Goyt Valley and thereabouts

Navigation: thereabouts

The routes format in this section essentially mirrors the Goyt Valley routes section, except the routes below relate to places wholly outside the Goyt Valley. That includes areas like Wildboarclough and Axe Edge Moor (where I first recorded Common Lizards in 2020). It is not planned to include a landscapes section for Thereabouts. The area involved far too big and fragmented.

It is planned instead to compile a third PDF file containing images to accompany some (but not all) of these routes. The images to serve as a general illustration of the terrain involved. Images selected for their context value only. Routes will not be navigable from the images file alone, they are only supplementary information. Images usually taken the same day under prevailing conditions at that time.

All routes include PDF file names tagged with the suffix M (maps) and T (text). The third PDF will be tagged with the suffix '-IMAGES'. You can then choose whether or not to see the images before you visit a route or view the images to help you decide if a route suits your own taste. All routes supplied in a zipped folder. If you are downloading to a mobile you may need an application that will unzip these files.

Name	Description	Distance	Last Updated

Acknowledgements: The Wildboarclough routes are based on a walking guide produced by the Macclesfield Forest and Wildboarclough Charity Trust with funding from the South West Peak Landscape Partnership. Walks created by Sue Harrop and Caroline Keightley. I contributed several small nature photographs to the guide. I stay clear of Wildboarclough at weekends and bank holidays to avoid adding to the already severe parking stress at those times.

Wildboarclough Route 01	If you like rugged terrain and plenty of uphill this is useful route. Mainly used as an exercise run out of season, like most Wildboarclough routes. Starts at the well known Clough House car park, rises to the Cat and Fiddle, nudges the Goyt Valley, skirts Stake Farm then returns via a different route. As always with me, you are never far from water: IMAGES file included.	9.8 km	19.04.2022

Wildboarclough Route 02	My most popular and diverse route with plenty of ponds and other interest. Also spotted the Common Lizard for the first time in Wildboarclough, in three places. Near the start, on Piggford Moor and near Heron Cragg, a long way off. You can pick up Shutlingsloe en-route if you are feeling fit (add 1km). Another great route in the snow. You also pass the Hanging Gate Pub which is now open again, if you really must. Nothing is level or dry in Wildboarclough, which is what makes it interesting: IMAGES file included.	10.4 km 11.4 km with Shutlingsloe included	01.05.2022

Wildboarclough Route 3	A short but useful little route starting in the heart of Wildboarclough near Crag Hall and includes places where Odonata species and Lizards have been recorded. No images file to be added but the terrain involved lacks sufficient interest for a lens.	7.4 km	20.04.2022

Wildboarclough Route 4	Another short but useful route which picks up Three Shire Heads, thus overlapping the Axe Edge Moor route: IMAGES file included.	7.7 km	26.04.2022

Wildboarclough Route 5	This route overlaps again but is essentially focused around Dane Valley, including Three shire Heads. Also includes a moorland pond.	9.2 km	17.05.2022

Axe Edge Moor Route 01	Seems short but it is another rugged and interesting route, with plenty of water throughout, which includes the Dane and Three Shire Heads. Also found Common Lizards here in 2020. Another exercise run but I have seen Brown Hare, Grouse, Stoats and the Wheatear: IMAGES file included.	6.6 km	15.04.2022

Prince's Wood	This entirely SK12 route takes in Jackson's Brickworks (Local Nature Reserve) and Poynton Lake, as well as Prince's Wood itself, historical Colliery land, criss-crossed with footpaths, permanent and seasonal ponds. A favourite with me all year round. One of my sites which includes places where I can easily disappear at weekends and bank holidays. It is also riddled with opportunities to spot Odonata species. Essentially a flat route, good for both hunting in season and exercise out of season. Boots still needed in places, most of the year: IMAGES file included.	10.1 km	25.04.2022

Lamaload Res Route 01	A stiff climb to Shining Tor, returning via King's Clough and Redmoor Farm. Magic especially in heavy frost and snow. No images file to be added though a taste can be seen in the appropriate Goyt Valley landscapes section.	8.1 km	02.05.2022

Lamaload Res Route 02	Probably my shortest route though it is anything but flat. Signposted on site as the Reservoir Circular so I can't ignore it. Rich in moss covered drystone walls plus dense undergrowth on many margins. Much of the area has seen trees flattened recently in support of Larch disease control. Nature will reclaim soon enough. There is a tiny permanent wetland area near the start and I have seen Damselflies there. Ideal Lizard terrain in theory but almost constant gale force winds on the day thwarted any detailed investigation. Good excuse to return on a very hot and sunny day: IMAGES file included.	3.9 km	22.04.2022

SOK	This is a collection of routes based on the local-to-me (SK10) backbone route known as the Saddle of Kerridge. There are a variety of wildlife (insect) exploring options, as well as straight forward return trips to either Lamaload Reservoir or Tegg's Nose. The latter clocks up at over 14km (GPS). The zip file includes several maps which are explained in the text file. NB: I once snapped a Wall Brown on the Saddle.	Multiple see inside	23.04.2022

Cumberland Cottage Wildboarclough Route 1

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A 12.5km