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, 5 October    MICK CHATHAM   07792 709198/01706 379318   chathammick@gmail.com

TODMORDEN CIRCULAR – Meet 10:00 Todmorden railway station at main entrance. Car parking available in near vicinity. 10/11 miles, medium. As well as viewing the recently restored small pack horse bridge that PNFS have heavily contributed in restoring we will be visiting Bride Stones with its many points of interest and golden rocks with the early raised stone. OL14 7AA

Wednesday, 9 October  (Short)  ROSS MYDDELTON   07941547378   r.myddelton1@ntlworld.com

BLACKROD to GATHURST Moderate linear walk of 8 miles with 500 ft ascent, No Dogs. Take 10:02 train from Manchester Piccadilly arriving Blackrod at 10:33. Return trains depart half hourly from Gathurst to either Manchester Victoria or Oxford Road. Both stations are within GMPTE for those travelling with a Tram/Train Pass. BL6 5JH

Wednesday, 30 October  (Long)  JOHN KIDD  01283 701 991   j.ollid@hotmail.com

CHINLEY to NEW MILLS via Kettleshulme. This walk starts at Chinley Railway Station and finishes at New Mills Central Railway Station. Trains from Manchester Piccadilly 09:48 am arrives at 10:22 am and trains from Sheffield 09:14 am arrives at 9:54 am. This is a really good linear walk offering interesting and great views. WALK STARTS AT 10:30 am. 11 miles. SK23 6AY

Saturday, 2 November    DAVID GOSLING  07841 647275   AO4@pnfs.org.uk

BUXTON woodland walk. This beautiful walk around the woodlands owned by The Buxton Civic Society is a variation on the Ring of Trees Walk timed to enjoy the autumn colours. This clockwise route will include some of Buxton’s finest buildings, Solomons Temple on Grin Low, and a stop at Poole’s Cavern Café at 5 miles. 10 miles and 449 m (1500 feet) ascent. Train from Manchester Piccadilly at 09:20, arrive in Buxton at 10:21. Walk starts at 10:30. SK17 6AQ

Wednesday, 13 November  (Short)  JOHN HARKER  07929 051978   trueblade55@yahoo.co.uk

CHINLEY TO NEW MILLS, 8-9 miles linear walk from Chinley railway station via Peak Forest tramway; Bridgeholm Green; Breckend; South Head; Peep O'Day;Far Phoside; Birch Vale; New Mills. Option to finish early at Birch Vale on Hayfield- New Mills-Stockport bus route. to New Mills Central. Trains from Piccadilly at 9:48 or Sheffield 9:14 Walk begins Chinley 10:30 SK23 6AR

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

Saturday, 7 December    LINDA SMITH  07808 319733   Lindae.smith@hotmail.com

***PLEASE NOTIFY LINDA IF PLANNING TO ATTEND***. FRODSHAM and Helsby Hills 7.5 mile circular walk, 1400ft ascent. Takes in spectacular views over Mersey estuary and includes lovely woodland paths. There are no stiles or fields with cows on route. Option for extra 1.5 miles if pub refreshments are required. Trains from Liverpool and Manchester arrive 09.29. Walk starts 09.35 at Frodsham Railway Station car park (south side). Parking is £1.50 for over 6 hours. WA6 7DN. Times may change near WA6 7DN

Wednesday, 11 December  (COMBINED WALK)  KEN BROCKWAY     great.english.walk@gmail.com

PNFS Buxton Walk COMBINED CHRISTMAS SHORT AND LONGER WALK 9.51 am from Manchester Piccadilly arrives Buxton 10.54 am. TP bus from south arrives 10.45 am. Other transport plans are available. Walk starts when both have arrived. Meet station forecourt. The Crescent, Pavilion Gardens, Grinlow Tower, a restricted area, Cromford and High Peak Railway, Staden Low, Duke's Drive, Ashwood Park and Wetherspoons. Walk 7 miles and anticipate finish 2.30 pm there will be no lunch stop during the walk only short drink breaks. Food at Wetherspoons is an option. Please only phone Ken on the day of the walk 07895 983857 SK17 6AQ

Wednesday, 8 January  (Short)  ROSS MYDDELTON   07941547378   r.myddelton1@ntlworld.com

Saturday, 11 January    MICK CHATHAM  07792 709198

Todmorden circular. 10-11 miles. Heading up west out of town and walking on the Todmorden geology trail and through the Bearnshaw forestry plantation. Field paths and cloughs also included in walk. Manchester Victoria 09:21 to Todmorden 09:43. Walk starts 10:00 at Todmorden railway station. Parking in vicinity. OL14 7AA

Saturday, 1 February    DANNY ALLEN  07989 713205   dannysallen@yahoo.co.uk

ROSSENDALE CIRCULAR 8 miles with a fair amount of ascent. The start point will be the Co-Op at Waterfoot on Bacup Road BB4 7HB. There is parking in Waterfoot on Bacup Road or there is a small car park behing the Old Library building. Walk starts 10:00. BB4 7HB

Wednesday, 12 February  (Short)  MICK CHATHAM   07792 709198   chathammick@gmail.com

LITTLEBOROUGH CIRCULAR Low level to Summit then over Chelburn Moor visiting the Stanza and Aiggin Stones returning via the Roman Road. 1300ft Ascent and 8 Miles. Train from Manchester Victoria 9:36 am arriving Littleborough 9:57 am WALK STARTS 10 o'clock OL15 8AR OL15 8AR

Wednesday, 26 February  (Long)  SHIRLEY ADDY  07434 897143 text   smaddy@talktalk.net

Whalley to Clitheroe linear walk. 9.5 miles easy. Whalley railway station, River Calder, Calderstones, River Ribble to Fishes and Peggy Hill, Higher Standen Hey Farm, old A59, Standen Hall, Primrose, lodge, River Ribble to Siddows Hall, Edisford Bridge, Low Moor, Clitheroe railway station. Manchester Victoria 09:43, arrive Whalley 10:59. Walk starts 11:00. Return from Clitheroe railway station. BB7 9RT

Saturday, 5 April    KEN BROCKWAY  

Rowsley 10 miles. More details to follow.

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

2025 WHALEY BRIDGE CIRCULAR Easy 6 miles from Whaley Bridge station to Whitehough. Train leaving at 9:51 from Manchester Piccadilly arrives Whaley Bridge 10:32 SK23 7AA

Saturday, 3 May    SHIRLEY ADDY  07434 897143 text   smaddy@talktalk.net

THE TOLKIEN TRAIL. 7 miles long medium. Starting from Hurst Green, we follow this trail in wonderful countryside that inspired the author of The Lord of the Rings. We pass the world famous Stonyhurst College, where Tolkien's son was a pupil. Other famous pupils include Conan Doyle and Sherlock Holmes' enemy Moriarty and Charles Laughton. Walk starts 10:00 near car park (honesty box)/Bayley Arms. BB7 9QB

Wednesday, 9 July  (Short)  SHIRLEY ADDY  07434 897143 text   smaddy@talktalk.net

Walk details to follow.

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. It is essential that Wednesday walks are accessible by public transport. Where this is not possible, Saturday walks may involve the use of other forms of 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.