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Alternative Goyt Valley Walk
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Distance approx, 8 miles - Buxton Crescent - Goyt Valley - Buxton Crescent
Going - Good to strenuous on the return journey.
Part One :
General trend, part one of walk - Begins at approx 290 metres above sea
level at the crescent with a steady incline. Following the footpath
from the Lee Wood Hotel for just under one mile on left-hand side of
the road, it eventually climbs to 428 metres asl at the Peak National
Park roadside sign and turning for the Goyt Valley. This section of the
walk is about two miles in length.
Beginning at the Crescent make your way into the Quadrant by turning
left at the main road, cross over and make your way towards the
University campus on Devonshire Road, after crossing at the traffic
lights on station road, go left and then to the right of the
roundabout. Making your way up between the University (Old Devonshire
Hospital) with its impressive dome, on your left, and the Palace Hotel
on your right, you hold this road until it reaches the junction of
Corbar and Manchester roads.
With the Lee Wood Hotel on your left, continue northwest on the A5002
Manchester (Long Hill) road for about a mile and three quarters,
passing the Cavendish Golf Course and several dwellings. Before long,
the road (Goyt's Lane) into the Goyt Valley branches off on your left.
Just prior to reaching this point, the walker will have noticed a sign
mounted on a block of stone, over on the right-hand side of the main
road. This indicates that you are now entering the Peak District
National Park.
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Part Two :
General trend, part two of walk - The journey is from Long Hill until
you reach the Goyt Valley Reservoir and remains of Errwood Hall. This
part of the walk is about two miles in length.
At Long Hill you are 428 metres above sea level, and from here the
narrow tarmac road undulates at first and then follows a very steep
downhill trend until the dam is finally reached at approx, 205 metres
above sea level. The road southwards from the dam is relatively flat
until a point just beyond where Errwood Hall is reached.
Venturing along Goyt's Lane, the walker will soon come upon a lovely
stone-built roadside Shrine on the right. Over the wall, there is a
view that includes a glimpse of the Fernilee Reservoir and Long Hill
snaking its tortuous way towards Whaley Bridge to the north.
Leaving the shrine behind, continue on this undulating narrow road
until a car park and a small open stretch of water is seen on your
left. This reservoir was constructed in about 1830 and put into use for
the Comford & High Peak Railway. It served the stationary steam
engine that was needed to bring the wagons up and down the very steep
Bunsal incline. Note the views from this location.
Bearing right, follow the Bunsal incline which drops away steeply on
down to curve around to the left towards the bottom. Here, there are
the public toilets that serve the valley. Continuing left, the road
suddenly turns right, where it takes the walker along the dam wall of
the Goyt Valley Reservoir.
Note the beautiful views up and across the reservoir. On its left bank,
there is a private sailing club. Half way along the dam and to your
right, there is a gap in the hedging. Take time to look through this
gap, you will catch sight of the impressive valley that holds the much
lower Fernilee Reservoir stretching away towards the horizon and the
town of Whaley Bridge.
Walking to the far end of the dam, continue around to the left and then
upwards until a T junction is met. Turn left here and follow the road
with the reservoir on your left. Following this road, the walker
eventually crosses a curved wrought iron bridge over a stream, there
are many Rhododendron shrubs to your right at this point. These were
planted as a part of the gardens of the Grimshawe family estate,
Errwood Hall.
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Shrine
Fernilee Reservoir
Goyt Valley
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Goyt Valley - Sheep
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Part Three :
General trend, part three of walk - The route rises from 205 metres
above sea level on the road at Errwood Hall right up to 479 metres
above sea level at the junction of Berry Clough and the old
Macclesfield Buxton road.
The walk from here into Buxton is about 4 miles. From Goyt's Clough it
is the only section of the walk where the walker takes footpaths and
not roads until Burbage is reached.
Walking via the old packhorse bridge it can get rather wet and muddy
where raise platforms have been damaged and are broken away. Via the
modern bridge, it's a steady to steep climb in places, up and across
the moorland via a well worn signposted footpath.
The old Macclesfield to Buxton coaching road is quite rough under foot
in many places, at Burbage, a tarmac road finally descends into the
town of Buxton.
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After visiting the remains of the old hall, continue to walk south
where the road begins to climb steadily away from the reservoir. While
walking here, please be aware of traffic coming from behind. It can be
quite busy during the summer months. This road is surrounded by mixed
woodland, including oak, beech, larch, sycamore and silver birch.
Heather, ferns, bracken, foxglove and bilberry carpet the ground. Watch
out for the gated route for walkers on your left.
Taking the trackway beyond this gate brings you on down towards the
level of the young river Goyt. It's very peaceful here, so why not sit
a while and rest your weary feet? When you leave, follow the signs
which will bring you back up and onto the road again near Goyt's
Clough. Continuing in a southerly direction, and looking into the
valley on your left, you will see the superb ancient 300-year-old
packhorse bridge. Your route to Buxton can be either via this bridge,
turning right once you have crossed it, or return to the road and
descend further on up the valley and cross the now very narrow Goyt
river via the more modern wooden bridge.
The footpath rising in front of you, is quite steep in places as it
takes the walker high on up over the rugged moorland landscape. Here
you will find the company of sheep and grouse, whose lives take them
through stands of cotton grass, heather and bilberry, as you gradually
make your way towards your goal.
After crossing a couple of small rivulets, the path climbs further
until it reaches a signpost that indicates Buxton. Do not take this
route. Rather, continue to your right, rising a little further until
you catch sight of Axe Edge way off to the south. Here you will also be
able to see the old Cat and Fiddle inn on the horizon to the west.
Here, you'll find the going is easy on the fairly level ground.
Fantastic views across Buxton, Harpur Hill and the surrounding
landscape are to be had from this superb vantage point.
Reaching the stile, you come out onto the old coaching road. Turn left
and make your way back down into the town from this point. Just before
the rough stone road meets the modern tarmac version, you cross the
track of the old Comford & High Peak Railway once again. When the
road proper is reached, continue along it until you reach the traffic
lights.
Keep walking straight on. This is St John's Road and walking along
this, it will bring you out close to the Pavilion Gardens on the
right-hand side of the road. Crossing over, take the side road that
eases off to the right, beside the Opera House. This brings you out
into The Square, follow this around to the right and turn left past the
Old Hall Hotel.
A few more metres and you will have ended your journey, back where you started in Buxton's Crescent once again.
Recommended link to Errwood Hall :
http://www.grimshaworigin.org/Webpages2/ErrwoodGoyt.htm
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Upper Goyt Valley
Upper Goyt Valley
Axe Edge
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