Peak District
Featherbed Top
544M
1785FT
About Featherbed Top
This broad, peat-covered plateau sits on the bleak moorland between Glossop and the Snake Pass. Typical of the Dark Peak’s high ground, it offers a wilderness experience characterized by deep hags and cotton grass, looking out across the Alport Valley towards the looming northern edges of Kinder Scout.
Key Statistics
Rank
19th Highest in Peak District
Parent Range
Peak District
Prominence
?
33m
Nearest Town
High Peak
Geology
You’re walking over a sturdy mix of gritty sandstone and fine mudstone. These layered rocks form the solid foundation beneath the fell's surface.
Find It
OS Grid Reference
SK090920
Latitude
53.4247°N
Longitude
1.8660°W
Did You Know?
- •The name refers to the deep, saturated peat and the white tufts of cotton grass that cover the plateau; 'featherbed' is a traditional Peak District term for ground that looks deceptively soft but is actually a saturated bog.
- •It occupies a quiet corner of the moorland just west of the Pennine Way, offering a more solitary alternative to the busy paved path that carries walkers toward Mill Hill.
- •From the summit, the view south is dominated by the massive gritstone buttresses of Fairbrook Naze on Kinder Scout, while looking north-east reveals the wild, empty expanses of the Bleaklow plateau.
- •Despite the name suggesting a comfortable rest, a 'featherbed' in this part of Derbyshire is essentially a polite local term for a disguised peat trench.