Tour Of Tameside The alternative tameside trail A 30 mile walk around the borough of Tameside taking in the Valleys of the Medlock, Etherow and Tame. The whole walk can be completed in one day by anyone who is young, super fit and used to walking long distances but here it is split into four sections that are more manageable. The sections are achievable by anyone with a good level of fitness. The sections can be split down even smaller for those not used to regular exercise. Unlike the Tameside Trail which skirts outside the borough the route keeps within the borough of Tameside and all 8 towns are visited, albeit some only briefly. Some parts of the route are the same as the Tameside Trail, this is unavoidable. The walk keeps to the countryside or waterways and only short sections are on roads. Tour Of Tameside 1
Section 1 Park Bridge To Ashton Canal Portland Basin Miles: 6.7 Time: 2 Hours 10 Minutes Grade: Moderate Starting Point: Park Bridge Heritage Centre, Dean Terrace, Ashton-under-Lyne Grid Reference: SD940025 The track in red on the maps may appear in places not to be on the actual path. Routes plotted by GPS are generally more accurate than traditional mapping methods, always take the obvious path on the ground. WP in the text and WP symbols on the maps refer to the waypoints where you are the time. A flat section of the tour through the old industrial area of Park Bridge, along the Hollinwood Branch Canal to Droylsden, through Lees Park, then on the Ashton Canal at Audenshaw to the Portland Basin in Ashton-under-Lyne. 2
Starting at The Park Bridge Heritage Centre walk downhill, at the bottom go past the Eldencross factory on the left and stay on the footpath by the road with the River Medlock below on the right. Pass a three way signpost and after the junction come to a bridge over the river (15 minutes). This is 'Fenny Field Bridge' and just past it on the left go through the stile and keep right on the path next to a bridlepath signposted 'Daisy Nook Country Park ½ mile/bardsley ¼ mile'. Go under the road bridge at Oldham Road, Bardsley and follow the sign for 'Daisy Nook' and the waymarked post for 'Tameside Trail/Oldham Way'. Continue on the canal towpath to where it widens out at 'Sammy's Basin' and then where it forks left and right (WP1), take the left direction. Follow the path down to Daisy Nook Visitors Centre. From the Daisy Nook Visitors Centre (40 minutes), cross Stannybrook Road and follow the Hollinwood Branch Canal towpath. After ¾ mile Cinderland Bridge is reached, carry on under the bridge passing Littlemoss High School on the left and the towpath soon reaches an industrial park. Go directly across the road which is signposted to 'Droylsden', through a metal kissing gate and cross the bridge over the railway line (1 hour). Looking left on the bridge was the site of the old Droylsden Station which was opened in 1846 and closed in 1968. 3
The path passes new housing on the left and comes to a metal kissing gate, take the path to the right and keeping right go past the Medlock Sports Facility on the left. Go through another metal kissing gate and the path runs between new housing to the left and older housing to the right. This path from the industrial park once carried the canal over the railway line and carried on to Fairfield Junction in Droylsden. Within a few minutes an old mill lodge on the left is reached, a favourite with anglers. At the end (WP2) turn left on Medlock Street and go past the housing site on the left which was once the location of the Saxon Mill. The mill was built in 1907 and was a major cotton spinning employer in it's time, production peaked in 1912 and in 1953 250 people were employed there. It later became a venue for furniture production and was demolished in 1995. The Hollinwood Branch canal served the Saxon Mill. 4
At the top of Medlock Street turn left on Market Street (WP3) and then second right into Oldham Street (WP4). Just past the houses, on the right the grass hump was once the site of a play park with swings, a roundabout and slide. Carry on into Lees Park, past the football pitch on the right and the rugby pitch on the left, which once housed East Droylsden Cricket Club and at the end of the path (WP5) turn left. Follow the path along the side of the rugby pitch with wooden fencing on the right and then houses on both sides. The path crosses two other paths and then reaches a metal barrier (WP6). Turn right here on a wider tarmac path with 3 radio masts on the left. This path continues for just under ½ mile where it bears right to lead onto Assheton Avenue. Go to the end of the road and cross the busy A635 Manchester Road (WP7). Turn right, pass Ryecroft Hall on the left then take the first left into Lumb Lane (WP8), Audenshaw. At the bridge over the canal (WP9) (1 hour 40 minutes) turn left onto the towpath and follow it for 1½ miles to the Portland Basin in Ashton-under-Lyne (2 hours 10 minutes). 5
