Axe Edge Moor Trig + Cheeks Hill Walk From Derbyshire Bridge | 6-Mile Route

Scenic photo from Axe Edge, rolling hills and rocks

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Axe Edge Moor is a beautiful part of the Peak District and sets the location for this walk – including Axe Edge Moor trig point and Cheeks Hill which is the county top of Staffordshire at 520 metres.

A fantastic walk that ticks off a trig and two Ethels, it’s perfect if you’re taking on one of the awesome Peak District Challenges this year. We will also give you the option to add on Burbage Edge trig point which is a 3 km out and back, also on the Ethels list too!

The walk begins from Derbyshire Bridge car park and gradually uphill, you have the choice early on whether to add Burbage Edge trig point. If not, then you head towards Axe Edge Moor and onwards to Axe Edge trig point, with beautiful views Shining Tor in the northwest and Chrome Hill in the southeast.

You’ll walk along Axe Edge to Axe Edge End, the loop back via Cheeks Hill before returning back to Derbyshire Bridge car park.

Important – please note dogs are not allowed on a large section of this route. See details for clarification under ‘Other information’ section.

Here you will find details on how to get to the start of the walk, route information, map, GPX file, plus a detailed step by step guide of the walk.

Let me know in the comments if you’ve done this walk and what you think!

Axe Edge Moor + Cheeks Hill from Derbyshire Bridge

Views towards Goyt Valley and Shining Tor

Walk information

Walk type: Medium Circular Walk

Distance: 5.8 miles/9.4 km

Walk time: 2.5-3.5 hours

Total ascent: 238 m/780 ft

Highest point: 550 m/1,804 ft

Walk highlights: Beautiful views from Axe Edge Moor, Axe Edge trig and reaching the highest point in Staffordshire – Cheeks Hill, crossing the start of the River Dane.

Trigs: 1 – Axe Edge (Option to add Burbage Edge)

Ethels: 2 – Axe Edge + Cheeks Hill (Option to add Burbage Edge)

Stiles:(wooden stiles)

Axe Edge Moor + Cheeks Hill walk map + GPX

gpx file

Axe Edge moor map
Axe Edge Moor + Cheeks Hill map
© Crown copyright and database rights (2023) OS 002572460

 

Click for online map

Walk Start Point

Start grid reference: SK 01808 71575

Derbyshire Bridge car park
Derbyshire Bridge car park

Car parking address: Derbyshire Bridge car park, off Buxton Road, Macclesfield, SK11 0AR – Google location

This is a medium sized free car park off the A 537 main road, there’s no exact postcode for the car park but I’ve detailed the one at the Cat and Fiddle pub just up the road.

Public transport

There are no public transport options for this start point.

Facilities on the walk

There are public toilets available at the start of the walk at Derbyshire Bridge car park, the sign on the door states these are open 9-5 pm.

On the remainder of the route there are no other facilities. The nearest pub is the Cat and Fiddle which is on the main road and a short drive up from the car park once you’ve finished your walk.

Other useful information

I walked the route in winter and some sections were very muddy and boggy in places, waterproof boots and gaiters are recommended. Or alternatively, save this route for summer when it’s less damp!

Please note that there is a sign stating dogs are not allowed on the Open Access land to protect Moorland birds (image below of the area it covers which is a large part of our walk). Sorry this isn’t a dog friendly route.

Moorland_Birds_Signpost

There are also a couple of very busy roads to cross on this route, so please take care.

 

Please keep the Peak District beautiful and respect everyone who uses the park. Take ALL your rubbish home to dispose of and remember close gates (as you found them). Thank you so much.

Would you know what to do in an emergency situation?

Blue skies, Mountain rescue team walking

We have a guide with what to do, who you need to call and also some useful kit that should be in your backpack. Ask us any questions in the comments or via our social media.

Happy hiking + stay safe

read here

Peak District weather

Check the weather for your walk location and hills. We’d recommend that you check a few resources and for hilly walks look at the weather conditions in the valley and on the hilltop as they can greatly vary.

Ordnance Survey walk map

The map required for this walk is the Ordnance Survey OL24 – Peak District (White Peak Area). Check prices here with Ordnance Survey or Amazon. If you’re hiking in all weathers the Active OS maps are good to have as they are laminated so better on rainy days.

View both Peak District map options here.

And don’t forget your compass, I recommend the Silva Expedition or the Silva Classic compass.

For online maps, I recommend OS Online App (I have been using this for 4+ years and worth getting if you want to start walking more). Check prices here for the one month or yearly option with OS Online App. All the walks on the website are created using OS Maps Online and you can easily download them to the App to use alongside a map and compass. 

See both maps that cover the Peak District here.

Want to learn more map skills? Check out our Guided Walks with map reading skills here.

 

Axe Edge Moor + Cheeks Hill walk route

Stage 1 – Derbyshire Bridge car park to Axe Edge Moor

Distance: 1.2 miles/2 km

Grid reference SK 01808 71575

Begin by taking the wide track running uphill, parallel with the car park that heads east. Follow this gradually uphill and admire stunning views of the Goyt Valley with Shining Tor in the northwest. After about 1 km, (approx 20-30 mins) you’ll reach the top of the incline. 

