Park Lane Hiking Club

Clowbridge Reservoir and the Singing Ringing Tree. Wednesday 13th May at 10am.

Meeting
Limey Lane (off A682) Manchester Rd, Clowbridge. Nearest post code: BB11 5PF. What3words: items.cotton.drama
Limey Lane is a small unadopted road opposite a bungalow on the A682. With ample parking. The nearest post code is for Nutshaw Kennels which is a little way down the road opposite the reservoir.

Description
Length of Walk: Approx 7.5 miles.
The walk is generally on good paths. Starting at the north end of the reservoir we will skirt Nutshaw Hill, circuit the reservoir and head to Compton’s Cross. With great views throughout of Pendle Hill and, the Yorkshire Dales and the Rossendale hills we head to one of the Lancashire Panopticons. If there’s any wind is any wind about on the day it might sing for us. After the walk we can head to the New Waggoners for a refreshing drink.

Darwen Circular. Tuesday 14th April at 10am.
Meeting: Starting/finishing point: Country Cafe Roddlesworth Information Centre, Tockholes Rd, BB3 0PA. What3words ///absorbing.appointed.learn.
The public car park is at the back. Cafe & Toilets open at 10am - 3pm.
Description: This route goes anti clockwise from Ryal Fold through woods with a gentle climb to Darwen Tower. Walk by Earnsdale Reservoir then return to Ryal Fold. Distance 8 miles, about 4 hours, with ascending height 740ft.

Wed 11th March at 10:00 am. Rivington Circular.

Meeting
Rivington Visitor Centre BL6 7SB. W3W ///tougher.solutions.apartment. Park opposite the visitor centre on the drive up to Rivington Hall Barn. Look for the big white signage board for the Barn. Toilets and cafe at the visitor centre.

Description
A 5.5 mile walk with a lot of variety and points of interest. Well defined paths and steps throughout. Starting alongside Rivington Reservoir, we climb 900ft up to The Pike for a rest and take in the views. Descend back down and explore the terraced gardens. From the Pigeon Tower there is a steepish and rocky track, before levelling out to take us back to the start. Toilets and cafe at the visitor centre.

Scorton Circular: Wed 25th February at 10:00 am.

Meeting
Starting/finishing point: Meet at Scorton Picnic Site PR3 1 BU. what3words ///chips.requiring.slings

Description

The distance is 13 km or 8 miles apart from the climb to Nicky Nook its flat most of the way. Walk is at the edge of the Trough of Bowland, it has everything, a forest walk, river, reservoir, the fantastic view of the Lancashire plane. Finishing with a gentle walk through Scorton village and we can either stop off for afternoon tea or double back if we are early enough.

Summerseat. Wed 14th January at 09:30 am.

Meeting
Starting/finishing point: Summerseat garden centre Railway St, Bury BL9 5QD W3W: ///expose.fattening.scores. The garden centre and café open at 9am, with parking available on-site or nearby.

Description
This is an eight-mile, mostly flat walk starting at Summerseat Garden Centre. The route follows the River Irwell and East Lancs Railway to Burrs Country Park, returning via Woodhill, Tottington, and Greenmount. We will pass by the grade 2 Joshua Hoyles mill which reflects Summerseat’s position at the heart of the cotton industry. The walk ends back at the garden centre for a well deserved cuppa.

Etherow Country Park. Tuesday 25th November at 09:30.
Meeting: Starting/finishing point: Etherow Country Park at the entrance to the car park, next to the toilets. George Street, Compstall, Romiley, Stockport, SK6 5JD. what3words: ///mailers.tour.otters. There are 2 pay and display car parks. There are also 2 pay stations. The one you should use depends on where you park. There is also on street parking nearby.
Description: The walk takes in part of Etherow Country Park, then we walk along the River Goyt, the Peak Forest Canal, the Rover Goyt again and back to the Etherow CP. There are a lot of interesting features on the walk from Marple’s industrial past. These include weirs, rivers, viaducts, canals and railways. The largest ascent is 250 feet and the rest of the walk is fairly flat with few stiles. The walk length is about 9 miles. There is a café by the main car park.

Whitewell & Hodder Circular. Thursday 9.10.25 at 10am.

