EAST CHESHIRE RAMBLERS
THE East Cheshire Ramblers set off from Brabyn’s Park under cloudy skies, but the weather soon improved.
The first thing of note was the excavation site for Mellor Mill, which was constructed by Samuel Oldknow in the late 18th century. The largest cotton mill of its time, it was a template for the architecturally impressive mills that soon spread through the region.
We followed Oldknow’s diversion of the River Goyt; the final flowering of water power with large stone-built tunnels for water and drive shafts. The site now looks like wild woodland until you walk in and find the deep holes of the wheel pits and cellars.
Continuing via Mellor Golf Club we contoured under Mellor Cross, reaching the hamlet of Brook Bottom, where we were literally walking against the tide, as there was so much rainwater on the road. We had our coffee stop at Hague Bar.
Our next point of interest was the Millennium Walkway in New Mills. The Torrs Gorge is made passable for walkers by the construction of this spectacular walkway. It has been described as ‘a steel spider’s web’ on stilts above the Goyt and is partly cantilevered from the sheer stone railway embankment, reputed to be the ‘finest retaining wall in the country’s rail network.’ Crossing might prove a problem for those without a head for heights.
From here, we went via the Goyt Way and then started our return journey via the Peak Forest Canal towpath. Lunch by the canal was quite eventful, being punctuated by a tractor and trailer and then a canal barge making some of the group have to pause to get out of the way and in the second instance to leave the lifting bridge.
After the Roman Lakes we returned to the canal, passing by some of the 16 locks which are part of a flight which leads to and from the Marple Aqueduct. It is one of the steepest flights in Britain.
From here it was only a short walk back to Brabyn’s Park.