It lies on the north side of the River Dove, close to the border with Staffordshire.

Geologically, the hill is the remains of an atoll (a 'reef knoll') which is believed to have existed during the Carboniferous period when what is now the Peak District was covered by a tropical sea.

[2] For many years access to Parkhouse Hill was difficult, as there was no right of way to the summit.

A double sunset can sometimes be seen against Parkhouse Hill from nearby Glutton Grange; the phenomenon was first captured on film by the photographer Chris Doherty.

The occurrence is visible in good weather in late March, early April and September, when the sun sets just to the south of the summit of the hill, begins to re-emerge almost immediately afterwards from its steep northern slope before fully reappearing and later sets for a second and final time at the foot of the hill.