Whabux one

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As indicated by other reviews this is a walk mostly on a very quiet road. There is a short rough section, some steps and a short section on a busy road with only a narrow verge. No cattle, stiles or services. Some good views which can easily be admired on the move.

I walked from Whaley Bridge and wonder why the route climbs then falls along the old road when the old tramway path might offer a level and step free exit. At Horwich End we briefly follow the route of the tramway and again it might be better to use more but on the day of my visit it was closed for surface improvements.

The next bit of road has a pavement and the long steady climb starts, taking the left fork at the stump of an ancient cross. From here over the next two and half miles the only traffic I met was two scramble bikes and 4 cyclists plus a group walking. The views along here are good with an open planting of old beech trees to one side and the busy but distant parallel 'Long Hill' to the right. The name of the new road says it all because the slog up hill continues for three and a half miles ascending a thousand feet from Whaley Bridge.

White Hall marks the end of the tarmac and soon after here while I was taking a breather a cyclist approached well packed up for more than a day trip. We had a chat and he told me he was out for six weeks and heading for Scotland and had cycled from Germany. I wished I had had more time to chat but my bus from Buxton called. The track had a rather rough section as it started to descend and I wondered how our German tourist had coped with it.

At the main road there is a narrow walked verge best only to escape onto when passing traffic demands. A pavement starts at Cold Springs Farm but as usual it's also used to park cars. The final approach into Buxton is through an affluent area no doubt where Victorians came to retire and take the waters. The approach to the meeting place at the station misses the town services but they are not far away.

A pleasant walk but the easy navigation on tarmac did become a bit of a drag.

Really easy to follow, as it's basically 'go straight for several miles' in the middle. Views are well worth the initial climb out of Whaley Bridge, and it's an amble from there on. There are no stiles, but there is a flight of steps (after crossing Chapel Road in Whaley Bridge) and a lot of the rocky tracks are unsuitable for wheels.

Most of the route is shared with cars at least in theory, but I saw very few after leaving the town. You may also see horses or cyclists - I met one cyclist coming the other way on the rubble-y section around Combs Head, who complained that it was a little rough for him! I advised him the going did get better further on.

There's a slightly hairy bit where you join the A-road at Long Hill, which doesn't have a pavement so you're walking on the verge of a 50mph road, but the pavement starts again shortly afterwards. Overall a pleasant walk, especially on days with good visibility.

Mid-route facilities: None - bring sandwiches.

A straightforward route between two urban centres along road, lane and track. No field paths, gates or stiles. The long central section along a quiet tarmaced lane has great views across the Goyt Valley to one side and across to Combs reservoir to the other side. Quite rubbley in places, probably created by trail bikes. Train station at both ends, trains are regular with journey time less than 20 mins, so an easy linear route with return by train. Choose this route for the straightest route between the two towns, but there is a nice more rural option using a section of the Midshires Way along the Goyt valley (waymarked and on OS maps).
This ‘Whabux one’ passes the University of Derby campus in Buxton - it is worth peeking inside to view the stupendous dome, added to what was once the Duke of Devonshire’s stables for the nearby Crescent. It was later a hospital before the building was taken over by the university.

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