Cornwood area, China clay works

(S/E) From Cornwood Drive to Piall Bridge, go over the bridge and there is a pull in on the bend. Walk straight up South-West-West behind the car park area into the rhododendron bushes. Follow the track until you come to the open moorland.

(1) Look up to the left and there is a wood. Head left (SouthEast-South) towards it. You will get onto a bridleway which will take you passed a cottage on the right. Look across to the left the big house is Delamore house. Follow along the track until you come to a footpath sign near some sheds, going up a hill on the right.

(2) Look for a track North-West taking you up the hill until you meet an obvious path running around the clay hill at the top. Turn around and look at the amazing views.

(3) Go right (North) and follow this track as it curves left until you arrive at the China clay entrance. Look for the footpath running immediately along beside the first pool you can see.

(4) Cross the little footbridge over the running water. Head up through the woods. You have to keep your eye out for the footpath signs on the right hand side. It’s boggy along through this area.

(5) When you can see some derelict buildings up to the right head for them. Footpath signs are there. Take right in between those buildings.

(6) Keep to the right of the field heading down into the woods. Then into the field which extremely boggy so keep to the higher ground until you get down to the bottom where you’ll find a gate across the river. This path will take you onto the main road.

Go right, ignore the footpath signs on the left. Just ahead on the right hand side of the road is a bridleway taking you up the hill. When you come to a smallish junction in the path go left down the hill through the rhododendron bushes again and back to the car.(S/E)

Lots of good tracks but quite a few boggy patches and the stiles are NOT dog friendly, otherwise good for dogs. Some fields with animals to be expected.