DARK PEAK 4 COUNTY TOPS             The Over The Hill Challenge Series

As well as being a unique wilderness the Dark Peak is the only upland area in the UK that can boast as many as four county tops all within the compass of a single day.  The challenge of visiting them all on foot in one outing is open to anyone to achieve within 24 hours.

The route was devised in 2005 in part to celebrate the first anniversary of the extended right to roam in the Peak which came about as a result of the 2000 CROW Act and which has made this circuit possible.  The start has been located at Hayfield at the plaque which marks the Kinder Mass Trespass of 1932, the first milestone in the long road to freedom of access which can now be rightfully enjoyed throughout this route.

Route

The start and finish is at Hayfield’s Bowden Bridge Car Park  GR 049869 under the plaque dedicated to the 1932 Kinder Trespass.  It provides a continuous circuit of over 40 miles and over 7000’  by linking the four county tops of :

Use Explorer map OL1 The Peak District – Dark Peak area

Any route may be chosen between the tops subject to visiting the Snake Inn GR 114906 (between Kinder and High Stones) and Snake Top GR 088929 (between Black Chew Head and the finish).  The latest OS OL1 map shows the former county top of Margery Hill as 2m lower than High Stones a little to the south; both can easily be included.

Time limits

There is a generous 24 hour limit for all age categories.  First class times for those who prefer a challenge are as follows:

Registration

Completions must be registered on a registration form (see below).  Previous years completions are listed on this site - go to registered completions  

Quality laminated colour certificates are available for all registered completions - see registration form for details.  Click here to view pdf file of certificate

Print or View

Registration form and route details - click icon to view/ print pdf file

Links

□   County Tops  - Comprehensive details of all county tops past and present.

□   English Counties by highest point - Wikipedia listings of current county tops.

Give me a great big hill and a rolling sky

And a pair of legs to guide me by,

A map and a compass if you will,

But pray first give me that big hill.

G.H.B. Ward, 1932

Right to Roam campaigner