New Mills

 

 

October 22nd, 2025.

 

NEW MILLS LEISURE CENTRE, EAVES KNOLL 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: Drizzle and showers followed by clouds and occasional sunshine, 

Walkers Andy Blease, Steve Brierley, Mike Cassini, Mark Enright, Mark Gibby, Russell Spencer, Simon Williams, Cliff Worthington, Keith Webb.

Alternative Walkers: Jock Rooney and Millie, Colin Davison, Tom Cunliffe

Leader: Cassini. Diarist: Cassini

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

Starting time: 9.40am. Finishing time: 1.30.

For a change the weather was true to form and after a very few minutes we were forced to stop for wet weather gear due to the downpour which fortunately proved to be a shower and as predicted, apart from the occasional drizzle, the weather gave us a pleasant autumn day. We began walking through New Mills and up Hall Street past the former Police Station where the original Mass Trespassers were held after their arrest in April 1932 their actions beginning the freedom to roam legislation allowing walkers to use footpaths on private property. 

We then began our major ascent up Eaves Knoll Road where at the top we took a stile and a diagonal path across a field and onto and across New Mills Golf Course. Down a short path we came to Shaw Farm, home of Shaw Farm holidays a working farm with a 6 static caravans, a website and a 4.9 review rating!! From the farm and another diagonal path across a field, another field crossing soon took us to Mellor and Towncliffe Golf course, where the path edged the Course eventually taking us past Linnet Clough and a gaggle of school children either arriving or leaving not unlike a string of young migrants with their worldly possessions on their back.

Our descent towards the Roman Lakes was on a rocky and wet path which probably formed a bigger stream after more persistent wet weather. Passing by the Roman Lakes we spotted a number of cormorants in a tree on the lake and shortly stopped by the weir for pie-time.

From here we walked along by the Goyt River almost up to Strines Station when we then passed more cormorants passing across the New Mills Marple road up a gentle climb onto the Peak Forest Canal.

We walked the canal past Swizzels, where houses were inexplicably still for sale despite the particularly attractive location, passing the marina to the right before descending down through the Torrs. We passed possibly spitting llamas to arrive at the Masons Arms where birthday boy Mark E. provided all but a few hardy souls with soft drink refreshments.

Next week we meet at the Bollington municipal car park for a communally led walk up to White Nancy and back for a pint afterwards at the Vale.