Tuesday and Wednesday 11 and 12 August 2026 - The Steel Cotton Rail Trail Stage 2, and some fun at home

Tuesday 11 August was the day allotted to our Stage 2 of the Steel Cotton Rail Trail. This combined Stages 3, 4 and 5 of the published 14 Stage route. Transport was back to normal, with trains running on time, and thanks to a zero seconds wait for a tram we were able to enjoy coffees at Piccadilly Station's  Carluccio's before making our way to the stopping train to Grindleford.

Having experienced some fragmentation of the group on Stage 1, I took the precaution of taking a team photo before we left Grindleford's platform (see above - Sue W, Rick, Andy, Dave P and Sue B). Needless to say, this group remained together throughout the short walk.

The trail was well signposted out of the station.

Following the signs, and walking parallel to the railway, we soon came upon the site of Padley Manor and Padley Mill, where in the 1580s Catholic priests were offered a safe haven, though this didn't always work out. In July 1588 two priests were found in a raid. The entire household was arrested, the priests were executed, and the manor house was seized. The 'Padley Martyrs' are remembered in the stained glass windows of the chapel that has survived next to the manor house.

The gatehouse of Padley Manor, pictured above and below, housed the chapel on its first floor.

An information board indicates that the buildings date from the 14th Century.

We continued along a lovely path through Bolehill Wood.

After going through a gate, our path chose to turn left along a grassy path, past a large rock, and down through more woodland to a bridge over the railway, which would then remain on our right all the way to Hathersage.

Views towards Stanage Edge were partially restricted by leafy woodland, and we passed through an area where new hedges are being laid. You can see these in the next picture - numerous saplings planted between the fence posts.

We didn't go into Hathersage, instead turning left along the B6001 road to cross Leadmill Bridge then turn right to follow the path beside the River Derwent all the way to Shatton, near Bamford. En route we passed a heron who seemed to be fishing rather successfully. We stopped for a coffee break near here in the shade of trees by the river. Idyllic on the hot day.

We passed a family who were having great fun on the stepping stones that provide an easy route across the river in drought conditions such as we are currently experiencing.

Having no need to visit Bamford, we continued along the waymarked trail through Shatton towards Hope, passing through an emu, donkey and turkey farm.

Soon after this, we passed through a few fields to reach a shady spot with views towards various 'Edges' that was ideal for a lunch stop.

With the River Noe, which we joined near Bamford, now out of sight on our right for a while, we followed paths and tracks along the waymarked route towards Hope station.

On reaching the B6049 road in Brough, we turned right and passed the thriving farm supplies business of William Eyre & Sons. From a footbridge across the River Noe, the back of the Eyre buildings divulge their origin - the business started in 1885 as Brough Corn Mill.

As we strolled up to Hope station a train arrived, so without a pause we hopped on it and were back at Piccadilly in time, for  those who didn't need to rush off, to enjoy ice creams and a stroll to the tram stop at St Peter's Square.

Our route was just 11 km, with about 150 metres ascent, taking us a shade over three hours. An excellent way to spend a hot summer's day. Apparently we are in the fifth heatwave of the year. 

The following day - logistics not being favourable for a camping trip, we went camping in a garden in Timperley.

A model school and farm provided great entertainment.

The tent made way for fun with a bucket of water.

The farm adjourned to a living room floor, where Sue was required to impart the personalities, hardships and injuries in relation toto a a wide range of denizens of the farm.

Our visitor was taken home, and Sue, exhausted, went into 'rest' mode before, next day, going swimming with Richard and Jenny in Sale Water Park.

That's all for now folks

Monday 8 June 2026 - GM Ringway Stage 10 - Newhey to Littleborough (2)

This was another of Jeanette's 'catch-up' walks, as she missed due to injury our previous outing on 19 August 2025, on which I reported at some length here, 

Five of us - me, Sue, Paul, Jeanette and Sue W, plus Rufus, met at Victoria station to catch a tram to Newhey. Thankfully the trams were now working normally so we didn't have to endure a repeat of last week's long bus journey between Victoria and Newhey.

With no café in Newhey to distract us, we got going soon after 10:45, most of us having caught a 9:30 tram from Timperley.

Given that I reported on this route in August, this time I'll just report - in the main - by way of photos and captions. Click on any image for a slideshow.

Newhey - on the slow tram line to Rochdale

I think Conrad arrived here several years ago and forgot where he left his car!

Newhey Stone Circle - probably not as ancient as the BMW above

A memorial to Alan Shaw, next to the cemetery

The memorial stone states:

This field was donated by a friend to Ogden Baptist Chapel
on Oct. 1st 1960
 in memory of Alan Shaw 166 Huddersfield Road, Newhey
 who passed away Nov 23rd 1959.
A perfect friend worthy of remembrance

Foulwater Lodge, a filter for Ogden Reservoir

Ogden Reservoir, still quite low, and the first of a number of wrought iron gates

 to a series of reservoirs that are now passed

Foxgloves have come into flower during the past week, in the warm, showery weather

After just 40 minutes, a pause for elevenses on the remains of an old farmstead

In between reservoirs, a small pond inhabited by Yellow Iris plants

We went nearly all the way around Piethorne Resevoir

Now we are on the Pennine Bridleway, with quite a few people about, looking back to

Piethorne Reservoir and passing beside the much smaller Hanging Lees Reservoir

A sharp descent took us back to the head of Piethorne Reservoir, then past a waterworks building

and a man-made waterfall and stepped weir below Norman Hill Resevoir

A good path leads around the Windy Hills high above the M62 motorway,

passing several stone posts on the route

The local farmer scrapped his Mercedes van several years ago in order to plug a gap in his fence

A flimsy strand of barbed wire and an intimidating notice ensure that we don't venture
 onto the farmer's land, which appears to be an unpleasant bog and hag zone

 that any sensible person would actively try to avoid

Approaching the Windy Hill telecommunications tower, which dates from 1951, at which point we join the Pennine Way and take the footbridge over the motorway, beyond which much recent work has taken place to create a footpath suitable for invalid chairs (see header pictuure)

The paved path leads all the way to the trig point on the top of Blackstone Edge,

our high point for the day

En route - lunch on the Pennine Way, serenaded by skylarks

Blackstone Edge summit and views

After rough going along Blackstone Edge, the Aiggin Stone is reached

There's a plaque next to a cairn that announces the stone as 'a medieaval guide for travelers some 600 years old', but the stone is what Sue is standing next to in the picture below

A sharp left turn takes us downhill, where we soon lose the Pennine Way path

 as we descend towards Littleborough

Foxgloves and Buttercups

On a sunny afternoon the dappled light through the trees is delightful

Beyond a path beside a golf club, rural footpaths lead to a set of picnic benches

 that are a fine venue for afternoon tea, and cake

Ox-eye daisies

After passing a RSPB visitor centre we soon reached the busy tourist spot of Hollingworth Lake

Our path took us down beside new housing to the Rochdale Canal towpath
 and an easy stroll to Littleborough station

Here's our route - 19km with 440 metres ascent, taking us less than 6 hours, after which train and tram got us back to Timperley in a shade over an hour.