Chrome Hill and Parkhouse Hill — a local walk

Posted by Paul Filby on 4/19/10 • Categorized as England, Treks & Travels

I’d had my eye on this one for a while. Looking for a decent local walk (by which I mean something that starts and finishes at my front door in Higher Buxton), the obvious contender for something that would while away a complete morning or afternoon was a bimble southwards over Grin Low (paying a quick visit to Solomon’s Temple) and out to Chrome Hill and Parkhouse Hill.

Now, in spite of its name, the Peak District isn’t especially peaky. There’s much more in the way of sombre expanses of blanket-bog moorland (think Black Hill and Bleaklow) in the Dark Peak, and rolling pastures dissected by miles of dry-stone walls and deep-cut limestone valleys in the White Peak. Which is all very nice, but I do like a well-defined hill. Thus the ancient reef knolls of Chrome and Parkhouse Hill come to the rescue, rearing up quite unexpectedly at the upper end of Dovedale and bringing a little of the Lakes or Snowdonia in miniature to the area.

I’ll let the pictures tell the story (at the end of this post) but am also experimenting with the Ordnance Survey’s “OpenSpace” embedded mapping. The interactive map below shows the route in blue. If you’re reading this through an RSS Reader (e.g. Google Reader), then the embedded map won’t be visible, so you’ll need to read this post directly on the Wild Vista website instead.

But first, a few pertinent observations from this 12-mile, 4-hour circuit (in sequential order, assuming an anticlockwise circuit):

The view North over Buxton from Solomon’s Temple is great. In fact, it’s good in every direction — even the limestone quarries to the south hold some interest. You’ll be coming back past/through that lot…
Do this walk during the week, and you’re likely to encounter some loud explosions from said quarries. Livens things up a bit don’t you think? Actually, you may get the same at weekends too — I’m just guessing that blasting operations are probably concentrated during the usual working week.
Whatever the latest OS maps might say, Stanley Moor Reservoir is disused. Because there’s a bloody great hole in it. Further research indicates that it was built on the junction between gritstone and limestone, and has always leaked badly, so they’ve just given up on it now and knocked a large wedge out of the middle of the eastern embankment.
Just south of the (not) reservoir, you’ll pass through land owned by the UK Health and Safety Laboratory. Signs warn of sudden loud noises (that’s in addition to quarry blasting operations). Ahh, the peace and quiet of the Derbyshire countryside. Passing various buildings and compounds, it’s fun to try and work out just exactly what they’ve been testing the health and safety of. That sure did look like a burnt-out tube train…
Bucolic splendour is restored as you head further south, and cross the Peak National Park boundary (which keeps away from Buxton hereabouts due to the quarries and HSL site). Be careful not to let the horses out of their paddock as you pass through Thirkelow Farm!
Between Booth Farm and Stoop Farm, Chrome Hill hoves into view, and will probably stop you in your tracks momentarily. Most un-Peak District-like. Fortunately, it’s much smaller than it looks.
A concessionary path (not marked on the latest 1:25 000 OS Explorer Map) passes Tor Rock, then descends sharply to the foot of the northwest ridge of Chrome Hill, taking you to the edge of the Access Land.
The ridge itself is a delight — take a direct line all the way up, and you’ll even get some little sections of very mild scrambling. And, as a bonus, cross a natural arch that’s bored all the way through the ridgeline. Take that Utah!
If you thought Chrome Hill was steep, wait till you see Parkhouse Hill. Shorter but sharper — I took a route up the south side of the west ridge, and was just barely hanging on by my eyebrows at one point. Cracking section of ridge near the top though.
Glutton Grange marks the far point of the walk, with a return back through Dowel Dale being particularly scenic.
Passing round Greensides Farm, then skimming the edge of Hillhead Quarry (watch out for that blasting), and it’s down into Harpur Hill, and a quick jaunt back into Buxton beneath Grin Low. Lovely!