Manchester Pedestrian Club


Saturday Walking Around Greater Manchester
- Courtesy and Companionship

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MPC Walks 2024

The following MPC walks are planned for 2024. This year, in addition to the normal rural/moorland walks, we intend to wakj the newly instituted Manchester Ringway, a 20-stage 200-mile walking route covering Greater Manchester. To access the information on the routes and stages download the app Go Jauntly. We hope to complete at least one stage of the whole walk every month. This should prove interesting to our members, especially to those who no longer enjoy our moorland walks. Also, each week, a shorter walk, of 4-5 miles will take place around or near Dunham Park.

MPC members will receive emails with details of the walks, but details sufficient to join most walks should be found in the table below. .

Given are the walk number and date, the name of the walk, its leader, and length. This is followed by starting time and location, and route details. See at end for details of the Dunham Walk, which happens every week.

See below See below. See below. 11:15 am. Conservative Club, Altrincham
Walk Date Name Leader Length
January 2024
5525 6 Jan Dunham 4-5 m
5526 13 Jan (a) Manchester Ringway, Stages 1,2
(b) Dunham
(a) John Grieve 13.85 m (7.27+6.58 m)
Various exits
10:00 am. St. Peter's Sq Tram, Manchester St Peter's Square to the Didsbury Metro station. Stage 1: Bridgewater Canal, Longford Park, Turn Moss Playing fields and Sale Waterpark. Stage 2: River Mersey, Chorlton Water Park, Kenworthy Woods, Withington Golf Club, Stenner Woods, Fletcher Moss Park and Didsbury Park to Didsbury Metro Station.

The walk was very interesting, passing through many different terrains. Many runners were out on the canal path near Manchester, then cyclists, then families on the path along the Mersey.

