SK1585 : Lose Hill Summit
Route-dependent; steep hill and ridge paths

Lose Hill

476m Elevation
85m Prominence
England Country
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SK1585 : Lose Hill Summit

Chris Thomas-Atkin Photo source

Overview

Lose Hill (476 m) stands at the eastern end of the Great Ridge in the Derbyshire Peak District, above Hope and Castleton. Its summit viewfinder overlooks the Hope Valley and Vale of Edale, with Mam Tor along the ridge to the southwest. Routes include a direct ascent from Castleton and a longer circuit over Mam Tor, Hollins Cross and Back Tor. The upper paths are steep and exposed to weather.

Lose Hill

Lose Hill rises to 476 m above the Hope Valley in the Derbyshire Peak District. It forms the eastern end of the Great Ridge, which connects it with Mam Tor through Back Tor and Hollins Cross. The summit has a viewfinder; the highest ground is a few metres from it. Lose Hill is an Ethel and a Tump, with 85 m of prominence.

Summit walks

From Castleton, footpaths via the Losehill Hall and Riding House Farm area reach the steep southeast approach. Return the same way for an out-and-back walk.

For the Great Ridge circular, start and finish in Castleton, climbing Mam Tor before following the ridge through Hollins Cross and Back Tor to Lose Hill. The direct descent and return to Castleton makes the published 6.5-mile circuit, about 10.5 km. Returning through Hope and beside Peakshole Water is a separate 8-mile option. These are complete village-to-village outings, not the distance between the ridge summits.

Landscape and views

Lose Hill is a shale-and-gritstone hill. Its open summit looks across the Hope Valley and Vale of Edale, back along the Great Ridge to Mam Tor and towards Kinder Scout in clear weather. The limestone landscape around Castleton lies across the valley.

Access and preparation

Hope is the closest village, with Castleton another useful starting point. Council pay-and-display car parks serve both villages. Hope station is on the Manchester-Sheffield Hope Valley Line; check current rail and bus timetables and plan the onward walk to your chosen start.

The ridge is exposed to wind and poor visibility. Steps and field paths can be slippery, especially when wet or icy; take care beside the crag at Back Tor. Wear suitable footwear, carry weather protection and a map, and allow for your chosen return. Keep dogs on a short lead around livestock and follow local signs. Refreshments and public toilets are in the villages; check opening times before relying on them.

Public access history

Ward's Piece on Lose Hill is associated with the Peak District access movement. Public donations helped purchase the land, which was transferred to the National Trust for public access.

Explore routes near Lose Hill

Walks starting near this hill. Open a route to check its map, distance and full itinerary.

Kinder Scout from Edale Circular

13 km ~5h Hard

View route

Hope Valley sunrise hike

View route

Mam Tor Circular Walk via Blue John Cavern

4.5 km ~2h Moderate

View route

Edale and Castleton circuit

View route

Route planning notes

These notes describe possible approaches. Check a route's map and access information when planning your walk.

Lose Hill from Castleton (out and back)

Start and finish in Castleton. Follow Hollowford Road and the footpaths past Losehill Hall and Riding House Farm towards the southeast side of Lose Hill, then climb the steep stepped summit path. Retrace the approach to Castleton. This outing reaches Lose Hill without traversing the full Great Ridge; use a current map for the field-path junctions.

Steep hill walk

Castleton, Mam Tor and Lose Hill circular

Start at Castleton's main car park. Pass Treak Cliff and Blue John Caverns, climb Mam Tor, then cross Hollins Cross and Back Tor to Lose Hill. Descend southeast and take the direct field-path and lane return to Castleton. The published circuit is 6.5 miles, about 10.5 km; the return via Hope is a separate, longer 8-mile option. Expect steep steps, stiles and road crossings.

