Traditionally, the sign of a Cheshire cheese swinging in front of a pub was used to show it offered a warm welcome, and that a roaring fire, hearty meal and tankard of ale awaited within. This is certainly true of the Cheshire Cheese Inn that lies nestled in the village of Hope in the Peak District.
This is the sort of cosy pub you long to stumble across after an invigorating walk in the hills, such as this five-mile route (with a plotted OS Map), starting and ending in Hope with visits to Lose Hill, Hollins Cross, Mam Tor and Castleton along the way.
Looking for more walks nearby? Check out more Countryfile routes, including Cressbrook Dale, Lud's Church and Curbar Edge.
Peak District walks
The Peak District National Park in Derbyshire is one of Britain's most iconic landscapes – hike over hills, moors and mountains, amble beside idyllic rivers and climb through deep gorges with our guide to the best Peak District walks.
Mam Tor walk
8.8 miles / 14.2km | 5-6 hours | moderate-challenging | 489m ascent
1. Lose Hill
Setting out from The Cheshire Cheese, head along Edale Road until you see a footpath sign on your left for Lose Hill. You can either take the first stile, which offers a slightly shorter route, or carry on along the road and past the Losehill House Hotel. Continue upwards along the tree-lined footpath.
Peak District guide
Discover the best things to do in the Peak District, gorgeous country walks and beautiful cottages and hotels to stay in with our visitor's guide to the Peak District.
2. Back Tor
The next section of the route climbs up to the top of Back Tor, which offers wonderful, panoramic views of the Derbyshire countryside.From here it is a short but steep descent down the path towards Hollins Cross, a good opportunity for a breather and some great photos of the landscape below.
3. Mam Tor
Continue along the Great Ridge towards one of Castleton’s most famous landmarks, the hulking mass of Mam Tor. The hill is nicknamed the ‘Shivering Mountain’ after a number of landslips sent loose bands of shale and gritstone sliding down its sides.
Follow the stone surfaced footpath to the top of the Tor for neverending views of the Edale Valley and across to Kinder Scout and the Derwent Moors.
4. Limestone Way
Descend Mam Tor and continue along the Rowter Bridleway, across the moorland and towards Windy Knoll. Here, you can choose to shorten your route and head down Winnats Pass, a cleft in the land that was formed after a cave system collapsed, or continue further along the Limestone Way.
5. Perevil Castle
The dramatic ruins of Perevil Castle, an 11th-century fortification run by English Heritage, loom above the village of Castleton. Mentioned in the Doomsday survey, the castle is one of England’s earliest Norman fortresses and was built by Henry II in 1176.
Castleton is not short of charming tearooms and cafes for weary walkers. Head to the well-named Ramblers Rest for coffee and a slab of cake or to the Three Roofs Café for a traditional Derbyshire cream tea. From here, you can either take the main Castleton road back to Hope or follow a footpath past the Ramblers Rest to the Cheshire Cheese.
Find out more about the Cheshire Cheese Inn and the Peak District National Park.
Mam Tor map
