During 2019 we intend to do all our walks on the third Sunday of the month
For our January walk, I'll revive an old favourite- an 8 mile walk (approx) from Godley to Glossop, taking in Hackingknife, Idle Hill, and Coombes Edge. Of course one of the key objectives here is the pub lunch at theglobeglossop.co.uk, one of our favourite veggie-friendly pubs.
Spring is almost coming (OK, in a couple of months’ time)! Our route was planned and will be led by the lovely Andrew of the GM Ringway project- it’s the easternmost section between Broadbottom and Greenfield (points 8 and 9 on this map). At just over 11 miles, the route is a little longer than others, but the weather looks fine and the days are getting longer again.
From Broadbottom we’ll go northeast on clear paths with views across Longdendale into the Peak. Then follows a gradual ascent on an old track up the valley of Ogden Clough. At the 6-mile mark, an old stone bridge offers a nice packed lunch stop. From there, a steepening ascent leads us onto sometimes trackless ground into the Peak District National Park to emerge suddenly onto the escarpment with a dramatic view over the Dovestone Valley. Then an easy descent, initially on the reservoir access road and then the Oldham Way with pleasant views.
There’s a choice of pubs all in the last mile or so within Greenfield
A 9-mile walk through nice woodland (Sunnyhurst wood and Tockholes plantation) will take us via the Turton & Enwistle Reservoir to one of our favourite pubs, the Strawbury Duck (http://www.thestrawburyduck.co.uk/) which is right next to the Entwistle train station. In poor weather we could also choose a shorter route via Jubilee Tower and the Eastern branch of the Witton Weavers Way.
We’ve got something a little different for you this time. Our April walk is going to be a leisurely coastal walk of approx. 5 miles from Hightown to Waterloo along the Sefton Coastal Path. Near the end of the walk in Crosby we will see Antony Gormley’s sculpture “Another Place”, with the obvious photo ops. Low tide is at 1:52pm, which suits us perfectly. Plenty of pub lunch options in Crosby/ Waterloo.
We have planned a ca. 8 mile walk from Mytholmroyd to Hebden Bridge. To reach the Calderdale Way that skirts around Crow Hill, Cock Hill and Keelam Edge, the first 1 ½ miles from Mytholmroyd will be fairly steep. About a mile north of New Bridge we will dip into the wooded valley for the last 1/3 of the route to Hebden Bridge. Plenty of pub options there. We will get to Mytho by train as usual.
We will do a 7 mile (11 km) circular walk around the Roaches and Lud’s Church. Follow Sir Gawain, Knight of the Round Table, and find the chapel of the Green Knight near the Roaches! We will have lunch at The Lazy Trout near Tittesworth reservoir.
To get to Sowerby we’ll take the same train as in May but go all the way to Sowerby Bridge and explore the countryside south of the Rochdale canal. Excitingly, we will offer a choice of two different routes: First, an almost straight line to Todmorden (around 9.5 miles) via Aaron Hill, then following the Calderdale Way from Cragg Vale via Withens Clough Reservoir to Todmorden. I suggest the Top Brink Inn in Lumbutts (about 2mi from the station) for lunch. Or second, a slightly shorter route (~9 miles) with only one uphill bit, ending in Mytholmroyd. We would follow a disused railway from Sowerby Bridge, join the Calderdale way from Mill Bank to Cragg Vale, and then head north to Mytholmroyd. The Shoulder of Mutton is practically right next to the train station.
Three years ago, we headed to the Ribble valley for a gentle 9-mile loop from Langho via Dinckley Halland the beautiful Stonyhurst College, crossing the river a second time for Lunch at the famous Three Fishes in Great Mitton and then the return trip from Whalley. What rude disappointment back then to find that the Ribble footbridge had been wrecked by storm Frank at the tail end of 2015. But rejoice! The new Dinckley footbridge is now open. So we will head north to the lovely Ribble valley. Sadly the famous Three Fishes has now closed (sigh), but the Aspinall Arms just across the river is a worthy alternative.
Autumn is here, the unbearable summer heat is gone, and the welcome October drizzle makes golden leaves glisten under bright grey skies. (ok, enough poetry)
In September Northern Rail foiled our plans with train cancellations, but here’s another opportunity for a lovely walk in the Ribble valley: this is a gentle 9-mile loop from Langho via Dinckley Hall and the beautiful Stonyhurst College, crossing the river a second time for Lunch at the Aspinall Arms.
For our November walk, we’ve planned an 8 ½ mile walk from Broadbottom to Romiley via the Cown Edge way but using a shortcut between Chisworth and Cloughend. That way we can finish with a stroll along the Peak Forest Canal and across the spectacular Marple aquaeduct into Romiley. The Spread Eagle in Hatherlow looks like a nice pub option
For a bit of a change, for this years’ Xmas walk we will stay local. We have planned a lovely stroll around Chorlton and Sale Water Park of about 6km. That means you can (should!) join us if the more typical 10k seem a bit much. The Waterparks are local wildlife reserves and offer a wide variety of options from riverside walking to forest and bird watching spots.