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.

The walk starts at 10am at Danebridge, parking at roadside just before the bridge over the river. Grid ref 964 652. Close to minor road to Wincle Brewery SK11 0QE

Directions to start:  Go to Macclesfied, stay on A523 Leek road past Arighi Bianchi. After about a mile turn left at traffic lights to Sutton and Langley. Keep on road through Sutton to join A54 after about 3 miles. Turn left and then almost immediately turn right towards Wincle, go downhill through Wincle past a pub to park on the road opposite small road to Wincle Brewery.

The walk climbs up to the level of the Roaches, along the ridge to Roache End, and to the southern end of the Roaches, returns on the other side of the ridge to Roache End and retraces our steps to the descent to the River Dane.

Outline: A classic loop walk from Frodsham to Frodsham Hill and Helsby Hill. The route includes short sections of three 'official' paths: The Sandstone Trail,  The Longster Trail and the North Cheshire Way. On a clear day there are spectacular views over the industrial delights of Runcorn and the river Mersey Basin towards the Wirral and Liverpool.

Difficulty: A long stroll mostly on well maintained paths.  There is a short section through fields which is likely to be muddy and wet.

Walk start: 10:30hrs at Frodsham Castle Park Car Park, off the A56 Chester Road, Castle Park, Frodsham WA6 6SB. Lat/Long 53.291693,-2.730998. Grid Reference Grid Ref SJ 51368 77451.  OS Explorer map 267 - Northwich & Delamere Forest.

The easiest access to this car park is off the A56 Chester Road, having driven on the main road through the centre of Frodsham village to its Western outskirts. The entrance is signposted on the left to the Castle Park, within which to the right is the Castle Park Car Park.

Route: Frodsham Castle Park Car Park, Frodsham Hill War Memorial, Woodhouse Hill, The Ridgeway Country Holiday Park, Firs Farm, Helsby Hill, Woodhouses, Foxhill, Frodsham Castle Park Car Park.

Outdooractive details and map

The walk starts at 10am at Poynton Pool, South Park Drive car park off the A523. Postcode SK12 1BR (approx location only. You will see the car park on the left before satnav tells you to turn right!) OS Grid Reference SJ1925842

Directions: From Wilmslow make your way to Poynton via the A5149 Chester Road and at the roundabout in the village turn left onto the A523 in the direction of Hazel Grove. In 0.3.miles turn right into South Park Drive. Follow the Drive round to the small, free car park on the left by Poynton Pool. 

If you prefer,  take the A555 Airport Relief Road to the junction with the A523, turn right onto the A523, pass Brookside Garden Centre and in just over a mile turn left into South Park Drive. 

Walk description: The route follows Princes Incline to the Middlewood Way and Macclesfield Canal, continuing to Ryles Wood and Elmerhurst Cottage, where we enter Lyme Park. The only steep, but short,  ascent on this walk is up to the Cage, thought to have been erected as a vantage point to watch stag hunting. From the Cage we take a wide, mown path down towards Lyme Hall ( and toilets!) before heading out of Lyme Park. We walk along a lane, passing Haresteads Farm and Elm Wood,  down to the Canal Marina at Higher Poynton,  then return to the start via Anson Road and Petre Bank ( an old colliery incline).

The walk will start at 10am at Riverside Carpark (free) Beechwood Mews Tytherington

This is the start of The Bollin Way and works better for coffee and lunch stops.

SK10 2SL What 3 words using.moon.clean

From Wilmslow take the A538 to Prestbury, drive through village. Turn right onto London Road, passing Tytherington Golf Club shortly after turn right into Riverside car park.  

This is a very easy walk of many faces, Middlewood Way, Industrial, Canal, Fields, Road, Tytherington Golf Club. Prestbury village and Bollin Valley Way

Start of Walk:   Start of walk at 10am from car park of the Mersey Valley visitor centre. This is the car park close to the centre which is the building with a steep red roof.

Grid reference SJ807 924    M33 2LX

Directions to start:  Go to M60 westbound and leave at Junction 6. Follow the road to the right at the bottom of the ramp and follow signs to Trafford Water Park. At the Sale Water Park tram stop follow the road to the left, ignore the tram car park and you will then see the Mersey Valley centre. There is a toilet in the centre, but opening times are not shown.

