For the second piece in the Pooch Routes blog posts we head out to the Peak District. The whole area is great for mountaineering and this absolutely includes bringing along your four-legged friend for the experience! Mam Tor with your pooch is the focus for this post. We went here on our way to Snowdonia back in April and it was a nice, relatively relaxed loop to take in the scenery. We followed the National Trust’s Mam Tor circular walk and found it to be spot on for our little shih-tzu!
Starting Off
The summit of Mam Tor itself is really easily accessible from the Mam Nick car park. We parked up our van, utilising our National Trust memberships for free parking, and laced up our boots. Considering the weather was dry and sunny, waterproofs and warm clothing weren’t needed. We packed light; water, snacks and an extra layer (for all of us, pup included) and set off.
From the car park you follow some steps and path along the main road, following signs for Mam Tor. Even from this stage the views are spectacular. You pass an old bus stop, which would’ve been a great way to hit the summit from the nearby villages. Before you know it, you’re at the top. Summiting Mam Tor with your pooch isn’t really the goal here. It’s the subsequent stroll down, completing the loop, that adds the value.
Summit to See
As I mentioned, the views are actually pretty great considering Mam Tor is only 517m. There are steps up to the top and we found it was easier to let our little one off her lead for this. She was bounding up as quickly as her little legs could carry her. We found that having the ascent right at the start of the walk meant she had bundles of energy and the trig point is a good opportunity to have a spot of lunch. A break wasn’t really needed here, but it was nice to take everything in. It’s quite open and relatively flat on the top, so finding somewhere to perch down and grab a drink is quite easy.
From the summit the descent takes you along a long, descending path atop the ridge. Again we found it easier to let our pooch off her lead so there was less chance of tripping and she was free to run around. She’s really well behaved off her lead (most of the time) and other dogs around were too off, so we felt comfortable letting her roam relatively free. There aren’t any really steep drops off either side, so as long as your dog has a decent recall you should be absolutely fine! The path culminates at Hollins Cross, where a small monument and cross-paths indicate time to turn back!
Looping Back Around
Making your way back to the car park, you continue descending down the side of Mam Tor. There’s a little stretch through a woodland, however the path is clearly marked. Emerging by Mam Farm, the path turns into a paved road and you begin slightly ascending again. The route swings by Blue John Cavern, which you can go into if you wish. We didn’t, but took a moment outside to grab a drink and snack. We laid our coats out on the grass bank and all lead down having a little recharge. The slight ascent had started sapping our little pooch’s energy levels, so she was very appreciative of the break!
The final part of the route passes through some farmland, where dogs are to be on leads. There were quite a lot of sheep in the field, so it’s important to keep your dog under close control! We opted to carry our little friend through the field, as she was starting to get even more tired. We passed up and over Windy Knoll before returning to the van, however you can easily just walk around this little mound. I was just being awkward…
Worth it?
Absolutely. Too often the value of a walk in mountainous/hilly areas is determined by distance or elevation gained. When considering Mam Tor with your pooch, this circular walk is great. The steep(ish) ascent to the summit is via steps and right at the start of your walk, when energy levels are high. There are ample spots to rest, with some great views across the Peak District. And to top it all off, the surface underfoot is all suitable for your little friend’s soft paws. She seemed to enjoy herself, so that’s a win in our book!