Optional – Turn left to add Burbage Edge trig here. See instructions in Extend walk section.

Wooden stile
Signpost to Axe Edge Moor and wooden stile

Or alternatively, continue straight on for about 50 metres and turn right where there’s a wooden fence/stile (photo above), signposted Axe Edge Moor. Follow this grassy path until it reaches a fork, take the left-hand path over the first wooden stile and continue towards the road. 

Stile on opposite side of the road

Stage 2 – Axe Edge Moor to Axe Edge Trig

Distance: 0.9 mile/1.4 km

Grid reference SK 0289 7133

Cross the road safely, then head over the next wooden stile (photo above). Please note this is where dogs are not allowed, as per information in the introduction and ‘Other Information’ section. Follow the wide path until you reach another fork, take the left-hand path and continue. As you walk along the next section, on a clear day, on your left you’ll see a hill with the trig on (Axe Edge), or if it’s cloudy there’s a square wooden fence. 

Footpath leading towards Axe Edge Moor trig point

Take the path on the left (photo above) that heads east alongside the fence (shown as a rectangle on the map). The path heads down then up to a smaller hill before continuing down then up again to Axe Edge hill and the trig point, marked with stones around the summit.

Axe Edge Moor trig point
Axe Edge Moor trig point

Stage 3 – Axe Edge Moor Trig to Cheeks Hill

Distance: 2.2 miles/3.6 km

Grid reference SK 0350 7062

From Axe Edge Moor trig, turn right, heading south along the ridge. After about 1 km, you’ll reach a gate onto the road. Again, safely cross the road and take the path heading downhill which crosses the small stream known as Cistern’s Clough. The path heads left back uphill on to Axe Edge where you follow it along the ridge.

Towards your left, you’ll have great views of Chrome Hill and you might see the smaller Parkhouse Hill if you’re lucky!

House at Axe Edge End

After 1.5 km, you’ll descend towards a track alongside a house (photo above). Turn right and walk along the track, ahead you should now see another iconic hill Shutlingsloe. Turn right again at the junction and continue on the track, looking for a faint path on the right (photo below) heading across the moorlands. There’s a wide metal gate but if you reach this you’ve missed the turning (only by 20 metres!)

Metal gate on track
Faint path on right just before metal gate

Head uphill on the moorland path and you’ll reach a few large stones on the hilltop. Keep on the path, as it joins another turn right. Cheeks Hill is now the small hill on your left (slightly lower than where the stones were). Turn left and walk a short distance off-path to the top then keep going to pick up the path on the other side.

Stones near Cheeks Hill

The official Cheeks Hill summit is at the corner of the fences, this is the highest point of Staffordshire. And means you walk in two counties on this route!

Stage 4 – Cheeks Hill to Derbyshire Bridge

Distance: 1.5 miles/2.4 km

Grid reference SK 0261 6990

From Cheeks Hill, turn right to pick up the path now heading downhill in a northerly direction. You’ll cross over the start of the River Dane, don’t worry it’s the start of the river so it’s a narrow crossing!

Crossing the River Dane

Keep walking until you reach the road, turn left and walk to the main road A537, cross over and turn left, then right again down the small road and cross the A537 again.

Small gate on route back to the car park

Now keep walking straight ahead down the road, as the road bends to the left you turn right picking up a footpath. After a short distance go through the gate on the left (photo above) and follow this path all the way back to Derbyshire Bridge car park.

Ask me questions about this Axe Edge Moor walk in the comments below.

More walk information

Extend the walk

Burbage Edge Trig Point
Burbage Edge Trig Point

If you’d like to add in Burbage Edge trig point you can find the route instructions, OS Map and GPX file here.

After hiking the first 1.2 km along the track instead of turning right towards Axe Edge Moor you go through the gate on your left towards Burbage Edge trig point. It’s a simple out and back route following the path, bearing right, then right again up to the wall and simply follow this all the way up to the trig point. And then return the same way to pick up the walk.

This adds 3 km/2 miles onto the walk, but only about 50 metres ascent, so you’ll need to allow roughly an extra 45-60 minutes.

Click here for the OS map and here for the GPX.

More walks in the Peak District

Love the walks in the Peak District? You might like these trig and Ethel walks.

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2 thoughts on “Axe Edge Moor Trig + Cheeks Hill Walk From Derbyshire Bridge | 6-Mile Route

  1. Gemma Astbury says:

    Would love some clarification please! The no dogs sign says that it doesn’t apply to ‘dogs kept under effective control on Public Rights of Way’. Does this not mean dogs can be walked on lead along the footpaths? Thanks!

    • Becky - Peak District Walker says:

      Hi Gemma, yes, that’s correct, however because the route I’ve plotted goes off the public rights of way (the green dashed lines) that means that the route I’ve planned isn’t suitable for dogs. If you plan to do a walk that goes via the public rights of way then you’d be fine to walk your dog on a short lead there 🙂

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