Black Chew Head

About Black Chew Head

Rising above the gritstone edges of the Chew Valley, this is the highest point in Greater Manchester. It is a wild, peat-hushed plateau that demands keen navigation. While the summit itself is modest, the approach via the dramatic cliffs of Wimberry Rocks offers a rugged, traditional Dark Peak experience far from the Glossop crowds.

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Did You Know?

• •At 542 metres, this unassuming moorland crown holds the title of the highest point in the metropolitan borough of Greater Manchester. The name likely derives from the Old English 'ceow', meaning a ravine or narrow valley, which describes the deep-cut Chew Valley falling away to the west.
• •The hill overlooks Chew Reservoir, which sits at 488 metres. Upon its completion in 1912, it was the highest reservoir ever constructed in England, requiring a dedicated tramway to haul over 40,000 cubic yards of clay up from the valley floor to seal the dam.
• •The western flanks near Wimberry Rocks were the site of a significant aviation disaster in 1949, when a BEA Douglas DC3 crashed into the hillside in low visibility. While 24 people tragically lost their lives, there were eight survivors of the impact on this desolate stretch of moorland.
• •From the summit, the views extend across the northern Peak District to the unmistakable plateau of Kinder Scout to the south and the tall telecommunications tower atop Holme Moss to the northeast.
• •Despite its status as a county top, the summit is famously understated; walkers often spend more time checking their GPS than enjoying the view as they try to determine which specific, soggy peat hag constitutes the actual highest point.