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Section 2 Ashton Canal Portland Basin To Lower Higham Visitor Centre, Hyde Miles: 6.7 Time: 2 Hours 25 Minutes Grade: Moderate Starting Point: Portland Basin, Ashton-under-Lyne Grid Reference: SJ935984 The track in red on the maps may appear in places not to be on the actual path. Routes plotted by GPS are generally more accurate than traditional mapping methods, always take the obvious path on the ground. WP in the text and WP symbols on the maps refer to the waypoints where you are the time. First a flat section of the tour visiting the Peak Forest Canal, the River Tame, the Peak Forest Canal again and then climbing up through the countryside south of Gee Cross to the Lower Higham Visitor Centre at Werneth Low. 7
At the bottom of Portland Street South cross the bridge over the Ashton Canal and turn right. Go over the cobbled footbridge and at the other side turn 180 right to go under the bridge and onto the towpath of the Peak Forest Canal. The walk doesn't have a very glorious start, passing industrial buildings on both sides and a sewage works. Follow the canal towpath for 1¾ miles passing the Dukinfield swingbridge, a rail bridge, the sewage works, a road bridge and then bridges number 3 and 4. Just after bridge number 4, take the path signposted 'Broomstair/St Annes Road' (WP1) down a cobbled path between two stone walls. At the bottom turn left on the path running alongside the River Tame indicated 'Broomstair' on the signpost (35 minutes). The path goes under the motorway bridge and reaches the A57 Manchester Road in Hyde (WP2). Cross the road, turn right, then first left into Watson Street (WP3). This becomes a dirt lane and passes Broomstair Nurseries on the left, narrows and reaches gates. Go through four spring gates to reach another path (WP4). Turn left here and soon go down steps to rejoin the river. Ignoring any turn offs keep on the main path, bearing left at a fork which brings you to Mill Lane (55 minutes). Cross the road and continue on the main path through Haughton Dale Nature Reserve still walking by the right of the river. 8
At over 86 acres it is the largest local nature reserve in Tameside and has many historical and archaeological features. Ignore the signpost for 'Haughton Green' and continue as signposted for 'Haughton Dale'. The path crosses a boardwalk, goes up steps, narrows, crosses another boardwalk, then goes up more steps near a weir on the river at Gibraltar Bridge. It then decends by steps to go through a stile and reach the bridge over the River Tame signposted 'Lower Peak Forest Canal' (the map shows a diversion through the nearby housing estate as the path was closed for repair work when walking the route). Leave the river and head straight ahead signposted for 'Werneth Low'. Shortly go up steps on the left and the cobbled path takes you to the canal (WP5) (1 hour 15 minutes). Turn right and follow the towpath to go under bridge number 9, then at bridge number 10 come off the towpath and cross the bridge (WP6). Go through the stile and follow the well defined path left of Unity Mills. Turn right at the end heading for the bridge over the railway line. Cross the bridge and turn left up Poleacre Lane which leads to the A560 Hyde Road (WP7). Cross Hyde Road and turn left passing the Joshua Bradley public house (1 hour 40 minutes). Just past the pub a stone wall begins (WP8), turn right here, going through the gap in the wall and down into the woods. The paths from this point become very muddy until Birches Farm. 9
