Rowarth – Lantern Pike – Coombes Edge - Rowarth

Janet Turnbull

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The pretty yet largely ignored hamlet of Rowarth is the start and finish of this moderate walk. There is free car parking in the village and toilets and refreshments at the Little Mill Inn, five minutes' walk away from the car park. There is a very large and well-preserved water wheel, once powered by the stream at the side of the inn. Just out of Rowarth there is a pull uphill from Laneside Farm. A second upward incline leads to Lantern Pike, where there is an opportunity for the more energetic to climb to the top and rejoin the main route a little further on – the views are even better with the added height.

There are two short stretches on metalled but quiet lanes, but most of the walk is on well-defined paths and bridleways. The climb up to Cown Edge is not as arduous as it appears from a distance and on reaching the top, it is not immediately obvious that you are on a plateau. Walk across to the far side and a breathtaking view awaits; the ground falls away and the curve of the rocks creates a dramatic landscape. The wind can be quite strong up here as it rushes across the moors, with a tendency to try and blow you off the edge, so if it is particularly windy you would be wise to confine yourself to a quick glimpse of the view and then walk to the left of the trees, omitting Waymark 19 and catching up with the trail at Waymark 22. An easy trail then leads gently down towards Rowarth, mostly on grassy tracks across wide open spaces. The Little Mill awaits with hot drinks and a superb bar menu.

England - Central England - Derbyshire - Peak District

Features

Flowers, Great Views, Hills or Fells, Moor, National Trust, Pub

9/26/2020 - Maggie Crowther

Lovely walk overall. However, could not locate the iron bath at Waymark 16, with or without the stones! From there we just had to guess. We turned left in the centre of the open field after reaching the 'top of the grassy uphill section' after the quarry. From there we kept going forward, missing the path along Crown Edge. This route took us across a series of stiles and open aspect fields and finally down into Rowarth. So not sure if we simply missed the iron bath or if it's actually not there any more.

5/13/2020 - mary Howson

Walked this route middle of May 2020. It is a fabulous walk with a great deal of stunning scenery. The route twists and turns and keeps you interested. Will do this again. Thanks

2/18/2020 - Janet Turnbull

Directions have been modified to take account of Simon's comments.

2/10/2020 - Simon Worrall

Walked February 2020. Very enjoyable walk. Best to walk-on a clear day as the views over the Peak District and towards Manchester from Lantern Pike and Cown Edge are superb. Generally wet underfoot when we walked but still firm across the field sections other than a few boggy farm gate sections. A few recommendations: Well worth the detour up Lantern Pike at waypoint 7. After reaching the memorial cairn on the pike the path down to rejoin the main walk is clear. The scramble at waypoint 16 is marked by two wooden posts close together - if you go through the posts and up the short grassy uphill section keeping the quarry on your right you can't go wrong. The iron bath trough on the other side of the field is still there but now broken and filled with stones so isn't as easy to spot. From the iron bath navigate along the tractor ruts towards the edge of the rocks are turn sharp left along the path along Cown Edge. The path along Cown Edge rocks does come quite close to the edge (as noted in the walk description). Anyone suffering from vertigo might feel to odd anxious moment in a couple of places but the views from here are superb on a clear day. There's a footpath on the other side of the small stand of trees if it's windy or you don't want to walk near the edge. There is now a gate at waypoint 24 (no longer a 'gateless gate'!) and once you get beyond the new gate to navigate towards waypoint 25 keep going in the same direction and you will pick up a path that crests the ridge and goes down through some gorse - once you pick up this path it winds down to the five ways signpost at WP 25 and from there it's a clear footpath down into Rowarth.

4/10/2013 - Chris Barnes

Attempted this walk on 5/4/13 some 3 weeks after the snow,beautiful Spring day. However some of the higher lanes are still blocked by snow and you have to leave trial and re-navigate. I agree that in wetter months it would get very muddy. Friendly welcome at the Old Mill at the conclusion and dogs were welcome.

2/26/2012 - Sarah Kerr

Good walk on a spring day - really lovely area.