Mam tor

We set off early for a 10k circular walk up to Lose hill and along the ridge to Mam tor. The weather was perfect, cool to climb and then a pleasant breeze at the top. Mam Tor is a 517 metre hill near Castleton in the High Peak of Derbyshire. Its name means "mother hill", so called because frequent landslips on its eastern face have resulted in a multitude of "mini-hills" beneath it. These landslips, which are caused by unstable lower layers of shale, also give the hill its alternative name of Shivering Mountain. In 1979, the continual battle to maintain the A625 road (Sheffield to Chapel en le Frith) on the crumbling eastern side of the hill was lost when the road officially closed as a through-route (see extra.) Tea and local Bakewell tart in the cafe were a fine reward for our exertions. All the grandchildren will be arriving soon for tonight's barbecue. Then we will listen to Alice doing her gig in the local pub.