Whaley Bridge

 July 27, 2022

WHALEY BRIDGE CANAL WHARF, CROMFORD AND HIGH PEAK RAILWAY LINE (DISUSED), GOYT VALLEY, TAXAL, TAXAL NICK, WINDGATHER ROCKS, DUNGE VALLEY GARDENS, ROUND KNOLL FARM, CLOUGH FARM, THE SWAN AT KETTLESHULME, HARDY GREEN, TODD BROOK, TODD BROOK RESERVOIR, THE RAILWAY AT WHALEY BRIDGE

Distance: 10 miles.

Difficulty: Moderate.

Weather: Dry, warm, cloudy with sunny spells.

Walkers: Andy Blease, Dave Dunford, Mark Enright, Alan Hart, Chris Owen, Dean Taylor, Keith Welsh, Simon Williams, Cliff Worthington.

Apologies: Mickey Barrett (sailing in Turkey), Peter Beal (covid positive), Alastair Cairns (domestic duties), Tom Cunliffe (sore heel), George Dearsley (in Turkey), Hughie Hardiman (hols), Dave Willett (French hols)

Leader and Diarist: Hart.

Starting point: Tom Brad's Croft free car park next to Whaley Bridge Canal Wharf.

Starting time: 9.35am. Finishing time: 2.10pm.

We welcomed a debutant to this week's walk which was challenging in parts but conducted in perfect walking conditions. Whenever the cloud cover broke a gentle breeze kept the temperature down to manageable proportions.

Our newcomer, Dave Dunford from Birch Vale, turned out to be a near neighbour of Peter Beal as well as being a friend of our Hayfield contingent. As a professional walking guide we hope Dave will join us again and perhaps increase our number of leader volunteers.

In such august company it was a relief to complete a course that has not been attempted since pre-pandemic days without any pratfalls.

From the car park we walked across the bridge over the River Goyt to reach the public footpath along the trackbed of the disused Cromford and High Peak Railway Line.

This 33-mile stretch linked Cromford Canal Wharf at High Peak Junction with the Peak Forest Canal at Whaley Bridge. Designed by Josias Jessop it included a climb of more than 1,000 feet to Ladmanlow and was one of the highest railway lines in Britain at that time.

Originally powered by horses it was later pulled by steam engines taking minerals to the canal wharfs for onward transportation. It closed in 1967.

When we reached Buttercup Cakes premises on our right (5mins) we turned right downhill to the main road where we turned left under a railway bridge. After passing The Cock pub on our left we turned left over a narrow bridge across a stream to head uphill, turn right and continue along the former trackbed (9mins).

Just before we reached Alpha Mews on our right (15mins) we turned right at a footpath sign and followed the well-beaten track uphill through a field. It emerged on a road where we turned right downhill.

Heading for the Goyt Valley

At the end of Mevril Road we reached and crossed the main road (21mins) and continued down a gravel track until we reached a wooden footbridge on our right (25mins). We used this to cross the River Goyt. The path took us steeply uphill to St James' Church, Taxal, on our right at a T-junction.

We turned left for 30 yards then entered a field on our right at a public footpath sign (28mins). Keeping to the right of the field we reached a gate, went through it with a drystone wall on our left, and continued uphill until we reached a track. Here we turned left and walked along the track until we reached a green public footpath sign indicating the way to Windgather Rocks on our right (42mins)

Looking back on Whaley Bridge from Taxal Nick

We climbed steeply up this path, passing a memorial tree to keen hiker Terry Lardner (48mins) on our way up Taxal Nick to reach the drystone wall on Taxal Ridge (53mins). While the main peloton turned left through an iron gate other concerned chums were tending to the needs of their distressed comrade Cliff. It transpired he had been over-indulging on two previous nights and was paying a heavy price.

The steep climb had taken its toll but we can have little sympathy for such self-inflicted wounds and the levelling of the land seemed to revive Cliff's spirits.

From Taxal Nick the distinct formation of Windgather Rocks was clearly visible and we proceeded towards them. We reached the summit of the cliffs (77mins) which are often popular with rock-climbers literally learning the ropes.

The view from Windgather Rocks

We turned left along a track which led to a sheep fold on our right where we stopped for Pietime in its shelter (80 mins). Continuing we walked along the minor road in the direction of Pym Chair. At a T-junction we turned right towards Salterford (93mins) and headed downhill.

At a wooden public footpath sign (100mins) we turned right over a broken wall and soon crossed a short ladder stile to head through a field. When we reached a farmhouse (107mins) we walked right across its frontage and then turned left up a path to the right of the building.

After crossing a stile with a yellow arrow (113mins) we passed a derelict farm building and followed a series of posts marked with yellow arrows which led us to two metal gates. These led us into Dunge Valley Gardens (119mins), a former nursery specialising in rhododendrons. It appears to have ceased trading and gives the impression of being returned to a wild state.

After leaving the gardens (130mins) we continued to a crossroads and went straight across into Clayholes Road (137mins). Bearing slightly left we passed Round Knoll Farm on our right and reached Clough Farm on our left (144mins). Next to its entrance was a wooden gate on the right which we walked through and headed left downhill through a copse.

Nearing the pub – and the pace quickens

After going through a metal gate (149mins) we swung right past a cottage (152mins) and reached crossroads. We turned right over a stone bridge and immediately left (156mins). This track took us past Stocks Bank Cottage on our right to the back of The Swan Inn at Kettleshulme on our left. We descended a flight of stone steps to reach the front of the pub (157mins). Here we enjoyed pints of Hop Sack at £4 a pint and Lord Lucan at £4-40 under the parasols in the beer garden.

Some 15 years ago the pub was threatened with closure but local residents bought the premises and kept it going.

Resuming our journey we crossed the road opposite the front door of the pub and walked through a garden centre to exit opposite a church (159mins). Here we turned right and then left into Kishfeld Lane. This took us past Hardy Green on our left and Kishfeld Croft on our right (170mins) before we reached a bridge over Todd Brook where we stopped for lunch (174mins)

Afterwards we retraced our steps for 30 yards and turned left over a wooden stile to enter a wood (175mins)

The wood leading to Todd Brook Reservoir

Ignoring paths to our right we kept Todd Brook in sight on our left until the path led us down to it. Depending on recent rainfall the stepping stones across the brook can be under water. However, since the bursting of the dam at Todd Brook Reservoir in 2019 they have been pinned with sandbags to make access to the opposite bank easier.

However the “protection” of the railings on the far side required strength and nerve to negotiate a safe landing. Having passed this unexpected test (192 mins) we now walked with the sluice channel on our left and the reservoir on our right as we made our way back into Whaley Bridge.

After passing Brookfield Pond on our left (202mins) we arrived at the traffic lights where four of us called at The Railway (207mins) for pints of England's Pride at £3-50 while the others crossed the main road to return to the car park.

Next week's walk will start at 9.35am from the free car park overlooking Bollington Recreation Ground. Chris will lead us on a figure-of-eight route calling at the pie shop before heading along The Macclesfield Canal and climbing up to Kerridge Ridge to visit Rainow, returning to Bollington on The Virgins' Path past Ingersley Waterfall and pausing for a livener at The Vale. A loop will take us along The Middlewood Way to Whiteley Green before we return to The Vale for further refreshment.

Happy wandering !