Mam Tor - Shivering Mountain

Mam Tor, meaning ‘Mother Hill’, is a 517 metre high hill near Castleton in the High Peak area of Derbyshire and is one of the most famous walks in the Peak District that well and truly deserves a place on your Peak District bucket list!

Mam Tor sits on the edge of the Dark Peak (gritstone) and the White Peak (limestone) which means you get some fantastic views of the limestone parts of the National Park, such as the dry gorge of Winnats Pass. Winnats Pass is always a favourite amongst photographers so make sure you bring your camera!

Mam Tor is the main link between the eastern end of Rushup Edge and the western end of the Great Ridge, making this one of the most-loved ridge walks in the Peak District National Park. On a clear day, you can even see Manchester!

Mam Tor is also referred to as the ‘Shivering Mountain’ because of its propensity for landslips caused by unstable lower levels of shale.

Mam Tor is the starting point for the Peak District's famous Great Ridge walk, which runs for approximately 3km from Mam Tor to Lose Hill above the villages of Castleton and Hope. It is a very popular and well-paved ridge walk that offers wonderful views.

Being located near Castleton, Mam Tor is surrounded by fascinating geology, and has a number of caverns just below it, such as: Treak Cliff Cavern, Blue John Cavern, Speedwell Cavern and Peak Cavern.

Castleton is a great place to stay if you want to explore the surrounding countryside and there are many circular walks for you to try. Another place which can be very useful as a base for your Mam Tor exploration is Edale, from Edale Mam Tor is a beautiful (albeit steep) walk and it’s also the official start of the Pennine Way!

FAQs

How long does it take to get to the top of Mam Tor?

Despite its imposing height at 517 metres tall, Mam Tor is a relatively easy hill to climb and requires a reasonable level of fitness. It takes roughly 1 hour to ascend Mam Tor, depending on your starting point, but if you prefer an easier walk, you can park at the National Trust car park at Mam Nick (S33 8WA), from where there is a well-paved path to the trig point at the summit. This is a great walk for beginners and is relatively easy.

Is Mam Tor a peak or mountain?

Mam Tor is a 517 m (1,696 ft) hill near Castleton in the Peak District. Despite its height, it's not a mountain, but one of the Peak District's famous landmarks and highest hills.