Breakdown of the Ethels

The Ethels are categorized by height and prominence, covering a range of landscapes from the rugged Dark Peak to the gentler White Peak, and include the six county tops of Cheshire, Derbyshire, Staffordshire, South Yorkshire, West Yorkshire, and Greater Manchester. Here’s the detailed composition:

• Four Hills Over 600m (The Sixers): These are the highest peaks in the Peak District, all located in the northern Dark Peak’s Pennine Moors:

  • Kinder Scout: 636m, the highest point in the Peak District, known for its vast moorland and gritstone edges.

  • Bleaklow: 633m, a remote moorland summit with dramatic peat bogs.

  • Higher Shelf Stones: ~621m, part of the Bleaklow massif, known for its gritstone formations.

  • Grindslow Knoll: ~601m, a prominent knoll on Kinder Scout’s southern edge, offering expansive views.

• 27 Hills Over 500m (The Fivers): These include peaks with summits at or above 500 meters but below 600 meters, such as:

  • Mam Tor (517m): Known as the “Shivering Mountain,” famous for its Bronze Age hill fort and Great Ridge views.

  • Shining Tor (559m): The highest point in Cheshire, with panoramic views over the Cheshire Plain.

  • Win Hill (462m, often included in broader counts): A prominent hill with views over Ladybower Reservoir.

  • Other examples include Axe Edge Moor, Brown Knoll, and Lose Hill. The exact list of 27 varies slightly by source, as some hills like Win Hill are debated for inclusion in the 500m+ category due to prominence or boundary definitions.

• 37 Hills Over 400m (Part of the Sub-Fivers): These are hills with summits between 400 and 499 meters, such as:

  • Shutlingsloe (506m): Known as the “Matterhorn of Cheshire” for its distinctive shape.

  • Stanage Edge (458m): A famous gritstone escarpment popular with climbers and walkers.

  • Derwent Edge (~450m): Known for its dramatic tors and views over reservoirs. Also my favourite place for photography, Salt Cellar.

• 27 Prominent Hills Below 400m (Part of the Sub-Fivers): These are lower hills with significant character or prominence, often iconic landmarks:

  • Thorpe Cloud (287m): A striking limestone hill at the entrance to Dovedale.

  • Parkhouse Hill (~360m): A steep, dragon-back hill in the White Peak, ideal for photography.

  • Harthill Moor (272m): The lowest Ethel, home to the Nine Ladies Stone Circle. These hills were selected for their cultural, historical, or scenic significance, despite not meeting the 400m height threshold.

• Five Marilyns: A Marilyn is a hill of any height with a topographic prominence (drop) of 150 meters or more on all sides. The Ethels include five Marilyns:

  • Kinder Scout (636m)

  • Shining Tor (559m)

  • High Wheeldon (~422m)

  • The Cloud (~343m)

  • Gun (~385m) These hills are notable for their relative isolation and prominence, making them stand out in the landscape.

• Six County Tops: The Ethels include the highest points of the six counties within or bordering the Peak District:

  • Cheshire: Shining Tor (559m)

  • Derbyshire: Kinder Scout (636m)

  • Staffordshire: The Roaches (~505m, though some sources debate this)

  • South Yorkshire: Margery Hill (~546m)

  • West Yorkshire: Black Hill (~582m)

  • Greater Manchester: Black Chew Head (~542m)

Sourced from CPRE, please note, not all of these are on Open Access Land. Information can be found within the Ethels App.