Walk 2637 - printer friendly version

Coombs Ridge, Cown Edge from Broadbottom Walk

Author - Mike Bexley

Length - 7.0 miles / 11.4 km

Ascent - 1100 feet / 333 metres

Grade - easy/mod

Start - OS grid reference SJ996936
Lat 53.439175 + Long -2.0074879
Postcode SK14 6AD (approx. location only)

This short Peak District walk covers an area that sees few walkers. The route twists and turns to use old paths and lanes that past communities needed to attend work and markets. It starts in the historical past, passes lonely farms and outbuildings now redeveloped, climbs over moors to reach the high ridge with its views, before returning through ancient woodlands.

From the lane leading to the Lymefield Visitor Centre & Broad Mills Heritage Site (Grid ref. SJ996936), just off the main Mottram-in-Longdendale to Charlesworth road, proceed to the bottom of this dusty lane and turn right, heading west. The allotments should be on your right and a row of houses on your left. Follow the paths through the historic remains of the Broad Mills. In the 1800's this cotton mill employed over 1200 people and remained in business until the 1930's.

Soon you will join the River Etherow on your left. Cross over the footbridge to follow the path climbing left up to the lane at Warhurst Fold (Grid ref. SJ 992 934). Continue up this lane passing Woodseats. Turn right at the lane junction, then left, to follow the field footpath with a fence on your right that leads to a stile and drops down to a large derelict mill. Keep to the righthand high fence (with danger notices) down to the mill pond then up the drive ahead to the road at Chisworth.

Turn right on the road then left at the footpath by the pub. The footpath climbs steeply to a picnic area where a posh table and benches make a prefect place for your drink stop! Turn right up the stepped bank to the stile then go straight on with the fence on your left to join the road at Hilltop. Proceed up the road ahead and take the farm road left (Grid ref SJ 998 916) leading to Moorside. With Moorside Farm on your left turn right through gates and along the edge of the field to join a bridleway (grid ref SK 000 909) coming up from Gun Road.

Turn left up this bridleway and through the gate at Robin Hood's Picking Rods. These two stones set in their base were once known as The Maiden Stones and are thought to be used in the bending of bows when stringing. Continue up the bridleway passing Far Slack farm on your right and at the left corner, near the top (grid ref SK 013 910) go over the stile and the stile ahead to follow the short path up to the edge.

Now with the fence always on your right, follow the edge round. The views and dangerous drop are too good to hurry but providing you have not crossed over the right fence the path eventually curves left descending down to a stile into the lane leading up from Coombes Farm below on the left.

Go over the stile and the stile opposite to continue descending down The Banks over further stiles. Then join a deep bridleway on you right down to some cottages (Grid ref SK 007 926), then turn left down the lane and over the stile on the right, walk down to the hedge then left to the stile leading to sports fields and the road ahead at Charlesworth (grid ref SK 004 926).

Turn right along the road then take the footpath on the left between the houses, over the stile bearing left then right at the dike to follow a worn path leading to a stile. At the next stile turn right signed 'To Tod Wood '. Keep to the right hand edge of the field descending steeply to a stile into the woods, then steps down through the wood.

Keep to the footpath over footbridges, ignoring signed footpaths to Charlesworth. The path emerges from the wood to join the river bank then through a gate into the church yard and the road. Turn left down this road, over the traffic light controlled bridge, turning left at the next lane then right through Visitors Centre activity area to your start.

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