logo Walking Britain
Home About Holidays FAQ Email MENU ☰

Broomhead & Howden Moors

Peak District Walk

Nat Park - Peak District - Derwent Edge Sheffield

County/Area - South Yorkshire & Derbyshire

Author - Andy Chaplin

Length - 12.4 miles / 20.2 km    Ascent - 1470 feet / 445 metres

Time - 7 hours 40 minutes    Grade - moderate

Maps Ordnance Survey Logo Anquet Maps Logo

Ordnance Survey Explorer OL1Sheet Map1:25kBUY
Anquet OS Explorer OL1Digital Map1:25kBUY
Ordnance Survey Landranger 110Sheet Map1:50kBUY
Anquet OS Landranger 110Digital Map1:50kBUY

Walk Route Description

Photo from the walk - Broomhead & Howden Moors
Click image to visit gallery of 3 images.

This Peak District walk starts from the same place as Walk 1522 and uses the Dukes Road path in order to get to Back Tor and Lost Lad but then comes back up the Abbey Brook valley to Howden Moor. This part of the walk is also included in Walk 1219 but in this circuit you get all of the Abbey Brook valley. This valley is particularly impressive and feels quite remote - considering how close it is to the thousands of people that are circuiting around Ladybower.

From the roadside parking at grid ref. SK246945 on Mortimer Road take the moors track through the gate onto the Fitzwilliam (Wentworth) Estate on the Dukes Road to Flint Hill. As you get to the top of the hill the path gets to be less of a track and more boggy - but still reasonably easy walking. As you start to descend slightly towards Cartledge Flat the path becomes paved as it crosses Hobson Moss until just before the rocks at Cartledge Bents.

The two main paths leading southwards from Cartledge Bents merge again shortly after the rocks and the path becomes paved again all the way to just below the trig point at Back Tor. Turn right below the rocks and follow the path to Lost Lad then continue straight on past the orientation table below Lost Lad Hillend.

Continue westwards on moors tracks and paths across Greystones Moss, cross a stream (grid ref. SK180915) and continue up the far side from the stream to the fence. Turn right after the gate and follow the track along the fence and then down to the Abbey Tip Plantation just before the Upper Derwent Reservoir.

At the National Trust's Little Howden Moor sign turn back on the track that leads up alongside the Abbey Brook. After a track leads off to the right up Sheepfold Clough to Lost Lad, the Abbey Brook path follows the steep valley side around Berristers Tor and over Bents Clough. There are some fine views back along the valley and up Foul Clough and Crook Clough on either side of Berristers Tor. For those that are not keen on paths that cling to the valley side it is always possible to walk further up on top of the Cartledge Bents valley side.

When the path reaches the top of the valley the most visible route seems to be eastwards towards the two sets of rocks that are visible on Cartledge Bents. On the map the path is shown heading north east along the brook side but this is fairly difficult to find. Heading eastwards across Cartledge Bents means you soon come to the second set of rocks which mark the start of the paved path back to the Dukes Road. In all it is another 3 miles back to the parking on Mortimer Road with views this time back towards Bradfield.

Other walks nearby

Walk 1523 Broomhead Moor & Ewden Beckeasy/mod6.0 miles
Walk 1578 Dale Dike Reservoireasy2.5 miles
Walk 1577 Low Bradwell & Agden Reservoireasy3.5 miles
Walk 1754 Agden Reservoir Circulareasy/mod4.8 miles
Walk 1582 More Hall Reservoireasy3.4 miles
Walk 3439 High Bradfield from Glen Howemoderate8.3 miles
Walk 1579 Damflask Reservoireasy3.5 miles
Walk 1285 Dungworth & Rod Moormoderate9.4 miles
Walk 2516 Moscar, Dale Dike & Shrines Reservoirseasy/mod7.0 miles
Walk 2629 Stanage Edge, Redmires & Hallam Moorseasy/mod8.5 miles

Recommended Books & eBooks

Walking in the Peak District - White Peak East

Walking in the Peak District - White Peak EastGuidebook describing 42 half-day and day walks in the limestone landscapes of Derbyshire's White Peak, part of the Peak District National Park. One of two volumes, this book covers the east of the region, with potential bases including Bakewell, Eyam, Castleton, Birchover, Matlock and Wirksworth.
More information

Dark Peak Walks

Dark Peak WalksGuidebook to 40 walks in the Dark Peak area of the Peak District National Park. 35 circular routes for most abilities, from 8km to 19km, around Edale, Marsden, Fairholmes, Baslow and Castleton, including Kinder Scout and Mam Tor, and 5 longer (25km to 45km) routes highlighting the best of the Gritstone Edges, High Moorland and Deep Valleys.
More information

Messaging & Social Media

Message Walking Britain and follow the latest news.

Facebook  Twitter

Mountain Weather

Stay safe on the mountains with detailed weather forecasts - for iOS devices or for Android devices.