Priestcliffe Low

About Priestcliffe Low

Rising above its namesake hamlet, this limestone tump offers a quintessential White Peak experience. The summit is defined by an ancient burial mound, providing a grandstand view over the deep gorge of Miller’s Dale and the plateau towards Taddington Moor. It is a quiet, grassy height bounded by traditional drystone walls.

Key Statistics

Find It

Did You Know?

• •The name 'Low' is derived from the Anglo-Saxon word 'hlāw', signifying a burial mound. A prominent Bronze Age tumulus sits on the summit, marking the site as a place of historical significance long before the surrounding field boundaries were established.
• •From the summit, walkers can look directly down into the Wye Valley to spot the Monsal Trail, where the Victorian Midland Railway once cut through the limestone landscape via a series of impressive tunnels and viaducts.
• •The surrounding fields are a classic example of the 'White Peak' landscape, where thin soils over Carboniferous limestone support a rich variety of wildflowers, including cowslips and early purple orchids in the spring months.
• •To the north, the view changes character entirely as the white limestone gives way to the gritstone edges of the Dark Peak, with the 'shivering mountain' of Mam Tor clearly visible on a clear day.
• •In the Peak District, the term 'Low' actually refers to a hill or burial mound; consequently, standing on the summit of Priestcliffe Low means you have successfully reached the top of a bottom.