Mam Tor

Mam Tor, prominent hill in the Peak District National Park, Derbyshire, England, that rises to 517 m (1,696 ft) and has particularly fine views of the Hope Valley and the Vale of Edale. The hill is composed of sandstone and loose shale. The eastern face looks as if it has undergone quarrying—though the feature is in fact the result of weathering, where the unstable rock has crumbled. Wind and rain cause frequent landslips and the apparently constant trickle of shifting shale, which has resulted in the hill being known locally as “the shivering mountain”.

Remains of one of the Peak District’s largest hill forts from the Iron Age are to be found on the summit. The fort’s defences followed the contours of the hill and contained an area of roughly 6.5 hectares (16 acres). Archaeological excavations have revealed a dry stone wall and a number of hut sites, along with some pottery dating from the Iron Age. Evidence indicating that the site had been occupied in the Bronze Age was also found.