Poywha one

Slow Way not verified yet. Verify Poywha here.

A real country walk once out of Poynton with hills and moors adding to the stunning National Trust Lyme Park, a hint of canal plus a short section of old rail cycle route. Sheep and perhaps cattle, stiles and ladder stiles. The route does have a Secretary of State extended closure from 2022 now Jan. 2024 due to an unsafe bridge just west of the canal crossing, see below for details.

The road to reach countryside was not all bad, it often had a grass verge between the surfaced path and passing traffic. The final short distance had no pavement but most of the traffic had by now turned onto the estate roads.

It was a rapid change from town to country dropping down to cross a stream then a gentle climb leads to the Middlewood Way (MW) a disused rail route, now multi-user route.

At the car park our Slow Way leaves the MW but the next footpath is closed due to a damaged bridge which has been closed since 2022 so let’s hope Cheshire East can find the funds to repair it in 2024. In the mean time continue along the MW to the next bridge then use the short link through the recreation ground to the canal towpath to rejoin the Slow Way at the footbridge over the canal (see the picture map).

Back on route we continue to climb the path soon becomes a good enclosed path which had been improved, including some boardwalk, by ramblers in memory of a member. We wind through Green Farm then a ladder stile crosses the tall stone wall surrounding Lyme Park’s a deer park of 1,400 acres of mostly rugged moorland. Here you are unlikely to be alone, the paths are well defined and well used. I didn’t explore loos and the cafe but hopefully they are available to none paying visitors. I did find a bench in the winter sunshine to eat lunch while watching marshals struggle with an overflowing car park.

The climb continued passing the rear of the house and the stable block leaving the crowds behind along a path shared with the Peak District Boundary Walk. Another ladder stile over the stone wall suggests an exit but who knows how far ownership extends on the former country piles.

Another wall and another stile at the appropriately named Higher Moor does appear to be a summit, for the time being at least. Across the valley I spy a green plaque, a sign erected by Peak and Northern Footpaths Society. An application to their bridge fund is again suggested as I struggle on the slippery dilapidated boardwalk and bridge after crossing a minor road. The sign marks a crossing of two paths where we turn right.

It’s now generally down hill but also muddy so going was a bit slow. Perhaps I should have stayed on the track which might have been firm under a thin layer of gloop. It was interesting to see major work still ongoing at Toddbrook Reservoir, no wonder canal boat licences have to increase yet again. Checking my prepared day schedule I see there is a bus at 35 past the hour let’s hope it’s late, yes it was by two minutes, just in time for me to head off for the train to Sheffield from New Mills Central.

I walked this route in two halves, due to outside time constraints. So I did Whaley Bridge - Lyme Park, then Poynton - Lyme Park another day. (Uphill both ways, as they say!)

The east half of the route is a characteristic and pretty Peak District walk - nice hill views, lots of gorse, lots of sheep pasture, occasional deep mud around gateways, rocky farm tracks and many stiles.

The east half from Whaley Bridge passes by a reservoir, then ascends through farmland gradually but with occasional steep bits (including steps in some places) to the edge of Lyme Park, before descending down to Lyme Hall.

The west half of the route is less steep with less dramatic views, consisting mostly of narrow woodland paths and winding through farms and beside streams, with a mile or so on pavement next to quiet roads at the Poynton end. There are a few stiles, kissing gates etc, and some steps.

Hazards: there's some road walking involved on generally low-speed low-usage roads, but there are also two road crossings (near Lyme Park, on the Whaley Bridge side) which are higher speed so keep an ear out. Also, look out for nettles.

Mid-route facilities: Lyme Park is a lovely National Trust property with cafe, toilets, and gift shop. As a pedestrian, you can move freely on and off the parkland without paying, but do check the opening hours for things like the cafe and the shop (which are available online).

Share your views about this route, give it a star rating, indicate whether it should be verified or not.

Include information that will be useful to others considering to walk or wheel it.

You can add up to 15 photos.