Walking in the Peak District, Derbyshire, UK - Wincle and the Gritstone Trail

To the Western edge of the Peak District National park lies the parish of Wincle. Relatively quiet by Peak District terms and easily overlooked, this interesting walk combines a section of the Dane Valley way with part of the Gritstone Trail.

Above: The riverside pastures near Wincle - May 2010
© Mat & Niki Adlam-Stiles, 2010

The Dane Valley way:

Our walk starts in the small village of Wincle, where roadside parking can usually be found close to the village pub (SJ962653).

From the pub, walk South down the hill, and after a few yards a gate and path of the right will take you down to the riverside.  From here, a gentle stroll downstream (South) through mostly level farmland will bring you, after ~1.5km, to a footbridge and weir.

Above: Looking towards Cartlidge wood, May 2010
© Mat & Niki Adlam-Stiles, 2010

Cross the footbridge and turn right, to pick up the old towpath along the disused canal, where easy walking for a further 1.5km brings you you a junction where the Dane Valley Way and the Gritstone Trail meet.

The Gritstone Trail:

Take the right at the junction to pick up the Gritstone Trail - You drop breifly to cross the river at Barleigh Ford Bridge, before a short and moderately steep climb takes you up above the wooded valley.  Passing a path on the right, and an old barn on the left, a 4-way junction is met.  The right could make for a much-shortened return route to Wincle.  Our route takes the left, dropping steeply down to the valley floor, before climbing out the other side to the farm buildings at Hawkslee.  As you approach the farm the path can be a little confusing - head for the lane to the left of the buildings.

From Hawkslee, the Gritstone trail follows the unfenced lane North (up!) to increasing open pasture / moorland.  As the lane climbs, the views become more and more open.  To the left, you get far-reaching views over the Macclesfield plains, with the large radio telescope of Jodrell Bank being a prominent feature.

We continue up the lane for ~1.25km until, some way short of the summit, a second path of the right is reached (SJ941664).  Follow the path that initially zig-zags down the hill to bring you to the farm at Butterland.  Here, a permissive route neatly keeps you out of the farmyard itself, and you soon turn right (South) to start making your return journey. 

Above: Looking across the Macclesfield plains to Jodrell Bank, May 2010
© Mat & Niki Adlam-Stiles, 2010

As you follow the path around a field perimeter it turns right.  Be careful not to overshoot the footpath, which heads South down the open ridge of Nabs Hill, and into the pleasant wooded valley at Greasley Hollow. Cross the footbridge to climb back out of the valley.

Shortly after the (rather untidy) farm at Lower Greasley, a path right will return you to the wooded valley, which is followed upstream for just over 1/2km to a junction.  Right here climbs out of the valley into open pastureland. ~200m further up, a right-left staggered junction continues to climb upwards to the rather fine Wincle Grange.  Turn right onto the lane, and after ~200m another path on the right will return you to your starting point at the pub in Wincle.