The Peak District has fantastic views throughout its 540+ square miles. It is an area for iconic landscape photography and whilst it would be nigh on impossible to list every single fantastic Peak District view in this one blog post, it is possible to give you my opinion on 5 of the best for landscape photography. And I say ‘best’ Peak District views because these are 5 views of the Peak District that any landscape photographer that is visiting the Peak District would definitely want to take in, they aren’t the only great views though and they’re listed in no particular order.
Monsal Head
Monsal Dale and the Headstone Viaduct
Monsal Head overlooks Monsal Dale. Located in Derbyshire, it sits in an area of the Peak District known as the white peak. A site of special scientific interest, the area has fantastic views from several vantage points.
Running through the dale is the River Wye and the walks along the river and under the looming Headstone Viaduct are well worth exploring, there’s even a small waterfall to photograph from the banks if you wish.
Of course, it is also well worth taking in the views from on the Headstone Viaduct itself. This imposing viaduct now forms part of the Monsal Trail, which is a traffic free, cycle horse and walking trail. The viaduct itself was built circa 1865 to carry a railway line which linked the cities of Manchester and London.
Monsal Head is easily accessible by car and has visitor facilities including car parks, toilets, guest houses, hotel, pub, cafes and a gift shop…..all this does mean that it can get very busy, especially during the summer season.
The recommended view, as seen in the accompanying photograph, is from Monsal Head overlooking the Monsal Dale with the River Wye and Headstone Viaduct both visible within the landscape. This great Peak District landscape photography view can be found here: MONSAL HEAD - GOOGLE MAPS
2. The Roaches
The view from The Roaches, overlooking Hen Cloud and Tittesworth Reservoir
The Roaches takes it’s name from the French Les Roches - The Rocks. Situated in Staffordshire, The Roaches rise 505 metres above sea level. Ironic then that The Roaches were formed under the water. Once a coral reef, the rocks formed over 350 million years ago when sand and grit were compressed over the reef. Now high above the surrounding land, The Roaches offer some of the best Peak District views, especially for landscape photographers.
In clear conditions, it is possible to see over into the county of Cheshire and even as far as Snowdon in Wales from atop The Roaches. Whilst nearby in Staffordshire, you will be able to pick out Jodrell Bank and it’s huge telescope.
The view I’ve picked is from the upper-middle tier of The Roaches looking out over Hen Cloud and Tittesworth Reservoir. It is an iconic view from this part of the Peak District, and deservingly so. There are plenty of other fabulous views to be had from The Roaches but for a pure vista, with foreground, middle ground and background, this one in hard to beat.
The Roaches is easily accessible by car and the best parking for the view can be found here: THE ROACHES - GOOGLE MAPS
3. Higger Tor
A lesser known Peak District view, but Higger Tor is fabulous for photography nevertheless
Higger Tor offers a fabulous Peak District view, perfect for landscape photography. With foreground aplenty, and panoramic views, what’s not to like?! Plus, bonus, it is actually really accessible by car too, only five minutes walk from roadside.
Situated towards the north of the Peak District, Higger Tor is a large gritstone formation which towers above the Iron Age fort of Carl Wark, hence the name Higger Tor, which translates in modern English as Higher Hill.
Despite being easily accessible for most walkers, there are views for miles around. You can take in Hope Valley, Stanage Edge, Burbage Valley and Surprise View from Higger Tor. And to compliment the background, it’s prominent grey gritstone is perfect to frame up some interesting foreground subject matter too.
There is limited parking to access Higger Tor, the location for parking I have given below will only really fit four or five cars at best. There is more ample parking not too far away though at Stanage Edge. This will only add around 10-15 minutes walk, plus Stanage Edge itself is a fantastic place to photograph from too, so why not double up and do both.
The view I’m touting as one of the best is over Carl Warks using the famed ‘Kit-Kat Stones’ as foreground. These can be found towards the South-West of the plateau.
You can find the best place to park for Higger Tor here: HIGGER TOR - GOOGLE MAPS
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4. Chrome Hill
The view from Chrome Hill at sunrise is spectacular
It would be difficult to write a blog post about the 5 best views in the Peak District for Landscape Photography without including our last two. So I make no apologies for doing just that!
It could be said of the Peak District that there are actually very few peaks. A visit to to the Dragons Back aka Parkhouse and Chrome Hill in Derbyshire will put that right though. The line of pinnacles that these hills form really does resemble the spine of a stegosaurus dinosaur, although I’m not sure how the resemblance to a dinosaur lands it with the name of a mythical creature, but we digress!
There are a couple of routes that could take you to these hills. The most popular route, and the one I recommend, takes you from the quaint village of Earl Sterndale across Hitter Hill, itself offering a fantastic view of both of the peaks. From there you can either traverse Parkhouse Hill (by far the steeper or the two climbs….and a little treacherous on the way down) or walk along the base of it to find the climb up Chrome Hill. And it is about half way up Chrome Hill that you will find this fantastic Peak District view. An iconic one amongst Landscape Photographers, this view can be captured throughout the seasons, in a variety of ways.
With fantastic views down the Dove Valley, the view from Chrome Hill looking over Parkhouse is a truly spectacular vista that yes, requires some effort and excursion, but offers a great reward for doing so. The walk from Earl Sterndale across Hitter Hill and then up the either or both hills is not simple and will require good quality, sturdy footwear. If you aren’t overly confident in your hiking ability, then not to worry, as I mentioned above, the view from Hitter Hill can be spectacular in itself.
But, this iconic view from Chrome Hill over Parkhouse Hill is truly one to behold if you can.
Parking up in Earl Sterndale and make your way up Hitter Hill behind the Quiet Woman Inn (you’ll see a public access gateway to the right as you walk towards the front of the Inn, go through and turn left to head up the hill), once you are at the top of Hitter Hill over the stile with the warning signs about old mine shafts, turn right to take in the view of Parkhouse and Chrome Hill before heading down the pathway to the roadside and either up or around Parkhouse Hill to get to Chrome Hill. The walk to the base of Parkhouse will take around 20 minutes if you park here: EARL STERNDALE - GOOGLE MAPS
5. The Great Ridge
Without doubt the most popular location in the Peak District National Park. Mam Tor has been nicknamed ‘Blackpool of the Peaks’. This is a reference to the popular seaside town on the North West coast of England (itself nicknamed England’s Las Vegas). And to be fair, it’s a pretty accurate nickname. Go here on a weekend and it will be very busy, no doubt about it. Even during the week, you will often find the car park full of cars. I have never been and not seen other cars already there, and I usually go for sunrise during the week!
The reason, of course, for its popularity, lies within the views. Truly spectacular vistas roll out in front of you as you reach towards the summit of Mam Tor. And whilst the climb up Mam Tor is steep, it is relatively short.
Once you’ve taken in those views from the summit of Mam Tor though, it's time to head down what has become known as the Great Ridge, the pathway between Mam Tor and Back Tor. About half way along this path between the two hills you will find the famed Great Ridge gate. And it’s from here that this view can be best captured.
Whether you use the gate as foreground interest is your call on the day. I have taken the shot from both sides of the gate, using it in the foreground or heading through and taking the shot, as seen above, for the other side of the gate. The pathway and fence make for beautiful leading lines and with the right weather conditions, light up beautiful as the sun rises above the horizon.
You don’t always need clear skies for this view though as you can grab some fantastic moody shots in bad weather…..just make sure you are dressed for the occasion as it can get bitter.
You can find parking with good route signage here: MAM TOR - GOOGLE MAPS
I do hope this was useful and whichever location you decide to visit with your camera, I hope you get some amazing shots.
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