High Field

Rising above the village of Litton, this limestone summit offers a classic White Peak experience. The terrain is a patchwork of ancient walled pastures, typical of the Derbyshire uplands. From the top, you gain a clear perspective over the deep incisions of Cressbrook Dale and the sprawling plateau towards Wardlow Mires.

• •The hill is surrounded by a well-preserved pattern of strip fields, a remnant of the medieval open-field farming system that was once the standard for agricultural life in this part of Derbyshire.
• •The summit provides an excellent vantage point for observing the geological transition of the Peak District, looking south across limestone plateaus and north toward the dark gritstone edges of Kinder Scout.
• •Just to the east, the ground drops dramatically into the National Nature Reserve of Cressbrook Dale, where the prominent limestone stack known as Peter’s Stone sits at the valley head.
• •Despite the name suggesting a wild upland, you are more likely to find yourself negotiating a series of sturdy stiles than a mountain face; it is a summit for those who prefer their vertical gain to be polite and well-fenced.