Agree in the Disley section it makes sense to keep the height and use footpath 25 by St Mary's unless you're popping into Disley for shops, cafes and pubs. I used the Higher Poynton canalside variation as suggested and picked up the Prince's Incline from the canal. One thing to note is the mixed herd of cattle at Barlow House Farm, could require a bit of care if you're walking with dogs....

Jonc

An alternative which avoids one of the A6 crossings, the difficult section and a rickety stile would be to head south on the Middlewood Way taking the Ladybrook Valley Interest Trail over to the Macclesfield Canal to rejoining the route there....

clarke

From Gowhole we walked the footpath closest to the railway to the south-west. From New Mills to Gowhole and between Brierley Green and Chapel-en-le-Frith we encountered no problems....

Vanessa Hack

There doesn't seem much value in leaving the Incline path at Middlewood Road and then walking down the pavement-less Green Lane to get to the canal (unless you want the 392 bus stop) and it makes much more sense to us, to continue going along the Incline path all of the way to the canal, or at least as far as the Middlewood Way crossing, and then do a short section on that before re-joining the suggested route....

Andy Screen

It is a shame you have to (very) briefly walk along the A6 in Furness Vale but there is no alternative route and it is short-lived (and does offer a pub opportunity at the Crossings by the railway station). The awkward stile as you descend into Furness Vale is certainly more difficult than it needs to be (it has been reported to DCC) but in the hope that it can be sorted, I'll give it the benefit of the doubt....

Andy Screen

Leaving Chapel-en-le-Frith it's a gentle climb, one section of road is narrow with steep sides but light passing traffic was considerate. We enter National Trust land where the path is a level shelf on the hillside but take care to bear left on the footpath to follow the three hundred metre contour. A well walked path drops to the road and we use this to cross the busy by-pass arriving at the impressive Bugsworth Basin a complex of canal arms that were once busy with working boats but now offer pleasant moorings for visiting pleasure boats. The short section of road has a narrow pavement except at the bend then it's a flat walk through meadow land before passing under the railway viaduct and entry to Torrs Riverside Park....

Ken

I didn't walk this route although I did plan to so took a look at the maps before setting out....

Ken

I'm disappointed this excellent walking route has been flagged, yes I agree it could be improved for some users but that would be a different route. As a walking route with bags of interest along the way this is a five star Slow Way....

Ken

This is a very pleasant route with lovely views, mainly through pastures....

Vanessa Hack

We suggest to avoid some road walking and losing height through Disley, take Disley parish footpath 25 instead of Buxton Old Road and the Disley end of Red Lane. From New Mills turn left where Chantry Road meets Buxton Old Road then right after approximately 30 m. From Poynton turn right off Red Lane before the road starts descending....

Vanessa Hack

The last kilometre or so (from the fields at Mousley Bottom up to New Mills bus station) seemed a slightly odd choice; the most direct route maybe, but Station Road is a slightly dreary slog, and for the sake of another 200m or so, I would choose to keep to the paths that stay closest to the river, go across the Millennium Walkway into the Torrs, and then takes the steps up to the bus station from there. Ideally, I would suggest the route is tweaked to encourage people to use the Torkington Road lights (Hazel Grove) and central island (High Lane) crossings....

Andy Screen

We leave the canal and turn right at Station Road and down Brabyns Brow to the meeting point at Marple station....

Hugh Hudson

Leaving Hayfield, we cross the car park to find the start of the Sett Valley Trail, which we follow most of the way into New Mills, apart from the road junction on Station Road in Birch Vale, where the main track goes down right of the road but we take a shortcut footpath crossing the road higher up....

Hugh Hudson

The route only takes in the northern edge of Lyme Park (you will see the payment kiosk, not the house) but you do pass through one gate at the Red Lane end which will be locked at closing time, so please check the National Trust website for the park gate times which change seasonally....

Lauren G

I had plotted this route but didn't know the New Mills end....

