Explore with Amie

Instead of my usual destination of the Lake District, today I’m sharing a fantastic short walk in the Peak District that includes a little bit of easy scrambling! This is classed online as a challenging to moderate difficulty level but, I would argue that Chrome Hill is much easier than Parkhouse Hill and so is accessible for most who are used to a little bit of hill walking; whilst Parkhouse is the more difficult of the two and could be avoided.

We parked in the small village of Hollinsclough which has a small tea room with toilets, should you need it. It actually lies on the Staffordshire border which I didn’t realise at the time and is within the boundaries of the Peak District National Park. There is very limited parking available here and we ended up in a small parking area outside the tearoom. From the car park, you begin with a short walk up the road and then onto a track. This track has a lovely little honesty shop which had homemade treats as well as some interesting crisp flavours! We bought some pheasant and wild boar crisps to take back home with us and share with my family. That was a nice little treat to start the walk!

After you’ve crossed the river, you’re back in Derbyshire! Then, it was time to tackle the hills. We opted to head to the right and up Parkhouse Hill first. As I said, I would argue that this is the most difficult of the two with the harder scrambling. Many wouldn’t find this challenging but as a more or less beginner, I really enjoyed the experience but did find it hard. As I’ve reported a few times on this blog, I have a tendency to say ‘I’m stuck’ which then leads to a mental block and I can’t rationally see how to progress. It’s something that I am getting much better at and I think if I was to return to the Peak District to repeat this, I would do much better. We also opted to take on the rocky section rather than keeping to the grassy path which would have provided an easier alternative. Once you’ve reached the top though, it’s an easy path along the top of the ridge and then down the other side. We then worked our way back along the bottom of Parkhouse Hill and on towards Chrome Hill.

Despite having to go back on yourself a little bit, this is the best way to do it in my opinion as you have a nice circular route from Chrome Hill back to the car. You also get great views across the Dragon’s Back from Parkhouse Hill and you’ll soon realise how it got it’s name. These two hills are limestone reef knolls which are accumulations of rock on the ancient sea floor, now revealed and a joy for hikers to explore today. These hills have been around for millions of years and have become a distinctive feature of the Staffordshire Moors; they’re now designated Sites of Specific Scientific Interest.

After climbing Parkhouse Hill, Chrome Hill was a breeze. It is steep and will get your puffing but, other than that, it doesn’t have the same technical scrambling required. Similarly, as you work your way across the back of the dragon and the ridge, you’ll find yourself moving from rock to rock but nothing too technical. If you’re steady on your feet and have a bit of walking experience, you’ll do just fine. This is a very popular one with tourists and so is within the capabilties of many.

That also comes with other challenge though as soon we could see people going off the paths and trying to find shortcuts back off the hill without having to retrace their steps along the ridge. But, there is two options: skirt around the back of Chrome Hill or turn it into a nice 7.5km circle back to Hollinsclough. The rest of the route is easy and passes through farmland and on well defined paths and tracks. We didn’t find it too taxing and instead it was just lovely to chat and walk. Doing this route made it feel like more of a complete walk rather than just completing the two hills. Either are fine option though, especially if you’re short on time.

You can see the route that we did on mappedometer through this link.

Start point: Hollinsclough Village

1. if parking in the village of Hollinsclough, walk down Carr Lane passing the school on your left.
2. Outside the village, turn right down a farm lane passing a pop-up farm shop.
3. When the farm lane splits into two, take the right track.
4. The lane runs aside a river which should be on your left as you walk. Soon it crosses via a ford and a foot bridge.
5. After crossing here, the track meets a road. Turn left along it.
6. Where the road runs between Parkhouse and Chrome hill, take the right footpath and ascend Packhouse Hill.
7. Descending you should take the path that bends left downhill to run parrallel with Packhorse to the road again.
8. Back at the road, cross it and ascend Chrome Hill.
9. On the other side, having descended, pass through a gate and continue to the next field.
10. The path should then head uphill adjacent to a fence.
11. Left at the top of the hill takes you across a drystone wall into another field. Pass through this field and cross another wall.
12. Continue with the drystone wall on your right. For reference you should see a shepherds hut and farm down on your left.
13. Keep the wall to your right until arriving at the farm track. Now head diagonally across the field, skirting the farm and meeting the track again on the other side.
14. This track soon meets a tarmac lane. Turn left here.
15. Keep left as the road turns to track.
16. Continue until at a sharp bend, before the house, turn off the track down hill towards woodland.
17. Here, cross the footbridge and follow the path until it reaches the road.
18. Left down the road and you are back in Hollinsclough Village centre.

End point: Hollinsclough Village

This is a great little walk and I’d highly recommend giving it a go!

Amie x