Peak District - Parkhouse & Chrome Hill 06/05/2012

Distance - 7.5miles

Ascent - 1568

Time - 4hrs 25min

Route - Earl Sterndale - Hitter Hill - Parkhouse Hill - Chrome Hill - High Edge - Hollins Hill - Hollinsclough - Glutton Bridge - Earl Sterndale

Map of the route

I have wanted to do these two hills for a while now and tempted my wife to come along with a late start, pub lunch and plenty of scrambling. We arrived in Earl Sterndale just before 10.30am and were faced with my worst nightmare a field full of cows and we had to go through it. We managed to avoid some of the cows by climbing over a few wall but one was stood next to the gate. No way was I going through there so my wife took the dogs off me and held my hand past. WHAT A BIG GIRL I AM

The short but very steep ascent of Parkhouse faced us next and it looked a tough climb and to be honest it was one of the hardest I have done for a while. Time for a quick brake after only one mile. Staying on the ridge all the way to the end you get a true mountain feel on a small hill. Nicely finished off with a big scramble at the end.

As soon as we had finished descending, we had to start the climb up Chrome Hill. Once again we stuck on the spine, by doing this it does make the walk harder but is well worth doing even my wife was enjoying the walk. We stopped on the summit for a coffee and to take in the great views.

Our next target was the WWII bunkers on High Edge they are very easy to find and well worth a visit. You can get into them and have a look around and get a sense of what it must have been like stuck in a little place like this all day.

With only one more climb of the day we headed up onto Hollins Hill then it was a gentle stroll back to the car through Hollinsclough and Glutton Bridge.

These two small hills are the best in the Peak District to get a real mountain feel. They look and feel like mountains and the views don’t disappoint from the summits.      

CLICK HERE TO SEE ALL THE PICTURES FROM THE WALK