5527 20 Jan Manchester Ringway, Stage 19
(b) Dunham
(a) John Grieve (a) 9 m, (b) 4-5 miles
10.30 am. Altrincham start of Stage 19. See Go Jauntly. Stage 19 of the GM Ringway is a nine-mile stage from Altrincham to Stretford via John Leigh Park, Balfour Road Fields, the Bridgewater Canal, Walton Park, Worthington Park, Sale Water Park, to arrive at Stretford Metro Station.
5528 27 Jan (a) Hayfield and Lantern Pike
(b) Dunham
Geoff Orsler 7 m
(a) 10.30 am. Royal Hotel car-park at Hayfield (a) Aiming for Lantern Pike via the Snake Path and Middle Moor. Depending on conditions and the leader's judgement, the walk will either ascend Lantern Pike or follow instead the side of the hill beneath the ridge.
February 2024
5529 3 Feb Dunham only.
(b) Dunham
4 m
5530 10 Feb (a) Tintwistle
(b) Dunham
7 m
11:00 a. Cafe car-park at Arnfield Reservoir. The distance will be about 7 miles and the course familiar to some of our members: Arnfield Low Moor, Pennine Bridleway to the Swineshaw reservoirs; over the moor to the upper Tame valley; back via Walkerwood reservoir to rejoin the route out from Arnfield, or to return to Arnfield via the Devil's Bridge.
5531 17 Feb (a) Cown Edge - Sadly had to be cancelled
(b) Dunham
Geoff Orsler 8 m
(a) 11:00 am. Royal Hotel Hayfield The route takes the Snake path to the shooting cabin, then across the moor to Blackshaw Farm; across Matley Moor then a short climb to Cown Edge; traverse the moor to Rowarth and the Old Mill public house; track and road back to Hayfield.
5532 24 Feb (a) GM Ringway, stage 3. Didsbury to Bramhall
(b) Dunham
Amanda Timpany 7 m
11:00 am. Didsbury Village tram station This week it will be Stage 3 from Didsbury Village to Bramhall via Abney Hall Park and Cheadle. The route is slightly over 7 miles long and is described as being moderate in difficulty.
March 2024
5533 2 Mar (a) Saddleworth byways, road walk mainly, Steve Tetlow m
11:00 am. Starting from Sam Road End, Diggle, the car-park being situated a couple of hundred yards before the railway bridge and the Diggle Hotel (OL3 5JZ) on the other side. The walk will keep mainly to minor roads. There is some climbing which will be taken slowly, the first one being the ascent to Harrap Edge from Harrap Green. From there the route takes field paths to Delph before taking Thurston Clough road up to Doctor Lane Head. From there we make our way to Lydgate via Higher Turf Lane and the continuation of Lovers' Lane before descending Wade Hill back to Dobcross, then Sandy Lane and Diggle. We may stop at a public house on the way.
5534 9 Mar (a) Booth wood & Scammonden reservoirs, near Rishworth
(b) Dunham
Steve Tetlow 8 m
11:00 am. Car-park at Booth Wood reservoir. Cross M62 by underpasses and isolated island; ascend to Saddleworth Road (B6114), then descend to Deanhead and Scammonden reservoirs; continue past the latter to Ringstone Edge reservoir and back towards the A672; follow River Ryburn to Ryburn reservoir and back to starting point via Blackwood Common. Refreshments afterwards at Boothwood Inn (HX6 4QU), situated half a mile farther along the A672 towards Rishworth than the car-park.
5535 16 Mar (a) Leadmill and Abney Moor, Hathersage area.
(b) Dunham
John Grieve 9 m or shorter
11:00 am. the Plough Inn at Leadmill, post code S32 1BA, telephone 01433 650319. The route from the Plough follows the Abney road to Hog Hall before joining the path to Stoke Ford at Tor farm. From Stoke Ford we take the path up to William Hill Road and the Barrels Pub where we will stop for refreshment. From here we take a track to Cockeye Farm and thence to Abney. A little road walking through Abney, then over to Offerton Moor and Offerton Hall from where we proceed to the river and back to the Plough.
5536 23 Mar (a) Frodsham, for the Spring flowers.
(b) Dunham
Andrew Basden 8 m
11:00 am (Can arrive on 09:40 train from Mcr Piccadilly).
Car park just south of Frodsham station.
Station, Langdale Way, Hob Hey Wood, River Weaver, Bradley, Up fields, Frodsham Caves (lunch), Shepherds Houses, Fort, Frodsham Edge, Jacobs Ladder, Overton, Station.
5537 30 Mar (a) Ramsbottom-Irwell valley
(b) Dunham
Steve Tetlow 7 m
11:00 am. Lumb Carr Road car-park on the Helmshore Road out of Ramsbottom (beneath the Peel Monument). Route: Car-park, Wood Hey, Brooksbottoms, Irwell Sculpture Trail along the Irwell Valley, The Cliffe, track back to Holcombe, car-park. There is one muddy footpath a few hundred yards long, if I recall, which I expect to be very muddy. Waders would be useful.
April 2024
5538 6 Apr (a) Bamford Edge
(b) Dunham
Geoff Orsler 8 m
10:30 am. Dennis Knoll Car Park near to S32 1BQ, beneath Stanage Edge, accessed from the minor road first left after the Yorkshire Bridge public house (coming from the Ladybower bridge), grid reference SK227843. Route description: Path beneath Stanage Edge past High Neb to Moscar Lodge, then the path to Cutthroat Bridge; up to Bamford Edge via Jarvis Clough, along the Edge and then the road back to the car-park. A visit to the Ladybower Inn may be made after the walk.
5539 13 Apr (a) Standedge
(b) Dunham
Steve Tetlow 5 or 7 m
11:00 am. Brun Clough reservoir car-park at the Standedge Cutting, Saddleworth on the A62, before traversing Millstone Edge on the Pennine Way trail towards the junction with the A640, Huddersfield Road. Pack-horse footpath eastwards towards Marsden via Willykay Clough to Close Gate Bridge, there joining up with the Standedge Trail into Marsden itself. We shall stop for refreshment at the Riverside Inn, where we may decide to catch the bus back to the starting point or walk over Pule Hill. The distance is only about 5 miles taking the omnibus option, or seven if we miss the bus.
5540 20 Apr (a) Altrincham-Lymm Cicular
(b) Dunham
John Grieve 9 m, flat
11:00 am. the TransPennine Trail car-park on Seamon's Road Broadheath, Altrincham. The TransPennine trail is followed to Lymm and a return to the car park made via the Bridgewater Canal. Refreshments will be taken at the Bulls Head in Lymm.
5541 27 Apr (a) Manchester Ringway, Stage 4
(b) Dunham
John Grieve 7.5 m
11:00 am. Navigation Road Metrolink station, Altrincham (WA14 1LH) The walk is flat, the route is the Bridgewater Canal and we will pick up the GM Ringway route at Old Trafford to Sale Water Park. miles.
May 2024
5542 4 May Dunham m
5543 11 May Dunham 5 m
5544 18 May Dunham 5 m
5545 25 May Cross Keys Plaque Donation John Grieve 0 m
Donation of Memorial Plaque

We will meet at the Cross Keys pub, Uppermill for lunch, starting 1:00 pm, to celebrate the 120th anniversary of the founding of the Manchester Pedestrian Club by donating to the pub an inscribed 'brass' plaque and accompanying group photograph of recently active members, which the landlord has kindly agreed to display inside the pub in a prominent place.

