Glossop Chunal Moor RFM Blue Line Walking with Peter
Glossop Chunal Moor
RFM Blue Line
Walking with Peter
10/07/26
This was a silly walk to do as it was too hot. We set off at 7.00 but by 11.00 the heat was too much for hill walking. Next time we have a forecast like todays heatwave we'll do a shorter local walk with lots of shade. Saying that it was a great walk and we were well prepared with plenty of water.
This is quite a hilly walk but then it is Glossop.
We parked on the Manor park estate and quickly dropped down the hill over the main road into the valley bottom. Glossop Brook was flowing steadily out of the culvert.
Before we reached the open fields we went up a ginnel inches away from peoples kitchen windows. Not sure what they made of us 2 stomping past them. The path was steep, very steep but at least it was short grass.
The horses were calm and enjoying the morning sun when we reached them. I like the shot of them with the hills and sun behind them.
It was a bit of an unrelenting climb and even though it was early it was hot and sweaty.
Luckily the horses here are very chilled so we were happy to share their fields.
At Brownhill we reached the top of the first climb going through someone's back yard and down their lane, all on the public path. We kept quiet because it was early in case they were still in bed.
The hay mowers had left grass patterns in the fields. There were loads of rabbits and occasional hares running here and there.
We crossed the road at Moorfield an isolated little place.
We paused to take in the scenery reminiscent of the Lakeland paths before tackling the second hill, just as punishing as the first.
Looking back, the view was as comforting as a peaceful rural idyll. This building fired our imaginations with its corrugated roof.
The higehr we got the more bracken and sheep we encountered.
The hill in front was to be climbed whilst behind us Glossop faded into the low distance.
The crag with the hills behind was a great sight.
Glossop in its valley from Chunal Moor is a glorious sight.
The lane ran out so it was a path overgrown with bracken that we tried to follow. The first small valley was a tricky crossing, but the second, Whitethorn Clough, was steep, with parts of the path washed away and looking far too steep to climb down. Plucky Peter with his sticks, forged ahead and proved the path was passable. I followed down in reverse because I did not want to fall.
A tough crossing but we made it.
It reminded us of the lady who talked to us at the start of the walk and was curious as to how we would cross Chunal Moor. This was the way and it was tough and dangerous.
It was good to see the crag close up but we were going up not down.
Near the top looking towards Stockport it looked like the tide was in but really its just an atmospheric effect. Still looked like the sea. Then the trig came into view and we were near the top of the walk but not the last hill.
We paused for our breakfast and admired the 360 view. We could see Kinderscout and just make out Glossop in the far distance. So far, we had not met any other walkers. We had set off early but its going to be hot. Maybe they are more sensible than us.
We dropped down the hill to the A624 past sheep hiding in the bracken.
It was a little busy and we had to walk alongside the road. To be fair it was ok but still not great. The drivers actual gave us a lot of room, well done them.
We followed the smaller road past Hollingworth Head Farm, our fourth hill so far. It was strange to see a mangle on the drive but maybe its meant to be an ornament. I'm guessing you younger readers have no idea what a mangle is, look it up.
It took us a while to work out where the path was at Knarrs but we managed it in the end. What an incredible place for a farm. Heading towards Knarrs Nook (sounds Viking to me) the horses were gathered around the stile but they were calm and friendly and we felt safe with them as we passed through them close enough to pet them.
The route to Higher Plainsteads Farm (sounds like some thing out of Bonanza, look it up) was predominantly through meadows full of wild flowers, butterflies and crickets and overflown by Swifts by the dozen. What a truly fantastic place although it was part of our 5th hill. It just shows that without pesticides and herbicides wild life will flourish.
We paused for a drink of water and I had already drunk more than I normally do on an entire walk. I had still got plenty left.
A Thrush followed by a Curlew were a couple of good birds to see.
We were a bit exposed up here as there was no shade at all and it was heating up uncomfortably.
Someones watching.
The woods at Whitely Nab offered no relief shade as they were fenced off.
Glossop was getting closer but the view was still awesome.
