New Mills

 

 

February 25th 2026

 

NEW MILLS LEISURE CENTRE, BROOK BOTTOM ROAD NEW MILLS GOLF CLUB, MELLOR AND TOWNCLIFFE GOLF CLUB ,LINNET CLOUGH ACTIVITY CENTRE, ROMAN LAKES, STRINES, PEAK FOREST CANAL, TORRS RIVERSIDE PARK

Distance: 9.7 miles.

Difficulty: Moderate.

Weather: Fine Spring day, warm and dry, 

Walkers Peter Beale Andy Blease, Steve Brierley,Mike Cassini, Hugh Hardiman, Stuart Kitchen JulianRoss, Cliff Worthington.

Alternative Walkers: Jock, Kieran Rooney and Millie,

Leader: Cassini. Diarist: Cassini

Starting point: New Mills Leisure Centre, Hyde Bank Road, New Mills (SK22 4BP)

Starting time: 9.45am. Finishing time: 1.30.pm

We were treated to a fine spring day with no hats or gloves and the company for the first time in a while of Pete Beale, back from an assortment of ailments and holidays. 

Starting at the leisure centre in New Mills we climbed up through the town reaching St Mary’s road opposite the ‘Voluntary’ school of St Ralph Sherwin A voluntary school means it receives funds from an external source in this case the Catholic church. St Ralph Sherwin was martyred with Edmund Campion and Alexander Bryant, Sherwin was a native of Derbyshire, which is why the school took his name.

At the top of St Mary’s road we turned left onto Brook Bottom Road, which we continued along until just before the Fox pub. Here, we took a right turn up the path ending at the corner of New Mills Golf club and Shaw Farm, which had 6 static holiday homes supplementing the farm income. 

Crossing fields across the hilltop, which gave views of  Lyme Cage, Swizzle's and Manchester. We eventually came to Mellor and Towncliffe Golf course, leading to Linnet clough activity centre and down to the Roman Lakes.

Our descent towards the Roman Lakes was on a rocky and wet path, which probably formed a bigger stream after more persistent wet weather. At the bottom we stopped for lunch before moved onto Strines Station.

Passing Strines Station we crossed the Strines Road carrying upwards onto the Peak Forest canal. This took us back to the leisure  centre and onto the Masons Arms where Storm Brewing was the beer of the day at £3.20 a pint. Next week’s walk will begin at the reservoir by the Leather Smithy SK11 0NE and up to Shutlingsloe. We’ll meet for a 9:40 start.

Chinley

 

Chinley Churn

18th February 2026

CHINLEY, CHINLEY CHURN, CHINLEY QUARRY, SOUTH HEAD (NEARLY), NEW SMITHY

Distance: 8.53 miles Ascent/descent: 1495 ft

Difiiculty: Moderate. One long climb

Weather: Windy

Walkers: Etta.

Alternative walkers: Jock Rooney & Millie

Leader: Russell, Diarist: Russell

Starting point: Old Hall Inn, Chinley, SK23 6EJ, parking on the bridge over bypass

Starting time: 9.40am Finishing time: 1.30pm

This Weeks Route:

https://explore.osmaps.com/route/27653535/wednesday-wanderers--chinley-chinley-churn-

south-head?lat=53.34269&lon=-1.93201&zoom=14.7703&style=Standard&type=2d

I have saved this walk for public consumption. Anyone can follow the route using the OS app,

providing you have a registered account (Free) in future.

The word of the day was Windy, last time we did this walk we were in the middle of a heatwave! It started OK but as we got higher up the wind increased and the temperature dropped, we persevered. It must have been 30mph winds on the Churn.

We dropped down toward South Head and then had a rather muddy return back to the pub.

Next week’s walk will be led by Mike, starting from New Mills Leisure Centre, SK22 4PU with refreshments in the Masons Arms approx 1.30pm.

Happy Wandering!