10.5 km Steep ridge walk
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Hill facts and local notes

Classifications

400-499m hill Ethel

Elevation

476m

1,562 ft

Prominence

85m

Coordinates

53.3649, -1.7714

SK153853

OS Map

110

Explorer: OL1E

At the Summit

The summit has a viewfinder. DoBIH identifies the highest ground a few metres from it.

Terrain & Geology

Grassy field paths stone-surfaced ridge paths steep steps uneven rocky sections stiles and gates village lanes and road crossings on longer routes

Lose Hill is a shale-and-gritstone hill on the Dark Peak side of the Hope Valley. Gritstone is a type of sandstone. The ridge lies beside the contrasting limestone landscape around Castleton.

Views & Scenery

In clear weather, views extend across the Hope Valley and Vale of Edale, southwest along the Great Ridge towards Mam Tor, and towards Kinder Scout.

History & Heritage

Historical Significance

Ward's Piece on Lose Hill is associated with the Peak District access movement. Public donations helped purchase the land, which was transferred to the National Trust for public access.

Getting There & Facilities

Parking

Council pay-and-display parking is available at Hope car park and at Castleton car park on Cross Street (S33 8WH), beside the visitor centre. Choose the car park for your planned route and check current charges and signs. Both are valley starting points, so a hill ascent is still required.

Public Transport

Hope (Derbyshire) station is on the Manchester-Sheffield Hope Valley Line, east of Hope village. Bus services 271/272 link Sheffield, Hope and Castleton. Check current timetables and plan the onward walk from the station or bus stop to your chosen hill route.

Nearby Facilities

Hope and Castleton have village refreshments. Public toilets are listed at Hope car park and in Castleton at How Lane and the visitor centre. Check opening times and bring food and water for the ridge.

Safety Information

Known Hazards

  • The open summit and ridge are exposed to strong wind and poor visibility.
  • Steep stone steps and muddy field paths can be slippery, especially in wet or icy conditions.
  • Great Ridge routes pass the steep crag at Back Tor; stay on the path and away from the edge.
  • Routes cross farmland with livestock and stiles. Keep dogs on a short lead and follow local signs.
  • Village-to-ridge circuits include roads and road crossings; use care around traffic.

Seasonal Hazards

Wet weather can make fields muddy and stone steps slippery. Snow and ice increase the difficulty of steep paths in winter; plan for shorter daylight hours and check the forecast.

General Safety Tips

  • Check weather conditions before setting out
  • Carry appropriate clothing and equipment
  • Let someone know your planned route
  • Take a map, compass, and GPS device
  • Carry emergency supplies: food, water, first aid kit, torch

Hills

Some common questions about the hills answered

Are there group walks up Lose Hill?

Many walkers use Walkmates to join or organise walks with others. You can check for group walks around Lose Hill through the maps

Are there other walkers around Lose Hill?

Activity varies by location and time, but Walkmates lets you see whether others have shared walks or shown interest in this area. Find other people through the walking friends search walking friends for Lose Hill search or of course create your own walk for Lose Hill

Can I organise a walk to Lose Hill?

Yes. If there aren’t any walks listed already, you can create a walk and make it available for others to join.

If you're signed up to Walkmates, you can create a walk to Lose Hill.

How do I find a walk up this hill?

There are often multiple ways to walk this hill, depending on experience and route preference. Walkmates helps you explore walks and routes that others have shared.

Can I suggest a new route up Lose Hill?

Yes. You can suggest or create routes to share with others. Walkmates focuses on the social side of walking, so routes are used to help people organise walks and explore areas together, rather than as detailed navigation tools or route libraries.

Other uses really appreciate knowledgeable walkers sharing their routes. Share your favourite route to Lose Hill here

The is an error or something incorrect about this hill. How do I let you know?

We always strive to keep the information on Walkmates as accurate as possible. If you find an error, please let us know through the contact form and we'll aim to correct it as quickly as possible

Location

Lose Hill location map

Grid reference: SK153853

View on OpenStreetMap

Opens a map in a new tab, centred on the hill.

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