Distance from Wilmslow 10 miles each way. 

Description:  The walk is about 9miles, essentially flat. It follows the route of the Mersey for a large part of the walk and returns through Northenden and Kenworthy Woods. Most of the walk is on hard paths so the mud should not be too bad. Gaiters could be useful 

Walk 8 miles moderate from Rowarth

Walk starts at 10am at Rowarth car park. Nearest post code is SK22 1EB, but you need to look for signs to Rowarth village where the car park is obvious.

Directions to start:  Go to A555 airport link road and head east, join A6 and after large traffic lights junction, keep over to the right lane and turn right at the next traffic lights on to A627 towards Marple etc. Keep on this road past Stockport Golf Club, turn right at next traffic lights and right again at next traffic lights on to A626 towards Marple. Shortly after the shops in Marple bear left keeping on A626 towards Marple Bridge. Keep on A626 bearing left out of Marple Bridge, going uphill keeping on the road as it turns sharply right. After about 1.5 miles out of Marple Bridge, look out for Lane Ends pub on the right and turn right into Ley Lane. Keep on this lane past a signpost  to Hare and Hounds, as the road becomes Hollywood Road, go past Hare Hounds. The lane becomes Chatterton Lane and narrows and appears to be going into open countryside. At the end of Chatterton Lane, by Moorfield Arms turn left on to Shiloh Road and immediately right on to Hollinsmoor Road , signposted a dead end. After about ½  mile turn left at Rowarth only sign and go to parking area outside the village.

The walk heads south towards Thornset and turns north towards Lantern Pike and on to overlook Glossop returning via Cown Edge. There is an ascent up to Lantern Pike.

Outline: An exploration of the beautiful LathKill Dale, followed by a traverse through farmland to the picturesque village of Youlgrave. This route involves walking one mile down the quiet Moor Lane. From Youlgrave we walk past the famous fishing weirs in the Lathkill Dale valley back to our stating point in Over Haddon.

Difficulty: A moderate stroll with some slippery rock and muddy paths. Gaiters are likely to use be useful.

Start: 10:30hrs at Over Haddon Car Park, 8 Monyash Rd, Over Haddon, Bakewell DE45 1HZ. Lat/Long 53.194759, -1.696959. OS Map OL 24, OS Grid Ref SK 20288 66427

Route:  Over Haddon Car Park, Lathkill Dale, Palmerston Wood, Weir and Footbridge, Limestone Way, Calling Low Farm, Sidenooks Farm, Moor Lane, Youlgrave Village, Aniscroft Farm, Conksbury Bridge, Weirs, Over Haddon Car Park.

Refreshments: The Peak Feast bakery in Youlgrave may be open for tea and cakes.

Naming convention: The Highways Agency uses ‘Youlgrave’ on a number of different local signposts throughout the area. Most locals also use ‘Youlgrave’, although the official name on Ordnance Survey maps is ‘Youlgreave’.

Outdooractive details and route map

The walk starts at 10am at the car park of Biddulph Grange Country Park. Post code ST8 7TZ. Grid Ref SJ894595. This is a free car park with toilets nearby.

Directions

From Wilmslow take A34 to Congleton. Turn left onto Rood Hill A54. At roundabout take second exit onto Mountbatten Way A54. At next roundabout take second exit onto Mountbatten Way A527. Continue to follow A527 for approx 3 miles. Turn left onto Grange Road for 375 metres then right onto Grange Park Drive. The car park is on the right. DO NOT turn for the National Trust Garden.

The walk.

Initially we walk for approx one mile along the Biddulph Valley Way, an old railway track. The walk then rises along tracks and lanes to Mow Cop’s castle where we hope to have fabulous views. We return to Biddulph along a part wooded ridge on the Gritstone trail. 

Walk starts at 10am at the parking spaces near to Leather Smithy pub Clarke Lane Sutton SK11 0NE. Make sure you park in one of the marked spaces.

Directions to the start:  Go to Macclesfield southwards on the Leek road, turn left on to Byrons Lane, shortly after the tunnel bear left through Langley and continue to Clarke Lane.

The walk goes up to Shutlingsloe and over the top dropping down to join the Gritstone Trail back to the start. If the weather is bad we will go round Shutlingstone, rather than over the top.

