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. In addition there are monthly walks on a Saturday. 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.

Saturday, 9 December    DANNY ALLEN  07989 713 205   dannysallen@yahoo.co.uk

ATTERMIRE SCAR WALK. 8 miles. Park and meet in Settle at the Greenfoot car park, BD24 9RW (P&D £2.30 all day). WALK STARTS AT 09:30 am. Walk starts steeply out of Settle old village to get to the edge of the scar. Walk through the scar with optional visits to Victoria and Jubilee caves (bring a headtorch for Jubilee cave). Then we visit Catrigg Force (optional) and Stainforth Force and walk along the Ribble back to Settle. Dogs allowed. BD24 9RW

Wednesday, 13 December  (Long)  JOHN FISHER  07432 825 624   johnfisher560@btinternet.com

COMBINED CHRISTMAS SHORT AND LONGER WALK  6-7 Miles
  
 Joint walk, Short and Longer groups.  Lyme Park circular, visiting the 3 outbuildings in the Park - Lantern House, Paddock Cottage and Lyme Cage.  Social afterwards at Disley pub.  Walk starts and ends at Disley Railway Station  Train 9.51 am Piccadilly arrives Disley 10.22 am  WALK STARTS AT 10:30 am   SK12 2AE

Saturday, 6 January    SHIRLEY M ADDY  07434 897 143 (text)   smaddy@talktalk.net

RIBCHESTER CIRCULAR WALK. Easy/medium, 10 miles. We walk to Stydd, Duddel Hill, Greengore and Hurst Green. We bag three PNFS signposts en route. We then return by following the River Ribble back to Ribchester. WALK STARTS AT 09:30 am Ribchester car park, P&D, PR3 3ZH, SD64827 35181. PR3 3ZH

Wednesday, 10 January  (Short)  SHIRLEY M ADDY  07434 897143 (text)   smaddy@talktalk.net

RAMSGREAVE AND WILPSHIRE CIRCULAR WALK. We follow part of the Ribble Valley Jubilee trail. Easy/medium. We climb to the Top of Ramsgreave and visit Mellor’s underground nuclear bunker used by Royal Observation Corps in the 1950-60s. We continue the trail downhill to Copster Green before ascending back to the start. Manchester Victoria 09:43 am to Ramsgreave and Wilpshire 10:40. WALK STARTS FROM STATION AT 10:41 am. BB1 9BD

Wednesday, 31 January  (Long)  SHIRLEY M ADDY  07434 897 143 (text)   smaddy@talktalk.net

WHALLEY (LANCS) CIRCULAR WALK. After climbing the Nab, we admire views from the craggy Bowley Hill before dropping down to circumambulating Dean Clough reservoir. Lastly we follow the traffic-free Moor Lane back into Whalley. Train 09:43 am Manchester Victoria to Whalley 10:51 am. WALK STARTS FROM STATION AT 10:55 am (and 11:00 am at Dog Inn for those parking on Accrington Road, BB7 9SP, SD73317 36196). BB7 9SE

Saturday, 3 February    DAVID GOSLING  07841 647 275    david.gosling@pnfs.org.uk

RING OF TREES WALK. Buxton, 10 miles. The Ring of Trees walk is a circular route through the woods cared for by Buxton Civic Association. Start at Buxton Railway Station (SK059737) at 10:00 am. Parking on nearby streets. Visiting Poole’s Cavern café approximately halfway round. Moderately hilly (2,000 feet ascent). See https://buxtoncivicassociation.org.uk/woodlands. SK23 7QS

Wednesday, 14 February  (Short)  PAUL EASTHOPE  07759 653 354   pepnfs@gmail.com

GLOSSOP CIRCULAR WALK. Meet at Glossop Railway Station (SK 0342 9421) about 8 miles. Train from Manchester Piccadilly leaving at 9:33 am arriving Glossop at 10:03. WALK STARTS AT 10:15 am. SK13 7RA

Wednesday, 28 February  (Long)  Walk Leader Required  - email to lead this walk   kensmith4rj@icloud.com

Saturday, 2 March    KATHY MACLEAN  07967 802 549   kmcpnfs@gmail.com

Walk details to follow.

