Compstall, Redbrow Wood And The River Etherow

Introduction

With my penultimate Summer League tennis match to be played this evening, a short walk was the order of the day today. Starting from Etherow Country Park car park, it’s hard to believe that almost the whole of this route is on paths I’ve never walked before, and it is an absolute treasure!

It’s 25 minutes drive from Cheadle Hulme.

This walk is just 2.5 miles, and yet it took almost 2hours to complete, plus 15 minutes for lunch, though I did dawdle! Much of the walk is good for off lead dog walking, just a couple of fields of livestock and horses and a busy road to cross.

The weather was a little disappointing- cloudy, a few spots of rain and a temperature of 14-15 degrees C.

The walk is on OS Explorer Map 277.

I parked in the car park for a couple of pounds. To get there, use postcode SK6 5JD.

Etherow Country Park To The B6104

I’ve parked here tens of times before, and always walked round the country park or back to Brabyns Park and Marple Bridge. Today I turned right out of the main car park entrance up the road past the Andrew Arms and this attractive church.

Continuing on up John Street and School Lane, there is more evidence of village life to see.

Fine views over the Etherow valley soon appear.

I took the footpath left, down a field where several trees were looking rather sick. At the bottom, it took a moment to spot the route!

The next section is quite up and down, and it involved bridges, stiles, and nettles to be avoided (not sure shorts was a good idea! I imagine it would be quite muddy at other seasons.

After the last bridge, a short rise crosses a fence and emerges into a very pretty gorse-lined valley. Turning left, I followed the valley down the side of Gigg Brook.

The path leaves the brook and crosses a beautiful flower-filled field, just below the road.

A broken stile adds to the difficulty of the rise up to the road.

Redbrow Wood

Over the road and up a slope, I took the right hand option up past the beech trees at a choice of ways.

I was surprised by the way the ferns had taken over the path here. This short video makes my point!

Oh, and you can’t see the nettles at ankle level!

There are occasional views through the trees, and an owl nest box too, as the path follows the border of the wood and a field.

The path meets a track and enters the main part of the wood. My route keeps to the right, following the fences of adjacent gardens on the Cherry Tree estate.

The path continues to the left of the gate.

I emerged into suburbia for a couple of hundred yards on Waterford Avenue.

Watermeetings To The River Etherow

I turned into Watermeetings Lane, and after 30 yards or so, take a path across the field to the left. There are fine views to the hills above Mellor, and to the dramatic railway viaduct, with the Marple Aqueduct just visible through the railway arch.

After crossing a stile, the route through Lower Watermeetings Farm yard, and along the line of the hedge in the middle left of the photograph is clearly visible. To reach the farmyard requires a right turn at the bottom of the slope to reach the main field gate.

River Etherow

On reaching the hedgerow, I turned to take a photograph back towards the farm and viaduct.

At the end of the field, the river appears through the trees, where it is just a short distance from its confluence with the River Goyt (hence “watermeetings”).

The path along the riverbank at the bottom of Redbrow Wood is delightful.

At the weir which is attached to a measuring station, part of the advance Mersey Valley flood warning system, I found a spot to sit and enjoy the river….. and my lunch, and at last, some sunshine!

It’s a short walk from here back to the road, where an interesting renovation project is in full swing.

This is a super walk, full of interest and surprises, so close to places I often visit, yet completely new to me. Very enjoyable.

and Finally….

This is Manchester’s new soul sensation Mica Millar with “Girl” from her debut album “Heaven Knows”.