A Walk – 11 miles – Moderate difficulty – Leader Nick James
We will start the walk in the Serpentine Gardens and then climb up through some residential roads onto the old Roman Road out of Buxton. We then follow a winding path through farmland and woods towards the Errwood Reservoir. Weather permitting, we will have some great views across the Goyt Valley. We will then pick up the disused railway line of the Cromford & High Peak Railway recently resurfaced with funds from the National Lottery and ending at a blocked-up tunnel which would have emerged at Tunnel Farm on the outskirts of Buxton. At this point we will take Bishops Lane and pass through a secluded hamlet complete with Manor house, duck pond and farm. On the outskirts of Buxton we will climb once again through Grin Low Wood towards Solmon’s Temple, a Grade 2 listed building constructed in 1896. During the Victorian era, the tower was a popular destination for visitors to walk up to after taking the waters at the natural spa baths. Finally, we descend back into the town centre for our pick-up point next to the Pavilion Gardens.
B Walk – 8.5 miles – Leader Esther Williams
This is an easy walk along roads, paved lanes, paths and grass tracks. Some areas may become muddy in wet weather and there is a short section of rough stones leading across a drainage ditch. There are only two uphill sections, one at the beginning of the walk and a short stretch towards the end and not many styles.
The walk begins near The Pavilion Gardens on Burlington Road where there are toilets. From here we follow the Dane Valley Way uphill to Buxton Country Park passing Poole’s Cavern, a 2-million-year-old natural limestone cave, and Grinlow Tower (Solomon’s Temple), a Victorian folly. The undulations in the ground are the remains of lime burning that once took place in the area.
Crossing Grinlow Road we continue south passing Stanley Moor and its reservoir and Turncliff Common on one side, and Anthony Hill on the other. When we reach Buxton Raceway motorsport venue, we begin our return north passing an area called The Frith which was used as an artillery range and test site for trench mortars during the 1st World War. We then pass disused limestone quarries before making a short climb back up to Grinlow and a return into Buxton where there are numerous pubs and cafes.
C Walk – 5.6 miles – Moderate with some gradual inclines – Leader Tony Whiffen
We start the walk from Burlington Road where there are toilets in the Pavilion Gardens; we head out of the town towards open ground where there is some high ground to negotiate before dropping down and crossing Grin Low Road. We immediately take a footpath rising to high ground near Countess Cliff and head towards a farm at which point we will have our first stop and weather permitting will have magnificent views across the Derbyshire Countryside. After our stop we continue on a gravelled path towards Stanley Moor Reservoir (dis) and then to Ladmanlow. Here we pick up the Dane Valley Way into Buxton Country Park were we will have our lunch stop at one of the grass and rock formations. From here we head towards Grin low Tower (Solomon’s Temple) on route we will have a toilet stop at the caravan park before continuing towards the tower. If you have not been up the tower before it is well worth a visit, as on a good day the views are amazing. After leaving the tower we walk across the undulated ground formed by waste from the many lime kilns that were used in the area and head towards woodland that will eventually take us down from the high ground and back into the town of Buxton, where there are many pubs an café’s.
There are only a couple of styles and a few gates on this walk, and we will have time to take the high ground at a slow and leisurely pace. Enjoy
General Information
First Coach Pick-up point – Nantwich Barony Park (CW5 5QY) at 8:30 am.
Coach Stop & Pickup: Burlington Road, Buxton SK17 9AY
Toilets: The Pavilion Gardens, Burlington Road, Buxton SK17 9AY
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