Carl Wark

The walk up Carl Wark rewards you with something genuinely special - a Iron Age hill fort perched 450 metres above the Hope Valley, with views that stretch across the Dark Peak in every direction. It's not a gentle amble. The ascent from Hathersage is steep and rocky in places, especially the final push to the summit where ancient earthworks still define the fort's boundaries. You can actually trace where the ramparts once stood, which is more tangible than many archaeology sites you'll visit.

This isn't a place to linger for hours. Once you've reached the top, checked out the views towards Stanage Edge and Froggatt Edge, and perhaps eaten a sandwich while sitting on the stones, there's not much else to do. But that's rather the point - it's a proper peak bagging hike with genuine historical weight to it, not a tourist trap with a cafe at the summit. Allow two to three hours for the round trip from Hope Valley.

Walkers and history types will get the most from Carl Wark. Families with younger children might find the final scramble frustrating, and it's definitely not suited to those after easy valley walks. If you're camping at one of the nearby sites - North Lees is closest at under two miles - it makes a cracking morning expedition before exploring the wider Peak District. The surrounding area has plenty of other walks and peaks to fill a week.