Pub Walks with Chris Morris
Old Glossop

PLEASE REMEMBER: Details accurate at time of writing

Full of old-world charm, with its core of picturesque stone buildings, Old Glossop has attracted many admirers. It’s also home to four great pubs selling good cask beer, and is surrounded by spectacular scenery of the surrounding hills. This walk shows you how to get there, visit the pubs, and with the option of a pre-pub walk up to Cock Hill, offering stunning moorland views.

Public Transport Information

The walk starts from Glossop railway station, with services from Manchester Piccadilly running every half hour, Monday to Saturday, slightly reduced on Sunday. If you don’t fancy the walk, the 390 bus (Monday to Saturday until 6pm) will take you to Old Glossop from outside the railway station.

The Walk

The urban walk to Old Glossop and back to the station is two miles. For the hill walk, add a further three miles and 250 metres (820 feet) of ascent. The hill climb is challenging with rocky terrain and will be muddy after wet weather, so hiking boots are recommended. All pubs welcome dogs.

Exiting the railway station to Norfolk Street opposite, we turn left, passing the Star Inn on our left. After a third of a mile, cross over and take a right along Hall Meadow Road. Bear right after 200 yards to join Church Street. After 150 yards we reach some cobbles at Church Close which marks the start of Old Glossop. Cross over Church Street here to the raised pavement opposite, passing a splendid row of terraced houses. Passing the Bulls Head and then the Wheatsheaf on our left, continue straight ahead down Well Gate, then bear left to walk up Hope Street, where we find Distant Hills Brewing. If the weather is poor, or you didn’t fancy the hill climb, you could just pop in here, ignore the next paragraph and explore the pubs described below.

Bulls Head The hill walk was shown to me by my friend and walking enthusiast Paul Jackson, who also loves cask beer. It starts by walking further along Hope Street, passing the brewery on our left. We then bear left and walk up Charles Lane. At the top, continue straight ahead, up a large step, through a small wooden gate, and then follow the rough and rocky path beyond. After 300 yards we reach a stone wall across the path. Walk through the side gate and follow the path on the other side between two stone walls and along the course of a ditch. Some exposed rock surfaces will be slippery when wet, so take care here. After walking a half mile and passing through a couple of gates, the stone walls spread out with the ditch turning slightly to the left. Follow the path to the right of the ditch's stone wall, with Cock Hill directly ahead of us. At the end of the ditch, carry on straight ahead over the remains of a stone wall, then right, aiming towards a small wooden gate (one hinge is broken so please ensure this is closed afterwards). After 300 yards the path forks. Take the left one with a post now visible at the summit. Follow this path as it winds itself up to the trig point at the top. The return is merely a matter of retracing our steps back to the brewery.

Distant Hills Brewing is popular with both walkers and fans of their quality food. This modern taproom has been skilfully decorated with comfortable furnishings and soft lighting to give a welcoming space. The cask beers available when I last visited were Distant Hills Kerala, plus Unicorn and Citra Pale Ale from Robinsons. Further seating is available upstairs and in the large beer garden at the side.

Queens Arms Walk back down Hope Street then left along Wesley Street, passing a delightful stream on our right. At the end of the road, turn right to find our next pub, the Queens Arms. A comfortable interior awaits here with lots of bench seating, traditional pub furniture, an impressive wood burner and a popular Indian restaurant upstairs. Cask beer is kept in great nick here, with their regular place in the Good Beer Guide well deserved. Available when I last popped in were Ossett White Rat, Holt’s Bitter, Carlsberg Wainwright, Greene King Old Speckled Hen, and Robinsons Unicorn and Citra Pale Ale. Turning right outside the pub, we walk up Church Street South, passing yet more chocolate-box houses, with the two pubs we passed earlier beckoning us in. It would be rude not to.

You’ll find a warm welcome at the cosy Wheatsheaf, popular with all ages, featuring bench seating and subtle lighting. The two cask beers on offer were Robinsons Unicorn and Theakston Best Bitter when I was last in. A range of dog treats is available. As picturesque pubs go, the has the volume cranked high with the interior equally as splendid as the exterior. Low ceilings, stone-flagged floors, wooden settles and log burners complete the charming country pub feel. The cask beer range doesn’t disappoint either, with Oakham Citra, Thornbridge Brother Rabbit, Robinsons Unicorn and Wainwright available on last inspection. Food is popular here as well.

Before getting the train home, the Star Inn next to the station is the town’s longstanding champion of cask beer and also Good Beer Guide-listed. Abbeydale Renaissance, Beartown Lit, Pictish Doctor Rudi, and Rooster’s London Thunder and Yorkshire’s Best were available when I last dropped by.

For full pub details, including opening times, visit camra.org.uk/pubs.

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