GLOSSOP LOW
April 9,2025
OLD GLOSSOP, HOPE STREET, CHARLES LANE, COCK HILL, GLOSSOP LOW, CLOUGH EDGE, REAPS FARM, TRANS PENNINE TRAIL, THE ANCHOR AT HADFIELD, PARK ROAD, GLOSSOP CEMETERY, B6105, SWINESHAW RESERVOIR, CASTLE HILL, QUEEN’S ARMS IN OLD GLOSSOP
Distance: 9.05 miles Ascent/descent: 1344 ft
Difiiculty: Moderate. One long climb
Weather: Fine & dry
Walkers: Andrew Blease, Mike Cassini, Tom Cunliffe with Daisy, Mark Gibby, Chris Owen, Russell Spencer, Cliff Worthington.
Alternative walkers: Jock Rooney with Milly, Kieran Rooney
Non Walking Drinkers: Alan Hart
Apologies: too many to mention…!!
Leader: Russell, Diarist: Russell
Starting point: Rough car park opposite The Wheatsheaf, Old Glossop. SK13 7RS
Starting time: 9.50am Finishing time: 14.40pm
Distance: 9.05 miles Ascent/descent: 1344 ft
Difficulty: Moderate. One long climb
Weather: Fine & dry
Walkers: Andrew Blease, Mike Cassini, Tom Cunliffe with Daisy, Mark Gibby, Chris Owen, Russell Spencer, Cliff Worthington.
Alternative walkers: Jock Rooney with Milly, Kieran Rooney
Non Walking Drinkers: Alan Hart
Apologies: too many to mention…!!
Leader: Russell, Diarist: Russell
Starting point: Rough car park opposite The Wheatsheaf, Old Glossop. SK13 7RS
Starting time: 9.50am Finishing time: 14.40pm
Pictures by Russell Spencer
On the casual mention of me putting the route down on a map to prevent any confusion whilst out on the walk, it transpired I was now leading the walk. (By the time we left the pub I was also the diarist..!!)
I referred back to the blog on July 5th 2023, and was able to successfully decode this route and form some sort of directions on a map. As I was made aware during the walk, it is an amended one following the decision of the farmer at Blackshaw Farm to close the concessionary footpath to Glossop Low following trespass and vandalism.
The weather was bright and sunny, and based on previous days I planned to walk in a T Shirt, however on exiting the house and almost having ice on my car I decided a jumper addition was required. (this was to prove an excellent decision).
Everyone arrived approximately on time so we set off, turningright out of the car park opposite we ascended Hope Street and turned left in to Charles Lane, where at a private drive leading to Moorlands, we took a narrow and partly concealed path on the left signed to Access Land.
A steep, rocky ascent at first on the enclosed path brought us on to the open moors, which was to confirm my decision to wear an extra layer as the very cold easterly wind whipped through us as we followed the path to eventually emerge at the trig point on Cock Hill (1,398 feet).
From here the gradients eased and we soon reached the familiar ruins of the shooting box at the Glossop Low summit (1,574 feet), the highest point of the walk. (If someone can explain why the highest point of an area is called a low, then please do so on the next walk..!!)
Here it was Pie time, and it was noted that on this occasion a couple of walkers had actually invested in Pies for a snack, a few pieces of which Daisy managed to obtain based on the three second rule…..
We resumed the walk and this is where my Map was slightly confused, there were no set paths down to reach the Pennine Way at Clough Edge, so we had to find the best route we could. Once on the Way we were treated to excellent clear views ofLongdendale with Torside Reservoir and its sailing club below us, and above it Woodhead Reservoir. Together with Rhodeswood, Valehouse and Bottoms reservoir just below these formed the largest expanse of artificially-constructed water reserves in the world when they opened in 1877. They provide around a quarter of Greater Manchester’s water.
The path dropped steeply as Reaps Farm came in to view. We reached a broad track at the foot and turned left to reach and cross the B6105 road to join the six-and-a-half mile long Longdendale Trail, which also forms part of the Trans Pennine Trail between Liverpool and Hull.
The trail follows the route of the Manchester to Sheffield rail line, which closed in 1981.
The Trail is a nice and easy flat walk and more importantly, was out of the wind, which enabled my face to thaw slightly. After about 40 minutes, Bottoms Reservoir came in to view below us on the right and beyond it the village of Tintwistle (pron. Tins’l) birthplace of punk fashion designer Dame Vivienne Westwood, who died aged 81 last December. She spent the first 17 years of her life here and went to school in Glossop.
We reached the end of the trail near the station and went straight ahead, ignoring the right turn in to Station Road and carrying on to Hadfield Road, where we turned right to reach The Anchor pub. However upon trying to order cask beer at the bar, we were told there was none to be had, and less flavoursome alternatives were sought out. Here we met with the alternative walkers, the non walker and a large group of ladies on a lunch out, who initially asked if we were there for the speed-dating. However it soon turned sour when Mr Hart commented if the ironing was piling up Hadfield while the ladies were out lunching, which elicited a strong response from several of the ladies. After much merriment we donned our gear, said our goodbyes and proceeded with the route.
We turned right out of the pub and walked uphill along Hadfield Road, Park Road, and Cemetery Road, turning left in to the extensive Glossop Cemetery on top of the hill. Here again there was a little confusion about the route but we soon found a shallow stile in the wall to cross in to a field at the back of the cemetary,turning right to cross a cottage garden I think it was a stonemasons yard also) and recross the B6105, where we did a right and immediately left over a stile in to more fields.
Instead of turning right at the second field, we followed the other path, past the reservoir and down across the brook, which took us past ‘Reubens Retreat’ a charity for bereaved families, which I believe is where the white peacocks roam. It was then a short walk back to the car park.
Next week’s walk will be led by Chris, starting at Sutton Hall, 9.40am and taking in Teggs Nose and surrounding area. Half way will be the Leather Smithy, 12.30ish and finish at Sutton Hall.
Happy Wandering!
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