Ashway Moss

About Ashway Moss

Rising above the Greenfield Valley near Glossop, this expansive stretch of Dark Peak moorland offers a classic gritstone experience. Characterised by deep peat hags and weathered edges, the plateau provides a dramatic vantage point overlooking Dovestone Reservoir and the jagged, three-pronged silhouette of the Raven Stones across the valley.

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Did You Know?

• •The name 'Moss' is a traditional Northern English term for a peat bog. Ashway Moss refers to the high, saturated plateau draining into the Greenfield Valley, with the name likely referencing an old track or 'way' ascending from the lower slopes.
• •A prominent stone memorial, known as the Ashway Cross, stands on the western edge. It commemorates James Platt, the Member of Parliament for Oldham, who was accidentally shot and killed here during a grouse shoot in 1857.
• •While the interior is often a pathless mire of peat hags, the western rim is defined by Ashway Rocks, a gritstone edge that offers a steep, airy perspective directly down into Yeoman Hey Reservoir.
• •The summit plateau offers one of the best profile views of 'The Trinnacle', a famous three-tiered gritstone pillar located on the opposite side of the valley at Raven Stones.
• •In keeping with the Peak District's naming conventions, calling this a 'Moss' serves as a polite local warning that the ground is frequently more liquid than solid.