Dappled in summer light the distinct and recognisable twin peaks of the Chrome and Parkhouse Hills in the Upper Dove Dale Valley, Peak District.
These are two of the most famous limestone hills in the Peak District National Park which lie on the north side of the River Dove in Derbyshire close to the Staffordshire border. Both hills are limestone reef knolls believed to have existed during the Carboniferous period when the Peak District was covered by a tropical sea and were former coral reefs formed around 340 million years ago.
Chrome Hill is slightly larger than Parkhouse Hill and is commonly known as the ‘Dragon’s Back’ due to the curve of the hill resembling the plates along the spine of a Stegosaurus dinosaur.
These hills are designated Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) due to the wide range of limestone flora to be found here including the rare Jacob’s Ladder Plant (Polemonium Caeruleum). There is a splendid ridge walk across both hills where the views are truly breathtaking which I highly recommend.
