Cats Clough Head & Outer Edge

This Peak District walk explores the moors to the northwest of Sheffield and visits an area that sees relatively few walkers. Do select a clear day as navigation can be difficult in poor visibility.

Technical sheet

292995
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 14.49 km
  • ◔
    Calculated time: 5h 05 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Return to departure point: Yes
  • ↗
    Vertical gain: + 329 m
  • ↘
    Vertical drop: - 326 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 541 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 259 m

Photos

Description der Wandertour

(S)The walk described here starts near the Flouch roundabout. Leave the car park by the gate at the south end, cross the road and go down a track through Langsett Woods on Brook House Lane. After 400m, where the main track swings to the left, go down to the right to a signpost at a the junction. Take the path to the right signposted to Swinden keeping the stream on your right and finally leave the woods at a gate. In a further 30m (grid ref. SE193009), go left and then immediately right on to a broad walled bridleway.

(1)Continue along this bridleway then take the right hand route at a junction after a further 200m. This is Swinden Lane which leads to a stile into open country (grdi ref. SE184008). Cross the stile and turn left down Hordron Road across the stream and continue following it as it winds across the moors. At a junction (grid ref. SE183997) keep right and continue along Long Moor Edge to a stone barn at Upper Hordron.

(2)Go left and pass below the enclosure around the barn. After 50 m, take the quad track left down the hill. As you go over the ridge you will be able to see the bridge over the stream to the right. Follow the track down to the bridge. Cross the bridge and the path goes straight up the hill, through the heather, subsequently passing a series of grouse butts as you climb up Cats Clough. As you get closer to the top you also get closer to the stream on your right. Continue up the hill until you reach the top, with a view across to Rocking Stones. At the marker post, turn left and follow the path up to the trig point at Outer Edge. You will pass two boundary stones, both marked with a 'B' and a series of wooden marker posts.

(3)From the trig point continue along the path in the direction of Margery Hill. As the path starts to rise it meets the old pack horse route, Cut Gate. The intersection of the paths is marked with a pile of rocks. Turn left and follow Cut Gate down towards Langsett Reservoir. About half way down Bull Clough there is a Peak District & Northern Counties sign (No. 50). Follow the path straight ahead to Floch Inn & Hazlehead.

(4)The path comes down to the west end of the reservoir which you cross on the bridge over the Little Don river then continue up into the woods and along the main path back to Brook House lane and across the A616 to the parking.(E)

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 285 m - Flouch roundabaout
  2. 1 : km 0.86 - alt. 295 m - Go left then right onto bridleway
  3. 2 : km 3.99 - alt. 383 m - Go left past barn at Upper Hordon
  4. 3 : km 7.04 - alt. 539 m - Continue past trig point at Outer Edge
  5. 4 : km 13.4 - alt. 286 m - Continue past west end of reservoir
  6. S/E : km 14.49 - alt. 285 m - Flouch roundabaout

Practical information

The moors to the northwest of Sheffield offer some wonderful walking with relatively few people on the paths. This route was based on the confirmation that there is a path up Cats Clough and along to Outer Edge as described in a longer walk described by http://www.stocksbridge-walkers.org.uk.

Reviews and comments

3.6 / 5
Based on 3 reviews

Reliability of the description
2.3 / 5
Clarity of route map
3.7 / 5
Route interest
4.7 / 5
ZombieChessClub
ZombieChessClub
• Last modified:

Overall rating : 3.3 / 5

Date of walk : 01/05/19
Reliability of the description : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Clarity of route map : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

I would only attempt this walk in good weather and without small children as areas when crossing the moor are potentially unsafe.

In general, the directions given were adequate although many of the "trails" were barely identifiable. I am glad we had our GPS with us so we could confirm our direction. Otherwise, I would probably have become more frustrated.

Many of the marker posts were either missing or confusing as new posts had been put up. The trig point referenced is not visible to the naked eye at the point where you are simply told to go towards its direction. The "pile of rocks" is a cairn and significantly easier to identify than the description would leave you to believe - so don't scour the horizon for a small pile of rocks. Look for a large (4+ feet) cairn.

Many of the distances were not accurate so expect some of the landmarks to be closer or further away than they are listed. Sometimes by a fair amount (eg - 30feet instead of 100m).

The most concerning is the moorland just past the summit markerpost. It took us over 1 hour to navigate about 500m due to bog which was extremely soft and unstable to the point of potentially dangerous. It was not a rainy day and the last rain was about 3 days earlier. We had to regularly divert off the "trail" (if you can call it that) to find terra firma to cross. I would definitely not attempt in poor weather or with small children as it could be unsafe. Testing the bogs - some were unstable as deep as the entire length of my trekking pole.

Although the last 1/3 of the journey has very few directions, we found it an obvious trail to follow and had no significant issues.

All that said, there were some stunning views and we had a lovely walk. We will definitely go back. At about the 5K point, there is a lovely little bridge over a river and a patch of grass to stop and enjoy the water and have a bite to eat. Much as described - we saw only one other traveller out on the moor so the sense of isolation was amazing.

bluekevin88
bluekevin88

Overall rating : 3 / 5

Date of walk : 29/03/18
Reliability of the description : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Clarity of route map : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

We got lost on the return leg, so not a great experience.
The weather was the factor here. The downhill section is quite vague in description and the route looks as though you keep the beck to your left and just follow it down. Unfortunately, if it is wet, which it was for us, there is a footpath which becomes a beck and leads you to drift to the east away from the intended route. I would recommend being on the ball with your compass - unfortunately we weren't and enjoyed the views and wildlife too much!

Ridlerrambler
Ridlerrambler

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of walk : 18/11/17
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Really nice walk, more detail about landmarks denoting where to turn off would have been useful, we became confused at a couple of points and had to retrace our steps.
Marker posts were missing across the Moor so the last bit before Margery Hill and Cut gate was intrepid wandering.
We thoroughly enjoyed the amazing views and a route part of which we hadn’t walked before.

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