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Fernilee to Castle Naze walk
This 12-mile walk starts from Fernilee Reservoir, passing Taxal Church and Combs Reservoir before climbing to the ancient Iron Age fort of Castle Naze, and returning along Combs Edge.
Threat of legal action
I’ve been threatened with legal and police action, unless I remove a walk that’s been on the site since 2011. Even though walkers have been going that way for donkeys’ years.
A postcard history
It’s something I’ve been meaning to do for ages – create a video of the valley, featuring some of the many wonderful postcards people have been kind enough to let me to scan.
Life for the killers
Four murderers receive life sentences for the brutal and senseless attacks which occurred just over 35 years ago in the scenic spot known as Goytsclough, close to the packhorse bridge.
Corbar to Erwood walk
I’ve just added walk 23 to the series. It’s an easy but rewarding eight miles from Corbar Woods down to the Goyt Valley, passing Errwood Reservoir and returning though Cavendish golf course.
Drones above Curbar Edge
“Covid-19 is causing much ill-health. We cannot also let it bring about a historic shift in the relationship between the state and the people, in which the state’s power grows and people’s liberty diminishes.”
The Goytsclough murders
Two young men brutally murdered, and one who just managed to escape a similar fate. It’s hard to believe this happened in picturesque Goytsclough, and well within living memory.
Packhorse bridge photos
I’ve just come across some wonderful photos of the old packhorse bridge on Flickr. I’m not sure when they were taken – perhaps in the ’30s or ’40s. The bridge now spans the Goyt about a mile upstream.
‘Bunty’ – a special teacher
Chris remembers ‘Bunty’ Sidebottom, a very special teacher at Fernilee Infant School: “She was extremely glamorous and had friends in high places in TV land: the BBC and Granada, Manchester.”
Relief expedition on the way
An intriguing photo dated 27 February 1933 and titled ‘Goyt Valley Relief Expedition’ shows a number of horsemen carrying provisions to the valley from Buxton following a severe snowstorm.
A summer’s day walk
The previous video was photographed to capture the colours of autumn. This one was recorded during a gloriously warm and bright summer’s day. There’s also two versions to choose from.
A chilled stroll to the valley
My attempt at a bit of slow-TV features a leisurely stroll from Buxton’s famous Opera House to the ancient packhorse bridge over the Goyt, backed by some of my favourite chilled jazz tracks.
Rainow to Lamaload walk
Starting from Rainow, walk 22 in the series is just under 10 miles, and crosses some fairly bleak moorland to reach the evocative ruins of Thursbitch, before returning alongside Lamaload Reservoir.
Goyt Valley on ViewRanger
All the walks on this website are now available on the ViewRanger app. Which should make following them a lot easier for anyone with a smartphone. Well that’s the theory!
Lost in a snowstorm
“He left Macclesfield on Sunday at about four o’clock in the afternoon, and when found at six o’clock on Monday evening – 26 hours later – he was snow-blind, inarticulate, and frozen…”
Cat & Fiddle update
It seems the Cat & Fiddle Inn, perched high on the moors beside the Buxton to Macclesfield road, has been saved. Which after a couple of years standing derelict and forlorn, is wonderful news.
Taxal Church fades
Three ‘then and now’ fades show a more positive side to Taxal’s Rev Evans, including the installation of six new and recast bells, the rebuilding of the chancel, and the expansion of the graveyard.
Site’s back up
It all happened just as I was working on another post about the Rev Sam Evans. I did wonder whether he’d managed to reach out from beyond the grave to exact his revenge.
Rev Evans bound over
He delivered another blow, when witness seized hold of the rector and asked him how he dare strike a member of the congregation. The second blow struck a man who went between them.
The pugilistic parson
Amidst great uproar, Mr Nall said that “the Rector would see whether he was a coward or not”. The Rector’s reply was that he would “take Mr. Nall by the neck and remove him”…
The remarkable rector
According to his 1922 obituary, Rev. Samuel Evans, rector at Taxal Church for 35 years, was ‘very brusque and had a staccato form of speech, which probably frightened children’.
Goyt Valley booklet
Published in the late 1970s, this pocket guide to the Goyt Valley contains some fascinating information, with topics ranging from rock formations to the Chilworth Gunpowder Mill.
25ml Goyt Valley walk
South Manchester’s Long Distance Walking Association recently held a 25-mile challenge through the Goyt Valley. My legs wouldn’t be up to it. But here’s the route for those built of sterner stuff.
New Buxton to Goyt walk
With winter fast approaching, I thought I’d add another walk to the series to capture the glorious colours of autumn in the valley. This 9-mile walk from Buxton includes some famous landmarks.