Alport Moor

About Alport Moor

Situated above the Snake Pass, this sprawling plateau offers a classic Dark Peak experience of deep peat groughs and heather moorland. It serves as a wilder neighbor to Bleaklow, providing expansive views across the Alport Valley toward the dramatic landslip of Alport Castles and the Kinder Scout plateau to the south.

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Did You Know?

• •The moor takes its name from the River Alport, which rises on these slopes. The name is likely derived from the Old English 'ald' and 'port', potentially referring to an 'old town' or an ancient trading route through the valley.
• •From the eastern edge of the moor, walkers are treated to a clear view of Alport Castles. This is the largest landslide in Britain, where half a mile of the gritstone edge has collapsed into the valley, leaving behind the distinctive 'Tower' rock formation.
• •The southern boundary of the moor is skirted by the A57 Snake Pass. Before this road was engineered by Thomas Telford in 1821, the primary route over these hills was the 'Doctor’s Gate' packhorse trail, which follows the line of an ancient Roman road.
• •The plateau is a vital habitat for the mountain hare, the UK's only native lagomorph. They are most easily spotted in winter when their coats turn white, contrasting sharply against the dark peat, provided there is no snow cover to hide them.
• •The terrain is so featureless and heavily dissected by deep peat channels that it remains one of the finest places in the Peak District to practice your compass work, mostly because you will almost certainly need it.