This is an energetic walk with some spectacular views, and although the paths are straightforward they can be muddy.

The journey:

Leave Mow Cop car park by the top left hand corner to follow the short track to a path junction. Turn left (Gritstone Trail) and follow the path to a broad track then road. Turn right at the road and almost immediately left along an unmade lane (Gritstone Trail). As the track swings right, take the path on right to go alongside The Old Man on the right. The path soon rejoins the track. Where the track bends sharp right, continue ahead through a gate, taking the top path to a gate and field. Go through the gate and almost immediately on the right is a small stile by a gate. Go over this to follow a short length of lane. At the next junction turn left, along the lane until it reaches a gate. Go over this then left along the road. After about a third of a mile you pass two parking areas then a footpath sign on the right (just before a road junction on the right). Follow the path along the left side of a field to a stile hidden in the corner. Go over this and along the right side of the next field to a stile by at track at a house entrance. Follow the path round to the right, then left, down a short lane to enter a large field. Continue down the field to a stile in the bottom right corner, then follow the right side of the fields downhill through several gates to finally reach a track which emerges on a road. Turn right here and after about 30 yards, right again, down the first track on the right. This soon curves right, then left at a solid fence, to join the Biddulph Valley Way.

Turn right along this disused railway for a good half mile to the first road bridge (this takes a road over the trail) and sweep left, along the trail and then over the bridge, leaving the trail. As the road swings left, continue right up the 'no through road', ignoring the later turning on the right. At the very top follow the track to and through Newpool Farm to join a track. Turn right then swing left along the track and up the short lane to reach a field. Continue ahead, up the right side of fields to finally emerge in a large field. Aim for the double electricity pole at the top of the field to reach a stile just to the right of it. Go over this and follow the fence on the right to reach a stile by the road. Go over this and right, and at the road junction turn left. Follow the road as it descends and just before the bottom of the dip look for a stile and footpath sign on the right (just before the stile on the left). Go over this and follow the right side of the field, along a slight embankment, to reach a holly hedge and stile on the right. Go over this and keeping the hedge to your left, continue to the end of the field and over the stile. Turn left, following the fence to very shortly reach another stile. Over this, then follow a fenced path up to a farm and then a road. Turn right here, and climb steeply to the top of the road. Turn right and almost immediately left, going along the footpath between houses and climbing some steps. At the end of the houses on the left join the track on the left and follow this behind some houses until you reach a broad track and the Newcastle Way signs. Turn right on this track and then as it bends right, continue ahead on the track, to reach the car park.

Contributed by Peter Matthews of the Staffordshire Area Ramblers' Association.