Follies and False Estimates: Exploring Solomon’s Temple in Buxton

I’ve been meaning to visit Solomon’s Temple for a long time. Perched high on the crest of Grin Low overlooking the spa town of Buxton, it is one of those distinctive Peak District landmarks that constantly teases you from the valley floor.

Before visiting, I knew almost nothing about its background—other than it looked like a fascinating stone tower to explore and would likely offer a decent walk.

However, my first mistake was overestimating Google Maps' walking predictions.

From the lower car park near Poole's Cavern, Google estimates a brisk 20-minute walk. Unless you intend to speedrun a continuous uphill scramble, that feels wildly optimistic!

Alternatively, walking all the way up from Buxton town center is listed as a 35-minute stroll. Standing at the top of the tower looking down at the town below, 35 minutes feels like pure fantasy unless you possess the lungs of an Olympic hill climber. It’s certainly a trek to attempt when you have plenty of time, energy, and favorable weather.

Despite its grand name, the structure isn't a temple at all.

It is, in fact, a 20-foot Victorian folly built atop a Bronze Age burial mound. The tower owes its name to Solomon Mycock, a local farmer who constructed the original ruinous tower on the site.

When the original landmark collapsed, the local community rallied to restore it. As with almost everything historically built in Buxton, the Duke of Devonshire got involved, contributing £25 toward the fund. Combined with £50 raised by the residents of Buxton, the current replacement tower was commissioned and completed in 1896.

You can freely climb the spiral staircase inside the tower to reach the open-air viewing platform at the top.

The reward for the uphill climb is a stunning 360-degree panorama. On a clear day, the horizon opens up to reveal sweeping views across Buxton, High Point, the ridge of Mam Tor, and the dark gritstone plateau of Kinder Scout. On a warm afternoon, a leisurely walk through Grin Low Woods followed by a hilltop picnic at the summit is about as good as it gets in Derbyshire.

Photography Notes
Location: Solomon's Temple (Grin Low Tower), Buxton, Derbyshire, Peak District.
Subject: Victorian Folly Architecture & High-Altitude Panoramas.
Shooting High-Altitude Landscapes in the Peak District:
Use Telephoto Compression: While a wide-angle lens 16mm - 24mm is great for capturing the full height of the stone tower against the sky, switch to a telephoto lens 70mm - 200mm from the top platform. Compressing the distant peaks of Mam Tor and Kinder Scout against the rolling green farmland of the High Peak creates dramatic depth in your prints.
Cut Through Atmospheric Haze: High-altitude views over Buxton often suffer from soft atmospheric moisture. Use a Circular Polarizer and increase the Dehaze/Clarity sliders slightly in post-processing to bring out the subtle ridges of the distant gritstone edges.