Masson Hill

About Masson Hill

Rising steeply above Matlock Bath, this limestone height is defined by its industrial scars and lead-mining heritage. The summit provides an expansive perspective over the Derwent Valley, looking across to Riber Castle and the gritstone edges of the Eastern Moors. It is a hill of hidden shafts and steep, grassy slopes.

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Did You Know?

• •The hill is honeycombed with ancient lead mines, most notably within the Great Masson Cavern. These workings date back to Roman times, though the peak of production occurred in the 18th century when the area was one of the most productive lead-mining fields in Europe.
• •While the summit is a quiet, airy spot, its lower southern slopes host the Heights of Abraham. Established in 1787, this was one of the UK’s earliest 'pleasure grounds,' eventually leading to the installation of the country’s first alpine-style cable car system in 1984.
• •The summit offers a commanding view of Riber Castle, the 19th-century Victorian folly that sits on the opposite side of the Derwent Valley. Beyond the castle, the skyline is dominated by the gritstone escarpments of the Eastern Moors, including Stanage and Froggatt Edge.
• •The preferred walkers' approach is from the village of Bonsall, which sits in a high limestone hollow. This route follows the 'Masson Lees' path, passing several 'rakes'—deep, narrow trenches left by medieval lead miners following vertical veins of ore.
• •Despite its modest height, the climb from the Derwent riverbank involves a vertical gain of over 200 metres; it is one of the few hills in the Peak District where you can experience a genuine mountain ascent while watching a cable car do the hard work for everyone else.