Old Glossop

Glossop is a town of 33,000 people (2014) on the edge of the Peak District. It lies in the county of Derbyshire, which is part of the East Midlands (though most residents would consider themselves part of the Northwest of England).

Understand

Glossop is at the northwestern extremity of Derbyshire and the Peak District, close to the borders with Greater Manchester and Yorkshire. It also lies at the start of two of the most infamous Pennine passes, the Snake and Woodhead passes. Its main development is owed to the 19th-century cotton industry which generated the wealth to build much of the town we see today, although the cotton industry has since declined and almost disappeared from the region. Despite this, the historic mill buildings still dominate the town, such as those at Wren Nest and Howardtown, both of which are undergoing major transformations into new multi-use buildings including retail, leisure and residential.

Glossop is predominantly a commuter town for the nearby conurbation of Greater Manchester, where quite often people have moved to enjoy a more relaxed and laid-back quality of life whilst enjoying the benefits of living near a city. It has a regular market, the usual range of high street chain stores and some independent shops. It attracts tourists mainly due to its good transport links with the surrounding Peak District National Park and its stunning countryside, though the town is not without interest and parts (e.g. Manor Park, Old Glossop) are quite attractive. It is not of any administrative significance due to its geographic location and local government structures.

Get in

By train

Glossop station

There are trains to 1 Glossop station from Manchester Piccadilly station every 30 minutes and seven days a week. The stations on the line are as follows:

• Hadfield
• Glossop
• Dinting
• Broadbottom
• Hattersley
• Godley
• Newton (for Hyde) - Connections: Hyde by bus or a 15-minute walk
• Flowery Field
• Guide Bridge - Connections: Ashton-under-Lyne by bus
• Gorton
• Ashburys - Connections: walk or bus to Eastlands/Manchester City FC
• Ardwick - only 1 train stops Monday – Friday
• Manchester Piccadilly

At peak periods the trains may stop at the following stops in a different order (i.e. Glossop–Hadfield–Dinting). This rail service is operated by Northern Rail; the journey between Glossop and Manchester Piccadilly is around 30 minutes, but journey times may vary at peak periods. Visit www.northernrail.org for timetable or call National Rail Enquiries on 0845 748 4950.

By bus

There is an extensive public transport network across the High Peak, which is unusual for a rural area. Bus services in Glossop are as follows:

• High Peak buses, ☏ +44 116 410-5050. 
  • 61 Glossop–Hayfield–New Mills—Whaley Bridge–Buxton
  • 390 Shire Hill Hospital–Glossop–Whitfield
  • 393 Padfield–Glossop–Shirebrook Park Circular
  • 394 Glossop–Gamesley–Marple–Stepping Hill Hospital
• Stagecoach
  • 237 Glossop–Hadfield–Mottram–Stalybridge–Ashton-under-Lyne–Droylsden–Manchester Piccadilly
  • 358 Glossop–Hayfield–Marple–Offerton–Stockport

For times, fares and details of these services and how to use them to get to Glossop, see Traveline (or call 0871 200 2233, 12p per minute) . Some services have a very limited frequency.

National Express Coaches stop at nearby Hollingworth; here you can pick up their 350 service towards Manchester and Liverpool, or in the opposite direction towards Sheffield, Nottingham and East Anglia. For times, fares and other service information contact National Express on 0870 580 80 80.

By car

Snake Pass

Glossop has connections in all directions to the UK road network; however, the main road (though not a primary route) is the A57. To the West this joins with the A628 Woodhead pass at Hollingworth, to become a primary route and then it is a short distance until it meets the UK motorway network via the M67 to allow quick and easy access into Greater Manchester. To the East is the A57 Snake Pass, an infamous transpennine pass to Sheffield. To the south the main road is the A624 which goes to Hayfield, Chapel-en-le-Frith and eventually Buxton via the A6; this is the main route into Derbyshire and towards the towns and cities of the East Midlands. To the North is the B6105 which links to the A628 Woodhead Pass at Crowden: the A628 is the easiest route to access the M1 from Glossop via Junction 37 at Barnsley. The A628, however, goes through Barnsley and to Pontefract in West Yorkshire.

