Stanedge Pole

The walk up Stanedge Pole rewards you with one of those rare Peak District views that actually lives up to the hype. You're looking at a proper moorland peak that doesn't mess about - it's steep, windswept, and the sort of place where weather changes fast. The pole itself is a trig point, a triangulation marker that's been here since the old Ordnance Survey days, and it's the kind of detail that appeals to walkers who actually care about navigation history rather than just bagging summits.

From the top you get sweeping views across the Hope Valley and into the surrounding gritstone moors. On a clear day it's genuinely excellent. On a grey day - which is most days - it's moody and atmospheric, which is also genuinely excellent if that's what you're after.

This is squarely walkers' territory. You're not coming here for a gentle stroll; you need proper boots and the fitness to match. Families with young children will struggle. The route isn't complicated, but it's relentlessly uphill and the ground is often boggy. Allow two to three hours depending on your pace and which approach you take from the Hope Valley.

If you're camping at North Lees or Wyming Brook Farm - both within walking distance - you've got this as a cracking half-day objective. Combine it with a visit to Castleton's caves or the limestone peaks nearby and you've got a proper Peak District itinerary. It's free, as all moorland walks are, and there are no facilities at the summit, so bring water.