Introduction
With a little less time at my disposal today, I chose to stay in Stockport for a shortish walk, and find some new paths in a much visited area.
I made my way to Compstall, a 25 minute drive from Cheadle Hulme.
The walk is 5 miles with 900feet of ascent most of which is in the first section of the walk, which served to warm me up on this decidedly chilly, but thankfully dry, day.
It took 2 hours 30 minutes to complete, but I stopped to enjoy the views for a while at Werneth Low.
The walk is OK for dog walking as there’s plenty of fenced tracks and paths, though one or two stiles that would be impassable with a larger dog.
I walked in a clockwise direction.
The walk is on OS Explorer Map OL1.
I parked in the car park at Etherow Country Park, paying £2.60, postcode SK6 5JD, What 3 Words ///nudge.fans.reclined
The map shows my planned route in yellow. The purple line indicates my actual detoured route due to the closure of the Mortin’s Clough path, hopefully only temporary!
Compstall To Werneth Low
Initially, the route heads up the B6104 towards Romiley. It passes the handsome Compstall Church.
As the road rises there are views into the pretty valley to the right.
A little further up the road, I took the footpath to the right, dropping down to the valley floor. At a footpath sign, I set off uphill again on the route heading to Werneth Low. It’s a steady climb, with the ancient Benfield Clough on the left, and as I looked back, views over the trees began to emerge.
There are sheep grazing in the fields, some particularly large, fine specimens.
After Far Benfield, the route levels out for a while.
At Near CLoughside, the farm was looking quite rundown.
There are another couple of cloughs to pass through, again with very old trees, and very attractive
Just one more slope to negotiate, and then I emerged in a hamlet at Uplands Farm.
Werneth Low
From here, it’s a short walk, crossing the boundary separating Stockport and Tameside, over a minor road to the spectacular viewpoint at Werneth Low War Memorial.
The views are 270 degrees from Kinder Scout to the south east, to Stockport and the Cheshire Plain in the south west.
The cold air that has reached us from the Arctic, brings very clear conditions, and I could certainly see to the Clwydian Hills of East Wales, and possibly Snowdonia beyond.
Idle Hill To Etherow Country Park
I traversed the hillside from the War Memorial to Idle Hill, and I stopped again to further take in the views back across the War Memorial.
My return route was on the eastern side of the Werneth Low ridge, edging around the golf course, back into Stockpoprt, and revealing more views, this time down into the River Etherow valley, towards Broadbottom to my left.
Ahead, the view was along the valley through which Etherow Country Park runs, with Ernocroft Wood on the far slope.
After passing Beacom Houses (an error on the 1:25000 OS Map calls the “Beacon” Houses), the route takes a path downhill to the left. Where the field meets Mortin’s Clough, the beautiful path through the clough to meet the driveway though the country park, is currently closed for tree safety work.
So I diverted over a stile and along a path to a very minor road that I’ve not walked down before.
It’s a lovely lane with cottages and views, though I’d have preferred to enjoy the planned route.
And so, I passed The Andrew Arms (not open until 3pm sadly) to arrive back at the Country Park Visitor Centre.
As a bonus, whilst eating my lunch, I was able to sit by the lake, and watch some exciting yacht races put on by the model boat club!
This is a great short walk, and offers up a wide range of points of interest.
And those with more time on their hands could take in the lovely country park too, or just enjoy the lake from the seating outside the cafe and visitor centre.
And Finally….
Matter Does Not Define is the brilliant new album from The Lathums. Can’t wait to see them at The Apollo next month.
This is Heartbreaker.
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