Marple Circular - Saturday 8th February 2020

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 the Marple Lime Kilns which are now protected as a Scheduled Ancient Monument.

The kilns were built between 1797 and 1802 by a cotton manufacturer, Samuel Oldknow. Oldknow had links to our church’s area as he had a bleaching plant in Heaton Mersey and lived in Upper Hillgate in Stockport. The limestone kiln workers lived in cottages built into the bank above the kiln tunnels. 1000’s of tonnes of limestone and coal were loaded into pots at the top of the kilns from barges moored in a spur of the Canal. You can view some remains of the kilns in a small park which conveniently provided benches were we could have our refreshment break.

From there, our route took us through the Memorial Park, part of the Middlewood Way and skirted the golf course back to the Crown Inn where we had a nice lunch.

Crown at Hawk Green - http://www.crownhawkgreen.pub/?LMCL=twOWAY

The Canal at Marple

Crossing the bridge

Taking a break

Along canal towpath

Comments

Ashworth and Norden - Saturday 10th November 2018

Ashworth and Norden, Rochdale. St Jame's Church, Ashworth A party of six set out from Norden, Rochdale for this 5 mile ramble through the local countryside.From the car park we turned into Black Pits Lane and very soon arrived at the footpath alongside Naden Brook. At the bridge next to remains of the old mill, we crossed the river, and then began the climb out of the valley to a farm track which leads up to the ancient church of St James Bamford and the former pub known as the Chapel House, which is now a private residence. Here we stopped to admire the old church with its interesting grave stones and the views across Lancashire to Manchester and Derbyshire. We then crossed the fields to the old schoolhouse before joining Ashworth Rd to take us down to Simpson and Gelder Cloughs. Unfortunately we found the road closed because of a landslide and we had to retrace our steps and take an alternative path down to the valley. Not wishing to miss out the scenery

Birtle - Saturday 11th February 2017

The first walk of the 2017 season started from the Pack Horse Inn, Birtle on the lower slopes of the Pennines above Heywood. On a cold wet windy Saturday we set off from the Inn to follow the road north on a long steady climb to the hamlet of Birtle where we then turned to follow the path along the edge of Ashworth Valley. Unfortunately from the top the views over Lancashire were obscured by cloud and mist but the views of the wooded valley with Cheesden Brook running through provided some compensation. We made a detour from the route to visit Nabs Wife the site of the former Tea room and weaving mill known as Kershaws Bridge. The site is now occupied by a private dwelling although the old mill yard is still evident. From here we continued along the edge of the valley before turning to take the path across fields to return to the start point and a long leisurely lunch in the pub! Further information: http://www.packhorseinnbury.co.uk/about http://heywoodmonkey.blogspot.co.uk/2

Quarry Bank Mill and Styal Country Park - Saturday 10th August 2019

This walk came about during a discussion over coffee after Church probably two Sundays ago and was a bit of a corporate effort. Nothing was planned until some one mentioned Styal Mill and possibilities of lunch at the Ship Inn. One person had a much walked route embedded in her boots! This route also allowed the opportunity to cut back through the beautiful gardens if the prospect of the few short but sharp inclines was too much. Firstly we had coffee in the Mill restaurant before ten of us set off from the old Mill Yard (featured in ‘The Mill’ TV series). We went up the hill from the Mill towards the Apprentice House but turned left along the track that skirts the outer edges of land round the original home of the Gregg family. This used to be a muddy path but in the last few years the National Trust has upgraded many of the paths on the estate, making them accessible to more visitors, including wheelchair users and children’s buggies. We dropped down to the River Bolli

St Paul's Rambling Group Heaton Moor

Search This Blog