High above the Victorian spa town of Buxton, stands Solomon’s Tower proudly perched on the summit of Grin Low. The views from the top are very impressive, and on a very clear day you can even see across to Mam Tor.
It’s an easy walk through woodland from the Poole’s Cavern car park to the summit. There is a slight incline to the top, but kids will be distracted by woodland carvings and information boards along the way. It’s another one of our favourite Peak District family walks.
Solomon’s Temple is a viewpoint tower built in 1896 on the site of a tumulus, which is a Neolithic burial mound. It replaced an earlier structure and probably takes its name from Solomon Mycock, who rented the land in the early 1800s.
Grin Low, which Solomon’s Temple is built on, was the main location for the early Buxton lime industry. The large, oddly shaped mounds, you will notice on the walk are widespread remains of over 100 large ‘pudding’ lime kilns, built of earth and rock, which date from the 17th–19th centuries, as well as spoil heaps of waste material from these times.
Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. Should you click to purchase, it is at no additional cost to you, but I receive a small commission.
If you are planning a visit to the National Park, please arrive early or late in the day to avoid crowds if visiting over sunny weekends or school holidays. Please also take all litter home with you, don’t bring BBQs and park your car in designated parking areas. Also, please use these walks as a guide; access and stiles may change.
During the winter months, it’s important to be extra prepared and safe when out walking and adventuring in the Peak District. The weather can change so quickly, especially on the exposed escarpments, and we don’t want you to get caught out.
Read our top tips for safe winter walking with the kids.
FOLLOW US:
PARKING INFORMATION: Please do not rely solely on the postcode for parking directions. In the National Park, a postcode can cover a large area. Postcodes are only provided as guidance. Please either use the Google Maps point provided for every walk, or what3words.
Do check out our top tips for hiking with young kids, as well as our essential items to take on a family hike in the Peak District.
Download and print out our walking guides ready for your family walk. There are over 80 downloadable walk guides available, and these include all the main Peak District family walks, pram-friendly walks, and toddler walks.
Each printable download is just £1.50, whether it’s a short 1km stroll or an epic walk up Kinder Scout.
Solomon’s Temple walk map
On all Peak District family walks it’s a good idea to have an Ordnance Survey paper map with you, even if you have your phone on you. For this walk you need the OS Explorer Active Map OL 24 (White Peak). It’s also a good opportunity to show young kids the map features and get them started with map reading.
| Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
The Peak District: White Peak Area Map | Weatherproof | Peak… |
£14.75 |
Buy on Amazon |
This route follows an anticlockwise direction.
Get a printable download of this walk
Want to print off this walk guide rather than rely on your mobile? Then click here to download the PDF to print out at home. Perhaps print out a copy for the kids to follow the step-by-step directions and/or photos? It’s a great way to get them engaged with the walk and gives them a sense of responsibility.
All printable downloads are £1.50 each. Click here for the full list of Peak District Kids printable downloads.
Please note that your download link expires 72 hours from order, so make sure you save your PDF somewhere where you’ll remember it. If you are unsure where your download folder is on your mobile device, we recommend you download the PDF on your laptop or desktop.
Need to know
DISTANCE OF WALK: 2.4km / 1.5 miles
TYPE OF WALK: circular woodland walk to a viewpoint
PARKING: There is paid parking at Poole’s Cavern Car Park. Click here for Google Map point, postcode SK17 9DH. £2.00 for 4 hours, or £3.00 all day. Both cards and cash accepted.
WALK HIGHLIGHTS: Views over Buxton and beyond from the summit of Grin Low, climb the staircase to the top of Solomon’s Temple, woodland carvings to find in the woods.
HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE: Without kids, this is a 45 minute walk. Allow over 2 hours with young kids.
TOTAL ASCENT: 110 metres
FACILITIES: Public toilets can be found next to the entrance for Poole’s Cavern. There’s also a café here.
The route
START: Poole’s Cavern Car Park
Click here for Google Map point
Grid reference: SK 0496 7260
Post code: SK17 9DH
what3words:///grasp.thrashing.tadpoles
Route follows an anticlockwise direction.
1. From the car park, take the path that leads upwards behind the information board. You can take the steps or the slope to the left, they both meet at the same point.
2. At the top of the first set of steps, turn left and follow the yellow markings and signpost towards Solomon’s Temple. Continue straight ahead along this footpath, ignoring any turnings off. This takes you through dense woodland. Spot the interesting wood carvings and information boards.
3. The woodland then opens out to clear views as you approach a stile over a drystone wall. From the stile you should be able to spot Solomon’s Temple to the left. Follow the path towards it. Kids will love running down and climbing up all the unusual depressions and rock formations left from the days of limestone mining.
4. Once you reach Solomon’s Temple you can go inside and climb the spiral staircase to the top. Be careful, it’s narrow and slippy!
5. To head back down, take the footpath immediately opposite the front door of Solomon’s Temple and climb through the stile overlooking Buxton. Follow the path downwards, allowing the kids to take detours to play.
6. You will soon spot a footpath that leads back into the woods. Take this path on the left, down to the wooden gate.
7. Walk through the stile and follow the footpath straight ahead for 350 metres. This leads back to the footpath that you walked along to get to Solomon’s Temple. Take a right at the junction and follow the footpath back down to the car park.
After your walk
A visit to Solomon’s Temple can be combined with a visit to Poole’s Cavern as the Solomon’s Temple walk starts from the same car park. On the other side of the car park is one of the highest Go Ape courses in the UK, although there is a minimum age restriction of 10 years and a minimum height restriction of 1.4 metres.
Otherwise, head in to Buxton to the Pavillion Gardens. Let the kids go wild in the playground, grab an ice-cream from the Pavillions, or top up your water bottles with fresh spring water from St. Anne’s Well. Check out our top things to do in Buxton with kids for more information and ideas.
Peak District Kids is a free online resource. If you have found this website useful for planning your family adventures, you can show your support by buying me a coffee. Thanks so much!
Also, feel free to share your walk photos in our Peak District Kids Facebook Group or on Instagram using the #peakdistrictkids hashtag so we can share with our wider community.
Or perhaps purchase a Peak District Kids iron-on patch. £1 from every sale of the iron-on patches goes towards the Peak District National Park Foundation, a registered charity established to raise funds to care for the Peak District National Park.
-
My Walks Log Book£9.85 -
Peak District Kids snoods£11.95 -
Peak District Kids iron-on patches£5.50
Want more ideas for family walks?
Best Family Walks in the Peak District
Pram Friendly Peak District walks
Toddler walks in the Peak District
Also, come and join our friendly Peak District Kids Facebook Group for any questions or to share photos of your walks.
You may also like to read:
Top things to do in Buxton with kids
Top family walks in the Peak District
Poole’s Cavern, Buxton | REVIEW