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.

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   07941 547378   r.myddelton1@ntlworld.com

MIDDLEWOOD TO CHEADLE HULME 7 miles of low level walking along the Ladybrook Valley and Bramhall Hall. Train from Manchester Piccadilly at 10:51 arriving Middlewood when walk begins at 11:20. Return to Manchester by train from Cheadle Hulme. SK12 1UA

Wednesday, 29 January  (Long)  Ken Smith  07918 154959   kensmith4rj@icloud.com

PNFS Greenfield Circular Walk. This walk starts at Greenfield Railway Station and visiting Saddleworth Villages Delph Dobcross and Uppermill. Distance: 11.2 miles Time: 4 hours 20 mins Lowest ascent: 482 ft Highest ascent: 971 ft Total ascent: 1501 ft. Train from Manchester Piccadilly 10:00 am and arrives Greenfield 10:22 am. WALK STARTS AT 10:30 am. Walk is anticipated to finish at 3:30 pm. Refreshments at The Wellington Chew Valley Road. OL3 7JZ

Wednesday, 12 February  (Short)  MICK CHATHAM   07792709198   chathammick@gmail.com

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

Wednesday, 12 March  (Short)  Walk Leader Required      r.myddelton1@ntlworld.com

Short walks are usually 5-9 miles long. Please email your walk details to r.myddelton1@ntlworld.com

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

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

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)  Walk Leader Required     kensmith4rj@icloud.com

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

Wednesday, 11 June  (Short)  Walk Leader Required     r.myddelton1@ntlworld.com

Short walks are usually 5-9 miles long. Please email your walk details to r.myddelton1@ntlworld.com

Wednesday, 25 June  (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, 9 July  (Short)  SHIRLEY ADDY  07434 897143 text   smaddy@talktalk.net

Walk details to follow.

Wednesday, 30 July  (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.
  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.