Strines, Mellor Cross, And The River Goyt

Introduction

I woke this morning to heavy snow. This led to a change of plan as I left the car at home, and relied on Northern Rail, admittedly another risky strategy. However, today they didn’t let me down.

Changing trains at Manchester Piccadilly I alighted at Strines Station at 1047 less than an hour and a half after leaving home.

I elected to walk on familiar tracks and minor roads that I didn’t anticipate would be flooded, but there were, nonetheless, challenges underfoot!

The weather was disappointingly foggy throughout, and very cold.

The walk is 6.5 miles with 960feet of ascent. It took 2 hours 45 minutes. I didn’t stop at all because it was too cold, and, with just one train per hour I reckoned I could get back to Strines to catch the 1337, which I did.

This is a great walk for the dog, being mainly on walled or fenced tracks.

I walked in an anticlockwise direction.

The walk is on OS Explorer Map OL1.

If travelling by car, simply aim for Strines Station, SK22 3AL. There’s plenty of on street parking by the duck pond. What 3 Words ///farmed.microfilm.began

Strines To New Mills Golf Club

I made my way gingerly down the ramp from the platform, and headed uphill on The Midshires Way.

The snow hadn’t made great inroads through the trees, but the adjacent fields were covered in the white stuff!

The train had been very warm, so I stepped out briskly to maintain the warmth in my fingers and toes.

I soon passed The Fox Inn at Brook Bottom, and continued heading uphill.

Presently, the path opens onto a track, with the back nine of New Mills golf course on the right, lost in the deep snow.

I made my way to the clubhouse and took a look back down the 10th hole!

New Mills Golf Club To Mellor Cross

The next short section is on a minor road. The surface was treacherous, but I found a safe route by keeping to the verge. I was passed by a jogger (mad!), and a light van (equally mad!) as I continued on to the nature reserve at Broadhurst Edge. A red traffic cone confirmed that I was not using a monochrome setting on the camera.

Turning left, I was now on tracks, Primrose Lane and Black Lane. Primrose Lane was thankfully flat which made the ice rink of a surface passable with great care on the snowy edges. Any sort of thaw, and this would be knee deep muddy water, so I guess I got lucky.

On Black Lane, the snow was quite deep, but not compacted by vehicles, not icy, and so, relatively easy to navigate.

I detoured from the track to find the trig point, 1070feet above sea level with a snowman tastefully constructed on top!.

Mellor Cross is huge, but actually took some finding in the fog!

I took a closer look.

Mellor Cross To The River Goyt

The next section is steeply downhill. I passed two hikers coming up and they warned me that it was very slippery. I was very careful here as there was black ice, but I found my way down.

I was now at the high point of Mellor and Townscliffe Golf Gourse.

I continued down the path, which was a rougher surface now, and less slippery.

The path emerged on the cross hillside track which comes from Brook Bottom.

The pins were still in the holes on the practice putting green by the first tee!

The path now became much easier. I made good progress through Linnet Clough Scout Camp, and on down to Bottoms Hall.

Opposite the Hall, the Canada geese were finding their way to a meal through the snow.

A male goosander was enjoying the rapids on the river.

Back To Strines

The water at Roman Lakes was frozen and covered in snow, but the weir and viaduct were as impressive as ever.

The Roman bridge is visible from the track too, at this time of year.

This horse was out in the field without an overcoat, and didn’t look to be enjoying it too much!

The path again passes below the railway, before returning to Strines.

Strines Station feels like it’s in the middle of nowhere and it’s easy to see how E Nesbit found the whole area to be an inspiration for her book, The Railway Children.

This Information Board gives further insight into how nearby buildings and structures are woven into the novel.

And so….. back to the hustle and bustle of Manchester Piccadilly…. such a contrast!

It would have been brilliant to have the sun out, but this area is fantastic for walking. I’ve done it often in the summer, but today’s adventure was an absolute joy!

And Finally….

I’ve been catching up with some new releases this week This song is ADELINE and the album is called Bruises by Total Tommy.