New Mills

 New Mills

 February 28th, 2024.

 

NEW MILLS LEISURE CENTRE, TORRS RIVERSIDE PARK, PEAK FOREST CANAL,GREENSHALL LANE,CORKS LANE,LONG LANE , GREEN LANE,LYME PARK, DISLEY, GOYT VALLEY WAY

Distance: 9.68 miles.

Difficulty: Moderate.

Weather: Mostly Dry Occasionally Sunny, wet underfoot.

Walkers: Mike Cassini, Colin Davison, Jim Riley and Flossie.

Alternative walker: Jock Rooney with Milly.

Apologies: Mostly foreign holidays and weather related aches and pains of the elderly.

Leader: Cassini. Diarist: Cassini

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

Starting time: 9.39am. Finishing time: 2.15pm.

                                                        

                                                                            

Starting at New Mills Leisure Centre in cold but dry conditions we descended steps from the car park and turned right through the road tunnel emerging into the Torr’s Riverside Park where shortly we came across the small hydroelectric community scheme.

 

The Torrs

 

Following through the park towards a small climb to the Peak Forest Canal, Colin provided historic information regarding the Leat and flooding along the river bank and we enjoyed wildlife both native - a wren, rabbit and sheep - and not so native/wild : a cat, Canada Geese and Llamas.

It’s a shame so few Wanderers were able to take advantage of the cold but not unpleasant conditions, particularly as we came across two separate large groups who were out and about; firstly crossing Bollinhurst Brook a group of mature female joggers between 15-20 in number ambled amiably across the condemned bridge and then in the Dandy Cock. A similar number of mellow ramblers mostly equipped for accompanying Ernest Shackleton took over the rear half of the pub.

Once on the Peak Forest canal path we passed by New Mills marina and Swizzels before exiting at bridge 27 onto Greenshall Lane, crossing the A6 just past the service station continuing upwards to Corks Lane.

Empty House on Corks Lane 

Colin advised on several possible routes here but for no apparent reason we took the one past the Girl Guides outdoor pursuits centre. At the end at Buxton Old Road we crossed the road after 400 yards taking a bridle path onto Long Lane and Green Lane where Pietime was taken. 

Shortly after and into Lyme Park through the East Lodge gate where a few yards later we came across ….

Frodo and Bilbo seek directions through Rivendell

 

And then found the route onwards:-

 

Bypassing the cage to the right of the hill we turned uphill along Red Lane into Disley village and the Dandy Cock where birthday boy Jim (57) bought a small round and didn’t mention the Carabao Cup!

 

View towards Disley

Dandy Cock

 

After Guinness and  Dizzy Blondes we left the pub and went via Hollinwood Road along the  south side of the canal until going over a railway bridge through woods along Waterside onto the Goyt river path  towards the Millennium bridge. 

Next week Colin will lead a walk from Old Glossop to Bleaklow Head circle via Shelf Moor Hern Clough Far Moss and Glossop Low. Meet at 9:40am on Shepley Street Glossop SK13 7SG estimate return 2-2;30pm, no pubs en route but afterwards at Queens Arms Church Street South suggested de-brief,

 

Happy Wandering!