Danebridge

 

DaneBridge / Wincle

11th Feb 2026

DANEBRIDGE, WINCLE, ALL MEADOWS, HELMESLY ROCKS, BURNTCLIFF TOP, GRADBACH, LUDS CHURCH, HANGING STONE, WINCLE BREWERY.

Distance: 7.05 miles Ascent/descent: 1742 ft

Difiiculty: Moderate. Hilly

Weather: Fine & dry

Walkers: Andrew Blease, Steve Brearley, Julian Ross, Russell Spencer.

Alternative walkers: Jock Rooney - No Milly (poorly)

Leader: Russell, Diarist: Russell

Starting point: Danebridge (on the bridge). SK11 0QE

Starting time: 9.40am Finishing time: 13.30pm

This Weeks Route:

https://explore.osmaps.com/route/30603547/wednesday-wanderers-wincle?

lat=53.19342&lon=-2.04823&zoom=13.424&style=Leisure&type=2d

I have saved this walk for public consumption. Anyone can follow the route using the OS app, providing you have a registered account (Free) in future.

A small turnout this week left the 4 amigos to trot off into the predicted weather, which may have had an effect on turnout. 

The downpour that was forecast never properly arrived and we had a few light showers until the last ½ mile or so. The going was slippy (as Steve found out) and muddy, but since it has rained every day this year it was to be expected. We weren’t quite sure what work was being carried out in the cutting on the way down into Danebridge at the end of the walk, but

with the rain it looked like a battlefield from the Somme.

We met Jock in the brewery bar (nice log fire) and had some refreshments.

Next week’s walk will be led by Russell, starting at Chinley, bridge over the bypass, SK23 6EJ and

back to The Paper Mill for refreshments approx 1.30-2.00

Happy Wandering!

Rowarth

 

Rowarth Circular

4th Feb, 2026

ROWARTH CAR PARK, NEAR SLACK, FAR SLACK, COOMBES TOR, PENNINE BRIDLEWAY, LANTERN

PIKE, BIRCH VALE, LITTLE MILL

Distance: 8.57 (9.02 actual) miles, Ascent/descent: 1390 ft

Difiiculty: Moderate. One long climb

Weather: Overcast but dry

Walkers: Andrew Blease, Steve Brearley, Mike Cassini, Hughie Hardman, Julian Ross, Russell Spencer, Simon Williams, Keith Welsh, Cliff Worthington.

Alternative walkers/Drinkers: Peter Beal, Tom Cunliffe, Jock Rooney with Milly

Leader: Russell, Diarist: Russell

Starting point: Rowarth Public Car Park, SK22 1EF

Starting time: 9.40am Finishing time: 13.45pm

This Weeks Route:

https://explore.osmaps.com/route/30517054/wednesday-wanderers--rowarthlantern-

circular-040226?lat=53.38921&lon=-1.99103&zoom=13.432&style=Leisure&type=2d

I have saved this walk for public consumption. Anyone can follow the route using the OS app, providing you have a registered account (Free) in future.

A reasonable turnout for this weeks walk, however this was soon to be cut down as half way up the first climb, Cliff was not feeling it and on the advice of others returned to the car park, where

Andy kindly drove him back home. (they both changed and returned to the pub later).

It was an initial hike up, but once on the tops, afforded great views, when not in cloud. 

We made good pace on this walk, not having to cut short as previous walks. We passed a couple of larger groups (mixed gender) en route, and several comments were raised about our lack of female

company, which we batted off with a few classic replies (they’re doing the ironing etc….).

We decided not to go over Lantern Pike, but around and back to the Mill, the ground had been good to us apart from the last ¼ mile through a farm which was knee deep in mud, hey ho.

We then joined the alternatives in the Mill for refreshments. It is also to be noted that Mr Beale successfully walked to the pub and back, a total of 6 miles which hopefully means he is working his way back to full walks soon.

Next week’s walk will be led by Russell, starting at Danebank, near Wincle Brewery, SK11 0QE. Start time 9.40, meeting for refreshments in the brewery around 1.00-1.30

Happy Wandering!