Cross the stream at the bottom and go uphill on the path above the stream. The path continues through the trees and leads to a stile by a metal gate (a slightly less muddy alternative is to go up to the field and keep to the left of the trees). Cross the stile onto a wide track above the stream below on the right. The short track leads to a gate to Bowlacre Farm on the right. Go left of the gate across Bowlacre Road, and on a very narrow path between a stone wall and a hedge. Go through the gap at the end of the path into the large field. Head in the same direction uphill making for the right of the tree ahead. Just past the tree, cross a stile and head uphill on a faint path in the second short field to another stile by a gate leading into a third field. In the third field keep right by the fence and cross the stile at the top. Turn right, then immediately left taking the path up to Birches Farm. Go through the farm buildings on a now concreted path, cross the stile by a wooden gate and carry on uphill past Lowside Farm to a signpost on Werneth Low Road (WP9). Turn left here following the signposted direction 'Broadbottom', keeping to the path on the right. The left path is a horse track. Pass a triangle of grass on the right at the road junction and go past the Hare and Hounds public house. The path finishes opposite the Hyde Cricket and Squash Club entrance. Carry on, on the road to the Quarry Car Park on Werneth Low Road (2 hours 15 minutes). 10
Opposite the car park entrance go through the stone pillars and take the left path signposted 'Cenotaph ½ mile'. Go through a kissing gate and along the path with a wire fence to the left. In 100 metres go through a kissing gate on the left (WP10), taking the signposted direction '½ mile Lower Higham Visitors Centre'. The path goes downhill by a fence then turns 90 right and continues parallel to Higham Lane. Go though two stiles and two kissing gates and the path leads to the Lower Higham Visitor Centre (2 hours 25 minutes). 11
Section 3 Lower Higham Visitor Centre, Hyde To A6018 Mottram Road, Stalybridge Miles: 6.0 Time: 2 Hours 40 Minutes Grade: Moderate Starting Point: Lower Higham Visitors Centre, Higham Lane, Hyde Grid Ref: SJ960935 The track in red on the maps may appear in places not to be on the actual path. Routes plotted by GPS are generally more accurate than traditional mapping methods, always take the obvious path on the ground. WP in the text and WP symbols on the maps refer to the waypoints where you are the time. This section of the tour begins on the heights of Werneth Low Country Park, passing the cenotaph and then giving great views of the Etherow Valley. It continues through Great Wood and Hurst Clough in Broadbottom before proceeding through Mottram and finishing at Matley in Stalybridge. 12
Starting at the Lower Higham Visitor Centre, walk to the end of the car park and go through the kissing gate, then go ¼ mile uphill to the cenotaph on Hackingknife. Pass to the right of the cenotaph and at the fork follow the path left to the bottom of the golf course. Go through two gates, then over a stream at Pipers Clough and uphill to where the path ends at a lane at Windy Harbour on Idle Hill (20 minutes). Go directly ahead here steeply downhill on Cock Brow, with the radio masts on the right. At the bottom the lane bears left into the small hamlet of Lumn. Take the path right indicated on the signpost for 'Back Wood' (WP1), which goes down by the side of a house and then becomes tree lined. Keep heading down the path, cross over another track, over a stile and the track eventually leads to a stile to the right of a metal gate. Cross the stile onto open ground and look for a waymarked post near a tree which leads to a another stile and then into Back Wood. The path which is well defined crosses a stile and at the end goes down steps and over a stream, turn right to pass through the gate and then left signposted 'Great Wood' at the lane at Bothams Hall (WP2) (40 minutes). Follow the wide dirt track uphill through a gate then past a small pond on the right, the masts on Idle Hill are to the left. Pass through another gate by a cattle grid, carry on under the line of the pylons and arrive at another gate by a cattle grid near to a signpost (WP3). Take the footpath signposted for 'Great Wood Local Nature Reserve', down to the right at the edge of the wood, with a wire fence to the right. The path turns right by the fence at a corner and then veers left downhil into the wood. Follow the numerous waymarked posts on an obvious path, then cross the metal bridge over a stream and turn right following the wide track. The local nature reserve and ancient woodland at Great Wood is at least 400 years old, is the largest in Tameside and was once a part of the Longdendale Forest. Oak is the dominant tree but the woodland also consists of birch, alder, beech, willow, hazel and holly. It supports a wide range of birdlife, invertebrates and amphibians. 13
