Part 3
[1] From the bus stop on Longhurst Lane follow a narrow path at the left hand side of number 269 (signposted, but the post has fallen down) that soon leads down a rough flight of steps to a stream.
A little early on the walk this is another delightful place for a picnic or a pause. Around here in spring are Dog Violets and in the woods Lesser Celandine and Pink Purslane. Bluebells are of course ever present in late spring. In summer Harebells and Lady's Mantle are found as is Honeysuckle and Wild Raspberry. Mellor is a Celtic name linked with the Welsh moelfre - bare hill.
Cross the stream by the wide stone bridge and ascend the far side of the clough to a farm access road; turn right and ascend this to reach the beautifully neat Knowle Farm. Enter the farmyard and cross two stiles to the field path that ascends beside the right hand fence directly to the stone steps leading to Mellor churchyard.
(A) Mellor Church. Formerly a chapelry of the Parish of Glossop it is believed that the first chapel was built here in the reign of Stephen (1135-1154). The nave and chancel were rebuilt in 1829. The tower is partly 15th century with some earlier portions. A circular font at the west end probably dates from Stephen's time. The pulpit on the north side of the chancel, outside the communion rails, is probably a unique example of an ancient pulpit cut from a solid block of oak - most likely 14th century, which would make it the oldest in England and possibly in the whole of Christendom. The earliest pulpits were made entirely of wood. In an old barn near the church gates is a subscription list for the 'new' hearse acquired during the 19th century. Also a recently carried out archaeological dig.
[2] Turn right to pass through the graveyard (superbly situated with fine views) and reach the entrance drive that leads to the public road opposite Mellor Vicarage. Having taken a moment to look round the side of the stone outbuilding opposite to see the Victorian postbox, cross the stile on the left between The Old Vicarage driveway and this stone outbuilding and follow the field boundary on your right (noting the replica prehistoric roundhouse in the field to your left) to the Fred Ogden memorial signpost (1964). After this signpost turn right after 60 yards at the Peak and Northern Footpath Society signpost (signposted to Hollywood, in memory of Norman Lee) and cross a stone stile. Cross the field in the direction the waymark and sign post are pointing, but after 85 yards bear slightly left, keeping to the left of the tree, descending slightly to reach a stile in a fence. (NB Do not go straight across the field to the house and Mellor Hall outbuildings). Cross this stile and descend down a wide dirt track, and continue down the field, making for a stile by a holly tree at the bottom right hand corner of the field.
[3]. Cross this stile and follow the path, with the field boundary on your right, to reach another stile leading into a field. Cross this stile and follow the dilapidated stone wall on your left until you reach a stile with the remains of a Cown Edge Way signpost propped up on your right. Do not cross this stile but turn right here and cross the field in a northerly direction leading to a sunken green lane to reach Hollywood Road and the hamlet of Hollywood End.
As indicated by the signpost, cross the road and follow the track past stone cottages; pass through a very narrow gate and follow a truly delightful path, paved in places, with a stream on your left. Pass through the front garden of attractive stone cottages to a 3-way signpost and continue along the path signed Cown Edge. Cross wooden footbridge and then cross a stile to follow a field footpath with hedge and fence on left. Towards the top of the field, turn left to cross a stile and ascend the meadow to a walled track where turn right to quickly reach Smithy Lane.
[4] Cross the lane and follow the path that becomes a green lane above a modern house with a reservoir on your right. Cross a small stream and ascend between two distinctive trees in a northerly direction (path indistinct) always keeping the line of the stream to your left. Cross the stile at the top left hand corner of the field and bear right to ascend the middle of a narrow field. Pass over the stile and head for the corner boundary of the farm buildings on your left. Follow this boundary to cross a stile into a field. Turn left to very soon cross another stile in the fence on your left to join the drive to Cloughend Farm. Follow this to reach Sandhill Lane. Turn right and, ignoring signposted track immediately on your right, continue up Sandhill Lane for about 60 paces until you reach a stile on your right. Take this path through trees and across an orange coloured stream, to cross a field in a north easterly direction to reach a stile in the middle of the top fence. Continue to a further stile in the far right hand corner of the field. Cross this stile and continue on path running between two wire fences to reach a stile leading to Gun Road. Ludworth Moor is on your right.
(B) The Ludworth Moor Colliery was opened in the early 1920s. During the 'thirties, up to six men were employed underground producing some 4/5 tons of coal a day which increased to as much as 70 tons a day in the 1940s. It is believed the last coal was mined in 1981.
This is the end of part 3, at map reference SJ998909. There is no convenient public transport from this point
Part 4
[5] Cross Gun Road and follow the farm track / bridleway for 220 yards. As the track bears left, bear right on a rough track to soon pass through a wooden gate. Follow the bridleway alongside the wall on your right to Robin Hood’s Picking Rods.
(C) Robin Hood's Picking Rods. These stones have absolutely nothing to do with either Robin Hood or with picking rods. In fact they are the shafts of an Anglo-saxon cross which may have marked the boundaries between kingdoms. They still mark the spot where the county boundary between Derbyshire and Greater Manchester suddenly changes direction. They also mark the boundary of the Peak District National Park. Dual crosses are unique to this part of the country, other examples being the Bowstones, above Lyme Park, and in Disley Church yard. Most of Cheshire's crosses were destroyed or damaged by the Puritans in 1613. The term "picking rods" is thought to refer to any two uprights used by an archer to bend his bow between, for tensioning.
Continuing alongside the wall, the path gradually ascends with extensive views now opening up to the northwest across Hyde to Manchester. The path turns left and then right through a wooden gate. Follow track up to soon find a stile on your left. Cross this and follow the well-used path that climbs gently onto Cown Edge, giving superb views across the valley to Kinder and adjoining moorland. Cown Edge Rocks, an outcrop immediately below the eastern side of the ridge, are tantalisingly out of sight. On reaching a stile, cross this and continue ahead (NE) walking parallel to the wall and belt of coniferous woodland over to your left. When this woodland ends, bear slightly left to cross a stile and turn right to join a path along the top of the quarry face. Keep to the edge of the escarpment of Coombes Edge, which gradually bears left as you descend.
[6] Cross four stiles very close together to reach a rough farm track (the National Park boundary). Turn left for a few yards to cross a cattle grid and then cross a stile immediately on your right. Continue the descent, crossing three stiles, until in clear view of Lee Head and the village of Charlesworth. At the second of these three stiles, ignore the path bending around to the right, and use the stile straight ahead.
(D) Just below Coombes Edge is a magnificent landslip, a consequence of the shales being lubricated by underground water. The landslip covers the glacial deposits and occurred between 7,000 and 10,000 years ago.
During this descent we have been walking parallel to Back Lane (actually a rough bridleway) on your right and our path finally meets this lane at a stile and gate above a barn and house. Do not cross the stile to join the lane but continue to the bottom corner of the field, keeping the square tower of Charlesworth Church straight ahead. Follow the wall round to the right to a stile leading to a rough lane. Turn left along the lane for 30 yards, then cross a stile on your right and go a further 30 yards to a stile at the bottom right hand corner of the field. Do not cross this stile but turn left (SW) to reach the bottom of the field and a stile at the southeast corner of Charlesworth recreation ground. Cross this stile and follow the left hand edge of the recreation ground to turn right on a wide track that soon leads to the A626 (Glossop to Marple Bridge road) at Lee Head at the south end of Charlesworth.
(E) Charlesworth, and Chisworth just along the road, are Old English names, "worth" being an enclosure.