Brabyns Park, Bothams Hall and Etherow Country Park

Introduction

In a bid to heed the new Government advice, I chose to keep my walk almost exclusively in Stockport this week.

This walk is full of variation; from suburbia to upland, farmland to woodland, and the delightful Rivers Etherow and Goyt.

The weather was very warm, yet cloudy and breezy.

This walk was a little over 8 miles with a total ascent of 1390ft, 423m, taking about 3 and 3/4 hours to complete

The drive is around 25minutes each way.

For dog walkers, the first half of the walk will require dogs to be on leads but after crossing the A626 at Chisworth free running is possible most of the way back.

OS Explorer Map OL1.

There is a free car park at Brabyns Park and two toilet blocks at Etherow Country Park.

Brabyns Park and Marple Bridge

The car park offers a handsome view across the park.

I’ll be returning from that direction later; for now I headed back to the main road and down to the pretty village of Marple Bridge, and its bridge over the River Goyt.

After crossing the A626 I took a path to the right and was soon making my way up through pleasant post war housing, and narrow, rather nettle-lined paths. After 15 or 20 minutes I emerged into fields from which the views across the Cheshire plain were developing nicely.

The buttercups have been amazing this year, and this field was as good as any!

Coming out on Sandhill Lane, the gardeners were also enjoying fine displays with these poppies and a laburnum tree.

Brown Low

At the junction with Ernocroft Lane I took the path left into the field, and headed up towards the copse at Brown Low.

Brown Low is a bowl barrow most likely dating to the Bronze Age. An earth and stone mound survives as seen below.

This is the highest point of the walk, and the views are superb.

River Etherow

I was now moving downhill towards Sandylane Farm, over the A626 and onto the Cown Edge Way on Far Woodseats Lane. After the farm, the landscape is softer.

The pretty wood led me to the beautiful River Etherow.

Bothams Hall and Back Wood

Leaving the river behind I passed into the borough of Tameside and past the nicely refurbished Bothams Hall.

After the buildings, two left turns took me over a stream and into the ancient woodland of Back Wood, a mix of broad-leafed and holly trees.

Cown Edge becomes an ancient stone track, and continues on uphill in a tree-lined gully.

Werneth Low

Emerging on Apple Street I made my way up to the entrance into Werneth Low Country Park, with views back to Cown Edge, centre, and Kinder Scout to the left.

At the far end of the field I came to Werneth Low Golf Club, which, bizarrely, is devoid of golfers!

From here, there are great views down the wooded Etherow valley.

At Beacom Houses I have now returned to the borough of Stockport and took the path left into a field towards Etherow Country Park. The hedge to my right is predominantly hawthorn, where the flowers have turned an amazing bright pink.

Etherow Country Park

At the bottom of the field, I took the sharp left path along the path at the top of Mortins Clough, another steep ancient woodland, where you feel very close to the treetops rising from the floor of the clough.

I came out at the hut on the tarmac lane.

I went right at the toilet block and on reaching the car park crossed over, up the main road, crossing the bridge over the river then right where Brabyns Park is signposted.

River Goyt

The track reached the River Goyt at this smart iron bridge, just a short walk upstream from the confluence with the Etherow. I turned right and followed the river back to the car park area.

All in all, a thoroughly enjoyable walk.

And Finally…..

Manchester favourites James have a new album out, All The Colours Of You, and this is for everyone missing their dose of Mediterranean sun. Enjoy “Beautiful Beaches”!