Meeting
Starting/finishing point: Inn at Whitewell Hotel BB7 3AT. What3words ///serenade.sunshine.incensed. Park either on the road or in the overflow car park to the left of the church but not in the Hotel car park

Description
This is a new route for the group starting at the Inn at Whitewell. It will involve starting and ending the walk by crossing the stepping stones over the River Hodder. The first section of the walk is over undulating countryside, never very steep, with extensive, amazing views of surrounding higher ground.
There will be a short section that might be a little muddy, so walking sticks are recommended. We pass through Dunsop Bridge, considered to be the geographical centre of the UK. The final section of the walk is on level ground generally following the riverbank heading back to the Inn. At Dunsop Bridge there's a lovely cafe serving ice cream as well as drinks and we can enjoy the refreshments sitting by the river. Walk length 8 miles.

Alderley circular. Wednesday 10th September at 10am. 7 miles
Meeting:
Churchill Tree pub Alderley Park SK10 4ZG What3words: indicates.revision.brothers. Park at rear of pub.
Description:
From Churchill Tree starting with a slight but continuous uphill slope for the first mile or two. Thereafter, mostly flat until we descend down a cobbled road that is very uneven and can also be muddy and slippery - it is advisable to bring walking poles if you have them. We also cross two very busy roads so care needs to be taken when crossing. There are a couple of paths that are narrow with brambles and nettles (for anyone thinking of wearing shorts). On the plus side there is only one stile!
We can finish with coffee/ice-cream at the Churchill Tree - they also do a 2-course pensioner's meal for £15 for those that are eligible!

Teggs Nose through Macclesfield Forest. Tuesday 12th August at 10am.

Meeting
Starting/finishing point: Tegg’s Nose Country Park main car park, Buxton Old Road, Macclesfield. SK11 0AP. What3words ///drags.bachelor.pelted
Car parking: Pay and display car park. Nose Coffee Café with toilets at the back of the visitor’s centre.

Description
A circular route from Tegg’s Nose Country Park through Macclesfield Forest.
This walk is a fairly strenuous walk on good paths. There are several ascents and descents . The use of walking sticks is advisable (if you use them). The route will be about 7 miles taking about 4 hours.
Shortly after the start of the walk there are splendid views over the Cheshire Plain with distinctive landmarks such as Jodrell Bank and on a clear day, Beeston Castle and the Welsh hills. You will also see various historic tools and machines that tell the story of the area’s 500 year history as a quarry, where the famous millstone grit was hacked and blasted from the landscape.
We will reach the top of Tegg’s Nose and descend down part of the Gritstone Trail (there are some steps approximately half way down) to Bottoms Reservoir and a row of lovely cottages.
We will then head towards Macclesfield Forest, once one of three Royal hunting forests in Cheshire and then to Trentabank Reservoir which is home to a large heronry and the Ranger base. On route you will have views of Shutlingsloe, Cheshire’s second highest peak which is also known as the “Matterhorn of Cheshire”. We will continue through the forest to the Forest Chapel, a tiny church originally built in 1673 and rebuilt in 1834. Every August the traditional ceremony of rushbearing takes place where fresh rushes are cut from the surrounding fields and laid on the church floor. We will pass a ruined house with a touching memorial to Walter Bullock, a casualty of the First World War who once lived there. There are great views of the ridge of Tegg’s Nose that we descended earlier. A final short climb up Saddler’s Way, a cobbled track, takes us back to the cars.

Mobberley to Manchester Airport Perimeter Walk. Wed 23rd July at 10am.
Meeting: Starting/finishing point: Mobberley Ice Cream Company, Church Lane, WA16 7RA
What3words ///inventors.limit.caskets. Free car parking in vicinity

Description
A gentle 7-mile circular walk from Mobberley, heading north to skirt the western edge of Manchester Airport. This mostly flat route follows well-marked paths, though walkers should be prepared for several stiles along the way.
The highlight of the walk is a lunch stop with spectacular elevated views of aircraft landing and taking off from Runway 2—a must for aviation enthusiasts and a great photo opportunity.
Due to occasional insect presence near the runway, insect repellent is strongly recommended. As ever, be prepared for muddy paths and bring sit mat for lunch.
Before or after your walk, refreshments and facilities are available at: Mobberley Ice Cream (open from 09:00) or The Church Inn (open from 12:00)