Mam Tor Short Walk From Castleton | 5-Mile Route

Mam Tor walk from Castleton is a beautiful walk to add to your Peak District list. In fact, it is so beautiful, it’s up there with the most popular walks in the UK, which does also mean it can be a busy place to visit, especially on weekends when the weather is good.

Mam Tor can be summited from both sides of the valley, from Castleton, as described in this route, but also from the other side starting in the lovely Peak District village Edale.

The hill was, in fact, an old iron age fort, you can totally imagine that once you’re at the top because you have views in all directions, Mam Tor is also known as ‘Mother Hill’.

Here you will find details on how to get to the start of the walk at Castleton, route information, facilities on the walk, plus a detailed step by step guide of the walk.

Let me know in the comments if you’ve done this walk from Castleton and what you think!

Mam Tor walk from Castleton

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Mam Tor walk map

© Crown copyright and database rights (2024) OS 002572460

Walk start point

Start grid reference: SK 14936 82940

Car parking address: Castleton Visitor Centre, Buxton Road, Castleton, S33 8WN

Although there are plenty of car parking spaces, this is a popular place so it can fill up if you don’t arrive early. There’s an additional car park further down the road if this one is full.

Parking Cost

Up to 1 hour £1.60
1-2 hours £2.50
2-4 hours £4.00
4-10 hours £6.00

Public transport

Nearest train station: Hope train station (1 mile/2 km)

Facilities on the walk

There are public toilets available next to Castleton Visitor Centre. You can also pick up breakfast (if you’re late started as the cafe doesn’t open until 10 am) and snacks for your hike.

There are also plenty of other little shops and cafes in Castleton that you can treat yourself to goodies either before or after the walk. There are also several pubs for that after walk drink.

There are no further shops or additional toilet facilities on this walk.

Water on your walk – I recommend a filter water bottle for your Peak District walks, it saves you from carrying extra weight and you can fill up safely and drink water from the streams on your walk.

Other useful information

Mam Tor walk from Castleton is one of the most popular walks in the Peak District, it’s a beautiful walk and has many different routes to the summit, but if you prefer a quieter experience then if possible avoid weekends or plan an early walk.

Castleton village is also a very busy place to visit but there’s plenty to see and do there, with caves to explore, shops and pubs to visit as well.

The route is signposted in places but I would recommend you take a map and compass (see below).

Also, if you love your sunrises, you can also catch some beautiful photos of the sun in the morning, worth an early start to miss the crowds too!

Would you know what to do in an emergency situation?

We have a guide with what to do, who you need to call and also some useful kit that should be in your backpack. Ask us any questions in the comments or via our social media.

Happy hiking + stay safe

read here

Peak District weather

Check the weather for your walk location and hills. We’d recommend that you check a few resources and for hill walks look at the weather conditions in the valley and on the hilltop as they can greatly vary.

• BBC Weather for Castleton
• Met Office weather and/or MWIS (Mountain weather information service) for the Peak District
• Met Office weather for Mam Tor

Mam Tor patch

Why not celebrate reaching the top of Mam Tor with our very first charity patch? Or if you are planning on doing the walk soon, order the patch now so you can take it to the top for a photo. visit shop

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Charity Patches

Mam Tor Patch

Rated 5.00 out of 5

£5.00

Ordnance Survey Walk Map

The map for this walk is the Ordnance Survey OL1 – Peak District (Dark Peak Area).

View the different prices here with Ordnance Survey or Amazon. If you’re hiking in all weather the Active OS maps are good to have as they are laminated so better on rainy days.

View both Peak District map options here.

And don’t forget your compass, I recommend the Silva Expedition or the Silva Classic compass.

For online maps, I recommend OS Online App (I have been using it for many years and it is worth getting if you want to start walking more). Check prices here for the one-month or annual option with OS Online App. All the walks on the website are created using OS Online + you can download them to the App.

See both maps that cover the Peak District here.

Want to learn more map skills? Check out our Guided Walks with map reading skills here.

Check prices here for the one month or yearly option with OS Online App. 

Want to read later? Save the walk to Pinterest

Mam Tor walk route

Stage 1 – Castleton village to Hollins Cross

Distance: 1.5 miles/2.4 km

Grid reference SK 14919 82956

Turn left out of the car park, walking through Castleton village, minding the pavement that disappears on one side. Continue following the road around the corner, then at the bend keep heading straight down the road, instead of turning right.

Follow Hollowford Road, up past the training centre, after about 1 km, you’ll go through a gate along a narrow track, gradually ascending, then through another gate at the top.

There are a few paths at this point, follow the path heading northwest, continuing to take you uphill, it’s a narrow track but will eventually lead you all the way to a gate and on the other side you’ll see the marker for Hollins Cross.

Stage 2 – Hollins Cross to Mam Tor

Distance: 0.9 mile/1.4 km

Grid reference SK 13607 84516

Hollins Cross has numerous paths leading in all directions, so this is where the route will immediately start to get busier. You may notice a drop in temperature as you’re on quite an exposed section of the walk.

Turn left and keep walking along the ridge, known as the ‘Great Ridge’ and make your way uphill to the trig point that marks Mam Tor summit.

On windy days you might see paragliders flying around Mam Tor summit, which is pretty spectacular.

More peak district shorts walks here

Stage 3 – Mam Tor to Castleton

Distance: 2.5 miles/4 km

Grid reference SK 12776 83600

Now you’ve done all the hard work, from Mam Tor you descend down the other side via stone steps, leading you close to the road that passes between the hills.

Go through the gate, continuing to descend down the grassy bank. Cross the road and take the footpath on the left to another road, again cross over and continue on the footpath.

As you reach Winnats Head Farm, go through the gate and take the path that leads to Treak Caverns. Follow the path to where the road meets Winnats Pass and again cross over to take the pass that loops back to Castleton.

If you prefer, you can stay on the road for a slightly quick walk back, but the loop is a prettier option! Then before you know it, you’re back in Castleton village.

Do you have any more questions about the Mam Tor walk, maybe what to wear on your hike or any other questions? Ask me in the comments below.

More walks in the Peak District

Fancy a longer route including Mam Tor – here are nine other great routes including longer walks and one massive hike!

Love the walks in the Peak District? You might like these Peak District circular walks.

• Three Shires Head 5 mile walk
• Grindslow Knoll walk from Edale
• Burbage Edge + Padley Gorge

Or check out all our Peak District walking routes here

View walks directory here

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Charity Patches

Mam Tor Patch

Rated 5.00 out of 5

£5.00

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Kinder Scout Patch

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Thorpe Cloud Patch

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The Roaches Patch

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Charity Patches

Win Hill Patch

Rated 5.00 out of 5

£5.00

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Charity Patches

Peak District Walks Patch

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