Whaley Bridge

November 15th, 2023.

 

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 COCK AT WHALEY BRIDGE

 

Distance: 9-10 miles.

Difficulty: Moderate.

Weather: Very Windy occasional drizzle,

Walkers: Mickey Barrett Andy Blease, Mike Cassini, Tom Cunliffe with Daisy, Mark Gibby, Hughie Hardiman , Dean Taylor, David Willetts.

Apologies: Alastair Cairns Alan Hart , Chris Owens, Peter Beal, George Dearsley (in Turkey), Mark Enright (w^*king), Cliff Worthington Julian Ross Simon Williams

Leaders:  Cunliffe. Diarist: Cassini

Starting point: Tom Brad's Croft free car park, Whaley Bridge (SK23 7LX)

Starting time: 9.40am. Finishing time: 2.30pm.

 7ZL.

  

 

There had been forecasts of rain throughout the morning and apart from the odd shower it was mainly dry but very blustery particularly on the appositely named Windgather. Our route took us through some stunning scenery and we received a warm welcome at The Swan, where unlike in August, we sat inside by the conveniently placed bar hatch.

Most of the route description has been lifted from August as it wasn’t until our ascent to Taxal Edge that Tom asked me to write this so without pen, paper or much technical knowledge most of the salient points have been cribbed from a more experienced writer currently resting in the former colonies, so apologies in advance for errors omissions and ballsups.

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 immediately left over a narrow bridge across a stream to head uphill, turn right and continue along the former trackbed (9mins). 

As 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.

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) 

 

 

 

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). 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.

        

  

 

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 took us into Dunge Valley Gardens (119mins), a former nursery specialising in rhododendrons. 

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.

We then went through a field which we exited through a metal gate marked with a yellow arrow (149mins). After crossing a stone step stile (150mins) we reached a track and swung right to the left of a farmhouse, ignoring two wooden stiles marked with yellow arrows.

On reaching a crossroads we went forward, passing Stocks Bank Cottage on our right (158mins) and turned left at a flight of steps (159 mins) to reach The Swan immediately on our left. 

 

Unlike in August the first choice of a light cask ale from the local Storm Brewing company proved to be a winner for most of the party at £4.35 a pint excepting Mickey who was drinking Marston Pedigree even though Beermeister Dave declared this an Old Man’s drink, being a spring chicken I partook of Wincle brewery’s Hen Cloud which was delightful.

Resuming our journey with Tom now leading 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 Kishfield Lane. This took us past Hardy Green on our left and Kishfield 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)

 

        

 

Ignoring paths to our right we kept Todd Brook in sight on our left until the path led us down to it.  With Tom leading the way over a makeshift bridge we reached the far side where we squeezed through a gap in a metal fence (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 main road through Whaley Bridge 

 

 

Next week's walk will start at 9.40am from the lay-by at what3words ///respect.pits.handrail


It’s the first lay-by after taking first left exit off the A6 at Chapel en le Frith.