Hollins Hill

About Hollins Hill

Rising sharply above Buxton, this gritstone-capped plateau forms the high point of Combs Moss. While the summit is a quiet, expansive moorland ridge, the ascent through the Victorian pathways of Corbar Woods offers a sheltered, wooded approach before the views open up across the Goyt Valley and towards the Kinder Scout massif.

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Did You Know?

• •The name Hollins likely derives from the Old English 'holegn', referring to the holly trees that once dominated the lower slopes. This transition from ancient woodland to open gritstone moor is a defining characteristic of the hill's western flank.
• •The 450m summit is the highest point of Combs Moss, an area of open access land that contains the remains of Castle Naze, a prehistoric hillfort situated on the western crags with steep natural defences.
• •Most walkers pass through Corbar Woods on the ascent, featuring 'Victorian Swiss Walks' designed by Joseph Paxton. Paxton, the architect of the Crystal Palace, intended these paths to give 19th-century spa visitors a taste of 'sublime' scenery without leaving the town's vicinity.
• •The summit offers a specific vantage point over the 'White Peak' and 'Dark Peak' transition; to the south, the limestone buildings of Buxton are visible, while to the north, the view extends across the Great Ridge towards Mam Tor and the Edale valley.
• •Sandstone from the Nithen Quarry on the hill's lower slopes was used to build many of Buxton’s landmark buildings, including the Town Hall, which was completed in 1889.
• •The prominent Corbar Cross on the hill's shoulder has been a target for local eccentricity; in the 1990s, it was famously painted bright pink in an overnight prank that baffled the local parish.
• •Despite the 'Swiss Walks' branding, those expecting Alpine glaciers will be met only with the reliably damp gritstone and heather of the Derbyshire highlands.