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, 28 January  (Long)  BILL MINSHALL  07771 985 846   bill.minshall@btinternet.com

HOLMES CHAPEL CIRCULAR WALK. Holmes Chapel to Allostock and Goostrey and back. 10 miles. Catch the 10:06 am train from Manchester Piccadilly arrives Holmes Chapel at 10:46 am. WALK STARTS AT 10:50 am CW4 8AA

Wednesday, 11 February  (Short)  DAVID GOSLING  07841647275   davidgosling@pnfsorg.uk

WILMSLOW TO MOBBERLEY LINEAR WALK of between six and seven miles via Lindow Common to Mobberley. Catch the 10:06 train from Manchester Piccadilly arriving at Wilmslow at 10:30 when walk starts. Return is by train from Mobberley. SK9 1BU

Wednesday, 25 February  (Long)  UDO POPE  07717 802 468   udo.pope@ntlworld.com

HADFIELD CIRCULAR WALK train from Manchester Piccadilly at 9:33 am arrives at 10:15 am. 9 to 10 miles and approximately 400 m ascent/descent. WALK STARTS AT 10:20 am. SK13 1AH

Wednesday, 11 March  (Short)  JOHN ALEXANDER  07598 835431   john@alexanders62.plus.com

FRODSHAM CIRCULAR WALK 8.5 Miles taking in Frodsham Hill and Helsby Hill, along the mostly wooded edge overlooking the Mersey valley, with views which include the Clwydian Hills in Wales. Total ascent 1,250 feet, with a few short steep ascents. 9.44 train from Piccadilly, arriving Frodsham 10.29 walk starts from the station at 10:30 WA6 7DN

Wednesday, 25 March  (Long)  JOHN MOONEY  07514 219 563   mooney_je@yahoo.co.uk

WHALEY BRIDGE TO DISLEY LINEAR WALK 9:51 am train from Manchester Piccadilly arrives at 10:33 am. 9 miles WALK STARTS AT 10:35 am SK23 7AA

Wednesday, 8 April  (Short)  JOHN FISHER  07432825624   johnfisher560@btinternet.com

MACCLESFIELD CIRCULAR WALK of 7.5 miles from Macclesfield station with 650 feet of ascent in short stages, non steep via Sutton Parish, Hollins, Langley, Gritstone Trail and Macclesfield Canal. Train from Manchester Piccadilly leaving at 10.14 Stockport at 10.24 arrives at Macclesfield at 10:40 where the walk begins. SK11 6JP

Wednesday, 6 May  (Short)  DAVID MORTON  07858 915321‬   signposts@pnfs.org.uk

WHALEY BRIDGE CIRCULAR WALK, of 6.3 miles with 820 feet of ascent. Take the 9.51 Buxton train from Manchester Piccadilly arriving at Whaley Bridge at 10.33 then starting from the railway station and visiting Overton Hall Farm, Fernilee Dam and Shallcross Wood finishing at The Shepherds Arms for refreshment options, returning by train to Manchester. SK23 7AA

Wednesday, 10 June  (Short)  KEN BROCKWAY & JOHN KIDD  07895 983857   great.english.walk@gmail.com

TUTBURY & HATTON CIRCULAR WALK of 9 miles with about 400 feet of ascent visiting Tutbury, Rolleston and Anslow finishing at Black Country Inn for refreshments before return to the station for 16:39 return train. Either take 10:03 train from Manchester Piccadilly change Stoke on Trent or use buses from Derby or Burton on Trent to arrive at Tutbury & Hatton station at 11:23 when walk will start. DLE3 9LY

Wednesday, 8 July  (Short)  BRIAN LOMAS  0161 688 5237   rossmyd@gmail.com

DETAILS TO FOLLOW

Wednesday, 29 July  (Long)  UDO POPE  

SILVERDALE 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.
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.