The Cross Keys has played a significant part in the club's history over the years.

This is an invitation to all members, old and getting old, to swell the numbers by joining us for the lunch. It would be splendid if a few of the nowadays less active members could manage to come along on Saturday. John Grieve - who else? - has devoted a great deal of time and trouble to find an appropriate way of commemorating the fine and upstanding existence of our distinguished walking club.

All manner of outdoor physical memorials have been considered, but this dedication of a plaque and photograph would appear at last to be an ideal solution. After all, public houses, in particular this one, have played almost as prominent a role in our activities over the years as have the Great Outdoors.

I should add that for various reasons no additional walk has been arranged to precede or even to follow the lunch, but of course no one will be held back from taking the air on the moorland above the Cross Keys Inn, perhaps over to the monument at Pots and Pans, if the old urge to test one's strength and fitness is sufficiently strong.

June 2024
5546 1 Jun Dunham m
5547 8 Jun Dunham m
5548 15 Jun Dunham m
5549 22 Jun (a) Edale to Chinley
(b) Dunham
John Grieve 7 m
10:00, for the 10:22 train to Edale. Chinley Station car park. The walk this coming Saturday covers the distance between Edale and Chinley via Rushup Edge (or near to it). The plan is to take the train from Chinley station to Edale and then walk back to Chinley at a leisurely pace. From Edale station the course passes through Barber Booth and then takes in the Chapel Gate track followed by the Pennine Bridleway north westwards towards South Head. We turn off before reaching South Head, descending towards the hamlet of Wash and finally our destination.
5550 29 Jun (a) Hope Circular, via Bradwell.
(b) Dunham
John Grieve 8 m
11:00 am. Travellers' Rest Inn, Brough Lane Head, Brough, Bradwell SS33 9HG. From the Travellers rest we take field paths to Bradwell then walk up Bradwell Edge to the Nature reserve, which we cross. From here we take the path over Offerton Moor to Offerton Hall then drop down to the river for the return to Shatton village and Brough via Townfield Lane.
July 2024
5551 6 Jul Dunham m
5552 13 Jul (a) Saddleworth
(b) Dunham
Steve Tetlow 6-7 m
11:00 am. Car-park at Sam Road End, Diggle. The course of the walk will take in Boat Lane up to Brun Clough, then a descent to Bleakey Nook and Castleshaw reservoirs, ascending to Broadhead Noddle (or the pleasant footpath which avoids that climb), Delph, the Delph Donkey trail to Dobcross and a return via the canal towpath to the starting point. Refreshment will be taken at The Swan Inn at Dobcross
5553 20 Jul (a) Whaley Bridge
(b) Dunham
John Grieve 9 m, hilly. Can be shortened.
11:00 am. Meet at the Shady Oak Pub Fernilee, SK23 7HD, Tel. number 01663 309214. Please park at the far end of the car-park. Crossing A5004 to Folds Lane Farm, the route leads to a concrete footbridge. We take the footpath to Windgather Rocks, then Pym Chair; Cats Torr; Shining Tor; Shooters Clough; Erwood Reservoir car-park; Fernilee Reservoir footpath to the concrete footbridge, finally back to Folds Lane Farm.
5554 27 Jul (a) Holcombe Moor
(b) Dunham
Steve Tetlow 7 m
10:00 am. Lumb Carr Road car-park, BL8 4NN Car park, Peel Tower (steep climb, but short), Harcles Hill, Pilgrims Cross, SW to Bull Hill (almost), descent to Longshaw Head, Taylor's Farm, car-park. The latter part of this walk crosses MOD land which is sometimes closed to the public. If this is the case, an alternative route will be taken on the way back which we have done before, avoiding Bull Hill.
August 2024
5555 3 Aug (a) Marbury, Anderton Harry Kennedy 5 m
12 noon. At the Baptist Church car-park, Ash House Lane, Little Leigh, Cheshire, CW8 4RG From the meeting place, we travel to the start of the walk at Anderton in as few cars as possible. Then after the walk, to Harry's house for a light repast, with beer and wine.
- 10 Aug No walk m
- 17 Aug No walk m
5556 24 Aug (a) Styal and the Bollin Valley
(b) Dunham
Amanda Timpany 8 miles, moderate with two long flights of steps
11:00 am. Ship Inn, Altrincham Road Styal SK9 4JE Through Styal Woods and Bollin Valley to the Carrs and Styal Wood to Styal Mill.