Wednesday, 13 March  (Short)  DAVID GOSLING  07841 647 275   david.gosling@pnfs.org.uk

FURNESS VALE CIRCULAR WALK. Meet at Furness Vale Railway Station (SK 00840 83552) (1100 feet ascent) about 6 miles via The Navigation at Bugsworth Basin. Train from Manchester Piccadilly leaving at 9:51 am arriving Furness Vale at 10:29. WALK STARTS AT 10:30 am. SK23 7QS

Wednesday, 27 March  (Long)  JOHN MOONEY  07514 219 563   mooney_je@yahoo.co.uk

WILMSLOW TO STYAL. Bollin Valley Way, Quarry Bank Mill and Airport Perimeter. Train 09:36 am Piccadilly arrives Wilmslow 10:09 am via Styal Line. WALK STARTS AT 10:15 am 10.5 miles 500 ft ascent. SK9 1BU

Saturday, 6 April    LINDA SMITH  07808 319 733

FRODSHAM and HELSBY HILLS CIRCULAR WALK. 7.5 miles (or 9 miles with extra 1.5 mile option), 1,400 ft ascent. This walk takes in spectacular views over the Mersey estuary and includes some lovely woodland paths. The walk is stile-free and there are no fields with cows on the route. There is an option for an extra 1.5 miles if we decide that pub refreshments are required. Trains from Liverpool and Manchester arrive 09:29 am. WALK STARTS AT 09:45 am at Frodsham Railway Station car park (south side) WA6 7DJ

Wednesday, 24 April  (Long)  UDO POPE  07717 802 468   udo.pope@ntlworld.com

Walk details to follow.

Wednesday, 29 May  (Long)  BILL MINSHALL  07771 985 846   bill.minshall@btinternet.com

Walk details to follow.

Wednesday, 26 June  (Long)  ROSS MYDDLETON  07941 547 378   r.myddelton1@ntlworld.com

Walk details to follow.

Wednesday, 31 July  (Long)  GAVIN MILLER  07951 746 323   gavinmiller687@gmail.com

Walk details to follow.

Wednesday, 28 August  (Long)  ANN HADEN  07766 194 900   ann.vernon-haden@virginmedia.com

EDALE CIRCULAR WALK Kinder via Ollerbrook, Crookstone Knoll, Edale End, YH. Walk starts and ends at Edale Railway Station. Train 09:48 am Piccadilly arrives Edale 10:31 am. WALK STARTS AT 10:35 am. 12 miles 2087 ft ascent. End of walk refreshments optional at The Ramblers Inn S33 7ZP

Wednesday, 25 September  (Long)  KEN SMITH  07918 154 959   kensmith4rj@icloud.com

MARSDEN CIRCULAR WALK via Pule Hill, Black Moss, Butterley and Holme Moor. Walk starts and ends at Marsden Railway Station. Train 09:58 am Piccadilly arrives Marsden 10:30 am. WALK STARTS AT 10:35 am. 9.52 miles 1517 ft ascent. HD7 6DG

Wednesday, 27 November  (Long)  JOHN MOONEY  07514 219 563   mooney_je@yahoo.co.uk

BUXTON TO WHALEY BRIDGE via Goyt Valley and Taxal. Train 9.51 am Piccadilly arrives Buxton 10.54 am WALK STARTS AT 11:00 am. 10.5 miles 1500 ft ascent. SK17 6AH

Wednesday, 11 December  (COMBINED WALK)  Walk Leader Required - email  to lead this walk   kensmith4rj@icloud.com

COMBINED CHRISTMAS SHORT AND LONGER WALK  (5-9 miles)

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.
  3. Saturday walks are 8-12 miles long, at moderate to hard level, usually hilly, and on the first Saturday of each month.
In December there's usually a combined walk on the second or third Wednesday. Your walk must be 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.