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Cown Edge from Broadbottom

Peak District Walk

Nat Park - Peak District - Kinder Scout Edale

County/Area - Derbyshire & Greater Manchester

Author - Andy Chaplin

Length - 7.3 miles / 11.9 km    Ascent - 1075 feet / 326 metres

Time - 4 hours 40 minutes    Grade - easy/mod

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Walk Route Description

Photo from the walk - Cown Edge
Click image to see photo description.

Having passed the road sign to Broadbottom on many occasions whilst travelling between Sheffield and Manchester - and sniggered at the name - it seemed only fair to enjoy a Peak District walk that started in the village, especially as the Harewood Arms (which is just around the corner from the car park where this walk starts) is the brewery tap for the Green Mill Brewery. The village is very pleasant and has an interesting industrial history and is well worth exploring after the walk which starts at the small car park on Mill Brow (grid ref. SJ994937). There is information about the village on their website with links to extracts about the history of the village.

Walk up the hill, under the railway and turn right onto Market Street then continue down to the bridge over the river Etherow. Immediately after crossing the river turn off left on the path that loops up around the cliffs overlooking the river - don't take the track going under the railway.

Follow the path back towards Long Lane but just before you meet it turn left again on a path going around the back of the houses at Bankwood Gate then around Gamesley Fold Farm and come out onto Glossop Road between a row of houses. Cross straight over and take the path that goes around Glossop RUFC and comes out on Hargate Hill Lane.

Follow the road all the way up to High Lane then cross over and take the footpath up the two fields, bearing slightly right at the start of the second one, to Monk's Road. Take the track opposite signed to Coombes Farm and before the cattle grid turn off left to pick up the Cown Edge Way (CEW) as it goes around Coombes Edge. The walk around the edge gives good views back to Broadbottom.

The CEW comes south of the edge as it joins briefly with the Pennine Bridleway and passes the house at Far Slack and Robin Hood's Picking Stones. Before you reach Gun Road, turn almost back on yourself to follow the track towards the house at Moorside. Again, before you reach it turn off left on the track down to New Mills Road.

Turn right onto the road then left onto Sandy Lane which you follow through Higher Chisworth and past Sandy Lane Farm to the A626 Marple Road. Cross straight over and follow the Far Woodseats Lane (CEW again) until it becomes a path that makes its way down to the river Etherow.

Cross the river, go up the path to Leylands Lane and turn right towards Hodgefold. Keep right on Hodge Lane where you approach the river again and pass the vats of the old Hodge Print Works. When Hodge Lane ends you carry on along the path and come out at Well Row where you turn up left onto Mill Brow and back to the parking.

The Harewood Arms is just up Mill Brow then left along Market Street - and well worth the extra 100 yards. If you sit towards the back of the pub you will hear the trains going past just behind you.

Other walks nearby

Walk 2521 Hollingworthall Moor & Walkerwood Reservoirsmoderate7.0 miles
Walk 1703 Longdendale from Hadfield Stationeasy/mod9.0 miles
Walk 1923 Cown Edge & Whiteley Nab from Chunal easy/mod6.5 miles
Walk 3607 Reservoirs Walk from Tintwistleeasy/mod5.5 miles
Walk 2546 Lantern Pike & Cown Edge from Rowartheasy/mod8.0 miles
Walk 1759 Torside Clough & Longendale from Old Glossopmoderate7.4 miles
Walk 1486 Harry Hut, Mill Hill & Doctor's Gate from Glossopmoderate11.3 miles
Walk 1168 Old Glossop & Bleaklowmoderate9.5 miles
Walk 2507 South Head & Edale Cross from Hayfieldmoderate8.0 miles
Walk 2622 Sett Valley & Kinder from New Millsmoderate10.0 miles

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