Hiking Chrome Hill and Parkhouse Hill: A Complete Guide
When looking for walks and hikes in the Peak District, you may notice that Chrome Hill and Parkhouse Hill are frequently mentioned. And with good reason! These iconic hills make for a short but challenging hike with panoramic views of the area.
Chrome Hill and Parkhouse Hill’s distinctively rugged shape stand out in the undulating landscape of the dales, and have sometimes been referred to as the only true peaks in the Peak District! They’ve even coined the name “The Dragon’s Back” due to their resemblance to the ‘plates’ along the spine of a stegosaurus.
In this guide, I will cover information about Chrome Hill and Parkhouse Hill, different options for the trail, as well as details and guidance for everything you’ll need to know to enjoy this awesome walk.
About Chrome Hill and Parkhouse Hill
Chrome Hill and Parkhouse Hill are located in the Peak District National Park, just south of Buxton. The nearest villages to these hills are Hollinsclough and East Sterndale, which you will see signs towards in the surrounding areas.
Chrome Hill is the taller of the two hills and has an elevation of 425m (1394 ft). Parkhouse Hill is 360m (1180ft) tall with a prominence of 35m. Side by side, Parkhouse Hill appears smaller and steeper, while Chrome Hill is larger and flatter.
Both hills are reef knolls made of limestone. This means that they formed through the accumulation of underwater sediment. The Peak District was once all underwater during the Carboniferous period roughly 300 million years ago. As a result, Chrome Hill is home to several Gigantoproductus fossils formed during the Carboniferous period, making it a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI).
Please note: as an SSSI, the area is protected so it is an offense to remove any fossils or geological samples you may find.
Getting to Chrome Hill and Parkhouse Hill
By Car:
The best way to get to Chrome Hill and Parkhouse Hill is by car.
Depending on the direction you are coming from and the route you want to walk the two hills, you have several options. Hollinsclough and East Sterndale are two small villages nearest the peaks that have roadside parking. Near Hollinsclough Chapel Hall is your safest bet for parking spaces, though East Sterndale is closer to the hills if you can find a spot.
If you would prefer a car park, cafe, and other amenities, Longnor is a great option. There is a cobbled car park directly outside Cobbles Cafe. It is a slightly longer walk to Chrome and Parkhouse Hill, but this will add to your step count!
Whether you’re planning to park on the street or at the car park, I’d recommend arriving earlier as during peak season the spaces disappear quickly!
By Public Transport:
Getting public transport to Chrome Hill and Parkhouse Hill is possible, however, it’s not the easiest.
There is a bus route from Buxton to Ashbourne (Bus 442) which stops nearby. There are stops in East Sterndale (Main Road) and Longnor (Market Place) which provide two alternative starting points for your walk.
On weekdays, the bus runs roughly every hour and ten minutes. On Saturdays, they run less frequently. The bus from Buxton to Ashbourne is not in service on Sundays.
Buxton is known as the gateway to the Peak District. Its central train station is accessible from across the country.
Hiking Chrome Hill and Parkhouse Hill
Option 1: Chrome Hill and Parkhouse Hill Extended Route
This route is a longer walk nearing 15km and should take roughly 4 hours to hike.
However, it can be completed quicker than this. I have finished the walk closer to 3 hours, but this is at a reasonable pace without substantial breaks.
As this is a circular walk, you can start it from any point on the route (in theory), though I would recommend Longnor.
You can also do this route anticlockwise, going up Parkhouse Hill first, followed by Chrome Hill. Personally, I find it easier to go up the steeper, more difficult scrambles rather than coming down them. Therefore I recommend following the walk clockwise to make it easier.
Longnor to Chrome Hill (via Hollinsclough)
From your starting point of Longnor, you will head up through the village and along Buxton Road.
You will cross Glutton Bridge over the River Dove and veer left onto a dirt path heading in the direction of Hollinclough. There is a wooden signpost pointing this out.
Follow the dirt track on the south side of Chrome Hill and Parkhouse Hill.
The path remains is predominantly flat, with mild undulations with the land. You will go over a small bridge and pass through fields where livestock may be grazing.
The path reaches a fork with two options: either stay left going towards Hollinsclough or go right into privately owned land. You should keep left and go in the direction of Hollinclough.
Pass through Hollinsclough and turn right as you gain elevation. You will see Hollins Hill (451m) on your right. You can scale this hill, however this particular route circles around it.
Turn right, and follow the signpost through a gated field.
Follow the stone wall along until the path drops down to the right and you can begin making your way to the base of Chrome Hill.
Climbing Chrome Hill and Parkhouse Hill
There is a clear path up to the ridge of Chrome Hill. En route, you will come across a natural arch in the rock formation.
Follow the path up the ridgeline to the summit where you will have beautiful views of Parkhouse Hill and the surrounding area.
It can get very windy up there as it’s so exposed to the elements, but take the time to snap some pictures from the top!
Continue in the same direction for the descent of Chrome Hill. The path disappears at points, however, it is obvious which direction you will be heading.
Cross the road and make your way to the foot of Parkhouse Hill. The ascent is a steep one and a bit of a leg-burner so take your time.
