St Paul's Rambling Group Heaton Moor

Eccles Pike via the Roosdyche A group of seven, plus a lively Jack Russell, set off from Bugsworth Basin. We headed uphill from Buxworth across fields with very muddy patches, which nearly swallowed one of the party. Then we walked along the outer bank of the mysterious Roosdyche (Roman chariot track, Iron Age fortification, or glacial meltwater channel?). This gave us wide views over Whaley Bridge and the empty Toddbrook Reservoir.  From there we headed up the road past Ollerenshaw Hall to Eccles Pike. Some of the party made the final ascent to the top of the Pike which offers a panoramic view of Chinley Churn, Whaley Moor and Combs Edge. Getting down from it involved a “black run” of tussock grass. The rest of the group took the gentler route round the shoulder of the Pike. We regrouped and followed the long traverse back down to Buxworth, over several styles which the dog found very exciting. Finally we crossed back over the A6 to the Navigation Inn and a traditional pi...

Marple Circular Lime Kilns Marple visited on this walk All set to go Our group of walkers set out on the 4.5 mile walk around the Marple area on the day before storm Ciara hit. The walk started and ended at the Crown inn at Hawk Green, SK6 7HU. We walked up to The Ridge Methodist Church, in use for over 170 years, which afforded an excellent view of the countryside towards Stockport. We dropped down to the Peak Forest Canal which runs from Whaley Bridge. The Canal was under construction from 1794 to 1805. This canal is joined by the Macclesfield Canal at Marple. The Canal was primarily built to transport bulk manufactured goods and raw materials. Of particular note was the limestone brought from the quarries in Dove Holes in the Peak District. Our walk along the canal past some of the 16 locks which form the Marple Flight of Locks. The locks have one of the steepest rises in Britain, 209 feet over a distance of 1 mile. The route took us to the nearby remains of ...