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The Dragon's Back - Peak District Walk
Wednesday 20th September 2006
When I set out today nobody had said anything on the weather about it being particularly windy until much later in the day. I was somewhat surprised therefore to find myself being blown sideways as I started to climb up Chrome Hill, today was certainly not the right day to be walking along a ridge. As the wind seemed to be getting stronger I decided to abandon the climb at the end of the walk to the summit of Wheeldon Hill as I didn't fancy struggling uphill into the strong wind.
Start: Longnor (SK 0884 6492)
Route: Longnor - Parkhouse Hill - Chrome Hill (The Dragon's Back) - Dowel Dale - Earl Sterndale - Green Lane - Longnor
Distance: 6.75 miles Ascent: 406 metres Time Taken: 3 hrs 50 mins
Weather: Warm, overcast and windy.
Pub Visited: None Ale Drunk: None
![Parkhouse Hill Parkhouse Hill](2006-09-20/parkhouse%20hill.jpg)
Parkhouse Hill comes into view from the descent to Under the Hill.
![Chrome Hill & Parkhouse Hill Chrome Hill & Parkhouse Hill](2006-09-20/P%20&%20C.jpg)
Chrome Hill (L) and Parkhouse Hill (R).
![Chrome Hill Chrome Hill](2006-09-20/chrome%20hill.jpg)
Chrome Hill, from here it is easy to see why it is also known as the Dragon's Back.
![Chrome Hill Chrome Hill](2006-09-20/C%20hill.jpg)
Looking up the Dragon's Back.
![Parkhouse Hill Parkhouse Hill](2006-09-20/parkhouse%20hill1.jpg)
Parkhouse Hill requires a head for heights due to its sharp ridge.
![Looking down the Dragon's Back Looking down the Dragon's Back](2006-09-20/DB%20&%20PH.jpg)
Looking down the Dragon's Back to Parkhouse Hill.
![The Dove Valley The Dove Valley](2006-09-20/ch%20summit.jpg)
From the summit of Chrome Hill, the wide valley in the background is home to the river Dove. It was so windy
on the top the only way I could keep the camera still was to take the
picture lying on the ground.
![Towards Axe Edge Towards Axe Edge](2006-09-20/hollins%20hill.jpg)
Looking down the other side of Chrome Hill, with Hollins Hill to the left in the sun and Axe Edge
forming the ridge in the background.
![Limestone arch on Chrome Hill Limestone arch on Chrome Hill](2006-09-20/arch.jpg)
The natural limestone arch which I passed on the descent of Chrome Hill.
![Chrome Hill Chrome Hill](2006-09-20/DB.jpg)
Looking back up Chrome Hill.
![Dowel Dale Dowel Dale](2006-09-20/dowel%20dale.jpg)
Dowel Dale, with Wheeldon Hill behind.
![Parkhouse Hill Parkhouse Hill](2006-09-20/ph2.jpg)
From this angle the sharp ridge of Parkhouse Hill is more obvious.
![Earl Sterndale Earl Sterndale](2006-09-20/earl%20sterndale.jpg)
The village of Earl Sterndale with Wheeldon Hill behind it.
![The Dragon's Back The Dragon's Back](2006-09-20/db1.jpg)
Chrome Hill's ridge.
![Chrome & Parkhouse Hills Chrome & Parkhouse Hills](2006-09-20/pc%20&%20db.jpg)
The classic view of Chrome Hill (L) and Parkhouse Hill (R).
All pictures copyright © Peak Walker 2006-2023