Introduction
Cal was out on a guided tour of Gorton Monastery this morning. So, having missed my Thursday walk this week, I made up for it with this great hike in a classic location.
The Goyt Valley is a regular haunt for anyone who loves walking on the western side of the Peak District.
This walk took in some paths I’ve not walked before, and others I haven’t walked for several years.
At 7.2 miles with a steady climb totalling 1400feet, it soon warmed me up on a consistently cold, overcast Sunday morning. There was a steady breeze into my face along The Tors edge, but it was very still down in the valley.
The walk took 3 hours 15 minutes.
This is a good walk for dog walking at this time of year. There are no nesting birds and no sheep on the moors.
The Goyt Valley is a 40 minute drive for me.
I walked in an anti clockwise direction.
The walk is on OS Explorer Map OL24.
I parked at the Errwood Hall Car Park at the southern end of the Errwood Reservoir, use postcode SK17 6GJ.
Errwood Hall And Foxlow Edge
I left the car park and headed up the track, leaving the reservoir behind me.
It’s a lovely woodland track with streams either side heading up to the hall.
The ruined hall is worth exploring on a warm sunny day. Today, I took the path which continues round the hill, passing the old hall entrance gate on the way.
On the far side of the hill, the landscape opens out, dropping briefly to cross a stream.
Rising away from the stream, and passing through a dilapidated dry stone wall, I took care to spot the sharp left turn that leads up onto Foxlow Edge.
There are lovely views to the south-west. This family were taking brunch as I passed.
To the north-east, the reservoir was now back in sight.
It’s a wonderful view across the woodland to The Tors ridge opposite.
At the end of the ridge, the path drops down to the road.
The Street To Shining Tor
The Street is on the route that I drove down earlier. It has a good path to the side as it leads up to Pym Chair.
At the final rise, there is a great view across to the town of Whaley Bridge.
And as I set out along the Tors I looked back to the north-west where the rock climbing nursery site of Windgather Rocks can be seen in the near distance.
All along the ridge, there are views out to the west.
Cats Tor is the first high point, and is marked by a post which defines the fact that a high pressure gas main runs beneath the land here, which I find quite remarkable!
Looking south, the paved path to Shining Tor stretched out ahead of me. The unmistakeable outline of the peak of Shutlingsloe can be seen to the right of Shining Tor.
Further along, there is a brief view of Lamaload Reservoir to the west, with the white disc of Jodrell Bank radio telescope seemingly floating in the clouds in the distance..
Shining Tor is the 7th highest point in the Peak District. The trig point is accessed through a gate in the wall. As the wall is the Derbyshire / East Cheshire boundary, this point is actually the highest point in Cheshire. I detoured briefly into Cheshire for a photo!
Shining Tor To Errwood Reservoir
Dropping down from the top, Shutlingsloe appears like a volcano to the south!
At the signpost in my header picture, I took the Cat And Fiddle path. After a short distance my route dropped to the left. It’s quite steep with plenty of rubble-like stones requiring plenty of care.
The woodland opened out on my left, with he reservoir now back in sight.
The path continues, briefly, through the woodland.
After crossing a stream, another sign guided me right towards Derbyshire Bridge.
At a metal gate, I took a sharp left, leading down towards the Goytsclough Quarry Car Park, and the River Goyt.
I crossed Deep Clough stream, and walked through the ancient quarry.
Across the road, a path is signed “Woodland Walk”. It leads down to a couple of benches at the river’s edge. I stopped here for lunch.
The path returns to the road, which I crossed to take the steps by the side of a metal gate.
The track leads back to the car park, with occasional glimpses of the reservoir through the trees.
It’s easy to see that this is a super walk in beautiful countryside. I had a great morning!
And Finally….
Last weekend, we saw Jamie Webster at Old Trafford’s Victoria Warehouse.
This is one of his best, “Davey Kane”.
Read in a booklet now gone that the Pickfords Removal business started by carting stone from Goytsclough Quarry!
Brian, you are a mine of fascinating facts!
Read in a booklet now gone that the Pickfords Removal business started by carting stone from Goytsclough Quarry!