2025

NOTE THAT THIS WALK WILL GO AHEAD BUT FOLLOW A DIFFERENT ROUTE. THE STARTING POINT REMAINS THE SAME. POLES AND GAITERS COULE BE USEFUL IN THE CASE OF MUD.

The walk starts at 10am from the large layby at the ( now closed) " Hare and Hounds" pub, Dooley Lane, Marple. Postcode SK6 7EJ

Directions to the start: Take the A555 east to junction with the A6, turn left to Hazel Grove. By the Bull's Head pub turn right at the lights onto Torkington Road.  Continue to T junction with A626 at traffic lights and turn right towards Marple. At next traffic lights turn left.  onto A627 Dooley Lane,  signed Bredbury, Romiley and Chadkirk Chapel . The layby is not far down on the left hand side before you get to Marple Dobbies Garden Centre on the right. 

Walk details: A rewarding walk along varied 

waterways,  featuring historic buildings and striking canal architecture. I have graded the walk moderate because of several short ascents,  but much of it is easy. Some paths are likely to be muddy. We start by heading along the River Goyt and through a farm up to Offerton Green, then along Poise Brook back to the River Goyt and through farmland to Goyt Hall, a fine example of a half-timbered Cheshire farmhouse, built around 1570. We then leave the river to walk through housing at Bredbury Green before joining the Peak Forest Canal towpath to Marple Aqueduct, the highest canal aquaduct in England, constructed between 1795 and 1799. We continue along the towpath to Hyde Bank and Marple Locks before a stretch of road walking. We descend to Middle Dale and Lower Dale Farms and take the riverside path back to the layby.

The walk starts at 10am at Marbury Country Park car park, pay and display by cash, card or app, £2.50 for 8 hours.  There are loos at the Country Park at the start.

Directions to start. Post code CW9 6AT. Follow the M56 to Junction 10, leave motorway turn left on to A559, after about 3 miles turn right towards Comberbach, continue about 3.5 miles through Comberbach and turn left into Marbury Country Park which has a very large car park.

The walk goes along Budworth Mere, along part of the Saltscape trail and Cheshire Ring Canal walk to Marston and Wincham, then across the fields and along Pickmere.  From there to Great Budworth and return across the fields to Marbury Country Park.

The fields are likely to be muddy so gaiters could be useful. One field in particular is both muddy and very uneven underfoot (cows) so poles would also help.