Today’s Walks
Strenuous Leader: Steve Budd Distance: About 12 miles moderate
We start the walk from the Cat & Fiddle. From there we have a short walk to the summit of Shining Tor, the highest point in Cheshire at 559 m (1834 ft) with great views. We then make our way over Cats Tor and on to Pym Chair- good views over Cheshire. We now drop down to Errwood Hall, an 1830’s ruin (good place for lunch, depending on time). From the Hall we make our way to Errwood Reservoir before heading west along a dismantled railway, ending the walk at the coach in Buxton. There is a small amount of road walking involved, but not too bad.
Moderate Leader: Ruth Melling & Hazel Anderton Distance: 8 miles
The walk is more or less the same as the one we did last time but we have shortened it to make sure that this time we get back in time for refreshments. The first two thirds is the same as we make our way past the park to Poole’s Cavern then up through the woods to the village of Burbage. Next we walk over farm land and moors to make our way along Wildmoorstone Brook. We return along the dismantled railway and then by a direct route along a quiet lane and through the park. Expect a bit of mud, but the main problem will be the stiles. There are only a few but they are awkward. We had to abandon one and climb over a metal gate instead, as other people had.
Leisurely Leader: Joan McGlinchey & Cynthia Prescott Distance: 7 – 7.5 miles
This is a very interesting walk if you can get past the challenge of a very steep hill. We start our walk and head in the direction of Cowdale. Once we reach Cowdale we start to head back firstly crossing a train track and taking our time down our steep hill! With that out of the way we head towards Woo Dale, where we can choose to take the low or the high way. It is just a nice steady walk back then. On our recce, on the way back, we broke the journey up with a drink in the pub opposite the golf course which was very nice – if you don’t fancy this you can carry right on into town.
Easy Leader: Adelaide Houghton Distance: Approx 6 miles
Dropping off the coach at Burbage, we head for Pooles Cavern – toilets. Then we make our way into Buxton Country Park to walk the perimeter, past Stanley Moor Reservoir and back into Grin Low Woods. Finish by walking through Buxton Pavilion Gardens to the coach park. Several stiles and one or two short climbs.
Notes On The Area
Buxton lies at the heart of the Peak District National Park which includes some of the most beautiful and dramatic scenery in Britain.
For centuries Buxton has been a spa town, popular with visitors from around the world. It was the Romans who first ‘took the waters’, drinking and bathing in the thermal springs which they declared very beneficial. They called the town ‘Aquae Arnemetiae’; – The Spa of the Goddess of the Grove. Those very same 28 degree, thermal waters still flow freely from St Ann’s Well in the centre of the town, fill the indoor swimming pool in Pavilion Gardens, and are bottled to provide the famous Buxton Spring Water.
This beautiful 18th market town has a wealth of historical and architectural heritage mostly due to its popularity as a Spa town. As well as its architectural heritage, Buxton is home to a host of artists and artistic events. There is a lively tradition of live music in the pubs through the year.
The 1001 acre woodland around Grin Low was planted by the 6th Duke of Devonshire around 1820 to hide the eyesore caused by quarrying and lime burning, and is now a mature woodland, with mixed broad leaf trees and some conifers. The area is designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest due to the rich variety of plant life, with many wild animals and birds. The level open glades are the remains of waste ash from 17th and 18th century lime burning kilns, and are carefully managed to prevent the growth of invading plants.
The viewpoint tower of Solomon’s Temple was built in 1896. It is on the site of a tumulus (neolithic burial mound). It replaced an earlier structure (probably used as a shelter in times of bad weather) and probably gets its name from Solomon Mycock who rented the land in the early 1800’s.
The Cat & Fiddle Inn is the second highest inn in England, 1,690 ft above sea level