Walk 4: An Eastern Circuit from New Mills

Start: New Mills Newtown Station car park

Distance: about 5km / 3 miles

Time: about 2 hours

Terrain: numerous stiles, some steep slopes and uneven ground

Download: Walk 4: An Eastern Circuit from New Mills

From the station car park walk onto Albion Road but immediately turn sharp right down Chapel Street. Walk to the end and turn right over the metal footbridge which takes the path (NM100) over the railway line.  Follow this path up to the A6/Buxton Road and cross with care directly opposite onto Redmoor Lane (NM102).  Follow this uphill for about ¾ mile, passing buildings and farms (34) and continue all the way up to the white buildings of Redmoor Farm.  Just after the buildings turn right along (33) to Buxton Old Road.  Directly cross the road to (60) and follow this path crossing two stiles close together at some outbuildings.  Shortly after this cross another stile and bear half-right across the field to the corner.  Do not go through the gate but turn right following the wall (32) and then through a paddock and beside a cottage to meet Buxton Old Road. Cross directly onto (39) and pass in front of the house down to Ward Lane. Turn right down Ward Lane until it becomes Greenshall Lane and continue down this route to meet the busy A6/Buxton Road.

Cross with care onto Lower Greenshall Lane, walk under the railway bridge and soon reach the canal at Bridge 27.  Turn right here on to the Peak Forest Canal towpath (66) and head towards Newtown/New Mills.  Leave the canal shortly after Bridge 28, opposite the marina, and go down Victoria Street to join Albion Road. Turn left and walk up the road back to the station car park.

A public meeting was held at the Ram’s Head, Disley in 1793 to promote the building of the Peak Forest Canal. The canal was built on two levels: the upper level, from Marple through Disley to Whaley Bridge and Buxworth, was completed in 1796 and the lower level of the canal, from Marple to Ashton under Lyne, was completed by 1799.