Peak District
Merryton Low
489M
1604FT
About Merryton Low
Rising above the Staffordshire Moorlands near Hartington, this rounded moorland summit offers a quieter perspective on the Peak District than its famous neighbours. Topped by a trig pillar and a significant Bronze Age burial mound, the hilltop commands clear views across the Manifold Valley toward the gritstone ridges of The Roaches.
Key Statistics
Rank
54th Highest in Peak District
Parent Range
The Peak District
Prominence
?
53m
Nearest Town
Newtown
Geology
Merryton Low is built from layers of sandstone, siltstone, and mudstone. These rocks formed from compressed deposits of sand and mud that create the fell’s foundation.
Find It
OS Grid Reference
SK041609
Latitude
53.1449°N
Longitude
1.9387°W
Did You Know?
- •The name 'Low' is derived from the Old English 'hlāw', a term common across the Peak District that refers to a hill or a burial mound. The summit is home to the Merryton Low bowl barrow, a prehistoric funerary site that marks the highest point.
- •During archaeological excavations in the mid-19th century, the summit barrow was found to contain several burials along with a bronze dagger and fragments of pottery, confirming its use as a significant site for early inhabitants of the Moorlands.
- •The summit provides an excellent vantage point for identifying the 'Cheshire Matterhorn', Shutlingsloe, which stands prominently to the north-west, while the sharp profile of Hen Cloud is visible against the western horizon.
- •Walkers often approach the hill from the village of Warslow to the south, using the ascent as a gateway to the more rugged terrain of the South Pennines and the limestone dales of the Manifold Valley.
- •Despite the festive-sounding name, any visitor expecting a carnival at the summit will be disappointed to find only a solitary trig pillar and the occasional sheep for company.