Bleaklow Head from Padfield

Bleaklow Head from Padfield - Route

Distance: 11 miles / 17½ kilometers

Time: 8 hours 40 minutes

Grade: Moderate

Map: OS Explorer OL01 - The Peak District, dark peak area

Start Point: Drive passed the railway station on the right, the road bends left then right, the car park is on the left before the bridge.

Grid Reference: SK 024 961

Nearest Post Code: SK13 1AA

Serial	Distance	Grid Reference	Description
01	00.00 miles	SK 024 961	Take the ramp at the rear of the car park to join the Longdendale Trail, which follows the old rail line, follow the trail for 4 miles. The car park is located just past the rail station .........................
02	2.5 miles	SK 058 980	Pass through a gate, track double backs on itself and crosses the B6105 and follow gravel farm track signed Reaps Farm. Follow track to fingerpost just before the farm entrance.
03	2.75 miles	SK 061 978	Turn right at the fingerpost signed "The Pennine Way" and ascend the grassy path to a sign posting the "Peak and Northern Footpath Society (384)". Bear left along the well marked stone path which rises steeply along the right hand bank of Torside Clough.
04	4.5 miles	SK 080 964	Where the tracks meet at Wildboar Grain, bear left to continue following the Pennine Way easwards.
05	5.0 miles	SK 092 965	The path bears right heading southwards at a place called Far Moss, to head to the cairn at Bleaklow Head on a bearing of 28 degrees.
06	6.0 miles	SK 095 959	The path continues in a southerly direction, bear right at the cairn to follow the path to the Wain Stones - three large boulders sitting on a slab.
07	7.0 miles	SK 080 965	Retrace the route back to serial 4 above, where the paths meet at Wildboar Grain. There are a couple of options here: (i) Follow the Pennine Way back along Torside Clough to Reaps Farm if parked on the B6105, or (ii) At the meeting of paths at Wildboar Grain (serial 04 above) take the more scenic route.
08	7.0 miles	SK 080 965	Where the paths meet at Wildboar Grain, take the path to the left, heading west passed Torside Castle (SK 077 964) and continue along the peaty path which can be quite messy during the wetter seasons where it is not uncommon to get 'Bleaklowed' (knee deep in peat bog!). Continue to a farm track.
09	8.0 miles	SK 065 966	Where the path meets a farm track, continue to head in a westerly direction on the farm track towards Blackshaw Farm.
10	9.75 miles	SK 043 962	At Blackshaw Farm, as the track bears right, to where the track meets Woodhall Road.
11	10.0 miles	SK 039 963	Turn left on the road for about 100 yards to just passed the Windy Farm Hotel.
12	10.0 miles	SK 039 963	Just after the Windy Harbour Farm Hotel on the right, turn right on to a public footpath sign posted 'Little Padfield' heading diagnally across the field.
13	10.1 miles	SK 039 963	After about 150 yards the path bears half right and following the stone wall, continue along the track to Little Padfield Farm.
14	10.5 miles	SK 032 960	At Little Padfield Farm continue to a meeting of paths, ignore the tracks on the right and on the left. Continue straight ahead and follow Little Padfield Road to the junction with Platt Street.
15	11.0 miles	SK 031 959	Turn right on to the Platt Street, follow the street and pass under the railway bridge, back to the car park on the right from where the walk started.