A low level walk on the western fringe of the Peak District National Park.
Calculated time: 4h35[?] 
Distance : 12.65km
Vertical gain : 338m
Vertical drop : 333m
Highest point : 393m
Lowest point : 204m 
Difficulty : Moderate
Back to starting point : Yes
Walking
Area : Peak District 
Location : New Mills
Starting point : N 53.39959° / W 1.98426° (D/A)The walk starts from the car park in Rowarth (Grid ref. SK011892). The approach to this car park is from Hollinsmoor Road. Walk towards the houses then follow the road to the right, at the bottom take the footpath on the right down to 'The Little Mill' public house with its water wheel (grid ref 011890). Walk past the pub and follow the road until you come to a junction. Continue straight and go along the bridleway, you will come to a junction, continue straight until you go through Wethercoates Farm (grid ref 020872) and then reach the road.
(1)Turn left along this road then left again up the lane towards Lantern Pike. You can follow the wall straight on but to really gain the full benefit of the views of Kinder follow the worn footpath on the left to the top. As the name suggests fires were lit here to warn of danger or to commemorate events. The hill also has a direction information plaque.
(2)Leave the summit on the path heading north to rejoin the main path. Continue in the same direction across the fields to reach the footpath junction above Blackshaw Farm (Grid ref. 025889). Still heading north follow the footpaths and bridleways passing Matleymoor Farm to reach the corner of the road (Grid ref. 022904). Turn right and follow the road until the next corner. Here take the footpath across the field on your left to reach the entrance to Higher Plainstead Farm.
(3)Still heading north, cross over the road and go through the gates on the right and head towards the old quarry. The footpath is hard to follow here but providing you do not cross the wall on your right you will end up at a stile (Grid ref. 025922). Keep straight on until you reach a single cottage (Grid ref. 022922).
(4)Cross over the road to the steep path ahead but turn right immediately following the path round to Mares Back. We now head in southerly direction along Cown Edge, known locally for its views. Keep to the edge path turning left when the path starts to descend (Grid ref. 012912) On reaching the bridleway turn left and then right up the bank and down the fields to Near Slack (Grid ref. 011904). Continue south down the hill to Rowarth village that can be seen ahead of you.
Waypoints :
D/A : km 0 - alt. 221m - Start: Rowarth car park
1 : km 2.86 - alt. 249m - Turn left along road
2 : km 4.23 - alt. 343m - Lantern Pike: leave summit on northward path
3 : km 7.28 - alt. 351m - Higher Plainstead Farm: cross road and head north
4 : km 8.82 - alt. 371m - Cross over road after cottage
D/A : km 12.64 - alt. 221m - Finish: Rowarth car park
This area is just inside the far western boundary of the Peak District National Park and is often ignored by walkers as the greater attraction of the Kinder Plateau is so close. However undertake this lower level walk and you will be surprised at the variety of views and countryside.
Visorando and this author cannot be held responsible in the case of accidents or problems occuring on this walk.
Global average : 4/5
Number of opinions : 4
Description quality : 4.25/5
Routemap quality : 3.5/5
Walk interest : 4.25/5
Global average : 5 / 5
Date of walk
: 07/12/20
Description quality
: Very good
Routemap quality
: Very good
Walk interest
: Very good
Clear instructions. No problems following the route!
Global average : 2.33 / 5
Date of walk
: 06/07/20
Description quality
: Average
Routemap quality
: Very disappointing
Walk interest
: Average
Sorry , but must be the worst set of directions ever. Little detail, vague or ambiguous and factually incorrect. Take a map and don’t try it in the winter
Global average : 4.33 / 5
Date of walk
: 09/03/20
Description quality
: Very good
Routemap quality
: Average
Walk interest
: Very good
An interesting walk over a variety of terrain with outstanding views. Some of the directions could have been more detailed.
Global average : 4.33 / 5
Date of walk
: 04/02/19
Description quality
: Good
Routemap quality
: Very good
Walk interest
: Good
We did this walk on a sunny day in the snow and it was excellent. Super views over Hayfield and Kinder, and very quiet. I imagine the rest of Manchester was on Kinder.
5.15km
+121m
-119m
1h50
Moderate
Starting point in New Mills - Derbyshire Start and finish at The Little Mill Inn, walk beside Rowarth Brook up the wooded valley (known as Little Switzerland to the locals) and then head uphill to the moors above Rowarth for amazing views of The Peak District, Kinder Scout and the Cheshire plain.
8.07km
+224m
-217m
2h55
Easy
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3.24km
+70m
-70m
1h10
Easy
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6.35km
+121m
-122m
2h10
Easy
Starting point in Manchester Fine views, attractive stone-built hamlets and a pleasant stream-side interlude.
6.26km
+126m
-126m
2h10
Moderate
Starting point in Manchester Fine views, attractive stone-built hamlets and a pleasant stream-side interlude.
8.18km
+240m
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3h00
Moderate
Starting point in Manchester Superb views, bird-rich lakes, historic buildings and a bracing climb to a hilltop cross amid gritstone quarries.
3.24km
+70m
-72m
1h05
Easy
Starting point in Manchester Visit the intriguing ridge-top church of St Thomas the Apostle, and explore the stream-side village of Mellor.
18.07km
+526m
-526m
6h40
Difficult
Starting point in New Mills - Derbyshire Take a classic gritstone hike to Derbyshire’s highest hill and tallest waterfall, plus pretty Hayfield village.
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The GPS track and description are the property of the author.