By plane

The airports easily accessible from Glossop are:

• Manchester Airport is the largest of nearby airports, and has a multitude of global connections.
• Liverpool John Lennon

Both can be reached by train via regular services to Manchester Piccadilly, or by car via the motorway network. Other airports within 1.5 hours' drive are:

• Leeds Bradford International
• East Midlands Airport

See

Yellowslacks valley above Glossop on the slopes of Bleaklow

• 1 Wren Nest Mill, High Street West. Remaining building of cotton mill built between 1800 and 1818. 
• 2 Ardotalia (Melandra Castle), Melandra Castle Rd, Gamesley. Site of Roman fort  

Do

• Walk through Manor Park to Old Glossop and, for the energetic, continue onto the slopes of Bleaklow.
• 1 Longdendale Trail. An all-purpose trail housed on a disused railway line, about 7 miles from Hadfield to Woodhead featuring trails for bicycles, horses and walkers. Free. (updated May 2017)
• 2 Partington Players Theatre, Henry Street SK13 8BW, ☏ +44 1457 852066, partingtonweb@googlemail.com. A 120-seat theatre in the centre of Glossop showing plays for a week 6 times each season. They also have occasional live music, films and visiting productions. (updated May 2017)

Buy

High Street West, Glossop

Glossop boasts some of the best shopping in the High Peak. The town centre has a variety of national chain stores and independent shops. The largest supermarket is a Tesco store on the main road through the town. Major retail areas include the nearby High Street West and Wrens Nest Retail Park, which contains shops such as Next, Argos, Wickes (DIY), Brantano and others. The new Howardtown development on the A624 (Victoria St) has more shops.

Eat

There are many restaurants and cafes in Glossop: a Chinese restaurant in the town centre, a few Italian restaurants and a number of Indian restaurants. There are also Chinese, Indian, pizza and Italian take-aways in the town centre. However, pub food is probably the most widespread eating out option, with numerous pubs serving food across the town centre.

• 1 Ayubowan, 46-50 High Street West, ☏ +44 1457 865168. 
• 2 The Globe, 144 High Street West (west of town centre near Tesco superstore), ☏ +44 1457 852417. Evenings only. A friendly and quirky pub serving cheap and tasty vegan food and a range of real ales, ciders, etc. There is a small live music venue in an upstairs room with a varied programme and free folk-music jamming sessions in the bar on a Monday night. The own-brew beers have attracted mixed reviews. 
• 3 Hyssop Glossop, 54 High Street West, ☏ +44 1457 861054. Upmarket small plates restaurant. They recommend 3-4 plates per person, with most plates being £10 - £15. (updated Sep 2022)

Drink

Glossop has a varied pub scene, with everything from national chain pub-restaurants to friendly local establishments.

• 1 Commercial Inn, 137 Manor Park Rd, ☏ +44 1457 864569. 
• 2 Star Inn, 2 Howard Street, ☏ +44 1457 853072. 

Sleep

• 1 The George Hotel, Norfolk Street, ☏ +44 1457 855449. Set in the centre of town, this hotel makes an ideal base for a visit to the area. From £35 single or £60 double. 
• 2 Windy Harbour Farm Hotel, Woodhead Road, ☏ +44 1457 853107. Woodhead Rd, Glossop 
• 3 Wind in the Willows Hotel, Derbyshire Level, ☏ +44 1457 868001. 
• 4 The Bulls Head, 102 Church Street, Old Glossop, ☏ +44 1457 866957, +44 7876 744061 (mobile), +44 1457 853291 (restaurant). Public house, restaurant & guest house. 

Connect

As of March 2024, Glossop and its approach roads have 4G from EE, O2 and Vodafone, and 5G from Three.

Go next

• Hayfield
• New Mills
• Hyde
• Marple
• Buxton: Museum and Art Gallery and the historic market town of Buxton including tourist attractions, shopping and leisure facilities. Accessible via the 61/61A bus services or by car on the A624 road.
• Stockport
• Manchester: city-centre attractions (15 miles west) – by train, bus or car
• Castleton: caverns and other limestone scenery
• Sheffield: the steel city is a picturesque drive via the Snake Pass (A57)
• Peak District National Park: a wealth of outdoor activities and beautiful scenery on offer within minutes of Glossop
• The Trafford Centre: award-winning retail and leisure destination on the western edge of Manchester, adjacent to junctions 9 and 10 of the M60 motorway and easily accessible by bus from Manchester city centre

Routes through Glossop

Manchester ← Hyde / ←

W  E

→ Peak District → Sheffield (via Snake Pass)