Our first walk of the year was a 14km/ 8.5 mi linear walk from Oldham to Newhey, following first the disused railway track to Lees, then Greenacres Fold, Strinesdale Park, Harbour Hill, Grains Bar, the Crompton Circuit and Boothstead Edge before descending along the string of reservoirs to Ogden.
We planned a linear walk of ~10 miles (a few miles shorter in inclement weather) from Grindleford to Hathersage. From the station we followed the Derwent valley until Froggatt Bridge before tackling the first steep uphill section to the “plague village” of Eyam. In 1665 the villagers prevented spreading the plague around the North by going into complete lockdown for 14 months. Once we’ve taken some time to read the plaques and count our blessings, e went up to Eyam Moor, and from there opt for either down a fairly straightforward route to Hathersage or include a small loop around the scenic Bretton Clough and Highlow wood.
We explored the dales around Buxton. This is a relatively long walk of around 10 miles if the weather is nice, but we one cut some corners if required. Leaving Buxton via the pavilion gardens, can head towards Staden and Cowdale village and then the wilderness of Deep Dale. A lovely stretch of the Monsal trail along the river Wye leads us to Blackwell Mill where we cross over and loop back westward on the top edge of Wye Dale. To get back to Buxton, one unfortunately have to dip back into the valley, up again and finally down into Cunning Dale. It’s a lovely varied route with great views. Buxton offers many good pub lunch options.
We returned for the first time in many years to Dove Stone Reservoir for a ca. 10-mile walk. We joined the Oldham way south of Greenfield and followed it all the way to Chew Brook before taking Chew Road up to the reservoir. From there we followed the edge of Dove Stone Moss via Bramley’s cot, Dean rocks and Ashway gap before the route takes you into the valley again, to the weir between Dove Stone and Yeoman Hay reservoir. It is a relatively flat stroll from there to the Clarence pub.
This is a 9 mile circular walk from Broadbottom to Rowarth and back, on mostly good footpath. The walk takes you to the little hamlet of Rowarth via Chiswick and return via the Cowen Edge with views of the Kinder, Manchester city, Cheshire plain and Merseyside in all directions. At Rowarth, there is a Little Mill Inn pub. At Broadbottom, the Harewood Arms is known for its own brews and there is an authentic Italian pizza stall on site.
Starting at Marsden train station we travelled down Station Road heading towards Butterley Reservoir and walking along the reservoir edge to Blakely reservoir and then across to Wessenden reservoir. We then went off road to start our assent to West Nab which is 500m and should provide great views weather allowing. We then descended slightly on the way to Meltham and onwards to Deer Hill Reservoir to re-join the road back down to Marsden.
On this day we attempted a longer route from Macclesfield, following the Macclesfield Canal for a bit and then heading East for the villages of Sutton Lane Ends and Langley. From the two reservoirs at the foot of Tegg’s nose one can have a short, relatively steep section to reach the top with great views. The next few miles feature some ups and downs without losing too much height until one reaches the Saddle of Kerridge and finally the iconic and curious folly high above Bollington, White Nancy (read all about it here). It’s all downhill from there!
We did a 10-mile circular walk starting and ending in Hebden Bridge, but just to throw you a curveball we call it a Mytholmroyd walk because that’s where our pub stop is. For the first mile or so we followed the park and cute houses along the River Calder before crossing Horsehold Wood for a bit of woodland adventure. A much easier path then takes us to the top of Stoodley Pike where you can climb the monument and commemorate Napoleon’s defeat in 1815, or alternatively enjoy good views across the Calder valley. The second half of the circuit then takes us through a Christmas tree plantation, past the edge of the picturesque Whams Wood, across Cragg Vale and back into the woods east of the Calder. A gentle downhill slope eventually brings us into the village of Mytholmroyd where the Shoulder of Mutton Inn will be our pub stop- slightly less fancy than its twin in Hebden but also much less overrun and overpriced.
Our walk this day was a 10-mile circular walk from Blackrod over the Rotary Way to Winter Hill, and down again via Noon Hill to the Pigeon Tower at the top of Rivington Country Park. From there one has options: a marginally longer one through the Country Park, or continuing on Belmont Road to Rivington Pike and then a more direct route down into Horwich. There are a couple of pub options here too, but probably a nicer conclusion would be The Rivington right next to Blackrod station.
Our penultimate walk of 2022 was a ca. 9 mile circular walk from Todmorden. We head south first and crossed the canal for the path up to and around Dobroyd castle, following the Calderdale Way. We then head north high above the Calder valley, probably via Parkin Lane to avoid too much mud, and cross the valley around Cornholme/Portsmouth. On the North side one can re-join the Calderdale way which offers great views and takes us back to Todmorden.
This was a very short walk up to Peel Tower and back again because everything was iced up!