Combs Head

About Combs Head

Situated on the vast gritstone plateau of Combs Moss between Buxton and Chapel-en-le-Frith, this Tump offers a quintessential Dark Peak experience. The terrain is a mix of heather moorland and peat hags, defined by the dramatic western escarpment of Combs Edge and the ancient history of the Castle Naze promontory fort.

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Did You Know?

• •The name derives from the Old English 'cumb', meaning a short, steep-sided valley, combined with 'moss', a common Northern term for a peat bog. It refers to the deep valley containing the village of Combs that sits immediately below the plateau's northern edge.
• •The northern tip of the plateau is home to Castle Naze, an Iron Age promontory fort. Its defensive position is cleverly chosen, using the sheer gritstone cliffs of the edge to provide natural protection on two sides.
• •The western edge provides a clear, elevated perspective over the Goyt Valley, with the distinctive ridge of Shining Tor and the telescope at Jodrell Bank often visible on the horizon to the west.
• •While now designated as Open Access land, the plateau remains a working grouse moor. Walkers will frequently encounter stone shooting butts and weathered timber huts used by shooting parties during the season.
• •Navigating the summit plateau after a spell of rain provides a masterclass in the 'Peak District Leap'—a necessary skill for crossing the frequent and surprisingly deep black peat hags.