Mam Tor is a beautiful spot for hiking and enjoying the views. With parts of the Pennine Way running through here, it’s little wonder that it gets busier than many other spots in the Peak District. But the views really as wonderful.
It’s probably worth me saying that, despite the fact that Mam Tor is a pretty hill summit, for me it is not the highlight of this area. But Great Ridge, which runs from Mam Tor and across to Back Tor then onto Lose Hill really is. You can see it in the background behind the summit here.
I’m going to share 3 of my favourite Mam Tor Hiking routes with parking details!
The Short Mam Tor and Great Ridge Route from Mam Nick Car Park
So this one is my go to when I don’t have much time but I really want the views.
Mam Nick car park is a National Trust car park (so National Trust members can park free and it’s pay and display for everyone else).
Mam Nick car park’s location is:
- ///marginal.microchip.charge (What 3 Words)
- Google Maps
In essence, it will take most walkers 10 to 20 minutes to talk from Mam Nick car park up to the summit of Mam Tor.
There’s only around 80m of elevation gain from Mam Nick car park to the Mam Tor summit and about 500m of distance. So it’s steep for sure but the path is well maintained.
Now I’ve mentioned that Mam Tor for me is not the highlight of this area but I have a whole lot of love for Great Ridge. So my favourite short and sweet Mam Tor hiking route is simply out on the ridge to Lose Hill and then back on yourself:
There is the AllTrails route which estimates Great Ridge and back at 7.72km with 447m of elevation gain. Now my Apple Watch consistently records it at just under 9 km but I do wander around quite a bit!
The views along Great Ridge are incredible though.
The highlight of the ridge for me and, in my opinion, the best hill along the ridge, is Back Tor. Here’s the views back over towards Mam Tor from here.
Once you reach Back Tor, Mam Tor looks quite a way away!
Once you reach Back Tor, Mam Tor looks quite a way away!
Any time I’ve been on this summit the views have blown my mind.
And it’s also my favourite spot for a coffee!
From Back Tor, it’s a pretty quick walk up to Lose Hill, where you will find a Topograph pointing to other hills you can see on a clear day.
Mam Tor and Winnat’s Pass
If you’ve never been to Winnat’s Pass, then I immediately suggest you do. Driving through is beautiful enough. And I do love walking by the side of the road looking up at the hills and rock formations. But the view from above is something else:
You can do a walk which encompasses both Winnat’s Pass and Mam Tor:
It’s worth saying this mapped route doesn’t encompass the whole of Great Ridge (it descends after Hollins Cross). AllTrails estimates this route at 7.7km and 373m of elevation gain.
I can’t confirm what it actually comes in at because when I did this route I extended out on Great Ridge to do Back Tor and came back on myself then to descend from Hollins Cross. This came in at 9.8km for me.
This one involves parking in Castleton as opposed to at Mam Nick. There are far more parking options in Castleton than there are spaces at Mam Nick.
You can park at:
Now, the main benefit of parking in Castleton is the coffee and cafe options when you get back to your car!
Mam Tor and Ladybower Reservoir
This is a mammoth hike and came in (on my Apple Watch) at over 37km. I did it on a long June day!
You take in Mam Tor early in this one and then descend from Hollins Cross. But instead of descending back in the direction of Castleton, as the previous route did, you go down the other side towards Edale and head for the Snake Pass.
You then cross the Snake Pass and pick up footpaths again to Ladybower Reservoir which has some stunning scenery.
Or, just park and wander
One of my favourite things about hiking in the Peak District is that I think, more than anywhere else in the UK, it’s so easy to just get out of your car and wander without a plan or route. There are so so many footpaths around Mam Tor. You could just park up and hike!
Enjoy!
