Always take a map and compass with you. ©Crown copyright 2019 Ordnance Survey. Media 051/190 km 1 2 3 4 5 6 7400
300
200
100
0
1
2345671
Start/Finish
Earl Sterndale
(Buxton). Limited parking
possible near the Quiet
Woman inn
GR: SK090670
Follow a path across fields,
contouring around the broad
northern slopes of Hitter Hill
before descending steeply to
the road.(^2)
Turn R and follow road
(careful to avoid traffic
on narrow sections) to
Glutton Grange.
(^3)
A gate allows access to a
good track that follows a
narrow dale for about 800m.
Chrome Hill
Peak District ENGLAND
7.6km/4.7 miles/2-3 hours
Ascent 361m/1186ft^9
I’M NOT SURE what
possessed us to attempt
the most exposed hills in
the Peak District on an
autumn day with high winds
forecast. A gale the night
before had kept us awake in
our tent at Bakewell. Next
morning, as I refreshed
the weather forecast on
my phone and peered at
the leaden sky, I tried to
convince myself that the
weather would improve later
on. “It says ‘sunny intervals’,”
Hannah commented as
we packed our rucksacks.
“Maybe the weather won’t be
so bad after all.”
Neither of us had done
the classic circuit of Chrome
Hill and Parkhouse Hill,
the perfectly formed twin
(^4)
At a junction, follow the
track L uphill, then over a
prow of land with excellent views
across to Chrome Hill. Descend
steeply to the minor road, climbing
through Dowel Dale. Follow the
road until a track breaks off at
SK065683.
(^5)
Follow track to a sign
indicating a permissive
footpath, not marked on OS maps,
that’s easy to follow as far as the
final climb to Chrome Hill. The
path traverses on the right-hand
side of the hillside before reaching
the ridge.
(^6)
Climb Chrome Hill’s west
ridge, exposed in places, to
the summit. Descend steeply on
the other side to the road at
SK077670.
(^7)
Either traverse Parkhouse
Hill on the way back to Earl
Sterndale, or avoid it to the S via
an easy traverse path (mapped).
Gradient profile Metres above sea level
Alex Roddie
discovers a
White Peak
classic
The Great Outdoors July 2019 101