something to offer.  Maybe you won’t go there for bridal party fun, but it’s worthy of consideration for an engagement or family shoot!

If you like what you see, please reach out to me and see if I might be able to be the one you want to spend your wedding day with you!!!