Last Updated on February 27, 2024 by Natalia
Chrome Hill, standing at a height of 443 metres (1,553 feet) above sea level, offers stunning views of England’s Peak District. Situated in between the villages of Hollinsclough and Earl Sterndale, the hill dominates the landscape along with its neighbour, Parkhouse Hill. The unique jagged curve of Chrome Hill sees it referred to as the ‘Dragon’s Back’, as it resembles the plated back of a stegosaurus. Although there is no parking by the hill itself, free parking is available in both Hollinsclough and Earl Sterndale, so you can start your Chrome Hill walk from either village. There are several walking routes you can take depending on how active you’re feeling, but all will offer the same amazing views from the hill’s summit. Find out everything you need to know before you visit with this guide to the Chrome Hill walk in the Peak District.
Chrome Hill Parking
There is no specific car park at Chrome Hill, but there is free parking in the nearby village of Hollinsclough, at postcode SK17 0RH. As you drive into the village from the south the free parking is in the lay-by on the right hand side, just before you reach the Methodist Church and Hall.
Free Chrome Hill Parking Postcode – SK17 0RH
The other option for parking near the Chrome Hill walk is to park on the road near ‘The Quiet Woman‘ pub in Earl Sterndale. This parking is closer to Parkhouse Hill, but it’s a convenient spot to park if you’re planning on climbing both hills on your visit.
Chrome Hill Walking Routes
There are several different walking routes in the area, so it’s up to you which route you’d prefer. One thing to take into consideration when picking your Chrome Hill walk is the difficulty of the different routes.
In terms of difficulty, the Chrome Hill walk itself is relatively straight forward if you have a reasonable level of fitness. If you pick one of the routes with Parkhouse Hill then expect a slightly more challenging walk, as it’s a steeper climb.
For some easier options make sure to read our guide to 7 easy Peak District walks!
Chrome Hill Short Walk
To walk to Chrome Hill from Hollinsclough, take the road to your right as you walk into the village and head past the primary school. Continue down this road until you reach a farmhouse on your left, with a public footpath running alongside it. Follow the trail in the direction of Chrome Hill until the path splits off in two directions.
At this point you’ll need to take the path to the right, and follow it until you reach a road near the bottom of Parkhouse Hill. Take a sharp left to turn onto the road and follow it until you reach a wooden stile on your left hand side that marks the start of the Chrome Hill walk.
It should take around 15-20 minutes to walk to the start of the trail from where you parked, and from there it’s around another 20-30 minute walk to the peak of Chrome Hill. The walk to the summit is relatively steep, particularly towards the end, but it’s well worth the effort.
Make sure to look behind you at various points on your climb, as you get some wonderful views of the nearby Parkhouse Hill. Once you reach the top you’ll have fantastic views of the countryside and rolling hills, which is why it’s on our list of the best views in the Peak District!
After you’ve enjoyed the views the quickest option is to take the short walk going straight back to the parking the way you came. Alternatively, you can complete a circular walk from Chrome Hill back to Hollinsclough by taking the other route down the hill.
The circular walk takes you round Hollins Hill, past Stoop Farm, and then back to where you parked. We recommend downloading maps.me as the trail is well-marked on the app, which makes it very easy to follow.
Important – If you do download maps.me and are relying on the app for directions, make sure to download the East Midlands map in advance. It will be hard to download once you’re there as in our experience the phone signal is not great in the Chrome Hill area.
Chrome Hill and Parkhouse Hill Circular Walk
Parkhouse Hill is so nearby that it would be a shame not to climb it whilst you’re in the area. Fortunately, it can easily be added on to the Chrome Hill circular walk from Hollinsclough.
You have two options for this walk, the first being to follow the instructions on the walk above but turn right instead of left when you reach the road near Parkhouse Hill. Then follow the road along the base of the hill and when you reach a stone wall follow along the inside of the wall.
As you follow the inside of the wall it should lead you to the path up Parkhouse Hill, and from there it’s around a 10-20 minute walk to the top. It’s a bit of a scramble at times, but once you’re at the top you get some great views of Chrome Hill. If you have any trouble finding the path up then use maps.me as the route is well marked.
After you’ve enjoyed the views you can continue on the path down Parkhouse Hill, but this path is quite steep towards the end. If you’re not confident then you may want to consider going back the way you came and walking round to Chrome Hill from there, but if you’re happy to continue then it is the quicker route.
The second option is to do the same circular walk, but in reverse. To do this it’s easiest to download maps.me and follow the route on the app, as it shows you the public footpath from Hollinsclough to Chrome Hill, Parkhouse Hill and back. The route starts around 100 metres away from the parking in Hollinsclough – just look for the gate with the signposted public footpath.
In total the Chrome Hill and Parkhouse Hill circular walk should take around 3 hours.
Alternatively you can try AllTrail’s longer Chrome Hill and Parkhouse Hill by clicking here!
Chrome Hill Walk from Earl Sterndale
If you’ve parked in Earl Sterndale then you’ll have to pass Parkhouse Hill before you reach Chrome Hill, so it makes sense to climb both hills if you have the time. That way you can enjoy the amazing views each hill offers of the other.
With your back to the pub, turn left and walk until you reach Dale View road. Just before you reach the bus stop there is a gate on the left hand side, with a small gap in the stone wall that you can climb through.
At this point you’ll be in a large field, and it’s easiest to use maps.me to follow the right route. You’ll reach Parkhouse Hill first, but if you don’t want to climb it then you can follow a single track road off the B5053 which leads you around the base of the hill towards Chrome Hill.
Once you’ve climbed Chrome Hill you have the option of either turning back and making your way back to where you parked, or you can make it into a circular walk which will eventually lead you back to Earl Sterndale.
Tips for visiting Chrome Hill
Avoid peak times – Chrome Hill was one of the busier spots we visited in the Peak District, so if you don’t want any crowds it’s best to avoid weekends. We’d also recommend visiting early or late in the day as it’s less likely to be busy at these times, particularly earlier in the day.
Visit in dry weather – If it’s been raining the ground can be quite slippery and muddy, so it’s best to visit in dry weather if you can. It’s particularly important to visit in dry weather if you’re planning on climbing Parkhouse Hill too, as the path there can be tough enough without adding rain into the equation. If you do decide to do the Chrome Hill walk after it’s been raining make sure to wear appropriate footwear.
Sunrise/Sunset – Chrome Hill is a lovely spot to visit during sunrise or sunset, to enjoy the wonderful views with a colourful sky. From certain locations looking towards Chrome Hill you can see a ‘double sunset’, where the sun ‘sets’ behind part of the hill only to re-emerge and set again shortly after.
Other walks – Visiting the Peak District is a popular day trip to do from Manchester and even from Liverpool, but if you can try and spend longer and combine Chrome Hill with other routes such as the Roaches walk, a visit to Stanage Edge or Bamford Edge were some of our favourites.
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