The Peak District has very few true peaks, but South Head, high above Chinley, looks like a mountain. It's a good thousand feet of ascent and from the summit there are magnificent views of Kinder. The feeling of wild and remoteness is probably the reason for the name of the house on its southern slopes. "Vorposten", which is German for a remote military outpost, is linked to the outside world by the poorest of roads. Well we saw no sentries nor any signs of military activity as we passed, but it is certainly remote, while if you wanted to keep a watchfull eye on the countryside it's ideally placed, though why the Germans would want a lookout here is another matter. Having taken in the view from the summit how do you descend without retracing your steps, for unlike the moors behind, the area below is not covered by the CROW Act. However, looking carefully at the map, a narrow dotted red line leads from the summit straight down past overgrown quarries and on down through the fields. Thank you National Trust.
LOCATION: Five miles east of Disley
START: Chinley Roadside parking on Buxton Road B6062, at lowest point
Grid ref: SK046825 Postcode: SK236ES
DISTANCE: 5.miles
GRADE: Moderate
TIME: 3.5 hours
MAP: Explorer OL - Dark Peak Landranger 110
REFRESHMENTS: Pack a flask
EN ROUTE: Dimpus Gate, Mount Famine, Pennine Bridleway
This walk was originally published by
The Manchester Evening News