Walk starts at 10am from Clough Bank car park Grimshaw Lane Bollington. Post code SK10 5NY which takes you to Grimshaw Lane.

Directions to the start: Make your way to Bollington along the A523 and B5090. On entering Bollington, pass the village school on your left and after 500 yards turn right into Grimshaw Lane. The turning is directly opposite the Tesco Express shop. After a few yards take the next right into Clough Bank and the car park is on the right. If the car park is full there is roadside parking on Clough Bank. This is a free car park.

The walk: This is a circular walk around Bollington across fields and quiet roads. There is one steep climb onto Kerridge ridge before descending back into Bollington. Most of the ascents are in the second half of the walk. 

The walk starts at 10am at Whitegate Railway station car park CW7 2QE, which is on a now disused railway line. There is a café there which should be open at the end of the walk and possibly toilets (closed when I started the recce).

Directions to start: get on to the Northwich by pass A556. As it ceases to be a dual carriageway, at Hartford, at the first set of traffic lights, turn left on to Dalefords Lane and after about 1.5 miles turn right on to Clay Lane, and after about 0.5 miles you meet a set of traffic lights at a bridge over the old railway line. After the bridge look for a brown sign directing you left back on yourself to the car park. Park anywhere past the café building.

NOTE:   my Satnav took me to the brown sign after the bridge and traffic lights but then tried to directme to some houses. By then the car park is obvious.

The walk is essentially flat and  shortish  with a couple of minor ups. It starts southwards on the old railway and circles back through woods and fields to rejoin the line to the north returning to the car park. It was a very pleasant walk on the recce.

The start of the walk is from Nether End car park in Church Lane, Baslow. Coming into Baslow on the A623, go past the Cavendish Hotel on the right, then turn right at the village green onto Church Lane, and then into the car park which is clearly signposted. Car park post code DE45 1SR. It's pay and display, £6.20 cash to park all day. There are loos in the car park. In view of the distance to Baslow, we will make a 10.30 start. Please be ready to walk by 10.30am.

Details of the walk. This is a very pretty walk in and around Chatsworth park. We take the higher park path past the Hunting Lodge, through Stand Wood, then onto Calton Lees, through fields and woods to Edensor, and then back through the park to Baslow. The paths are mostly very good with a few muddy stretches.

PLEASE NOTE THIS WALK DATE IS OUTSIDE THE USUAL WALKS PATTERN

Outline: A walk along the Monsal Trail From Monsal Head to Millers Dale through the old railway tunnels, returning back via Tideswell Dale and the River Wye valley.

Difficulty: A long stroll.

Walk start: 10:30hrs, Monsal Head car park, Ashford in the Water, Bakewell, DE45 1NL.  Lat/Long  53.240094, -1.724999.  OS map OL24 Grid Ref SK 18450 71487

Route: Monsal Head car park, Headstone viaduct, Litton tunnel, Millers Dale viaduct, Millers Dale, Meadow Lane, Tideswell Dale car park, Tideswell Dale, Litton Mill, Cressbrook Dale, Water-cum-Jolly Dale, Brushfield Lane, Headstone viaduct, Monsal Head car park.

Refreshments: Tea and ice-cream may be available at both Millers Dale and Monsal Head.

Outdooractive details and map

The walk starts at 10am from Etherow Country Park Car Park  Compstall. Postcode SK6 5JD. All day parking costs £4. There are toilets at Etherow and Lymefield. 

Directions to the start: Take the A555 to junction with A6. Turn left towards Hazel Grove,  then right in front of the Bull's Head pub at lights ( filter lane) onto Torkington Road A627. Continue to T junction with A626 and turn right towards Marple. In Marple turn left at lights to stay on A626, signed Glossop. Continue through Marple Bridge. Where the A626 bends sharply to the right go left (almost straight on),  signed B6104 Romiley.  Continue through Compstall village and at the sign for Etherow CP turn right into the car park. 

Walk description: The walk is varied and hilly, offering lovely views over Greater Manchester, the Etherow Valley and the Pennines. The paths and tracks are generally good. After walking through Etherow Country Park along the lake to the spectacular weir we climb  through Ernocroft Woods to Glossop Road and head across fields and tracks towards Broadbottom Viaduct, Broad Mills Heritage Site and Lymefield Country Park. We return to Etherow along country lanes, through woodland and farmland and skirt the lower slopes of Werneth Low Golf Club.

