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Whaley Bridge
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The busy, but small town of Whaley Bridge, is situated in the
picturesque surroundings of the north west corner of the Derbyshire
Peak District. Which from a topographical outlook, lies just outside
the Peak District National Park.
Straddling the main A6 trunk road, the town is also served by an hourly
rail link from Manchester and Buxton, while those who prefer to travel
at a much more leisurely pace, they will find the waters of the Peak
Forest canal more to their liking. This navigable waterway regularly
brings boating enthusiasts and holidaymakers directly into the heart of
the region.
During the industrial revolution, the
canal at Whaley was once linked to the Cromford canal, away to the
south of the county, near Matlock, by a tortuous railway that had to be
driven over some of the highest peaks in the Derbyshire landscape.
At 33 miles in length, this was known as the Cromford and High Peak
Railway. The section of line between Whaley Bridge and Buxton was the
final section to be opened, and this was in 1831. Many features of this
section of this remarkable railway can still be seen, like many of the
steep inclines at Shallcross and Bunsall near the Goyt reservoir, and
indeed, some sections of the trackbed are a part of a public right of
way.
Whaley Bridge - Goyt Bridge
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Our photograph, taken in the centre of Whaley Bridge, shows the
magnificent iron bridge now used as a footpath, with C&HPR rails
remaining in situ.
A signal counter-weight(?) can be seen fastened to the ground to the left of the image.
Below, a glimpse of the river Goyt.
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Whaley Bridge - Goyt River
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The picturesque Toddbrook reservoir lies
to the west of the town. This was built in 1831 as a feeder for the
canal. Walkers frequent its shores to take in and enjoy the beautiful
surrounding landscape.
This can be reached by walking along reservoir road, which begins just outside the town's railway station.
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Whaley Bridge - Toddbrook Reservoir
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Standing on the path that runs beside the
dam wall, then looking in an arc in a north easterly direction with the
reservoir to your right, the skyline affords views that include Chinley
Churn, which at 1484 feet (450 metres) overlooks the village of
Chinley, Eccles Pike belonging to the National Trust at 1213 feet (368
metres), and last but not least, Kinder Scout at 2088 feet (633
metres). The latter, is a well-known wild upland landmark that stands
out starkly on the bleak gritstone moorland, just east of the popular
Pennine Way. This is known as the backbone of England.
Whaley Bridge - Skyline Towards Kinder
Click here for a larger picture of the skyline
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Whaley Bridge - Canal Street
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Many visitors who come in from the north, frequently
make use of the town's position to gain access through to the
magnificent Goyt Valley.
This can be done by travelling via the A5002 road to Buxton, then the
walker can choose to take any of the many footpaths that eventually
lead down to your right and into the valley.
Or, you may prefer to walk along the scenic public footpath that winds
its way beside the river Goyt, passing close to the hamlet of Taxal,
finally bringing you into the Vale of Goyt via the shores of the
Fernilee reservoir.
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Whaley Bridge - Goyt Mills
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Coal mining and bleaching for the cotton industry, were once a very important part of the town's livelihood.
However, very little actually remains today, but from the photograph
here of a cast iron sign 'Goyt Mills and the date 1865', is the only
reminder of the former industrial use of this site, now occupied by new
town housing. |
Just a little to the east
of Whaley's Market Street, there is a local marvel, the Roosdyche. Seen
by walking up New Horwich Road, this was once thought to be connected
to the Roman occupation of Britain, where it is said that they used it
to race chariots.
However, this shallow valley with its steep sides, is now thought to
have links more in keeping with the last 'ice age', where it is thought
to have been carved out by the movement of enormous masses of ice and
stone working on it.
Throughout the area, there is proof of glaciation with the presence of
erratics and boulder clays, all deposited on the landscape around
fourteen thousand years ago.
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ensure the accuracy of the information displayed on this website, the
owners cannot be held responsible for any mistakes found therein.
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