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.

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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.

Primitive Methodists and Mow Cop

This stone commemorates the Primitive Methodist movement and Mow Cop had a part to play in its story. In 1807, inspired by Protestant camp meetings taking place on the plains out in America, where ordinary people who were pushing west and founding new settlements gathered to hear preaching, Hugh Bourne and others decided to hold a camp meeting at Mow Cop. The first meeting took place on 31 May 1807.

Step 3

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

Quarrying

Quarrying has taken place on Mow Cop for centuries and it was particularly known for its Millstone grit. As well as the production of mill stones, the rock was also used by the famous Staffordshire potteries. In 1923, the land around the castle was sold to Joe Lovatt for quarrying. This upset the local people who had been allowed common access to the land for many years. To protest the sale and the quarrying, the people formed the Mow Cop preservation committee. Despite their protests, quarrying took place until 1937, however the deeds were then handed to the National Trust, allowing everyone to access the land once again.

Step 4

Continue to follow the path up to the castle itself.

Views from the castle

Now you are at the top of Mow Cop, you can see the views extending out across Cheshire and Staffordshire. On clear days you may be able to make out Manchester to the north. Keep an eye out for the huge dish of the powerful radio telescope at Jodrell Bank, which can be seen to the north-west. Also to the north-west but difficult to make out is the historic National Trust Tudor mansion of Little Moreton Hall.

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.

Mow Cop Methodist Church

Formally the Primitive Methodist church, this is one of the sites where the original camp meetings were held. Bourne and others held two camp meetings in 1807 but authorities within the Methodist Church considered them highly improper and there was general unrest at this time around groups of working class people gathering, as this was the period following the French revolution. Bourne and others continued to hold the meetings and was asked to leave the Methodist Church. They became known as the Camp Meeting Methodists, until in 1811, they joined with William Clowes and his followers to become the Primitive Methodists. This remained a seperate church to the Wesleyan Methodists until they joined together again to form the modern Methodist Church in 1932.

End point

Mow Cop Castle Car Park

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

01625584412

alderleyedge@nationaltrust.org.uk

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Mow Cop trail

Total steps: 8