Ski Club of Manchester Summer walk — Sunday 30th June 2024

Reporter: Chris Fildes

Thirteen of us set off at 10:15am from Brabyns Country Park - Marple Bridge and caught the bus to Vernon Park for a linear walk of approx 7 miles.

We paused by the lily pond and bandstand for a brief outline of the route then continued on to the Café, (a former museum).

We walked on through the Woodbank Memorial Park and woodland following the course of the River Goyt high above the river and along Mid Shires way over the new Arden footbridge, with views to Pear Mill and sub-station.

We stopped at Woodbank Hall, empty and awaiting repairs. Architect Thomas Harrison pioneered the Greek style of Architecture.

We followed the course of the River Goyt, high above the river Andover the new Arden footbridge, crossed the river by the Jim Fearnley Bridge, we walked along the Alan Newton Way and then along the Etherow / Goyt Valley Way.

We stopped for lunch by the Stockport Hydro, Manchester’s first community owned green project. The renewable energy generated by the giant Archimedes screws is fed into the national grid,enoughto power 60 homes.

After lunch we made our way to Chadkirk, visiting the old chapel and walled garden where we were greeted by a very scary monk.

As we wandered around the walled garden, the mournful Ashoken Farewell drifted from inside the chapel.

So then it was onwards and upwards through Kirk Wood to reach the Marple Aqueduct.

After a few photos, we continued along part of the Cheshire Ring Canal Walk, passing Marple locks.

Then the light drizzle turned to rain, so we voted to shorten the walk by a couple miles or so to descend through Brabyns Wood to arrive back at our cars at about 4pm.

Many thanks to Helen for planning this interesting walk and also for arranging a ride on the 383 bus!