Peak District
Bolehill
323M
1060FT
About Bolehill
Rising steeply above the limestone town of Wirksworth, this gritstone-capped hill is defined by its industrial heritage. Once a hub for lead smelting, the summit offers clear views across the Ecclesbourne Valley and towards the gritstone edges of Black Rocks, easily accessed via the historic High Peak Trail.
Key Statistics
Rank
384th Highest in Peak District
Parent Range
Peak District
Prominence
?
Data coming soon
Nearest Town
Matlock
Geology
You are walking across layers of gritty sandstone and hardened mud. These sturdy rocks form the solid foundation of Bolehill beneath your feet.
Find It
OS Grid Reference
SK293553
Latitude
53.0944°N
Longitude
1.5625°W
Did You Know?
- •The name 'Bole' refers to an ancient lead-smelting hearth; these were intentionally situated on exposed, windy ridges like this one to provide a natural draft for the fires before the advent of bellows.
- •The summit and surrounding slopes are heavily scarred by historical lead mining, and the hill sits at the heart of a landscape so shaped by industry that it now forms part of the National Stone Centre’s heritage trails.
- •From the top, you can look directly down into Wirksworth and trace the path of the High Peak Trail as it climbs the Middleton Incline toward the historic engine house.
- •The summit is often visited alongside the neighbouring Black Rocks (also known as Stonnis), a dramatic outcrop of Ashover Grit that has been a popular site for Derbyshire climbers since the late 19th century.
- •Given the hill’s history as a site for smelting ore, any warmth you feel on the summit today is unfortunately the result of your own exertion rather than the long-extinguished lead fires.