An Overview of the Mam Tor Walks with 3 Options
The mighty Mam Tor walk is one of the most popular routes in the Peak District National Park. It is 517m high and was voted number 10 on the top 100 UK walks.
It can get busy, so our best advice is to head early and avoid the crowds, so when they arrive, you can enjoy the idyllic villages of Hope and Castleton or other unique attractions nearby.
Some people love the Lake District and the North York Moors but we believe that this particular Peak area is special as it is accessible for so many people coming from both Manchester and Sheffield.
We have put together a list and overview of 3 great walks you can take to Mam Tor to have a memorable day out and experience the Peak District’s raw beauty.
You can expect to see unbelievable views over Hope Valley, Edale and the edge of Kinder Scout. Also, you should make time to see the exceptional caverns of Blue John and Treak Cliff after or before your Mam Tor walk. It is one of our favourite Peak District Walks.
Disclaimer: please use these routes for inspiration and assistance and do not only rely on these routes to complete the walks. Take an OS Map or download the OS Map of the area on your phone to assist you!
Why is it called Mam Tor?
The name Mam Tor comes from ‘Mother Hill’, and it is also known as the ‘Shivering Mountain’. It was the home of the ancient Celtic people 3,000 years ago, and there was once a fort on the summit. Try and imagine the past as you gaze over the outstanding natural beauty of the area.
It also gets its name Mother Hill from the landslides that have created other minor hills. You can see the effects of this below Mam Tor on the old A625 road that collapsed.
History of Mam Tor
Mam Tor was once the site of a large Celtic hill fort 3000 years ago. Try and imagine the past as you gaze over the outstanding natural beauty of the area.
The fort was occupied from 1200 BC and was home to a thriving village, as evidenced by the foundations of timber huts and pottery found at the site.
The hill was also used for defensive purposes, with earthen ramparts and gateways at each end of the fort. Mam Tor, has two Bronze Age burial mounds known as “bowl barrows” on its summit. It was also an early Iron Age fort and was mentioned as one of the Seven Wonders of the Peaks by Thomas Hobbes in 1636.
How to Get to the Mam Tor Walk
Mam Tor is on the edge of the Dark Peak and the White Peak and is near the Instagram famous Winnats Pass near Castleton, in the Peak District National Park. The most popular way to reach the Mam Tor walk is to arrive by car.
Bus: You can catch Bus number 200, from Chapel-en-le-Frith to Castleton and exit at Mam Tor. Or from Sheffield to Castleton on Number 272 and then walk from Castleton catch the 200 services.
Train: Hope and Edale are the closest train stations for the Mam Tor walk.
Bike: The Pennine Bridleway is located 2 miles (3km) west of the road to Chapel-en-le-Frith.
The address is: Mam Tor Hope Valley S33 8WA
Mam Tor Car Park: Mam Nick Car Park
Grid Reference: SK123832
Mam Tor Postcode: S33 8WA
Please remember that this postcode is rural and you are better off following the Google Maps Directions to the car park here instead.
The Mam Tor National Trust Car Park is called the Mam Nick Car Park and is a paid car park.
There is a Pay by Phone option, but it is free for National Trust members who have their cards to scan at the machines or you can pay £3.50 for 4 hours and £5 for longer stays (there are instructions in the car park).
If you encounter any issues with the Pay by Phone option, you can still make a donation to the Peak District App.
There are laybys on the roadside, but there are double yellow lines all along the road, which means that if you do not get a space in the car park or the laybys, you will have to find somewhere else to park or risk getting a ticket. People used to park all along the road, but this was a problem for erosion, farm vehicles and emergency vehicles.
Our best advice is to arrive as early as possible if you want to do the shorter walk and park in the Mam Tor Car Park. The National Trust’s website says to come before 9 am on weekends and school holidays.
If you have no luck, you can complete Route 2, leaving from the village of Castleton as there are more car parking spots available in the village and you may be lucky and get a spot in a layby on the way.
Where do the Mam Tor Walks start?
There are several possible routes to Mam Tor. This guide will explain 3 of the most popular Mam Tor walks, leaving from the National Trust’s Mam Nik Car park (Route 1), from Castleton (Route 2) and Hope (Route 3).
If you are planning to leave from the village of Castleton, then please read our guide to Castelton for inspiration on the best things to do in the village.
How easy are the Mam Tor Walks?
The Mam Tor walks are family friendly, especially Route 1, where we regularly see small children walking to the summit. It is an excellent walk for every ability walkers, and remember you can take breaks to reach the top if you need to. The views are worth it!
