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The Moss Valley from Ford

Derbyshire Walk

County/Area - Derbyshire - South East Derbyshire

Author - Andy Chaplin

Length - 9.3 miles / 15.1 km    Ascent - 1000 feet / 303 metres

Time - 5 hours 40 minutes    Grade - moderate

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Walk Route Description

Photo from the walk - The Moss Valley from Ford
Click image to visit gallery of 3 images.

The Moss Valley runs eastwards from Norton to Jordanthorpe on the southern edge of Sheffield for five miles to the river Rother at Eckington in Derbyshire. These days its use is mainly agricultural or recreational but there is still prior evidence of mining, quarrying and mill ponds along the valley.

Park at the car park behind the Bridge Inn at grid ref. SK402804 then walk back through the pub car park ad turn left on Ford Road then right onto Geer Lane. The first kilometre of the walk is following the route of the Sheffield Country Walk until, shortly after Geerlane Farm you turn off right towards Povey farm. Climbing up the valley side from the river gives a good view from the northern slope back into and along the Moss valley.

Before reaching the farm turn left on the farm track back down to the river. Cross on the bridge next to the ford and continue south west on a track (that might be laid over a gas pipeline and in 2016 it had been degraded by heavy rainfall) and runs towards Owler Car Lane.

The next section is a short loop around Owler Car Wood which can be difficult to navigate even though some of it is signed as both the Dronfield 2000 Rotary Walk (D2kRW) and the Sheffield Country Walk (SCW). It can be missed out by continuing along the track to grid ref. SK399802.

Otherwise, at SK380802 take the bridleway back down to the woods and river. At the edge of the wood follow the bridleway into it and to a ford over the river. Turn left at the first branch in the paths and you will come back to the Moss - now flowing from the north - and cross on a bridge which was missing in late 2016. Continue with the brook to your right ignoring a couple of bridges over the brook. At this point you should be on the D2kRW. The path crosses over the brook then continues through Cock Spring Wood to grid ref. SK372804 where you join the SCW again. Follow the SCW to Owler Car Lane then left along the lane to grid ref. SK399802.

Just past the gas works take a left up the lane to Sicklebrook Farm and then the first left on the SCW across the Sickle brook valley to Troway. Turn left on the road past the Gate Inn then take the path on the right towards Greenside Farm. Go through the farm yard and take the path in front of you that cuts through to Main Street. Go right and then first left on a path across the fields towards Shady Hall and Marsh Lane.

Cross two tracks then as you go across the hill after Shady Hall follow the telephone wires to find the exit style. There are good views to the north into the Moss valley and to the east into the Rother valley. On the next track, School Lane, go left and follow it to Ford Lane. Turn right then take the bridleway through Bramley Hall farm. A short way down the farm track there is a gate on your right that looks like it goes into a garden - this is the bridleway continuing all the way to Back Lane at Eckington.

At grid ref. SK422796, where a path crosses from the houses on your right, go left along the side of the field to Ince Piece Wood. There is a path just in the wood, not well defined, that goes east and then north, down a steep bank to the lane that previously led to the mine. Go right towards Eckington and at the site of the old mill turn left on Mill Road, up Gashouse Lane and off left on the SCW.

From here it is just less than 2 miles back to Ford on the SCW following the river Moss. Just after you cross to the south of the river there is a track on your left, the other end of the mine road, that goes back to the Seldom Seen Engine House that is worth a detour. Otherwise, follow the SCW back to the carpark at Ford.

Other walks nearby

Walk 2456 Flask Edge from Dronfield Woodhousemoderate10.0 miles
Walk 3440 Sheffield Roundmoderate15.2 miles
Walk 2725 Chesterfield Canal and Anston Brook from Kivetonmoderate10.2 miles
Walk 1937 Morthen & Upper Whiston from Ulleyeasy/mod8.8 miles
Walk 3330 Rivelin Valley from Malin Bridge easy/mod9.7 miles
Walk 1539 Flask Edge and Bar Brook Moor from Shillito Woodmoderate9.4 miles
Walk 3436 Hillsborough to Bradfield & Loxley Valleymoderate12.6 miles
Walk 1479 Burbage Moor & Redmires from near Ringingloweasy/mod9.8 miles
Walk 2728 Wadsley and Loxley Commons, Sheffieldeasy/mod7.9 miles
Walk 1093 Higger Tor & Burbage Rockseasy/mod5.3 miles

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