High Peak walks: Mount Famine, Sett Valley and Lantern Pike

Mount Famine and South Head

This 10km route begins from Bowden Bridge.

Head out of the car park, across the road, and turn right into the campsite. Walk alongside the river then turn left, signposted ‘Highgate Head’, through two gates and then up the steps through the wooden gate.

Turn left onto the Pennine Bridleway, signposted ‘South Head’. Follow this rocky path through another gate leading downhill to a wide track. Take the path bearing right uphill.

At the top, before the gate, turn left over a stepped stile. Walk until a gap on the right in the wall and across the field heading uphill to another gap in the wall. Hike uphill to the rocky outcrop marking the summit of Mount Famine.

Continue on the path over a wooden stile then downhill. At the wider track, turn left for a short distance, then take a faint path bearing right up to South Head, where a stone cairn marks the summit.

Head down the path on the other side meeting the track, cross over and continue heading in an easterly direction following the path next to a stone wall. Walk on this grassy path, over a wooden stile, then continue east on flagstones before the path gradually bends around to the left, descending to a wide footpath.

Turn left here, walk to the next gate, with ‘Edale Cross’ stone marker nestled on your left. Go through the gate and follow the rocky bridleway downhill. Follow the track as it bends around to the right, then take the right-hand fork through a small farm.

Continue walking until you reach a cattle grid that brings you out onto the road. Turn left, follow this road as it bends around to the left, then walk the short distance back to the car park.

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The Millennium Walkway at New Mills Photo: Gary Wallis Sett Valley Trail to New Mills

These next two subsequent routes begin from the Sett Valley car park in Hayfield. Our first is accessible for wheelchair and pushchair users, whereas the second route has mixed terrain and ascent.

The first, Sett Valley Trail to New Mills, is a linear accessible route to New Mills, but you can tailor the length to suit your needs (maximum 12km).

From the car park, walk to the far end, away from Hayfield village. Go through the wooden gate where the ‘Sett Valley Trail’ begins.

After about 1km, you’ll see glimpses of the reservoir through the trees on your right. At the paths’ bends, near the sign for ‘Birch Vale Station’ take the right-hand trail until you reach a second gate, (approximately 1.5km).

Cross the road and go through the gate opposite, signposted Public Bridleway Sett Valley Trail. This is a lovely wide track which you’ll walk on until another quiet road junction, continue straight on, signposted ‘New Mills’.

Keep walking until another gate, cross the road and pick up the trail on the other side. Continue past the green public bridleway sign to St George’s Road, then cross over the road signposted New Mills Town Centre.

The route changes from a bridleway to a footpath here and becomes narrower with some ascent and descent. Accessible users may wish to turn around at this point (approximately 4km).

Walk down the winding path then at the next road turn left, then immediate right as the path heads behind the leisure centre. Go under the bridge then continue on the path. Follow the signs for ‘Millennium Walkway’ down a steep path, under a bridge then left across a wooden bridge.

Follow this path around to the right picking up the next Millennium Walkway signpost. Continue along this path until you reach the walkway over the River Goyt. Once you’ve crossed this is your turnaround point (approximately 6km) so retrace your steps back to the start of the walk in Hayfield.

Summit of Lantern Pike Photo: Gary Wallis Lantern Pike loop

For this 12km route, go across the pedestrian crossing towards Hayfield village. Walk past the church and left over the road bridge. Take the second right up Bank Street, past the houses as it merges onto Kinder Road.

Keep walking uphill and take the first footpath on the left, next to the Kinder Mass Trespass signpost. Go up the track, bear right, through a black metal kissing gate. Follow this track, through another three gates, then across a grassy path to a fourth.

Follow this to another gate, signposted ‘Snake Path’, head towards the white shooting cabins. At the junction turn left, ‘Glossop via Car Meadow’. Cross the wooden bridge, then rejoin the rocky path as it contours the hillside.

Go past a stone cairn then cross the bridge over Hollingworth Clough. Bear right uphill, through a gate to a wooden stile in the corner of the field. Cross the main road then up the side road, past Tops Farm.

At the public footpath signpost, turn left up the track, then continuing straight ahead on the grassy footpath. Go over a stile, through the field and downhill over another stile.

At the road, turn right, through the farm via two gates. Remain on the track until you meet a path junction with several signposts. Turn right through the gate, then immediate left, following the ‘Pennine Bridleway’ on the fainter footpath heading diagonally across.

Go up the track until you reach the ‘Lantern Pike’ sign where you begin your final ascent to the stone marker at the summit. Then head downhill, at the wall turn left, steeply down to the adjoining path.

Turn right through the gate then down to the road. Follow the Pennine Bridleway signpost, turn right past the houses then immediately left down the track.

At the road, turn left over the River Sett, past the cafe then join the Sett Valley Trail through the gate on your left. Walk down the footpath, bear left then follow this wide trail back to the start.