Walk with us

Peak & Northern Footpaths Society members regularly get together for sociable walks in the countryside. All members are welcome. Prospective members are especially welcome because a walk is a great way to find out more about us.

There's usually a short walk (5-9miles on the second Wednesday of each month, and a longer, usually hilly walk (9-12 miles) on the last Wednesday of each month. Typically midweek walks are accessible by public transport and weekend walks by car. We always advocate car sharing where possible.

If you're coming on a walk, please wear appropriate clothing for the conditions, bring any essentials and lunch. If you're travelling on public transport, please check rail/bus times before setting out. You're responsible for your own safety during the walk and PNFS walk leaders reserve the right to exclude anybody from the walk.

The description of each walk includes the leader's contact details, who if you are a member will be pleased to answer any questions. If you're not yet a member, please email Ken Smith, or call him on 07918 154959. Walk leaders are Society members, which also means they're volunteers.

We're always looking for new walk leaders, if you think you could be one, please see more information near the bottom of this page.

Wednesday, 26 March  (Long)  JOHN MOONEY  07514219563   mooney_je@yahoo.co.uk

HAYFIELD to MARPLE This walk starts at Hayfield Bus Station and finishes at Marple Railway Station. Going via Shooting Cabins, Matley Moor and Cobden Edge. 10 miles and 1400 feet. Train Piccadilly 9.48 am to New Mills Central arrives 10.15 am Bus No. 61 10.33 am New Mills Bus Station arrives Hayfield Bus Station 10.43 am. Alternative Bus No. 358 departs Stockport Interchange 9.35 am arrives Hayfield Bus Station 10.29am WALK STARTS AT 10.35am SK22 2ES

Wednesday, 9 April  (Short)  DAVID MORTON  0161 283 7824   davidmorton@ntlworld.com

WHALEY BRIDGE CIRCULAR Easy 6 miles from Whaley Bridge station via Whitehough. Train leaving at 9:51 from Manchester Piccadilly arrives Whaley Bridge 10:32 Walk starts from the station at 10:45 SK23 7AA

Wednesday, 30 April  (Long)  KEN BROCKWAY  07895 983857   great.english.walk@gmail.com

EDALE to BAMFORD. A valley walk of 10 miles ending at Anglers Rest the community pub at Bamford. Return ticket to Bamford - 9.48 am Piccadilly to Edale 10.32 am. Return ticket to Edale 9.14 am Sheffield. WALK STARTS AT 10.46 am when Sheffield train arrives. Please only call the above mobile on the walk day. S33 7ZN

Wednesday, 14 May  (Short)  JOHN FISHER  07432 825624   johnfisher560@btinternet.com

ADLINGTON TO MACCLESFIELD 7 miles over White Nancy. Train from Manchester Piccadilly to Adlington (Cheshire) at 09-46 arriving at 10-10 Walk starts from Adlington station at 10-15. SK10 4NE

Wednesday, 28 May  (Long)  BILL MINSHALL  07771 985846   bill.minshall@btinternet.com

KIDSGROVE CIRCULAR WALK. Train from Manchester Piccadilly 9.46 am arrives Kidsgrove 10.31 am. 10 miles WALK STARTS AT 10.35 am. ST7 1BX

Wednesday, 11 June  (Short)  BRIAN LOMAS  0161 688 5237   rossmyd@gmail.com

APPLEY BRIDGE TO PARBOLD A seven mile linear walk starting at Appley Bridge railway station following paths and including Fairy Glen, Harrock Hill and Windmill to Parbold for return rail journey to Manchester. 10:09 train from Manchester Victoria arrives Appley Bridge at 11 o’clock when walk starts. WN6 9AE

Wednesday, 25 June  (Long)  MICK CHATHAM  07859 967535   chathammick@gmail.com

LITTLEBOROUGH CIRCULAR WALK. This walk starts at Littleborough Railway Station. Watergrove via Mary Townley Route and visiting Tenter Field sites. 10/11 miles. Train from Manchester Victoria 9.36 am arriving arriving Littleborough 9.57 am. WALK STARTS AT 10:00 am. OL15 8AR