(See more photos)

5557 31 Aug Dunham 5 m
September 2024
- 7 Sep [No walks]
- 14 Sep [No walks]
5558 21 Sep (a) Tockholes & Darwen
(b) Dunham
Amanda Timpany 7 m
11:00 am. car-park next to the Royal Arms, Tockholes Road, Ryal Fold, Darwen BB3 0PA. We will walk through the woods to the ruins of Hollinshead Hall, then up onto Darwen Moor, probably joining a section of the Witton Weavers Way, making our way on our return to or near to Darwen Tower and back over pleasant ground to the car-park. There is some moderate climbing, mainly in the first half of the walk. Refreshment afterwards at the Royal Arms.
5559 28 Sep (a) Anglezarke --* New walk *--
(b) Dunham
John Grieve 7 m
11:00 am. car-park at Anglezarke reservoir, Moor Road, Chorley, PR6 9DW. As long as the weather holds, we shall perhaps be breaking new ground this Saturday, hopefully not treading water, with a walk at Anglezarke. This is described as a seven mile walk, mostly along good tracks and field paths, which basically circumnavigates the reservoir, taking in the pleasant village of White Coppice at its northern end.

This walk unfortunately has not been reconnoitred, but as long as we keep the West Pennines map and the walk description in hand and the reservoir to one or other side of us, we should be able to find our way without great difficulty.

October 2024
5560 5 Oct Dunham 5 m
See below.
5561 12 Oct (a) Longdendale: Lad's Leap
(b) Dunham
Steve Tetlow 7 m
11:00 am. Arndale reservoir (car-park at the Fly Fishery cafe) Promised to be a "gentle, mostly flat, seven-mile walk", it was decided on the day to alter to a more challenging route, up to Lad's Leap on Robinson's Moss. Starting at the Arndale reservoir, we took the track up through the woods by the quarry, then up onto Tintwistle Knarr, across Robinson's Moss to Lad's Leap. This route affords great views of Longdendale, especially beautiful with sun patches. Down to Crowden, then back along the portion of the Pennine Way along Longdendale, and back to Tintwistle.

(See more photos)

5562 19 Oct (a) Roaches
(b) Dunham
Ron Cooper 7 m
10:00 am (because car park gets full). Gradbach Car Park (SK998662).
Map OL24 White Peak.

Gradbach Car Park, FB, Danebridge, Snipe, Park House, Hanging Stone, 407, (possible visit to Lud's Church), 310, FB, Gradbach CP. Optional beer in Danebridge at the brewery. Possibly a meal afterwards.
 

(See more photos)

Report by AB & RC

The Roaches walk was a regular date on the calendar some years ago but has not occurred since the Pandemic. Ron led a shortened version today, with six walkers in the beautiful autumn-tinged Roaches landscape. Today's main complaint? Mud! - not surprising given the wet months we have had. And the Gradbach car park, which gets full before 10 o'clock, our start time; the Roaches Estate has become very popular!

The walk itself was astounding. As we arrived, mist shrouded the hills, but as we set off it suddenly disappeared, revealing patches of blue sky, then sun, with perfect walking temperature.

We followed the swollen River Dane to Danebridge where, upon seeing the signpost there, one member remarked, "the longest two-and-a-quarter miles in Britain; it is at least three-and-a-half!" The trees along the river were full of colour and light, lit by the autumn sun.

