Peak District
Baley Hill
342M
1121FT
About Baley Hill
Rising steeply above the western banks of the River Dove, this limestone peak offers a quiet, grassy alternative to the crowded paths of Dovedale. It marks the northern end of the high massif including Bunster Hill, providing a rugged, airy vantage point overlooking the narrow, winding gorge of Hall Dale.
Key Statistics
Rank
347th Highest in Peak District
Parent Range
The Peak District
Prominence
?
31.1
Nearest Town
Ilam
Geology
The ground beneath you is the Milldale Limestone Formation. These hills are formed from ancient limestone and the remains of prehistoric reefs.
Classifications
Find It
OS Grid Reference
SK144539
Latitude
53.0950°N
Longitude
1.7960°W
Did You Know?
- •The name likely derives from the Old English balg, meaning 'rounded' or 'smooth,' which describes its profile when compared to the jagged limestone spires of the nearby Iron Tors.
- •Sitting within the Dovedale National Nature Reserve, the hill is part of a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) famed for rare flora that thrives on these specific limestone outcrops and scree slopes.
- •The summit provides a focused view across the valley to the massive limestone bastion of Ravens Tor and the deep, wooded cleft of the Dove Valley.
- •It is frequently bagged as part of a high-level circuit starting from Milldale, avoiding the valley floor to link Baley Hill with its neighbour, Bunster Hill.
- •This hill is a Tump that serves as a perfect sanctuary for those who find the famous Dovedale stepping stones a little too sociable for their liking.