How long is the Mam Tor Walk?
Route 1: The Mam Tor Circular Walk is 3 miles (4.8km) and will take roughly 1- 2 hours.
Route 2: Castleton to Mam Tor Walk – The Great Ridge is 6. 5 miles (10.5km) and will take roughly 3-4 hours.
Route 3: Hope to Mam Tor Walk – is 9 miles (14.5km) and will take roughly 5-6 hours.
These times are approximate and depend on who you are walking with (children), how fast you walk and how fit you are. Two of the most important factors to take into consideration is the weather and time of year. If you can, you should take time to sit, relax and enjoy some of the most beautiful views in the Peak District.
Mam Tor Weather
Check the weather, you are quite high and it can get windy on Mam Tor, therefore you should pack an extra layer of clothing just in case. We always check the Mam Tor weather before we go on the following two websites:
You could also check what it looks like on the Edale Valley Webcam here.
The Summit of Mam Tor
The summit of Mam Tor offers panoramic views of the surrounding area, including the Hope Valley and Castleton. There is a car park at the base of the hill and several trails that lead to the summit.
There is a Mam Tor Trig Point which is a popular spot for a photo!
Mam Tor Sunrise
Mam Tor is a beautiful place to watch the sunrise, as the views from the top of Mam Tor are even more breathtaking with the early morning light.
That being said, the experience of watching the sunrise from Mam Tor would depend on a variety of factors such as the weather, the time of year. You may be lucky to see a cloud inversion. We have not seen it but have seen wonderful pictures from this very spot.
Checklist for the Mam Tor Walks
- Wear appropriate footwear (it can get muddy).
- Stay on the designated paths (due to erosion).
- Bring water, snacks and food (have a picnic at the top).
- Remember your camera – the scenery is extraordinary.
3 Mam Tor Peak District Walking Routes:
Route 1: The Mam Tor Circular Walk
- Start at the Mam Nik Car Park. There are no toilets or facilities here. However, there is sometimes a coffee cart on the weekends. Win!
- Follow the path up the woodland before turning right until you reach a gate. Please go through the gate and continue on the stony steps as it curves to the right.
- If you follow the steps, they will lead to the summit and you cannot get lost and instead, you can enjoy the beautiful scenery surrounding you. It is slightly steep to the top, but the path is short, and you will feel the rewards quickly!
- From the summit, take a picture with the Mam Tor trig point and follow the ridge towards Hollins Cross and then take a gate on your right to follow the path back towards Mam Tor.
- Follow it down through the woodland and continue along the path towards the old A625 broken road in the landslide and follow it right.
- At the end of the road, you will find a car park. Head towards Blue Johns Cavern and pass a small gate and follow the sign to Windy Knoll. The sheep here love to say hello!
- You will see the road, and across you will see the Mam Nik Car Park. You have completed the Mam Tor Walk!
Route 2: The Castleton to Mam Tor Walk
Parking Options: Castleton Car Park and Visitor Centre or the Peak Hotel Public Car Park (they refund your all day fee of £8, if you spend £10 in the Peak Hotel).
- Start at Castleton Bus Station (next to the toilets) and follow the road round to the left and continue left along Backs Street, with Ye Olde Nag’s Head Pub on your right.
- You will see a tree, with benches around it and some information about the area. It is a peaceful way to begin your day and have a coffee before your walk. It is a hidden gem.
- Follow the road down past the shops to the right. Do not take the road up towards Peveril Castle but cross the bridge and follow the road up the hill past the pretty houses.
- There is a sign that says ‘Public footpath’, continue up through the gate, and the terrain will become rocky, and you will be in a field with beautiful stone walls. It is the English countryside at its best. Look over to the ridge, walk from Mam Tor to Hollins Cross, and go through the gate.
- You will reach the road where there are Speedwell Cavern and Winnats Pass to your right. Do not turn but cross over and go through the stile in front of the Speedwell Cavern sign.
- Keep low and then follow the path up to Treak Cliff Cavern. There are toilet facilities here and a free-entry museum. Take the main building’s right hand path, and the concrete path will lead you to the cavern exit.
- Follow the path around and up the hill, taking in the outstanding scenery that surrounds you.
- When the footpath splits, take the path straight in front of you and go through the gate. Then you head straight across the field, so Mam Tor is on your right-hand side, and eventually, you should come to Blue John Cavern.