Nearer the top, there is some scrambling involved. On a rainy day, this can get quite slippery so be careful.
If you would prefer to avoid the climb, you can follow the road around the south side of Parkhouse Hill.
Follow the path down Parkhouse Hill. There is a stone wall in front of you with a gate leading to another field.
The public path goes through the field to a gate opening up to the B5053. Be careful of cars when crossing. The gate to the path on the other side of the road is directly opposite.
Once on the other side of the road, continue along the path to the left in the direction of East Sterndale. You will climb up towards a viewpoint overlooking Parkhouse View and Chrome Hill.
The remainder of this route circles through East Sterndale via a mixture of fields and country lanes. You arch right just before High Wheeldon and follow a straight path in the countryside back to the starting point of Longnor to complete the circuit.
Option 2: Chrome Hill and Parkhouse Hill Alternative Routes
Just the hills:
Short Circuit: If you purely want to hike up Chrome Hill and Parkhouse Hill for the spectacular views as quickly as possible (I wouldn’t blame you), you can create a shorter circuit.
This circuit starts from East Sterndale and is an 8km loop, skipping out the villages of Hollinclough and Longnor.
You can complete the Chrome Hill and Parkhouse Hill circuit in around less than 3 hours.
Up and Down (If you have less than a couple of hours): If you don’t have much time, this direct route to the top of Chrome Hill and Parkhouse Hill is your best option.
Park in East Sterndale. Walk along the public footpath to Parkhouse Hill (crossing B5053). Climb Parkhouse Hill first, then climb Chrome Hill. This essentially follows a small section of the extended route (just anticlockwise instead). Once you’ve reached the top of Chrome Hill and taken all your photos, it’s time to retrace your steps back to East Sterndale.
Make your way down Chrome Hill. Avoid climbing up Parkhouse Hill again by going around the foot of the hill. Follow the same path back to where you parked your vehicle.
Avoiding the hills (for bad weather):
If the weather is horrible and deters you from the scramble or you don’t think the view will be great with all the fog, you can follow the same extended route with slight alterations.
Follow from Longnor, via Hollinsclough to the foot of Chrome Hill (as described).
When approaching Chrome Hill, instead of following the ridgeline stay at the base on the left-hand side. As you reach Parkhouse Hill, you can walk on either side, but I would recommend staying on the right-hand side (roadside) as this will be easier to walk.
Chrome Hill and Parkhouse Hill: Hints and Tips
Food and Pubs
The surrounding areas of Chrome Hill and Parkhouse Hill have few options for eating and drinking.
The longer route passes through Hollinsclough which has a small ice cream/snack store. Unfortunately, it was closed when I went, so I wouldn’t rely on the shop. Instead, I recommend bringing snacks, lunch, and water with you for the hike.
The hills can be quite exposed, but on a sunny day, you can sit down pretty much anywhere on the grass or on some rocks. (Just be careful of sheep mess!!!)
There is minimal shelter throughout the walk, making it difficult to sit down and eat if it’s raining. On Chrome Hill there is an arch on the northwestern side and a large tree on the opposite side.
If you would prefer to get some food out, Longnor, Hollinsclough, and East Sterndale provide a few options.
Longnor has a few options including:
- Ye Old Cheshire Cheese (Pub)
- Cobbles Cafe
- Longnor Fish and Chip Shop
Hollinclough has a cafe called Chapel Tearooms.
East Sterndale has a pub called The Quiet Woman.
Toilet facilities:
There are public toilets in Longnor, so I recommend going before your walk. Once on the Chrome Hill and Parkhouse Hill trail, there are no more toilets.
If you do get caught short, it might be challenging to find a private spot due to the popularity of the walk and 360-degree views from each summit. Your best option would be any of the tree or rock wall covers on the approach to Chrome Hill.
If you’re willing to be a paying customer, The Quiet Woman pub in East Sterndale also offers toilet facilities. This is a slight detour from the route, but depending on where you are (and your urgency), it might be a better option than waiting until you return to Longnor.
Navigation
The longer route starting in Longnor requires some walking on the roadside before you get onto paths and the countryside. Though these roads are quiet, make sure to pay attention to your surroundings while navigating.
The trail is relatively simple to follow. As you walk towards Chrome Hill, avoid the area marked private land and stay up by the wall. You will see where the fence has been lowered as walkers have passed through. The path isn’t the most obvious but you can see Chrome Hill and navigate by eye to the path.
If like me the first time you walk Chrome Hill you overshoot, there are some passing points in the rock wall allowing you to step over.
If you don’t have a map and compass to navigate, you can follow this walking route by saving this post and following the steps. Equally, you can follow the route using maps.me or by downloading the route in advance. The 15km route can be found on AllTrails here while the shorter loop can be found here. They can both be adapted to suit your needs.
Other Hikes near Chrome Hill and Parkhouse Hill:
Before you go
Thank you for reading my travel guide on hiking Chrome Hill and Parkhouse Hill. If guides and travel content like this interest you, head over to my blog page to find out more.
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Happy hiking!
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