Pass through a gap by a gate and go along the left of a fence with farm buildings to the right, this is Leylands Farm at Hodgefold. Turn left at the signpost indicating 'Hurst Clough via Great Wood' (WP4). The narrow path runs uphill between fences at the rear of houses, at the top go through a gate back into Great Wood. Continue uphill to cross a bridge over the railway line (1 hour 10 minutes), then take the left direction by a short length of metal railings and cross over a stile. Turn 90 right in a grassy clearing. Continue in the same direction uphill heading to the right of the houses to a stile. Cross the stile and the short path leads to a tarmac lane. Turn right, then in 10 metres turn left at the signpost for 'Hurst Clough'. The wide track reaches steps which go down into the clough and over a bridge. Turn left uphill with Hurstclough Brook on the left below. At the top turn left again to follow the brook to a footbridge, cross the footbridge and take the middle path ahead and uphill. At the top of the steps take the right fork to a grassy area at the edge of the wood. Go past a metal barrier, a gap in a wooden barrier, then at a signpost for 'Broadbottom Road' take the direction indicated right (WP5). Follow the path, ignoring a narrow turn off on the left, to arrive at Broadbottom Road near the Wagon public house (WP6) (1 hour 40 minutes). Turn right and cross the road, at the footpath sign in 80 metres (WP7) go up steps through a narrow passage between houses to reach a stile. Cross the stile and the narrow path runs between two wire fence then crosses another stile to follow a dry stone wall on the left. At the end of the field cross the stile and another stile in 25 metres, then go left on the dirt lane to stile by a gate (WP8). 14
Cross this stile and go through a short field to cross another stile into a larger field, then follow the fence on the right to a stile at the right hand corner of the field. Cross this stile and head slighly left to a stile by a gate on Littlemoor Road (WP9). 15
Turn left on Littlemoor Road and follow the road to a farm on the right. Just past the farm turn right into the quaint hamlet of Warhill. Pass the monument, church on the left and school on the right and follow the tarmac road through the cemetery. The tarmac becomes a gravel track and bears left to a gate and stile. Go through the stile and follow the well defined dirt track left and then right to reach the White Hart public house on Market Street, Mottram (WP10) (1 hour 55 minutes). Turn right here, cross the road and go through the traffic lights to Stalybridge Road. At the junction with the A6018 Roe Cross Road, go straight ahead to Old Hall Lane. The lane passes housing and eventually becomes a dirt track. Where it bends 90 right by an enclosed property 'Ivy Dene' take the footpath sign ahead across the field. Head for the stile in the middle and then keep to the hedge on the left in the next field. The path continues past housing on the left and comes out on Old Road. Turn right past Dewsnap Farm House and immediately opposite go down the cobbled path to the A6018. Cross the road, turn left then in 30 metres go right into Edge Lane. Just past the first properties turn right uphill on the wall enclosed track signposted 'footpath'. This track bends right, then right again to eventually reach another track at a three way signpost (WP11). 16
Cross the stile on the right into a field keeping to the wall on the right. Go past a property up to the left, through a gap by the gate and into the next field with a pylon to the left. Go over a stile at the end of the field then carry on downhill by the side of a low stone wall to the public footpath signpost and gate on Matley Lane to the A6018 Mottram Road (2 hours 40 minutes). 17
Section 4 A6018 Mottram Road To Park Bridge Miles: 9.8 Time: 4 Hours Grade: Hard Starting Point: Wagon & Horses Public House, A6018 Mottram Road, Stalybridge Grid Reference: SJ98966 The track in red on the maps may appear in places not to be on the actual path. Routes plotted by GPS are generally more accurate than traditional mapping methods, always take the obvious path on the ground. WP in the text and WP symbols on the maps refer to the waypoints where you are the time. This section has everything, high moorland, stunning views, and peaceful countryside. The views from the trig point on Hollingworthall Moor cover all of Tameside, as well as parts of Manchester and the High Peak. Audenshaw and the Godley reservoirs can be seen, in fact the only downside is the blue and yellow monstrosity of Ikea in Ashton-under-Lyne. 18