- Go through the gate in front of the Cavern entrance. From here, go through the gate into a field and go straight across the following field. Follow the signpost to Windy Knoll.
- Cross the road and go through the gate right in front of you. Follow the hill up towards Mam Tor through the gate on your right. Then continue on the stony path on the way up to the summit.
- The summit is a great place to have some food or a snack and take all the views. You can sometimes see paragliders here!
- Keep going down the obvious route to your left until you reach Hollins Cross, continue to Back Tor and then again to Losefe Hill Pike.
- From Lose Hill Pike, take a left going down the hill on a stony path. Cross the first stile and then take the right-hand path over the second stile and go down the hill. Follow the path down to Spring House Farm and turn right to Castleton’s head by curving down the path. It is pretty straightforward as you will see the village and return to the car park.
If you are continuing to Hope, please continue the directions from point 5 in Route 3 to finish your Mam Tor Peak District walk.
Route 3: The Hope to Mam Tor Walk
Start at Hope village. There is limited free parking in front of St Peter’s Church (arrive early); alternatively, there is paid parking in Hope Valley Car Park with up to 10 hours of parking for £6. You will find the toilets in this car park.
- From the Church, go down School Lane and turn left across the bridge and follow Pindale road uphill. You will go past the Hope Pinfold, and you can read the sign about the strict laws for impounding an animal in 1947.
- Just after the road forks, take the public footpath (number 36) on your right and follow this path across the river. Cross the railway, go past the farm, follow the path into Castleton, and follow the road through the village, passing the shops and the Peak Hotel. You will find toilets here, and you can enjoy a coffee break at Peveril Stores Bakery and have a treat if you desire.
- Start following the directions from Castleton (Route 2), as you have now joined this part of the Mam Tor walk.
- Turn left at Spring House Farm and pass through two small gates. Follow the path over several fields. There are some yellow markers, dots and arrows that will help guide you.
- You will see an old public footpath sign from 1938, which says Mam Tor to Lose Hill Farm and should continue down to Hope, continue straight down. There is a right-hand path to Castleton and a left to Edale, so continue straight (The Hope sign has disappeared).
- Continue through the gate in front of you, go over the railway bridge and turn left through the gate. You will see the yellow dots and arrows again, and you can follow the path towards the road. Take a left at Hope Primary School and a right past the school into the village. Follow the Church spire, and you will have completed the walk!
Frequently Asked Questions about Mam Tor Peak Distirct
Are there toilets on the Mam Tor Walk?
No, there are no toilet facilities on the Mam Tor Walk. The closest public toilets are in Castleton and Hope.
What is the terrain like on the Mam Tor walk?
The path is known as moderate, but there are some steep parts, gates and stiles. There is a chance that the track will be muddy if it has rained. The Mam Tor Walk to the summit is stony steps, and the National Trust asks for you to stay on them because of erosion.
When is the best time to do the Mam Tor Walk?
The Mam Tor walk is a popular spot for the sunrise because it is easy to reach the summit if you follow the stony path. Although, people visit Mam Tor all year round for different experiences.
If you are completing the Mam Tor Circular Walk only, it is pretty short, so you do not need to rely on long daylight hours. However, it can get freezing at the top, but if you wear appropriate clothing and prepare for changing weather, you will likely enjoy yourself.
Can I take my dog on the Mam Tor walk?
The National Trust allows dogs on the Mam Tor Walk as long as they are on a lead. You will see many people on the Mam Tor walk, walking their dogs.
What else can I do in the area after the Mam Tor Walk?
- Explore the 11th-century Peveril Castle – an English Heritage Site.
- Enjoy Castleton’s pubs and shops
- Explore the Caverns – Speedwell, Blue John and Treak Cliff.
- Discover Hope Village
- Go on another easy walk nearby and follow our guide to the Ladybower Reservoir Walk.
- Walk to the highest point of the peaks at Kinder Scout.
We hope you enjoyed this guide and you enjoy your walk to the top of Mam Tor. Do you agree that it is one of the best walks in the Peak District?
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We only recommend things that we have personally tried and love using on our travels and hikes.
Please be advised that some of the links on our site are affiliate links. By clicking and purchasing using these links, you will help support the Average Lives travel blog to provide independent travel content at no extra cost to you.
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We want to stress that ‘Average Lives’ cannot be held liable for any injuries or accidents that may occur while walking our routes. We strongly advise that you wear proper footwear to reduce the risk of injuries, and carry a paper map and compass to ensure your safety while walking. You can read more on our About Page.