We were now on dog walking paths but had still seen no other walker. We paused near the house next to the Care Home where we sat on a low wall in the shade of the house's garage. This was a good rehydration spot and I used most of my remaining water up. It was too hot to be out walking and we needed the shade to recover. We took out time to cool down to the level we felt comfortable and then we carried on.
We went over the brook at Whitfield and finally starting passing pedestrians. They all responded with hello. An old lady in Whitfield even shared her hand held fan to symbolically cool us down.
I liked the church at Whitfield and the shaded walk but pretty soon we had to walk through the urban centre of Glossop and back to the cars.
We crossed the road at Moorfield an isolated little place.
We paused to take in the scenery reminiscent of the Lakeland paths before tackling the second hill, just as punishing as the first.
Looking back, the view was as comforting as a peaceful rural idyll. This building fired our imaginations with its corrugated roof.
The higehr we got the more bracken and sheep we encountered.
The hill in front was to be climbed whilst behind us Glossop faded into the low distance.
The lane ran out so it was a path overgrown with bracken that we tried to follow. The first small valley was a tricky crossing, but the second, Whitethorn Clough, was steep, with parts of the path washed away and looking far too steep to climb down. Plucky Peter with his sticks, forged ahead and proved the path was passable. I followed down in reverse because I did not want to fall.
A tough crossing but we made it.
It was good to see the crag close up but we were going up not down.
Near the top looking towards Stockport it looked like the tide was in but really its just an atmospheric effect. Still looked like the sea. Then the trig came into view and we were near the top of the walk but not the last hill.
We paused for our breakfast and admired the 360 view. We could see Kinderscout and just make out Glossop in the far distance. So far, we had not met any other walkers. We had set off early but its going to be hot. Maybe they are more sensible than us.
This trig point is called Harry Hut. I'm not sure who Harry was but if he had a hut its gone.
We dropped down the hill to the A624 past sheep hiding in the bracken.
We followed the smaller road past Hollingworth Head Farm, our fourth hill so far. It was strange to see a mangle on the drive but maybe its meant to be an ornament. I'm guessing you younger readers have no idea what a mangle is, look it up.
It took us a while to work out where the path was at Knarrs but we managed it in the end. What an incredible place for a farm. Heading towards Knarrs Nook (sounds Viking to me) the horses were gathered around the stile but they were calm and friendly and we felt safe with them as we passed through them close enough to pet them.
The route to Higher Plainsteads Farm (sounds like some thing out of Bonanza, look it up) was predominantly through meadows full of wild flowers, butterflies and crickets and overflown by Swifts by the dozen. What a truly fantastic place although it was part of our 5th hill. It just shows that without pesticides and herbicides wild life will flourish.
We paused for a drink of water and I had already drunk more than I normally do on an entire walk. I had still got plenty left.
A Thrush followed by a Curlew were a couple of good birds to see.
We were a bit exposed up here as there was no shade at all and it was heating up uncomfortably.
The woods at Whitely Nab offered no relief shade as they were fenced off.
The way down was ridiculously steep and the footholds dangerously placed for a descent. But it was still preferable to going up this slope.
We were now on dog walking paths but had still seen no other walker. We paused near the house next to the Care Home where we sat on a low wall in the shade of the house's garage. This was a good rehydration spot and I used most of my remaining water up. It was too hot to be out walking and we needed the shade to recover. We took out time to cool down to the level we felt comfortable and then we carried on.
We went over the brook at Whitfield and finally starting passing pedestrians. They all responded with hello. An old lady in Whitfield even shared her hand held fan to symbolically cool us down.
I liked the church at Whitfield and the shaded walk but pretty soon we had to walk through the urban centre of Glossop and back to the cars.
Over 9 miles and 1700 feet even with an early start is too much on such a hot day but the walk was actually a great walk with some interesting challenges. We were eager to get in the cars and the aircon. These walks are tiring physically because of the sun.
OS Map
https://explore.osmaps.com/route/32838703/glossop-chunal-moor-rfm-blue-line?lat=53.43857&lon=-1.95378&zoom=14.7208&style=TopoAuto&type=2d
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