Buxton Circular via Combs Moss walk

16.2 km (10.1 mi), with 510m ascent/descent. For a shorter or longer walk see below Walk Options.

5 out of 10, with 4 ½ hours walking time.

This is an exciting but unchallenging circuit of a quiet moorland plateau about half the size of Kinder Scout in the north western corner of the Peak District, within easy reach of the spa town of Buxton. The route follows good – if sometimes mud-prone – paths and provides for fantastic views to surrounding hills and upland moors (in good weather) and into the green valleys below around Dove Holes, Chapel-en-le-Frith and Whaley Bridge.
Further highlights are the gritstone scarps of Black Edge and Combs Edge with some dramatic views, the Iron Age promontory hillfort of Castle Naze and the views over Buxton from Corbar Hill before the final descent.

Note: Combs Moss is a privately owned grouse moor, and as a condition for declaring it Access Land, dogs are not allowed at any time. It may also be closed to the public at 28 days-notice during the shooting season.

An Alternative Start from Chapel-en-le-Frith Station is possible, by ascending up to the moorland plateau at Castle Naze, 1.4 km away and 160m above. You then join the walk route 6.7 km into it. Chapel is on the Manchester – Buxton line, with a journey time from Buxton of 10-14 minutes.
Bus Line 76 (Buxton – Brownedge Town Service) stops at Corbar Road/Lightwood Road. Continue in the direction of travel and in 80m at a T-junction with Lightwood Road, turn up to the left. Pick up the directions on page 3 at the asterisk *). This cuts 1.1 km.
A Shortcut to Chapel-en-le-Frith Station is possible: descend off the moorland plateau along the original causeway from Castle Naze hillfort, 6.7 km into the walk. The station is then 1.4 km away and 160m below.

OS Explorer: OL24 (The Peak District – White Peak Area)
OS Landranger: 119 (Buxton & Matlock)
Harvey Superwalker XT25: Peak District Central
Harvey British Mountain Map: Dark Peak or White Peak

Buxton Station, map reference SK 059 737, is 22 km southeast of Manchester, 299m above sea level and in Derbyshire. It is the terminus of the Buxton Line from Manchester, with two trains per hour Mon-Sat daytime and one per hour else. Journey time is 60 mins from Manchester and ca. three hours from London (chg. at Stockport). A faster connection can be obtained by taking a train to Macclesfield and bus 58 to Buxton.

Saturday Walkers’ Club: The walk is doable as a daywalk from London with a train no later than 09.20 hours.

Picnic

The Beehive Inn & Farm Shop Combs, High Peak SK23 9UT (01298 812 758). Open all day every day. The Beehive is 1.8 km away from Combs Moss along a narrow lane and 200m below.

Numerous options in the centre of town; some of the ones on the route are mentioned in the pdf.

After the walk, please leave a comment, it really helps. Thanks!

You can also upload photos to the SWC Group on Flickr (upload your photos) and videos to Youtube. This walk's tags are:

National Rail: 03457 48 49 50 • Traveline (bus times): 0871 200 22 33 (12p/min) • TFL (London) : 0343 222 1234

Nov-21 Thomas G