Start at Matley Lane by the Wagon and Horses public house. Cross the A6018 Mottram Road and head up Old Road which runs parallel and above the A6018. In 200 metres bear left at the fork for Hobson Moor Road and at the next fork keep left again. Continue for another ½ mile along Hobson Moor Road. Leave the road at the public footpath signpost on the left under the line of the pylons (WP1) (15 minutes). Go through two gates and climb uphill by the deeply rutted track for just under ½ mile keeping to the right hand fence. The track turns 90 left at a signpost (WP2). Follow the track to a spring gated stile by another signpost, and continue uphill in the same direction on the track through the heather. When the path reaches a crossroads (WP3), take the wider path uphill on the right. In ¼ mile this reaches the trig point at Wild Bank Hill on Hollingworthall Moor 399 metres/1309 ft (WP4) (35 minutes). At the trig point, take the path to the right, heading north east across the moor. Within a few minutes go over the stile on the right and head for the post on the top of the hill ahead. Go downhill for a short while and then uphill again heading for another post and stile. Both Higher and Lower Swineshaw reservoirs can be seen ahead to the left. The path follows the ridge and ¾ mile from the trig point telegraph poles appear and a stone wall ahead. Take the stone steps over the wall (55 minutes) and carry on in the same direction, heading slightly downhill with the Swineshaw Reservoirs on the left in the distance. In just under ½ mile go over a stile in a stone wall and through the next stile, near a signpost. Continue downhill and at the next stone wall ignore the waymarked post pointing uphill but keep on the track with the wall to your right and shortly a signpost is reached by three trees. Head left downhill towards the reservoir, passing over a stile, then through a metal gate, to the tarmac access road alongside Upper Swineshaw Reservoir. 19
At the end of the road, leave the tarmac lane and take the track ahead, passing by the side of a gate (1 hour 20 minutes) and uphill to another signpost. At this signpost turn right uphill by a demolished concrete structure, and with the reservoir to your right, follow the track left. Just after the left turn and near the self standing gable end of a derelict structure, is a narrow path to a small circular stone memorial and plaque to the local gamekeeper and his wife who died in the 1977 and 1983 respectively. The track continues over the summit and downhill. Soon, Buckton Vale Quarry to the right, and housing at Stalybridge and Mossley, come into view. Hartshead Pike is on the hillside in the distance. The track winds it's way around Harridge Pike and eventually comes to a stile by a metal gate. Go over this and shortly the track meets a lane by a waymarked post for 'Tameside Trail/PBW' (Pennine Bridleway) (WP5) (1 hour 50 minutes). Turn right here and carry on past another waymarked post and then downhill with Buckton Vale Quarry prominent on the hill ahead. Pass another house on the left and the stone track becomes paved on the edges and finishes near a new housing estate by a signpost. Turn left here and go around the rear of the new estate. Just before the mini roundabout go through the gate into Stalybridge Country Park and take either of the forks ahead. This comes out on a dirt track at Swallow Lane, turn right to the main road at Carrbrook and cross the road past the roundabout with a tall stone pillar in the middle and onto another section of Swallow Lane. Pass a school and nursery on the left and then the quaint Moorgate Cottages on the right. At the fork take the right track on Heyheads New Road. 20
At the end cross Huddersfield Road (2 hours 10 minutes) and go straight ahead down Staly Road opposite. Pass a row of terraced properties on the left and take the left direction at the signpost for 'Miller Hey/Scout'. This is a muddy track that runs to the rear of housing, ignore a turn off left to the golf course, keep right and the path reaches a cemetery wall. Turn left and follow the wall to a signpost for 'Scout' by a gap in the fencing just as the wall bears right. Go downhill and ahead over a small stream and right of an inspection chamber then up to a dirt track which heads towards outbuildings and a stone house. The track passes the house and past another signpost for 'Scout', goes through a gate and