Mellor to Ludworth Moor

Travel time 30 minutes each way. The entire walk is within Stockport Metropolitan Borough.

Walk time 3 hours plus half an hour for lunch. Approx. 7 miles of undulating country

Weather – rather grey and still, wet underfoot

Ordnance Survey Explorer Map OL1

Parking – On the road, Longhurst Lane, Mellor before you reach Gibb Lane / Devonshire Arms

I set off down the road until I reached the Cown Edge Way  as it crosses Longhurst Lane (https://ldwa.org.uk/ldp/members/show_path.php?path_name=Cown+Edge+Way). Turning right to head north, I was reminded of the last time I was here!

Leaving Mellor Churchyard I turned a corner to find another interesting point of interest.

The Cown Edge Way wends its path across fields, past a pool with a random juvenile cormorant enjoying a swim

Next came the hamlet of Hollywood End, then followed a pretty brook and on to Cloughend, where it meets Sandhill Lane

Not too many folk walk here, judging by the volume of unpicked blackberries amongst the Himalayan balsam.

At this point I left the Cown Edge Way and turned right on a path on to Ludworth Moor. I didn’t realise Stockport had a proper moor, though I used to live in Great Moor, and play a bit of golf at Heaton Moor!

As I made my way onto the moorland, a bird caught my eye. I thought it was a robin, but was a bit too upright, with a dark head, so I grabbed the binoculars and was rather delighted to see it was a male stonechat – not too common a sight in Stockport!

The path over the moor was completely overgrown and it was a bog!

As I reached the road at Gun Farm I came across another point of interest before I left the field.

I then followed Shiloh Road along the border of Stockport and the Derbyshire High Peak, passing the road down to Rowarth – the Little Mill Inn was tempting, but a little out of my way!

I took a detour to Moorend, up Moorend Road and over to the lovely named BogguardRoad.

And then there was a crazy horse……..

 

I turned right at Cobden Edge before fighting through the final obstacle. This path, back down to Gibb Lane was totally overgrown with brambles and nettles, but I fought my through with a few scratches and stings.

And that was that for another week!

And finally….

A belter to sing along to on the way home