It is well worth taking a circular walk along the ridge to Hollins Cross and then back in the shadow of Mam Tor to view this eastern face you will find yourself walking on what looks like the contorted remains of a former “A” road surprisingly, this is exactly what it is.
Peak district mam tor series#
I say “used to encircle the hill”, as the old lady of Mam Tor had other ideas the unstable geology of the which the hill is composed has caused a series of catastrophic landslips, eating a vast chunk out of the hill top and fortification. As a consequence, the prehistory of Mam Tor is long and complex there are bronze age burial mounds on the summit (a triangulation pillar has been built on one of them!) as well as the clearly distinguishable remains of roundhouses, (about 80 in total).Ĭlimbing upwards, you will pass through the ramparts of the fortification that used to encircle the hill – again this has been shown to date back well into the bronze age, but with iron age modifications. This gave our forbears the unique combination of an easily defended high place that also had the potential to be populated on a semi-permanent basis. It was clearly a place venerated as much for its maternal shape as for the miracle of a fresh water spring quite near to the summit. The name “Mam Tor” literally means “mother hill”, from the celtic language spoken in these parts during the Iron Age. On a sunny day with the shadows of clouds flitting across the heather-clad slopes, there can be no finer sight in Derbyshire. The other major view, which starts to open out to the North as you begin to climb, is of Edale, with the village of Edale nestling below the dark moors of the Kinder plateau. Even this can be said to provide a punctuation mark in a fantastically green vista. Mam Tor sits at the head of the beautiful Hope Valley and one of the views is down to Castleton village in the near distance, with the ruins of Norman Peveril Castle just above it, beyond to Hope itself and the slightly less picturesque quarry and cement works at Bradwell, with its tall white chimney. But these improvements make for a very easy visitor experience and it is common to find family groups of all ages making for the hilltop. So popular is it, in fact, that The National Trust, in whose estate Mam Tor sits, have had to make steps and a veritable highway of old paving stones all along its ridge, in order to combat very serious erosion from countless pairs of boots. You will not find yourself alone, however, as its accessibility, proximity to the tourist honey pot that is Castleton and wow-factor of the views to be enjoyed all the way to the summit, make it a highly popular destination. Continue on for 4.7 mi and turn right, following the road for 0.If you have to choose just one hill in the Peak District to climb and perhaps have a limited amount of time, then Mam Tor would be the obvious choice. To reach the Lord’s Seat and Mam Tor Walk car park from Hope Valley, head west for 2.4 mi along Hathersage Road and make a right turn on Edale Road. Or see all of our Peak District walks on 10Adventures. Other amazing walks in Peak District National ParkĬheck out our guides to Kinder Scout, Mam Tor, Stanage Edge, Dovedale, and Padley Gorge. Continue along the ridge to Hollins Cross, where you will descend the hillside and make your way back across the valley on the return to Edale. From here, make your way east along the ridge and climb slightly uphill to the summit of Mam Tor, where you will have some more spectacular views. Setting out from the trailhead at the Fieldhead Campsite, the trail initially heads north before turning sharply to the southwest to cut across the open farmland that makes up the valley floor.Īfter crossing over the River Noe, you will begin to climb uphill to reach the small plateau known as the Lord’s Seat, where you will have a great sightline overlooking the Edale Valley. Even with the steep sections of trail that climb up The Great Ridge, the Lord’s Seat & Mam Tor Walk is a popular outdoor activity in the Peak District due to the scenic views overlooking the charming valley and the chance to visit the iconic Mam Tor.
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