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Image depicts the castle folly along the trail at Mow Cop, Cheshire
The castle folly at Mow Cop | © National Trust/Chris Widger
Cheshire & Greater Manchester

Mow Cop trail

This short walk explores the history of Mow Cop, taking in the ruins of the castle and the Old Man o'Mow, a distinctive rock feature in the landscape. Along the route you'll discover why this site is important to the Primitive Methodists, and see some long-reaching views over the Cheshire and Staffordshire countryside.

Total steps: 8

Total steps: 8

Start point

Mow Cop Castle Car Park

Step 1

From Mow Cop Castle car park, follow the main path towards the castle folly.

Step 2

Continue up the path, past a large engraved stone on your left.

Step 3

Follow the path underneath the castle, with the castle folly on your right.

Step 4

Continue to follow the path up to the castle itself.

A view of the Cheshire and Staffordshire countryside from the top of Mow Cop, with a large rock feature visible in the foreground.
Views over the countryside at Mow Cop | © National Trust Images/Wendy Nulty

Step 5

Come back down the path from the castle and carry straight over onto the driveway path. Walk a little way along this and then look back at the castle folly.

Step 6

Turn back away from the castle and carry on to the end of the driveway. Cross over the road, taking care of the traffic and turn right to walk up the hill. Take the immediate next left and follow the footpath. After a short walk you will see a huge rock to your right. This is the Old Man o'Mow.

Step 7

Retrace your steps back to the road. To finish your walk, cross back over to the driveway you came down and return back towards the castle, then follow the right-hand path you came up back to the car park.

Step 8

For an optional extra walk to Mow Cop Methodist Church, walk out of the car park and turn right. Take the first left onto Lower High Street and follow to the end. Turn right onto Top Station Road and walk down the road until you reach a left turn onto Primitive Street. Follow Primitive Street to the end and you will see the Methodist Church on your right. Retrace your steps to return to the Mow Cop car park.

End point

Mow Cop Castle Car Park

Trail map

OS map showing the trail route for the Mow Cop trail as a red line
Mow Cop trail | © Crown copyright and database rights 2013 Ordnance Survey

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Macclesfield Road, Nether Alderley, Macclesfield, Cheshire, SK10 4UB

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