becomes an indistinct path to the left of a fence. A stile is soon reached above the Scout Tunnel on the Huddersfield Canal. Cross the stile and turn left signposted for 'Stalybridge', pass an old quarry, the path then reaches a bridge over the River Tame (WP6) (2 hours 30 minutes). Cross the bridge and turn right on Manchester Road at Mossley. In 150 metres cross the road and take the 'Public Footpath' signed direction through the gap in the stone wall and uphill above the road. At the top turn left up steps at another gap in a stone wall. This goes past garages on the left and a house on the right. At the end of the house cross the stile and take the path 45º right uphill past a small pond. Cross the stile and continue uphill, through the gate at the top and turn left around the rear of the property on the left, Scout Farm, then right following the track which becomes a concreted lane. This finishes at the top of Barngate Drive, take the signposted direction indicated 'Mossley Cross ½ mile' passing left of stables on a narrow path uphill between two wire fences. Go through the gap where the fencing ends and head right uphill. At the waymarked post take the right direction and soon the allotments at Fox Platt can be seen down to the right. Keep to the main path which reaches a stile on Luzley Road at Mossley Cross (2 hours 55 minutes). 21
Cross the stile and go to the left of the house ahead to Mossley Road, cross the road and take the first turn left uphill on Broadcarr Lane. Pass a property on the right, then a row of houses and head left at the stile and signpost (WP7). Continue over the field along by the wire fence and a dry stone wall to a stile in the corner of the field. Cross this stile and go past the pylon, with a dry stone wall to the right, stables are soon reached. Cross the stile at the stables and turn right. Go past another stable block and at the lane turn left. Go past the white painted Broadcarr Farm to a signpost for 'Hartshead Pike' which is uphill ahead. The narrow path between two dry stone walls leads to the old tower stump where a left turn leads to the famous old tower at Hartshead Pike 267 metres/876 ft (3 hours 15 minutes). Turn around and go left past the old tower stump to the waymarked 'Oldham Way' (WP8) gap in the stone wall on the left. Head downhill between a dry stone wall and a wire fence, at the bottom cross the stile and then another stile directly ahead signposted 'Lees Road'. The indistinct path goes ahead downhill and bears right to a waymarked post, go downhill here to reach another waymarked post and turn left to cross a mud and stone area which leads to a stile by a three way signpost. Go through the gap in the stone wall signposted 'Park Bridge' along a wire fence on the left passing an enclosed area of old mine shafts on the right. 22
This leads to a flatter area and over a short area of boardwalks covering the boggy ground. A stile in the fence is passed and the path bears right and reaches another muddy area down to a stile in the trees. Cross the dip and go up following the path by the fence on the left. At the corner end of the field (WP9) turn right signposted 'Park Bridge 1 mile', along the fence to another stile at the other corner of the field at Port Mahon. Cross the stile and turn left and downhill, cross the grass bridge over the small brook and keep to the right of the brook to a stile at Lees Road (3 hours 30 minutes). Cross the stile and the road, turn left and within 100 metres go through a gap in the stone wall, along the narrow path to cross another stile, then right on the tarmac lane. Just after the left hand bend take the track to the right signposted 'Rocher Vale'. Go over the stile by the gate near a large stone house and turn left following the waymark. Bear left at a flooded area, to pass left of the nearby trees and then head right of the next treeline to pass a waymarked post. Follow the sometimes faint path, over a small boardwalk by another waymarked post and then head north west in the direction indicated to a stile in the trees. Cross the stile, head downhill and this brings you out on the east side of Rocher Vale. Pass the remains of the Rocher Vale coal pit pump house, turn right at the end of the fence (WP10) and cross the bridge over the River Medlock. Keep ahead across the grassed area and turn right and uphill at the lane (WP11). At the top turn left into Dean Terrace and at the end left and down back to the heritage centre at Park Bridge (4 hours). 23