From Danebridge, it was uphill to Hanging Stone Rock at the start of the Roaches Ridge, for lunch. There seemed to be a lot of young people walking, the reason for which we discovered on the way up when we met a marshal for the Duke of Edinburgh's expeditions. After lunch, along the Ridge, then we split into two parties, one that wanted to shorten their route by going direct to Lud's Church, the other further along the ridge before descending to Lud's Church. Lud's Church is a cleft in the hillside where the persecuted Lollards used to meet in secret for worship, now with Liverworts and Mosses festooning the dripping rock sides. One of the parties missed it and got "lost in the forest" for a time before managing to find a sign back to Gradbach.

5563 26 Oct Dunham 5 m
November 2024
5564 2 Nov (a) Newhey and Reservoirs
(b) Dunham
Geoff Orsler 8 m
11:00 am. carpark at Ogden Reservoir a mile or so north east of the town, postcode OL16 3TQ, Grid Ref SD 953122. (Could get tram to Newhey and walk up.) The walk will be about 8 miles long and will probably include part of the footpath shown on the map (South Pennines, OL21) as Rochdale Way, which passes two other reservoirs in that area, Kitcliffe and Piethorne. If the weather is fine and the party fit, we may even strike out for Hollingworth Lake itself, a favourite destination for the holiday crowds in Summer - so not so busy at this time of year. There is some moderate climbing involved on the walk, but probably nothing as taxing as the Budget later today.
5565 9 Nov (a) Marsden
(b) Dunham
Steve Tetlow 7+ m
11:00 am. Car park at Marsden station, HD7 6AP. The walk will ascend to, then follow, the ridge of the hillside on the south side of the Colne Valley to Deer Hill reservoir, from where a descent towards Slaithwaite will follow and a return to Marsden along the footpaths marked on the map (South Pennines, OL 21) as the Colne Valley Circular walk.
5566 16 Nov (a) Transpennine Trail, Bridgewater Canal: Altrincham to Lymm
(b) Dunham
John Grieve 12 m
10.00 am. Transpennine Trail car park on Seamons Road, Broadheath, Altrincham, WA14 5RF. The distance is 12 miles of flat walking; six miles on the Transpennine Trail and six back along the Bridgewater Canal. There will be a stop at the Bulls Head in Lymm.
5567 23 Nov (a) Stretford to Manchester (Ringway)
(b) Dunham
John Grieve 7.5 m
10:30 am. Stretford Metro Station. The distance is 7.5 miles and takes in the Bridgewater Canal, Salford Quays, Media City, the Manchester Ship Canal and the river Orwell. Refreshments will be taken at the Edinburgh Castle public house in Blossom Street, Ancoats, at the end of the walk.
5568 30 Nov Dunham m
December 2024
- 7 Dec AGM 0 m

Full list of MPC walks is available on separate page.

Dunham Walk Details

Dunham Walk Details
The Dunham Walk is a weekly fixture for those who wish to walk 4-5 miles. Below is the usual route; it might vary a little.

Start:

10 45 am at Dunham Hall National Trust Car park. WA14 4SJ. NT members free; non-members arriving without car free; non-members arriving in cars £7.

Route:

Walk towards the Nat Trust shop and cafe heading towards the Hall, past the Old Oak tree turning left through the arched entrance after crossing over the water, walk past the front of the hall taking the 2 nd left path towards Charcoal Lane and the tall ladder stile next to the gate house, crossingover Charcoal Lane and turn right and immediately left into the Dunham Forest Golf course, on reaching the fairway turn left towards the small cafe and toilet block just follow path turning right though a kissing gate making towards Oldfield lane.

After joining Oldfield Lane turn leftfor a short distance and turn right over a wooden stile proceed past a grave yardto Dunham Post office turning righton School Lane passing the Axe Cleaver public house, reaching Dunham School House, passing over the narrow Bridgewater Canal bridge, a short break here on the seat on the bank of canal.Return to School lane turning rightfor a few hundred yards , after passing Grove House farm buildings on your left, the road  rises towards the railway / Trans Pennine trail bridge,turn left at a gap in the hedge down a long set of wooden steps onto the Trans Pennine Trail railway line turn left towards lymm.

Reaching the closed railway crossing gates turn left at the Rope and Anchor pub, past the ice cream farm towards the Vine public houseshort refuel and pit stop here.

Turn left back onto Charcoal Lane passing Penningtons farm on the right continue until reaching the Bridgewater canal under pass returning to cars in Dunham Car Park.

4.5 miles steady pace: 2 hours 30 mins.

[Thanks to John Procter for the details.]



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Created: 31 December 2023 Last updated: 8 December 2024.

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