🗺️ The route
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Join free to downloadHarboro Rocks is a limestone outcrop above Brassington in the Derbyshire Dales, with a short climb to a 379 metre summit and views over Carsington Water. We only planned a quick outand back, but ended up spending a good two hours poking around the top, in and out of the cave and puzzling over the carved rocks, before finishing at the trig point for the obligatory tap and then straight back down.
What to expect
The rocks are a dolomitic limestone hill, a popular spot for climbers doing top rope and bouldering routes, with short pitches of 6 to 12 metres. The ground is grazing land for local farmers, so stick to the paths and keep dogs under control around livestock.
It’s a quiet spot, we barely saw anyone else up there. The ground underfoot is rocky and uneven if you go off path but there is a clear footpath right to the top, but do take your time as you’re making your way there.
Getting there & parking
There’s a small free car park right by the rocks, just off the B5056 south of Longcliffe. For a longer walk, you can also start from Brassington village.
Good to know
You'll find free (limited) parking at the start of the walk. Postcode for sat nav: DE4 4HF.
No, there aren't any on this route.
On lead only.
Expect rocky Terrain underfoot.
The route
From the car park it’s a short, steep climb up to the summit, out and back the way we came. We spent a good while exploring around the rocks: there’s a cave built into the rocks; occupied since the Ice Age, it features rich archaeological history. In 1726 Daniel Defoe wrote about a poor family of seven living happily inside the cavern whilst the father was working as a local lead miner. On the top near the trig we found a rock that had been carved out we had no idea what it was until we got home and looked it up, and it turns out it was used as a font, and in 1906 a local farmer’s baby was actually baptised up here with water from it. We finished at the trig point for the obligatory tap before heading back down.
Tips & what to bring
Sturdy footwear for the rocky, uneven summit, and take care near the edges if you’re climbing up for the view. There are no facilities at the rocks, so bring water. It’s grazing land, so keep dogs under control and shut any gates behind you.
Eat & drink nearby
We didn’t stop for food or drink this time, we’d spent so long exploring the rocks. The Miners Arms in Brassington village is on the route if you start from there and fancy a pint on the way.
Places to stay nearby
More walks near here
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