{"id":1008993,"date":"2024-08-29T15:49:50","date_gmt":"2024-08-29T14:49:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.half-daywalker.com\/?p=1008993"},"modified":"2024-08-29T15:49:57","modified_gmt":"2024-08-29T14:49:57","slug":"cracken-edge-and-chinley-churn-from-low-leighton-near-new-mills","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.half-daywalker.com\/?p=1008993","title":{"rendered":"Cracken Edge And Chinley Churn From Low Leighton Near New Mills"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Introduction<\/h1>\n\n\n\n

Summer’s end nears, but we appear to be set for a fair weekend, and today started it early, so I headed to the hills between New Mills, Hayfield and Chapel-en-le-frith. This is a great walk!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The journey is about 30 minutes each way by car from Cheadle Hulme to Low Leighton on the outskirts of New Mills.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This 6.2 mile walk isn\u2019t suitable for dog walkers who like their dog to run free as there are lots of sheep and minor roads involved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I walked in a clockwise direction, and with 1400 feet of elevation, it’s a nice challenge for today’s conditions. It took 3 hours 15 minutes plus a 40 minute lunch break.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The walk is on OS Explorer Map OL1.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I parked on Laneside Road, postcode SK22 4LU. What 3 Words \/\/\/ crush.beads.mailing<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Low Leighton To Cracken Edge<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

A long suburban road slowly turns into a country lane, at which point I parked the car and set off up the lane.<\/p>\n\n\n

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I left the road and took the track past Primrose Cottage, with its spectacular views.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Several paths meet at Moor Lodge, where there’s another lovely cottage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Returning to Laneside Road, it’s now a track, lined with beautiful flowering heather.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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At “New Allotments” the uphill gradient incerases significantly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Looking back, the view is now quite dramatic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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After crossing the moor to reach a wall the view back to New Mills with Manchester beyond is now spectacular.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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And then I reached Cracken Edge, and the views to the east are also stunning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Cracken Edge<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

There is much evidence of ancient quarrying creating a dazzling landscape.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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I walked across the top of the quarries. The trig point at Chinley Churn can’t be accessed as it’s on private land. So at the end of the edge, I took the steep path down to the foot of the old quarries. I stopped to admire the view again, then watched my feet on the short, steep descent.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Cracken Edge To Green Head<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Immediately, it felt much warmer with protection from the north westerly breeze, and I lingered in the sunshine for a while.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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It’s a lovely path down to Over Hill Road.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The road is very quiet, and the views remain glorious all the way to the field turning, leading down to Clough Head Farm, and its collection of ornamental old anvils.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The drive down to Green Head is along the edge of a pretty clough, still holding great views beyond.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Green Head To Low Leighton<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

At Green Head, I intended to cut the corner on a path, but the steps up to the path were completely overgrown with ferns, nettles and brambles, so instead I stayed on Dolly Lane.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One cottage had some stunning multi-coloured floral borders.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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And this farm had an attractive sign.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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I crossed the stream and headed up the pretty Shedyard Clough. The route was dotted with bright red rowan berries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Back on Laneside road, I took in the views one last time before returning to the car.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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This is a perfect walk if the weather is fair and you have half a day to spare. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Beautiful countryside!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And Finally….<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

This is Le Risque from the new album, b741 by King Gizzard And The Lizard Wizard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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