Route Sheets

NB--All routes are regularly used by cyclists but this does not necessarily mean a Right of Way exists.

Please take care when meeting other route users particularly pedestrians and equestrians.

 

Chadkirk Chapel to Compstall & Marple

There is a car park just off the Otterspool Rd and near the pedestrian crossing not far from the the bridge.

From the car park continue up the lane until you reach Chadkirk Chapel - pleasant garden and possible refreshments at the weekend. Leaving Chadkirk Chapel and continueing steeply uphill past St. Chad's Well on the left. and opposite some houses you will reach a flight of steep steps on your right. Here you have a choice, to carry your bike up the steps, or to continue up the road.

Steps Route:- Carry up the steps and turn right along the Peak Forest Canal towpath until you reach the tunnel. Go up the towpath to meet another track at the top. After turning right look for a set of steps leading back down to the canal. Follow the towpath until you reach the Aqueduct over the River Goyt. Shortly after this you reach a road that was once an inclined plain before the Marple Locks were built. You then have two options, to carry on nto Marple,or to divert to Etherow Country Park.

Road Route:- Continue up the hill and enter Beech Lane on your right. Take 2nd right - St Chad's Rd and right again at the end. This road leads through a paper mill - caution heavy lorries moving. This becomes a track and turn right by Hydebank Farm Cafe. Follow this until you meet up with the track coming up from the canal through an archway. Continue ahead and look for a set of steps leading back down to the canal. Follow the towpath until you reach the Aqueduct over the River Goyt. Shortly after you reach a road that was once a railway before the Marple Locks were built. You then have two options, to carry on into Marple -which has two options, or divert to Etherow Country Park.

 

 

For Marple. - To the Town you can use either the road or the towpath, Continue along until you reach Brabyns Brow. Cross this and the path on the right of the canal will lead you to a path that enters Marple Memorial Park and the town centre with cafes etc - it is mainly on your right. From here you can continue along the main road for about a mile intil you reach Rosehill Station and the Middlewood Way. Once there you are on NCN 55 signposted to Chadkirk and Stockport.

To avoid the town and to return to Chadkirk continue up the road until you come to a track on the right that will lead through to Grosvenor Rd. Turn left onto Oakdene Rd and continue until it becomes Norbury Drive. Continue ahead until you reach Bowden Lane where you turn right crossong a railway bridge and to the junction with Dale Rd. Turn right then shortly turn left into the Turnpike. Follow this until you reach Marple Hall Drive where you turn right and continue to the end where you pick up NCN 55 signposted to Chadkirk. After a while you branch off right and down to the Connect2 bridge at Chadkirk and then turn left back to the car park.

For Etherow Country Park:- Continue up the towpath passing the flight of locks, and when it starts to flatten out look for a new gap in the wall. Go through and turn left. Follow this track down into Brabyns Park. Halfway down you will meet a road, going right will take you to Marple Bridge and Ro,man Lakes, both having cafees, but for Etherow continue ahead and across the park to the Iron Bridge. Cross this and up the tracjk to meet the main road to turn left. For the less experienced it is probably best to walk across the road here and walk left along the pavement and over the bridge until you come to the entrance to Etherow Country Park on your right. For those on the road, once past the bridge be prepared to turn right just beyond the bollards at the corner.

 

Return to Chadkirk.

For the return journey, those walking should cross the road immediately after the bridge and continue uphill to enter Rollins Lane and the entry to Brabyns Park. Continue across the park until you reach the sports pavilion then cross the road and up the track that will lead you back towards the canal, but before you reach the main road look for a gap on the right to access the canal tow path. You now have three options.

Otions 1 and 2 are to follow the directons above for the routes via Marple

Otion 3 is to turn Right here on the canal Tow Path and it will lead you to the Aqueduct over the River Goyt. Follow the Tow Path until you reach the tunnel and climb the slope to the top. After a few yards from the top of the tunnel you have a choice, one way requires you to carry your bike down a flight of steep steps, the other will take you to an industrial and residential area and then down a steep road to Chadkirk Chapel.

Steps Way:- After going over the tunnel fork left through an archway and back onto the Tow Path. Follow this until you come to a narrow flight of steps and carry your bike down to the road below. Turn left taking care on this steep hill and down to Chadkirk Chapel. It is usually open at weekends and serves tea and biscuits.

 

Road Way:- Continue on the upper track past the farm and onwards through the paper mill - caution heavy lorries moving here. Turn left down St. Chad's Rd, left again onto Beech Lane and left once more onto Chadkirk Rd. Take care as this road is steep. You will pass St. Chad's Well on the right just before you go over a bridge, then the Chapel is on the left and shortly afterwards, the entry being beyond the Chapel.

 

See our Places to Visit page.

 

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