Parkhouse Hill

Often described as part of the 'Dragon’s Back', this sharp limestone reef knoll rises abruptly from the Upper Dove Valley. Though modest in height, its steep, shark-fin profile provides an exhilarating scramble and airy summit views over its twin, Chrome Hill, and the quiet hamlet of Earl Sterndale.

• •This distinctive peak is a 'reef knoll', formed roughly 340 million years ago when the White Peak was a tropical lagoon. The limestone is composed of the skeletal remains of ancient sea creatures, left standing as a sharp ridge while the softer surrounding shales eroded away.
• •The name likely refers to its historical proximity to a medieval deer park once held by the Duchy of Lancaster. It remains a notable landmark on the boundary of the ancient parish of Hartington.
• •While it is almost always paired with its neighbour, Chrome Hill, Parkhouse is the more challenging of the two. Its north-eastern face is exceptionally steep, requiring a brief hands-on scramble that feels surprisingly adventurous for a hill of this height.
• •The narrow summit ridge offers a focused view of the winding Upper Dove valley and the peculiar, rounded summit of High Wheeldon, which sits directly across the flats to the south-east.
• •The gradient is so persistently vertical that it provides an excellent opportunity to inspect the tread on the boots of the person climbing directly above you.