This route is now replaced by Oldspr two because the route used a footbridge over Oldham Way now demolished and replaced by a signalised junction a short distance away. It should end at Grotton and not Springhead....

Kevin Lawton

The route leaves Oldham and passes the tram/bus interchange at Mumps then via a signal controlled junction across Oldham Way to join the trackbed of a former railway closed in the 1960s....

Kevin Lawton

I actually reviewed this as SPRMOS1 originally, not being quite sure how much deviation was needed to constitute a new route....

jbeckton

Graded one star as blocked access (padlocked gate) and no right of way on the OS map at grid ref 962040....

DerbyshireBBguide

This was a very pleasant walk on a sunny day in January, starting off from the main road through Grotton but very quickly entering a hidden green valley....

DerbyshireBBguide

A nice walk which we started at Uppermill and combined with two other Sloways to do a 9m circular route via Springhead/Grotton and Mossley....

DerbyshireBBguide

As pointed out by Jbeckton, this route has access problems grid reference 962040 where a padlocked gate blocks the route. I snuck around the side of this and could see no trodden route across the field. On the OS Map there is no public right of way from here all the way to 964035, therefore this route should not be verified....

Mary Oz

It then crosses up through a field on an obvious path, to a quiet road. There was another field path shortly, off the next road, which gave great views of Mossley, but then headed steeply downhill to a pub, and was very muddy and rutted....

Mary Oz

There is a pedestrian level crossing near the start, and then a walled path through woods, with lovely views of the town below....

Mary Oz

Follow this until it meets another rocky and wet track and turn right up the hill (the Slow Ways map suggests there's an earlier path to the right up the hill but I couldn't find any trace of it. However it's not a long diversion) This track emerges on Platting Road. This brings you on to a well defined track across the shoulder of Wharmton hill (There's a TV transmitter to your right) Follow the path until it begins to descend and cross a stile onto a steep, narrow and rocky path, which eventually brings you out on a narrow lane (Ladcastle Road)....

jbeckton

Leaving the 'bus terminus at Grotton (not actually Springhead) head down Oldham Road past a terrace of houses and turn left down Old Mill Lane. Keep going over a stile and follow a grassy track along a field until you reach Thornley Lane. Here, turn left up Lane Head Road past a former pub which has a clock painted on the front permanently showing 28 minutes past 11 (it's always 2 minutes to opening time!). (Photo 4) Follow Lane Head Road and where it swings round to the left take a bridleway which heads off to the right before some houses....

jbeckton

The map suggests walking down the busy A669 for the first few hundred yards, but a minor and more pleasant deviation would be to walk down Station Road and pick up the old rail route at the remains of Grotton Station (Turn right past the children's playground)....

jbeckton