Leek to Buxton walk - Part of the Pennine Odyssey (Day 6)

Thursday 26th March 2026

Walking Diary (All Walks) Long Distance Walks Offa's Dyke to the Pennine Way Link Path 2025

Pennine Odyssey Day 6 - Leek to Buxton

Back to Leek after a gap of 8 months to finish off our Long Distance Walk from Wales to the Pennine Way. As you will have seen from my previous blog, I was forced to cut short last years summers walk and return home for family reasons. We both agreed that we would re-visit Derbyshire in the Spring to wrap up this one and complete the walk to Edale over the two days as originally planned.

So having had a good night out in Buxton and basing ourselves in the town for two nights (certainly plenty of good real/craft ale bars there) we grabbed a taxi in the morning and headed over to Leek.

The Staffordshire town of Leek is the start to the Pennine Odyssey walk, although we didn't see a single sign displaying this walk as such - I'm not sure whether it actually exists? The route passes Tittesworth Water reservoir and then heads along the very impressive Roaches from Hen Cloud to Bearstone Rock at Roach End. It then follows Black Brook and the River Dane to Three Shires Head and then across moorland with a path over Cheeks Hill to Dane Head and Axe Edge Moor. Heading into Buxton we visited Solomons Temple (or Grin Low Tower as it's also called) before descending down into the town and our hotel for the night.

This was a challenging day, we certainly knew we had been on a walk - but it was a very good one and we enjoyed it in pretty good weather too. Another night out in Buxton followed - this place is good.

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Distance: 18.5 miles
Duration: 7:30 hours
Ascent: 3819 ft
Difficulty: Hard
Accompanied By: Davy
Weather: Dry & Sunny Intervals

3D outline of route

Parking

Leek parkland as we set off from this Staffordshire market town. Looks like we are in for a good weather day.

Wandering through Meerbrook where the parked cars outnumber the locals by about 50:1

Reflections at the lovely Tittesworth Reservoir.

Our first glance of 'The Roaches' in the distance.

Cattle warning !! That brings back memories of last summer in the early stages of this LDW.

Upper Hulme

We had a few attempts at trying to work out how we would arrive at The Roaches - well we were both wrong, you go round the back and join the ridge path just after Hen Cloud, which can be seen here.

The start of our walk along the Roaches

Up onto the top of this escarpment - the photo opportunities were abundant.

Just in front of a carved stone seat - see next photo

The Queens Chair - a magnificent vantage point

We briefly dropped down to the lower path, but we were soon back on the top ridge

The trig point and I assume also the summit (505m) - Two happy chaps enjoying an excellent walk

Pensive.

The gentle descent down to Roach End.

We gradually lost elevation as we walked through Back Forest and followed the route of Black Brook further down

Just as we started looking for somewhere to have a late lunch, we arrived at Gradbach with a few picnic tables dotted about. Perfect place to have a brief rest and enjoy a drink and sandwich. Probably not meant to use them, but everything was closed as it was March, so I'm sure no-one minded.

Crossing the River Dane

There was still quite a bit of ascent to negotiate, nothing difficult but it did seem to be a continuous uphill walk. Tired legs all round.

Three Shires Head

We were now on the Dane Valley Way - which skirted the busy A54 for a few hundred yards.

Arriving at the Victorian Folly which is Solomon's Temple which stands proud over Buxton.

Solomons Temple (1896) atop Grin Low Hill - Worth a visit to the top just for the views.

Looking down over Buxton - that's where we are headed for next.

A cup of tea from Dav, a rest - then it's an evening of good beer and nice food to finish off a great day.

Davy took over the navigational duties as we soon reached our hotel via a myriad of paths and tracks.