28th January

Extra Wednesday

Fernilee Reservoir

Start: Fernilee Dam Wall car park

Map Ref: SJ 838 993

About 3 miles long, going along either side of the reservoir then across Errwood Reservoir dam wall to return along the opposite side of Fernilee Reservoir. A pleasant and popular local walk in the beautiful Goyt Valley – ideal for a bright winter’s day – especially if it concludes with a visit to the nearby Shady Oak Country Pub, SK23 7HD

◄Point at the picture to obtain a description of this route with an alternative starting point –and a 4½-mile longer option  which takes in a stretch of river-side below Fernilee.

25th February

Extra Wednesday (Recce)

Rowarth

Map Ref: SK 012 891

(4 miles east of Marple)

A 4-mile walk on the high ground from the forgotten mills of Rowarth on the high ground to Lantern Pike

18th March

Third Wednesday

Anglezarke –

Three More Reservoirs

OS Ref: SK 620 160

After one steep climb, from the reservoir to the Manor House, this turned out to be a gentle 5½-mile walk in beautiful Lancashire countryside beside three reservoirs. We enjoyed Spring sunshine and had a picnic lunch at WW2 memorial to a lost aircrew above an old lead mine.

For details of the route point to Mike’s Walks at:

http://tinyurl.com/2nqohv

1st April

Extra Wednesday (Recce)

Ribchester –

Ribble Valley

O.S. Map Ref: SD 649 352

A 5½-mile walk, on field paths and quiet lanes, along the river valley – to the west from Ribchester and south of Longridge.

15th April

Third Wednesday

Litton – Six Dales

O.S. Map Ref: SK 164 752

A 6-mile annual favourite springtime walk from Litton village – a clockwise circuit through Tansley, Cressbrook, Water-cum Jolly, Miller’s, Tideswell and Litton Dales

Except that our walk did not take in Tideswell, our route through the dales is a combination of two shorter walks at:

http://www.derbyshire-peakdistrict.co.uk/tideswellwalk.htm

and

http://www.derbyshire-peakdistrict.co.uk/littonwalk.htm

22nd April

Extra Wednesday (Recce)

Ladybower Reservoir

and Crook Hill

O.S. Map Ref: SK 172 893

A 7½-mile walk which, after a steep climb to the top of Hagg Side from the car park, follows a route, N-S along the western ridge, high above the length of Ladybower, to Crook Hill. After descending, past Crook Hill Farm, and crossing the dam wall-top road to Ashopton the return route is an easy low-level stroll N, following the contours of the eastern shoreline to the wall of the Derwent Dam.

29th April –

An Annual Special Spring Walk

Bluebells and Canals

(Map Ref: SJ 832 562)

An easy and always enjoyable stroll, of about 4 miles, along a section of two canals, returning through ancient woodland carpeted with drifts of native bluebells.

6th May

Extra Wednesday – Recce

Macclesfield Canal

Congleton to Scholar Green (linear)

A stroll from Congleton station, along a 4-mile section of towpath, towards the southern end of the Macclesfield Canal.

See: http://www.walkingbritain.co.uk/walks/walks/walk_a/2591

Chatsworth and

Beeley

(OS Ref: 259 685) 6½ miles

A favourite walk, to celebrate the greening of the woodland – a walk that is never a disappointment.

Across magnificent riverside parkland, at Calton, then a steady climb, from the beautiful setting of Beeley Village and its surrounding farmland, following a brook up through a high woodland clough to reach the moors and lakes overlooking stately Chatsworth.

20th May

Third Wednesday (another annual must do)

3rd June

Extra Wednesday (and one to repeat)

Whitegate

OS Map Ref: SJ 615 679

7½ miles. A visit to the saltmines and an ancient abbey – a track bed, canal-side and footpath walk in the heart of Cheshire.