13k Run High Peak: Stunning Views from Mam Tor to Lose Hill

Route Overview & Local Insights

This 13.1km loop through the High Peak offers a quintessential Peak District running experience, blending technical trail sections with punchy elevations. Starting with a deceptively flat approach, you'll soon face the "Broken Road"—a dramatic section of collapsed tarmac beneath Mam Tor—before the real work begins. The ascent to the summit gains significant elevation, rewarding you with the famous skyline run across the Great Ridge. At a moderate Difficulty 4, the route traverses Hollins Cross and the sharpeness of Back Tor before hitting the peak of Lose Hill. With over 400m of climbing and a fast, quad-burning descent to the finish, runners should prepare for varied terrain and exposed sections above 500m where the weather can shift in an instant.

Steeped in ancient history, Mam Tor is known as the "Mother Hill," named for the frequent landslides that have created smaller hills at its base over centuries. As you navigate the ridge towards Lose Hill, you’re running through a landscape that once served as a boundary between the Iron Age hillfort on Mam Tor and the valley below. This area near Castleton is the heart of the Hope Valley, famous for its unique Blue John cavern systems and limestone gritstone contrasts. For a local post-run tradition, head into Castleton for a celebratory pint or a Bakewell pudding; just remember that while the "Broken Road" looks like a film set, it is a living testament to the powerful geology that makes the Peak District such a rugged playground for fell runners and mountain enthusiasts alike.