Wednesday, 9 July  (Short)  JOHN HARKER     rossmyd@gmail.com

Walk details to follow

Wednesday, 30 July  (Long & Short)  Udo Pope & Ross Myddelton  07941547378   rossmyd@gmail.com

SILVERDALE circular walks from railway station starting at 10:30 am Udo to lead an 11 mile circular walk, details to follow Ross to lead a 6 mile circular walk, details to follow LA5 0SP

Wednesday, 13 August  (Short)  ALAN TALBOT  07714826899   alan.talbot@rocketmail.com

HEATON PARK TO MANCHESTER VICTORIA linear walk of 7 miles along part of the Manchester Green Trail. Walk starts at 10:30 from Heaton Park Metrolink stop and finishes at Manchester Victoria Station. M25 1JN

Wednesday, 27 August  (Long)  Walk Leader Required     kensmith4rj@icloud.com

Long walks are usually 9-12 miles long. Please email your walk details to kensmith4rj@icloud.com

Wednesday, 10 September  (Short)  SUE DAVIES  07967035784   suekercher@hotmail.co.uk

HATHERSAGE CIrcular walk following the River Derwent from Leadmill Bridge, Offerton and Callow Wood. 9:48 train from Manchester Piccadilly arriving Hathersage at 10:45 and 10:14 train from Sheffield arriving 10:32. Walk will start at 10:45. S32 1DT

Wednesday, 24 September  (Long)  JOHN KIDD     j.ollid@hotmail.com

Details to follow.

Wednesday, 8 October  (Short)  Walk Leader Required      rossmyd@gmail.com

Short walks are usually 5-9 miles long. Please email your walk details to rossmyd@gmail.com

Wednesday, 29 October  (Long)  Walk Leader Required      kensmith4rj@icloud.com

Long walks are usually 9-12 miles long. Please email your walk details to kensmith4rj@icloud.com

Wednesday, 12 November  (Short)  Walk Leader Required      rossmyd@gmail.com

Short walks are usually 5-9 miles long. Please email your walk details to rossmyd@gmail.com

Wednesday, 26 November  (Long)  Walk Leader Required      kensmith4rj@icloud.com

Long walks are usually 9-12 miles long. Please email your walk details to kensmith4rj@icloud.com

Lead a walk

We're always looking to welcome new leaders who'd like to help run our walks programme. Walk leaders are PNFS members, who volunteer for the role. Perhaps you already lead rambling groups or guided walks and you'd like to make your walks more widely available. Or perhaps you don’t yet have any experience of leading but are keen to share your favourite routes with other people. Please contact us to let us know.

About the walks

Your walk should fit into one of three categories:

  1. Short walks are usually 5-9 miles long, not particularly hilly, and are on the second Wednesday of the month
  2. Longer walks are usually 9-12 miles long, can be quite hilly, and on the last Wednesday of the month.
In December there's usually a combined walk on the second or third Wednesday. It is essential that Wednesday walks are accessible by public transport.

Walks programme

The following details are needed for the walks programme, which is published in the Society's newsletter and on this site.

  • Date of walk
  • Leader's name and contact details
  • Walk description, including start location and finish location if different from start
  • Length of walk in miles
  • Details of ascent in metres, or a brief description, e.g., 9 miles, 1000m ascent or 9 miles, hilly or 5 miles, negligible ascent, so that walkers know what to expect if they choose to join the walk
  • Times of trains/buses to/from the walk.

Leading the walk

The walk leader should:

  • Be familiar with the planned route, either through detailed local knowledge or by trying out the route beforehand
  • Be aware of any escape routes that would allow the walk to be cut short
  • Carry basic safety gear, e.g., map, compass, whistle, etc.
  • Know how to deal with emergencies and know how to contact the appropriate emergency service
  • Check the weather forecast on the day of the walk and be prepared to alter the route in case of adverse conditions
  • Have a system for ensuring that no member of the group is left behind.