Glossop RFM Blue Line

 

Glossop

RFM Blue Line

06/10/2025

It had been a wet and windy weekend but this Monday morning was calm and surprisingly warm. This walk is a real mixture of urban and rural. Its not the best walk by any means as much of it is just covering miles but there were some pretty views and interesting nooks and crannies.

Parking at the start of the walk, on what appeared to be a council housing estate, was easy. The views of the hills are pretty much ever present on this walk and many of them have featured in previous walks. 

The park paths lead to Glossop Old town. The substantial walls suggest this was once an estate and the name of the park Manor Park would seem to confirm this. I didn't explore the park but I am guessing that the 'big house' is long gone.

I liked the look of the terrace and railings close to the church complex.

I've been here with Peter before when we did Bleaklow in July. Its a nice church.

The market cross and old streets in Old Glossop are quaint but with a flinty northern edge. They don't look as much inviting as old, really old.

The views of the hills are inviting though the gloomy weather not so. I passed a few dog walkers who passed the time of day. 

The pond was small but very pretty. 

An ostrich and a peacock brightened my day. The water was charging down the stream and my map showed I should cross the torrent but it was impossible. Luckily there was a local workman busy on a wall and after talking to him he showed me the way to avoid the stream and get to the top of  the dam. He was really kind and helpful. I'm starting to think people to the left of the Pennines might actually be ok, not the unfriendly monsters I have been told about.

This fantastic waterfall was feeding the impassable stream. I was lucky enough to see a Nuthatch on a branch next to the path but it had gone before I could get my camera ready.

I climbed the steps to the top of the dam for Swineshaw reservoir which was so full it was overflowing, not like the dry reservoirs back in Yorkshire.

I was expecting more of a town walk so was really enjoying these views and the green grass under my feet.

There were several horses in this field who were approaching me from a few different directions. I'm sure they were being curious and friendly but I didn't stay to find out.

Don't you just have to love sheep?

The path took a strange route on leaving the Woodhead Road as it wandered around a garden before entering a field.

The cemetery on the hill. An unexpected surprise.

Longdendale just keeps giving and giving. The hills in the distance have featured in many of our recent walks.

In total there were 5 big Texel males in the corner of this field. They eyed me without getting up but I had to pass through them to get to the gate. Normally I am ok with sheep but these blighters are big.

Padfield is a really nice place and I am sure has a lot of history, Lees Row pictured here was built in 1821.

I left Padfield and went down the hill towards Tintwistle Bridge.

The wonderfully named Bottoms reservoir with Tintwistle on the hill.

Tintwistle Church looks much grander from a distance as my route joins the Trans-Pennine Trail.

These are all views through Hadfield of the most boring stretch of the Trans-Pennine I have so far encountered.

At some point I changed onto the Pennine Bridleway but it was still a limited view urban trail.

A fallen tree, brought down in the last few days, next to the river Etherow took some negotiating. I'm not as bendable as I used to be.

The river from a bridge.

There was a really long boring stretch in an old railway cutting through Brookfield and skirting Gamesly.

The railway viaduct at Dinting Dale is well known to all who travel through Glossop.

My route took me alongside the viaduct and across a bridge over Glossop Brook. A different and interesting view. 

I climbed the hill with the allotments on my right.

A train was passing as I approached the rail bridge at Lower Dinting. Oddly named as it is high above the valley. Looking at the map there is a Higher Dinting at an even higher level so it does make sense. I met a couple of youngsters on their bikes and we exchanged hellos. It was cool to see them bounce down the slope towards the industrial estate gleefully laughing as they went.

I like the old buildings but the shopping area is unimpressive.

I pass the park and the railway station as I climb back up the hill to my car.

Looking back on Glossop I do really like the place its like another Penistone but on the other side of the Pennines.

This was an easy walk though at nearly 8 miles and over 800 feet ascent it would be a challenge for many. I enjoyed it but it was some good parts and a lot of boring parts. Still it fills a hole on the RFM Blue Lines map.