Park Lane Hiking Club

Irlam Circular. Tuesday 25th August at 10am.
Meeting
Irlam Rail Station, Station Rd, off Liverpool Rd M44 5ZR
w3w: ///roadblock.soups.pets
The parking at the station is divided between spaces for rail passengers and café users. Recommend using those spaces at the far end which are marked out for the café. There is a regular train service to Manchester to Irlam.

Description Circular walk starting and finishing from the historic Irlam station. Splendid cafe on site, open 9-5https://www.thestationirlam.co.uk/. The video in this link will give you flavour of the café and the surrounding station. https://www.thestationirlam.co.uk/heritage-hub/.
The route is almost entirely flat and follows a mixture of quiet roads, footpaths, and riverside paths. It is suitable for walkers of all abilities, although, as always, please come prepared for potentially wet or muddy conditions.
Along the way, we'll explore the fascinating industrial history of Irlam, tracing how the area has evolved over the past 200 years. The walk also passes through a distinctive landscape, much of which lies on an ancient peat bog that has been transformed for both agriculture and nature conservation, making for an unusual and interesting walking environment.

Mellor Round. Wednesday 15th July at 10am.
Meeting: Large (free) car park in front of St Thomas Church. Church Rd, Mellor, SK6 5LX. W3W ///surprises.owns.puts
Description: A circular route approx. 6 miles with 900 feet of ascent starting from Mellor Church, heading northeast past Mellor Hall then eventually turning south towards New Mills Golf Club then north back to Mellor. The hike offers extensive views of the Peak District and beyond including Lantern Pike, Kinder Scout, Chinley Churn, Lime Park and even Shuttlingsloe. We will be heading up to a surprise summit overlooking Greater Manchester where there is the giant wooden Mellor Cross. Closest hostelry: The Devonshire Arms, near the end of the walk, open from 12 noon. Nearest toilets at Marple Rail station (SK6 7DA).

Grindleford Circular. Tuesday 16th June at 10am.
Meeting
Grindleford Rail Station Hope Valley S32 2JA. W3W ///birds.fumes.shiny.
Car parking charge £4.40 all day or come by train…..
Station Cafe open from 09:00 to 16:00 - toilets on site.
Description
Approx 8.5 miles figure of eight loop on paths of varying quality. This is a lovely hike with big views and magnificent scenery but more suited to fit walkers. Boots and poles recommended. Uphill sections are not too challenging and relatively short. There is an optional short scramble to Higger Tor, but it is also accessible by a much easier route. From the station we walk uphill through woods before reaching the NT Longshaw estate for a short break at the tearoom. We then head north calling at Carl Wark (iron age landmark) on the way to Higger Tor where we stop for lunch, then continue to Upper Burbage Bridge then head south. We follow Burbage Brook back to Grindleford.

Clowbridge Reservoir and the Singing Ringing Tree. Wednesday 13th May at 10am.

Meeting
Limey Lane (off A682) Manchester Rd, Clowbridge. Nearest post code: BB11 5PF. What3words: items.cotton.drama
Limey Lane is a small unadopted road opposite a bungalow on the A682. With ample parking. The nearest post code is for Nutshaw Kennels which is a little way down the road opposite the reservoir.

Description
Length of Walk: Approx 7.5 miles.
The walk is generally on good paths. Starting at the north end of the reservoir we will skirt Nutshaw Hill, circuit the reservoir and head to Compton’s Cross. With great views throughout of Pendle Hill and, the Yorkshire Dales and the Rossendale hills we head to one of the Lancashire Panopticons. If there’s any wind is any wind about on the day it might sing for us. After the walk we can head to the New Waggoners for a refreshing drink.