Ken

Unfortunately my review didn't post and I don't remember exactly what it said - but I agree with the previous reviewer, this is a pleasant and easy to follow route, well used by all classes of traffic (bikes, dogs, prams, kids on tricycles, and evidently horses as there were lots of hoofprints). The 358 bus runs Stockport - Hayfield and stops at New Mills, so there's good public transport access if you're doing a one-way walk....

Lauren G

Out of Chapel the route was broadly easy (though I'd recommend staying on the lane up to Lidgate rather than go over the fields at Hallhill- it's a very quiet road) and the views over Chinley and back towards Kinder are great....

Bshepherd

A few climbs - most notably the cobbled path down to join the path from New Mills - but otherwise easily navigable with wide gates and a cafe available at Birch Vale....

Bryony

Pedestrians, keep an ear out for bike bells while you're admiring the excellent views out over the valley, or the pretty canal barges with the daft names....

Lauren G

Obstacles to wheel users include a few flights of stairs (e.g. down to a stream to reach a bridge, or down into Disley railway station) as well as gates, stiles, and muddy paths through pasture. Obstacles: gates, stiles, several flights of stairs (photo 6)...

Lauren G

Pleasant stroll along the towpath - there are a few steps up to the towpath at New Mills, then there are stairs at the other end of the route at Marple Locks, there's also a snake bridge as the other reviewer noted Being along the canal, the route is flat for most of its length but the land slopes away to your right so there are often good views of countryside....

Lauren G

Crossing the Peak Forest canal at its junction with the Whaley Bridge arm of the canal (photo 2). The narrow footbridge in Whaley Bridge canal basin (photo 4) I'm not sure of the width of push chairs and mobility scooters.....

nightauk

Alternatively, for mobility scooter access continue on Waterside Road to just before the bridge (Photo 4) for direct access to the riverside path to New Mills....

nightauk

This route should be shortened to reduce the percentage of busy roads used and improve access - see photo....

nightauk

After Marple canal junction (photo 3) there is a beaten earth path (muddy in wet weather) to a snake bridge (photo 4) with cobbled inclines after which the towpath remains on this side of the canal and is virtually flat to New Mills (photos 5 and 6)....

nightauk

Joins Lakes Road, Marpnew 1, at Oldknow's Mill (photo 2), passes Roman Lakes (photo 3, refreshments in normal times, wide, unsealed road with potholes), under Marple viaduct (photo 4, road narrows, fewer potholes), alongside River Goyt (photo 5, road narrows, becomes sealed, new, permeable path with short stretch of concrete where river floods in rare, extreme, prolonged rain), under railway (short, straight, tunnel), bollard after farm (photo 6), path becomes unsealed, stony with a barrier to cars (photo 7), here right on unsealed road....

nightauk

A much preferable alternative is to ascend A626 to Peak Forest Canal and follow towpath S to towpath bridge across canal at SJ 96383 88135. A short flight of steps leads from the canal to A6102 directly opposite FP to Bottoms Bridge. The entire section from Peak Forest Canal to Strines Rd and then FP78Marple is not suitable for wheelchair use do to flight of steps and very steep gradient....

Stephen Slater

Slightly longer, pleasant alternatives possible if using a mobility scooter, to avoid steep, rocky climb to Brook Bottom and narrow path to Hague Bar. Second half photos follow....

nightauk

Marpnew one when leaving Marple Station (or the only accommodation in Marple and Marple Bridge) searches out and follows the Goyt Way slavishly and does not access the off-road route directly1 It goes straight past the Faywood Drive direct, easy access it Lakes Road. Part of the above section of the Goyt Way route used by Marpnew one uses a path muddy in wet weather, a long, steep flight of steps with a bollard barrier to access the footbridge over the railway and a narrow steep descent to Lakes Road.....

nightauk

Lovely scenery, including New Mills Torrs and distant views of Kinder Scout.some sections of unmade path, potential to be boggy. Some tricky styles and steep steps....

Sally Hunter