White Low

About White Low

Rising above the town of Glossop, this broad gritstone shoulder forms part of the rugged western approach to the Bleaklow plateau. The terrain is classic Dark Peak—heavy with peat hags and heather—offering a wild, atmospheric vantage point overlooking the Longdendale reservoirs and the distant, dark silhouette of Black Hill.

Key Statistics

Find It

Did You Know?

• •The name 'Low' is derived from the Old English 'hlāw', a term used frequently across the Peak District to denote a hill or a burial mound, while 'White' likely refers to the pale, bleached mountain grasses that stand out against the darker heather in winter.
• •Situated on the western fringes of the Bleaklow massif, the hill provides an excellent elevated perspective of the Longdendale 'chain' of reservoirs, specifically Torside and Woodhead, which line the valley floor below.
• •It serves as a key navigational marker for walkers ascending from Old Glossop or Torside, marking the transition from the steep valley sides to the high, peat-scarred moorland of the main plateau.
• •The summit area is dominated by 'groughs'—deep, eroded peat channels that require a strategic, zig-zagging approach and a high tolerance for boggy terrain.
• •The summit lacks a formal marker or cairn, meaning walkers often have to rely on their GPS or a very optimistic interpretation of the horizon to decide exactly which patch of heather is the highest.