The start of the walk is at 10am from Oddfellows Road Car Park, Hathersage S32 1DL. Its pay and display (£6 all day needed): cash option was 'out of use' which left the parking app (paybyphone) and automated phone call - I parked on the street outside for my recce. The start of the walk will go past the nearby toilets on the main street. Directions to start: it took me 50 mins, using Whinnats Pass, going through Castleton and Hope; the above car park is signposted as you come into Hathersage, turn right onto Station Road and then left onto Oddfellows Road. I can give 3 lifts.

Details of the walk; we take Baulk Lane out of Hathersage and pass North Lees Hall onto Stanage Edge; we turn left to go along the top to High Neb; do a sharp return and take a lower path under the rocky edge; we resume the Stanage Edge path, crossing the road at Upper Burbage Bridge, then onto Higgar Tor. We return to Hathersage via Toothill Farm. There are some stony path stretches where walking poles would assist.

The walk starts at 10am from, Combs Reservoir car park,  Manchester Road, Tunstead Milton. Postcode, SK 23 9UN

Directions to the start: Own way to Whaley Bridge, take the B 5470 at the traffic lights either from Bakestonsdale Road or after coming through Whaley Bridge. On entering Tunstead Milton look out for a right hand car park sign for the reservoir taking you down a narrow track.

The  free car park is at the end of the track.

Walk Description: The first part of the walk is a slow and steady uphill towards Ladder Hill, where we will be rewarded with spectacular views. A good track takes us to White Hall Outdoor Centre. From here a lovely ridge walk into Combs village.

A little uphill road walk follows, then through fields back to the reservoir.

The last part of the walk has been amended to avoid a path of mud alongside the reservoir. 

Walk starts at 10am from roadside parking on Arkwright Road east of Marple alongside a park SK6 7DE.

Directions to the start:  go to A555, turn left at traffic lights on to B5092 to Hazel Grove, to join A6 and very soon turn right on to Torkington Road past Stockport Golf Club, turn right at traffic lights, continue into Marple, keep straight on to B6101 through the centre, keep straight on when road bears sharply right and then turning left on to Arkwright Road.

The walk goes down to the Roman Lakes, follows the Goyt for a while, up Black Lane, to Mellow and returns to the Goyt. There are a couple of moderate ascents. We can visit the Mellor cross if walkers have not seen it before.

Outline: A classic loop walk from Edale that takes in Ringing Rodger and Crowden Tower. This rocky route provides magnificent and extensive views over the Edale Valley and beyond.

Difficulties: Some steep ascent and descent on rocky terrain.

Start: 10:30hrs from Edale Village Hall Car Park, Edale, Hope Valley, Derbyshire, S33 7ZQ. Lat/Long 53.364577,-1.814714, Grid Reference SK 12399 85334. OS map The Peak District - Dark Peak OL1.

Route: Edale Village Hall Car Park, Ringing Roger, Upper Tor, the head of Grindsbrooke Clough, Crowden Tower, Crowden Clough, Edale Village Hall Car Park. This route may be reversed if there is a strong SW wind.

Refreshments: Tea and ice-cream may be available near the end of the route in the Newfold Farm Cafe.

Outdooractive route details and map

Poor weather route: Edale and Hollins Cross - Outdooractive route and map

The walk starts at 10am at Eyam car park,  postcode S32 5QP

The walk is just over 8 miles with only a few short ascents. There are quite a lot of stiles in the first hour of the walk up to the coffee break. 

Directions:  The easiest access to Eyam is from the A623 road just north of Stoney Middleton. From the A623 turn left onto the B6521. On entering Eyam turn left and after passing the church turn right up Hawkshill Road to the car park. The free car park is a few metres further up the road after passing the pay and display car park and toilets. 

Walk description: Heading out of Eyam on Tideswell Lane we enjoy beautiful views as we  cross small fields surrounded by drystone walls. We come to a quarry and pass lagoons to Black Harry Gate. We then enter Rough Side, a typical limestone dale, with steep grassy sides dotted with rocky outcrops. After leaving the dale we cross fields to the village of Stoney Middleton before following a track, Cliff Bottom, back to Eyam.