Mam Tor and the Great Ridge
You run the entire Great Ridge end to end, a paved skyline with the Hope and Edale valleys falling away on either side, then loop through Castleton beneath the caves and old road.
You run the entire Great Ridge end to end, a paved skyline with the Hope and Edale valleys falling away on either side, then loop through Castleton beneath the caves and old road.
A 12.6km loop over Mam Tor and the length of the Great Ridge to Lose Hill, dropping to Castleton and back, with 502m of climbing. The most famous ridgeline in the Peak District in one compact circuit.
The route
The Great Ridge is the classic Peak District skyline, and this 12.6km loop runs the whole of it. From Mam Nick you climb straight up Mam Tor, a 517m Iron Age hillfort with one of the biggest views in the district, then follow the flagged crest northeast over Hollins Cross and Back Tor to Lose Hill. The ridge is narrow enough to feel airy, with the Edale valley on one side and the Hope valley on the other, but the path is paved and clear, so you can run it fast.
The descent and Castleton
From Lose Hill the route drops toward Castleton, the honeypot village beneath the ridge, famous for its show caves and Blue John stone. You pass close to the village before climbing back toward Mam Nick, with an option to take in the broken Mam Tor road, the stretch of old A625 abandoned after repeated landslips, which is a strange and photogenic piece of the loop. Total climbing is 502m, most of it in the two pulls onto Mam Tor and back out of the valley.
Why it works
For the effort involved you get an enormous amount of ridge for your money: a genuine skyline, a proper summit and a classic Peak village, all in a loop short enough for an evening or a half-day. It is popular for good reason, so expect company on the ridge, especially at weekends and sunset.
Good to know
The ridge is fully exposed to wind and weather despite the good path, and the paved surface gets slippery when wet or icy. Pick a clear day and you get the views; pick a wild one and you still get a serious blow. Weekday mornings are far quieter than weekends if you want a clear run at the ridge, and sunrise or sunset here is as good as the Peak District gets.
The Great Ridge is fully exposed, and the paved sections turn slick and treacherous when wet or frosty. Mam Tor's flanks are eroded and steep, and the ridge catches strong crosswinds, so carry a windproof layer even in summer.
Safety on this route
- No signal? Text 999 — pre-register first: text register to 999
- Tell someone your route and expected return time before you head out
Leave No Trace
- Leave nothing but footprints, take nothing but memories.
- Please respect the countryside and all its inhabitants.
- Dogs on leads near livestock, and around ground-nesting birds from March to July.
- Gates as you find them — open or closed, leave it that way for the farmer and the next runner.
- Take it all home — wrappers, peel, tissue, the lot. It doesn't count as biodegradable if you can still see it.
- Stick to the path where the ground either side is wet, planted, or nesting habitat.
Common questions
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