A Peak District walk that explores the often rugged countryside on the eastern flank of Cown Edge. The route uses a mixture of paths, tracks and quiet country lanes. In places careful navigation is essential.
Calculated time: 3h55[?] 
Distance : 10.59km
Vertical gain : 323m
Vertical drop : 322m
Highest point : 399m
Lowest point : 205m 
Difficulty : Moderate
Back to starting point : Yes
Walking
Area : Peak District 
Location : Charlesworth
Starting point : N 53.419725° / W 1.949621° (D)The start is a small parking area on the west side of the A624 Hayfield to Glossop road just past the lay-by at grid ref. SK034913. After parking, walk back towards Hayfield for about 200 metres to a track on the right side of the road. Go through gate and bear right down into Long Clough. Cross a stile and head uphill to reach a walled track leading to Plainsteads Farm and a road (grid ref. SK024910). Turn left and almost immediately right down a no through road. Just before the road turns sharp left, take the footpath on the right.
(1)Cross the field to the far corner and go over a stile. Turn left along the access track and continue past Higher Plainstead Farm to Rocks Farm. Take the stile at side of the farm and bear right along a track heading northeast. Where the tracks divide (grid ref. SK020918), bear left and continue to the next junction. Here go right, joining the Cown Edge Way. Where the track bends to the left, take the footpath on the right and cross a field to a road (grid ref. SK018924). Turn right along the road and then take the first path on your left. This path follows Slack Edge before descending to High Lane (grid ref. SK012931).
(2)Turn right along the lane towards Simmondley. After a short downhill section, you enter the village. At grid ref. SK020932, take the footpath on the right. The path climbs steadily to reach a junction of paths and tracks at grid ref. SK021926. Here bear half left following an indistinct track towards the western edge of a plantation at Whiteley Nab.
(3)Continue on this track as it heads south eventually reaching Monk's Lane (grid ref. SK022913). Turn left along the lane, and at the junction with the access road to Rocks Farm take the footpath almost straight ahead (grid ref. SK022912). Cross the field on the path used for the outward route to reach another lane (grid ref. SK023909). Head south along the lane ahead.
(4)When the lane runs right (grid ref. SK021904) take the footpath on the left (not the path going straight ahead). Continue along this path with the wall to your immediate right. The path climbs gently to Knarrs, where you join their access drive which is followed down to a road (grid ref. SK028904). Cross this road and follow the footpath opposite which leads back to the start.
Waypoints :
D/A : km 0 - alt. 289m - Start: car park in Chunal
1 : km 1.33 - alt. 329m - Turn right along footpath
2 : km 4.43 - alt. 230m - Turn right along lane
3 : km 6.2 - alt. 341m - Continue south past Whiteley Nab
4 : km 8.36 - alt. 333m - Turn left along footpath
D/A : km 10.59 - alt. 288m - Finish: car park in Chunal
Visorando and this author cannot be held responsible in the case of accidents or problems occuring on this walk.
12.03km
+313m
-304m
4h20
Difficult
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+50m
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0h40
Easy
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+146m
-146m
2h05
Moderate
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+222m
-213m
2h55
Moderate
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17.03km
+407m
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6h00
Difficult
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5.15km
+121m
-119m
1h50
Moderate
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13.72km
+458m
-457m
5h15
Moderate
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10.04km
+280m
-280m
3h40
Moderate
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