UK Iconic Walks – Mam Tor and The Great Ridge, Peak District

UK Iconic Walks – Mam Tor and the Great Ridge, Peak District

Mam Tor has a bit of a reputation for being the ‘tourist trap’ of the Peak District, with the National Trust (who manage the site) estimating that around 1 MILLION people visit Mam Tor alone each year. The ever growing high visitor numbers (fuelled arguably largely by social media) is having a noticeable impact on the landscape, causing congestion and parking chaos around the area including in nearby Castleton and increasing erosion across The Great Ridge, prompting repairs and ongoing maintenance measures to be put in place by the National Trust. The site of an iron age hillfort, Mam Tor is a delicate and fragile landscape, already prone to landslides and natural processes without human involvement, its constantly shifting shale over the years has created mini hills on the slopes below and earned Mam Tor the nickname ‘the Shivering Mountain’. The upside of its popularity, arguably, is the increased revenue for the National Trust and businesses in nearby Castleton, as well as increased incentive for people to visit the outdoors and get active. This is especially the case by those looking for the perfect sunrise instagram photo, or wanting an easily accessible hike to a stunning location with 360 degree panoramic views.

Having never visited Mam Tor before but already being aware of how busy it gets with traffic, parking and people… we visited in the week and were able to easily find a spot on the National Trust Mam Nick carpark, from where it is just a short uphill hike to Mam Tor summit. From there we followed the 3km Great Ridge, one of the most iconic and stunning stretches in the Peak District. Hollins Cross, the lowest point on the ridge, is an old-time crossroads between the valleys where people used to carry coffins between villages.

Back Tor is the steepest and rockiest section of the ridge, which the dogs LOVED and absolutely powered up the scramble while I questioned my life choices from behind. After stopping to catch our breath and grab a photo on the rocky outcrop, we finally carried on along the ridge to Lose Hill, which has legends tied to ancient battles and unbeatable views for miles.

Following the path back as we came to complete the route, we were treated to a sunset as we summited Mam Tor for the second time, affirming just why this hike is so popular. It’s a shame that it is suffering for its own popularity, and I would recommend visiting away from the peak times of the weekends to be able to fully enjoy the beauty and awe of The Great Ridge as it’s meant to be without the stress of crowds.