Walks
12/12/2024, Thursday, Black Rocks, Lantern Wood and Bollinhurst Brook, 7 miles, 289 metres ascent, moderate, leader Simon Duffy
Outline: A circuit through Black Rocks and around the eastern side of Lyme Park providing extensive views of the Cheshire plain and Greater Manchester. It starts from from a surprisingly remote roadside lay-by and then tracks east up Black Rocks before entering Lyme Park.
Difficulty: Most of this walk is on good paths and tracks with only some very short sections which may be muddy or very wet. There are some very tall footpath ladder styles on this route.
Start: 10:30hrs at lay-by parking opposite the entrance to Rocks Farm, Mudhurst Lane, Disley SK12 2AN . Lat/Long 53.345736, -2.027491. Grid Ref: SJ 98267 83204.
Route: Layby parking opposite the entrance to Rocks Farm, Rocks Farm, Longside Cottage, Black Rocks, High Peak School, Dissop Head, Peak District Boundary Walk, Lantern Wood, The Lantern, Hampers Wood, The Cage, Bollinhurst Brook, Cock Head Farm, Bentside, The Gritstone Trail, Lay-by parking opposite the entrance to Rocks Farm.
16/12/2024 Monday Alderley Woods 5 miles Christmas lunch walk Leader Donald Henderson
Start time 10.30
This is the Christmas lunch walk and I’m pleased to say that we have 23 for lunch
Meet at the Churchill Tree pub in Alderley Park, SK10 4ZG.
Directions: From Wilmslow, take Alderley by-pass to the end. Continue on A34 for about 0.25 mile and turn left into Alderley Park. The pub is about 0.4 mile on your right.
Although there should be ample parking, please car share if possible.
The walk is approx 5 miles - haven’t decided exactly as weather may influence my decision.
PLEASE NOTE LATER START TIME.
22/12/2024 Sunday Rudyard Lake and Horton 7 miles easy Leader Clare Pinder
Start of walk: Rudyard Lake north car park, Reacliffe Road at 10am (approximate postcode SK11 ORA, OS OL24 938610). I can give lifts.
Travel details: take the Macclesfield Silk Rd and continue onto A523 towards Leek. When approaching Rushton Spencer, turn right onto Beat Lane and after 0.1 miles, and immediately after crossing the bridge, turn left onto Reacliffe Road and go about 0.4 miles to the free verge car parking on the LH side.
Details of walk: from the car park, we take the path along the western side of the lake to Rudyard, then take the path across fields to Horton, then via Harper's Gate we will walk along the stream back to the head of the lake (where there are toilets), then we return via the eastern side of the lake. The paths are mostly very good, but the field paths will be muddy in patches.
30/12/2024 Monday Mince pie walk around Wilmslow about 6 miles easy Leader Peter Attwell
The walk starts at Broadway Meadows Car Park, Wilmslow (post code SK9 1NB) at 10am. There will be mince pies and drinks at 31 Adlington Road Wilmslow SK9 2BJ between 12.30 and 13.00 towards the end of the walk. No lunch stop but walkers can stay on to eat their lunch ar Adlington Road.
Donation of £3 requested towards cost of refreshments.
Parking cost: allow 4 hours: cost from memory £3.
Directions to car park: in the centre of Wilmslow, heading south, turn left just before BP petrol station and then second right into the car park.
Details of walk: We head south from the centre of Wilmslow across fields and reach the end of the Wilmslow Bypass, then along quiet roads in Wilmslow to Lindow Common for coffee and along the River Bollin to Adlington Road. After mince pies, the walk finishes walking through Wilmslow Park to the car park.
NOTE: when we recce'd the walk it was wet underfoot but not too muddy.
Members are welcome to bring relatives and friends on this walk.
TO HELP WITH BUYING THE MINCE PIES ETC, PLEASE EMAIL ME (pmattwell@hotmail.com) TO SAY WHETHER YOU INTEND TO JOIN THIS WALK. THIS IS AN INDICATION ONLY, YOU ARE NOT COMMITTED TO COME AND CAN JOIN THE WALK EVEN IF YOU HAVE NOT TOLD ME.
05/01/2025 Sunday Leader Peter Attwell Marple and Mellor 6 miles moderate
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.
08/01/2025 Wednesday Marbury, Pickmere and Great Budworth 8 miles easy Leader Kate Stross and Maire
The walk starts at 10am at Marbury Country Park car park, pay and display, £2.50 (?) for 8 hours.
Directions to the start. Post code CW9 6AT. Follow the M56 to Junction 10, leave the motorway and turn left onto the 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 the Cheshire Ring Canal walk to 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.
13/01/2025 Monday, River Goyt and Marple Aqueduct, 7.5 miles, easy/ moderate. Leader Angela Legge
details to follow
23/01/2025 Thursday Roaches from Dane Bridge 8.5m moderate Leader Peter Attwell
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.
28/01/2025, Tuesday, Frodsham & Helsby Hills, 7 miles, moderate, leader Simon Duffy
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. Note that at 2am on 30/10/2022 the clocks go back 1 hour.
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.
10/02/2025, Monday Prestbury to Macclesfield 7.05 miles easy Leader Carol McLaughlin
Details to follow
16/02/2025 Sunday Mersey Valley 9 miles easy Leader Peter Attwell
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
20/02/2025 Thursday Rowarth 8 miles moderate Leader Peter Attwell
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.
25/02/2025, Tuesday, Lathkill Dale, 8 miles, moderate, leader Simon Duffy
Outline: An exploration of the beautiful LathKill Dale, followed by a traverse through farmland to the River Bradford and the picturesque village of Youlgrave. 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.
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, Lomberdale Hall, Weir, River bradford, 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 usees ‘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’.
02/03/2025 Sunday Leader Marjorie McLoughlin
Details to follow
10/03/2025 Monday Leader Marjorie Mcloughlin
Details to follow
16/03/2025 Sunday Whitegate 6 miles easy leader Peter Attwell
Details to follow
24/03/2025, Monday, Monsal Trail, 8 miles, 205m ascent, moderate, leader Simon Duffy
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.