Whaley Bridge

Whaley Bridge

 

June 18,2025 

WHALEY BRIDGE CANAL WHARF, 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

 

Distance: 10.09 miles​  Ascent/descent: 1764ft

 

Difiiculty: Moderate. 

 

Weather: Hot & dry 

 

Walkers:  Andrew Blease, Alastair Cairns, Russell Spencer, Cliff Worthington.

 

Alternative walkers: Jock Rooney with Milly,  Tom Cunliffe with Daisy

 

Non Walking Drinkers: 

 

Apologies: Simon Williams, Dean Taylor, Mike Cassini, Micky Barratt, Julian Ross, Keith Welsh, Chris Owen

 

Leader: Andrew Blease, Diarist: Russell

 

Starting point: Canal Wharf Car Park, Tom Brads Croft Rd Whalley Bridge, SK23 7LX

 

Starting time: ​9.40am​​  Finishing time: 14.45pm appx

 

 

From the car park we walked across the bridge over the River Goyt and headed to the main road where we turned left. We followed the main road before turning right up Macclesfield Road. We walked for about ten minutes and took a footpath on the left, this led us through fields onto LingLongs Road, where we turned left. Walking for a short distance St James Church in Taxal appeared on our left, whereupon a small discussion about how campenology took place and it transpired that Mr Cairns senior was a one time campenologist.

(Did you know that capenology is the single most dangerous hobby activity in the UK. There are more injuries - pro rata - than any other activity, even rugby, according to the British Medical Journal - Ed)

 

Passing Taxal Church on our left we walked for 30 yards before entering a field on our right at a public footpath sign. 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.

 

 

 

 

We climbed steeply up this path, passing a memorial tree to keen hiker Terry Lardner on our way up Taxal Nick to reach the drystone wall on Taxal Ridge. From Taxal Nick the distinct formation of Windgather Rocks was clearly visible and we proceeded towards them. We reached the summit of the cliffs 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. Exiting the sheep fold via a gate we turned left and walked along the minor road in the direction of Pym Chair. At a T-junction we turned right towards Salterford and headed downhill.

 

At a wooden public footpath sign we turned right over a broken wall and soon crossed a short ladder stile to head through a field. When we reached a farmhouse 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 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, a former nursery specialising in rhododendrons. 

 

After leaving the gardens we continued to a crossroads and went straight across into Clayholes Road. Bearing slightly left we passed Round Knoll Farm on our right and reached Clough Farm on our left. 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. After crossing a stone step stile 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 and turned left at a flight of steps to reach The Swan immediately on our left.

 

Sitting outside due to the hot weather, we joined Jock, Tom, Milly and Daisy for some much needed liquid 

 

 

 

 

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. 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. Before reaching the bridge over Todd Brook (where previously we have stopped for lunch) we turned right over a wooden stile to enter a wood.

 

Ignoring paths to our right we kept Todd Brook in sight on our left until the path led us down to it. 

Ignoring the path closure and danger of death signs we made our way over a makeshift bridge to reach the far side where we went through a metal gate which had been broken open. 

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. Surveying the low level of the reservoir and the now abundant foliage at the bottom, we noticed a deer surveying its surroundings and indifferent to the presence of ourselves. After passing Brookfield Pond on our left we arrived at the main road through Whaley Bridge and returned to our cars.

More photos of the walk below….

 

 

Next week’s walk will be the ‘Phallic Walk’, starting at the Soldier Dick pub, Furness Vale. SK23 7PH. Start time – 9.40am

 

Happy Wandering!