Head for the upper Dove Valley in the Peak District and you’ll discover a mini-marvel created by Mother Nature: a tiny mountain range called the Dragon’s Back that rises above a landscape of pasture and meadowland. One of those tiny mountains is Chrome Hill, a limestone reef knoll brought into existence by a foible of geology.
Where is Chrome Hill?
Chrome Hill is in the Peak District's 'upper Dove Valley on Derbyshire's border with Staffordshire, in Hartington Middle Quarter
What to see at Chrome Hill?
Looking like the plate on the back of a stegosaurus, the hill is an area of open-access land only reachable via a footpath (so there’s no risk of stray cars spoiling your pics). Stand near the foot of neighbouring Parkhouse Hill and you may even get two chances to photograph a sunset on the same evening.
Our solar system’s trusty star dips below the summit of Chrome Hill only to reappear soon afterwards at its foot to set for a second time. The phenomenon is particularly striking around the summer solstice.
Nearby is Buxton’s Pavilion Gardens, with its 9.3 hectares of Grade II-listed Victorian grandeur, an impressive tree sculpture, plus a boating lake and fountains for practising those water-feature shots.
Also nearby: You can have a go at time travel at Buxton Museum’s Wonders of the Peak gallery, as well
as brushing up on local archaeology, geology, art and history.
