Harthill is wholly within the Peak District national park, and touches the parishes of Birchover, Elton, Gratton, Nether Haddon, Stanton and Youlgreave.

Primarily farm and pasture land throughout the parish outside the sparsely populated areas, there are some small forestry plots throughout, with a stretch by Harthill Hall in the north, and more woodlands in the moor to the south.

[10] Later features include Castle Ring camp which was a Roman fort, and a man-made tumulus, both within Harthill Moor.

[citation needed] There was formerly a chantry chapel at Harthill, which was founded in the year 1259 by Richard de Herthill, on instructions from a papal bull from Pope Alexander II.

[12][14] Harthill was listed in 1334 as associated to the nearby location of Winster together in the High Peak hundred for lay subsidy records.

[6] Edward Cokayne sold Herthill in 1599, to John Manners whose family eventually became members of the Duke of Rutland.

In 1891, the then Duke was being reported in journals of the time as being Lord of the manor, and with Major Michael McCreagh-Thornhill from Stanton-in-the-Peak were key local landowners.

The long distance Peak District walking route Limestone Way passes from near Birchover to Youlgreave, diagonally crossing the parish.

There are eight listed structures within the parish, all at Grade II designation, including Alport Mill, two bridges and several residences.

[4] The wider region is known for a wide range of historical artefacts, and Harthill has a number of prehistoric and Roman locations spread throughout the parish.

Legend is that Robin strode between the tower-like stones at either end of the tor, but this is unlikely because they are 15 metres apart and ascending the rocks is difficult, particularly the southern one.

[22] Just to the north-east lies Cratcliff Tor, a crag which is composed of huge blocks of gritstone and largely hidden by trees.

Sections of it were used by pack-horse teams until the 19th century, and nearby Alport (then Auld-Port) was a significant staging and trading post along the route.