Buxworth, Cracken Edge, Chinley and Eccles Pike

Introduction

Today seemed like a good day to walk up some hills, and I challenged myself to ascend two in one walk.

Buxworth is a 35 minute drive from Cheadle Hulme.

The walk is just over 7 miles, and includes two significant hill climbs, a total ascent of 1840 feet, 560 metres.

The walk took 3 hour 30 minutes to complete plus 30 minutes for lunch and blackberry picking!

This isn’t a great walk for dog walkers, there’s lots of grazing land, predominantly sheep pasture and moors.

The weather was good, around 20 C and sunny most of the way, but with a strong wind on the hills.

The walk is on OS Explorer Map OL1.

I parked on the road beside a cottage at Brierley Green, postcode is SK23 7NL. The cottage had two interesting blue plaques by the door, celebrating the home of the Clayton family, who left Buxworth to become pioneers of 19th century California.

Brierley Green To Cracken Edge

A track between the cottages soon had me striding uphill. At this point, it’s worth noting the ascent / descent profile of the walk.

So, as it shows, it’s straight uphill here, and there are soon good views to enjoy.

At Cotebank, the path goes straight through the back garden, rather than along the seemingly obvious way along a grass track.

This is a photo back into the garden having found the route!

Approaching Over Hill Road, I turned to take in the view again, with the town of Whaley Bridge on the hillside opposite.

As the route profile shows, there is a 50 feet drop down at the road, before the path up to the Access Land at Cracken Edge took me off to the left.

It’s quite a dramatic hillside, initially enhanced by the flowering gorse.

It’s a well marked path, with quite a steep drop at one point.

As it flattens out, there is much evidence of quarrying activity.

I enjoyed the spectacular sight of Kinder Scout and the Kinder Downfall on the opposite side of the valley.

I had chosen to descend when I reached a clear footpath signpost to Maynestone Road.

Cracken Edge To Chinley

It’s a dramatic descent.

In a little over 5 minutes I reached the road, and the nature of the terrain changed completely. Suddenly, the edge seems distant!

It is a dramatic valley, but the water course, Otter Brook is quite small. The path weaves to and fro across the valley, with bridges to cross. the brook shared with the sheep.

Having passed under the railway bridge, I found the stream flowing under the track and through some pretty gardens.

In the centre of Chinley is a village green with cavelike shelters built along the side. It’s an ideal spot to get out of the strong sun and take lunch.

Chinley To Eccles Pike

The next stretch of the walk is along roads, but quite interesting as I’d never been along them before. After crossing the A6 Whaley Bridge and Chapel-en-le-frith bypass I turned right. Here were some (ex-) council properties all very well kept!

A path then leads up a field to a lovely minor road between Whitehead Hough and Buxworth. To the right, it looks very interesting, with an arched gateway.

However, I was going left, before taking a track on my right which would lead up to Lidgate and the National Trust land at Eccles Pike.

Both sides of this track were festooned with brambles, and my ice cream carton lunch box soon took on a different role.

And so, to Eccles Pike.

This route to the top is an easy, gradual ascent.

My only previous time up here was on the Ryecroft Tennis Club New Year’s Walk organised by Matt Berriman about 4 years ago, I’d guess. Great memories, apart from the unexpected path closure on the return to Whaley Bridge!

This time, I could spend 15 minutes absorbing the magnificent 360 degree views, north west to a distant Manchester, north to Chinley and Cracken Edge, east to Brown Knowl, south east to Combs Reservoir and west to Whaley Bridge.

Eccles Pike To Bugsworth Basin

Yes, the place is Buxworth, but the canal basin is Bugsworth….. I don’t know?!

It is a very steep descent down the northern slope of Eccles Pike.

After the drop, the path wends its way along a pleasant track.

After crossing one road, it reaches another at Buxworth. The path off the road just before, and parallel to, the bypass was overgrown with nettles. I stopped to don my over-trousers, having suffered several stings!

The canal basin is a fascinating place to spend some time discovering its rich industrial heritage as the terminus of the Peak Forest Canal and the Peak Forest Tramway. I took a quick picture, before heading up the road to the car.

This is a really good, varied walk, and if you’ve never been here, a day trip to Bugsworth Basin and Chinley would be a day well spent even if you climb neither of the hills I enjoyed today!

Oh, and if you’re wondering, those blackberries have made a delicious apple and blackberry crumble!

And Finally….

I was at Manchester’s Albert Hall last night to see Belfast songwriter, musician, and singer Foy Vance. An exceptional talent. His duet of his song Guiding Light with Ed Sheeran live at Madison Square Garden, New York (on You Tube) gives an idea of the esteem he’s held in.

This is Sapling, from the album Signs of Life.