Darwen Circular. Tuesday 14th April at 10am.
Meeting: Starting/finishing point: Country Cafe Roddlesworth Information Centre, Tockholes Rd, BB3 0PA. What3words ///absorbing.appointed.learn.
The public car park is at the back. Cafe & Toilets open at 10am - 3pm.
Description: This route goes anti clockwise from Ryal Fold through woods with a gentle climb to Darwen Tower. Walk by Earnsdale Reservoir then return to Ryal Fold. Distance 8 miles, about 4 hours, with ascending height 740ft.

Wed 11th March at 10:00 am. Rivington Circular.

Meeting
Rivington Visitor Centre BL6 7SB. W3W ///tougher.solutions.apartment. Park opposite the visitor centre on the drive up to Rivington Hall Barn. Look for the big white signage board for the Barn. Toilets and cafe at the visitor centre.

Description
A 5.5 mile walk with a lot of variety and points of interest. Well defined paths and steps throughout. Starting alongside Rivington Reservoir, we climb 900ft up to The Pike for a rest and take in the views. Descend back down and explore the terraced gardens. From the Pigeon Tower there is a steepish and rocky track, before levelling out to take us back to the start. Toilets and cafe at the visitor centre.

Scorton Circular: Wed 25th February at 10:00 am.

Meeting
Starting/finishing point: Meet at Scorton Picnic Site PR3 1 BU. what3words ///chips.requiring.slings

Description

The distance is 13 km or 8 miles apart from the climb to Nicky Nook its flat most of the way. Walk is at the edge of the Trough of Bowland, it has everything, a forest walk, river, reservoir, the fantastic view of the Lancashire plane. Finishing with a gentle walk through Scorton village and we can either stop off for afternoon tea or double back if we are early enough.

Summerseat. Wed 14th January at 09:30 am.

Meeting
Starting/finishing point: Summerseat garden centre Railway St, Bury BL9 5QD W3W: ///expose.fattening.scores. The garden centre and café open at 9am, with parking available on-site or nearby.

Description
This is an eight-mile, mostly flat walk starting at Summerseat Garden Centre. The route follows the River Irwell and East Lancs Railway to Burrs Country Park, returning via Woodhill, Tottington, and Greenmount. We will pass by the grade 2 Joshua Hoyles mill which reflects Summerseat’s position at the heart of the cotton industry. The walk ends back at the garden centre for a well deserved cuppa.

Etherow Country Park. Tuesday 25th November at 09:30.
Meeting: Starting/finishing point: Etherow Country Park at the entrance to the car park, next to the toilets. George Street, Compstall, Romiley, Stockport, SK6 5JD. what3words: ///mailers.tour.otters. There are 2 pay and display car parks. There are also 2 pay stations. The one you should use depends on where you park. There is also on street parking nearby.
Description: The walk takes in part of Etherow Country Park, then we walk along the River Goyt, the Peak Forest Canal, the Rover Goyt again and back to the Etherow CP. There are a lot of interesting features on the walk from Marple’s industrial past. These include weirs, rivers, viaducts, canals and railways. The largest ascent is 250 feet and the rest of the walk is fairly flat with few stiles. The walk length is about 9 miles. There is a café by the main car park.

Whitewell & Hodder Circular. Thursday 9.10.25 at 10am.

Meeting
Starting/finishing point: Inn at Whitewell Hotel BB7 3AT. What3words ///serenade.sunshine.incensed. Park either on the road or in the overflow car park to the left of the church but not in the Hotel car park

Description
This is a new route for the group starting at the Inn at Whitewell. It will involve starting and ending the walk by crossing the stepping stones over the River Hodder. The first section of the walk is over undulating countryside, never very steep, with extensive, amazing views of surrounding higher ground.
There will be a short section that might be a little muddy, so walking sticks are recommended. We pass through Dunsop Bridge, considered to be the geographical centre of the UK. The final section of the walk is on level ground generally following the riverbank heading back to the Inn. At Dunsop Bridge there's a lovely cafe serving ice cream as well as drinks and we can enjoy the refreshments sitting by the river. Walk length 8 miles.