A Goyt Valley Circular - HERE is a walk without a single stile to be crossed. An easy to follow walk following canal towpaths and farm roads in the delightful hilly country on the Cheshire edge of the Peak District.

From Marple Bridge, we join the Peak Forest Canal -- built to bring limestone from Derbyshire quarries -- then drop down to the meandering River Goyt, a tributary of the River Mersey.

We climb to the secluded hamlet of Brook Bottom where the Fox Inn is an ideal refreshment stop before returning to Marple to the accompaniment of great views across the valley. An ideal winter ramble, long enough to work up an appetite for lunch in one of Marple Bridge's hostelries.

DISTANCE: 6 miles

START: public car park on Brabyns Brow (OS Grid Ref. 964894), this is on the A626 between the road junction at Marple Bridge and the train station. If arriving by train, the walk can be started at Marple station or further down the line at Strines.

PUBLIC TRANSPORT: regular bus service from Manchester and Stockport. Or train to Marple or Strines.

FROM the car park, turn left and walk uphill towards the train station. Keep on the left-hand side of the road and the road soon crosses a canal on the brow of the hill adjacent to St Martin's Road. Cross the canal and immediately turn left to join the towpath on the right hand side of the canal. Follow this alongside a park and it soon passes through a tunnel under another road and then continues along the edge of a residential avenue. A large information panel for the Cheshire Ring Canal Walk is passed on your right as you reach a junction of canals. Follow the road over the canal bridge (number 18) at this point then immediately join the canal forking left which is signed along the towpath as the Goyt Way.

Follow the towpath with the canal on your left. Cross over the next bridge (number 19) turn left and walk under this bridge to continue along the towpath now with the canal on your right. The Peak Forest Canal, which heads for Whaley Bridge and was opened in 1800, is now followed straight ahead for the next 1 miles. It passes three more bridges -- the last of which is a small swing bridge -- before we leave it on the left hand side. Look out for the swing bridge and approximately 200m after passing this, a step on the left leads to a path downhill to a track emerging from a tunnel under the canal.

Turn left and follow the lane downhill past cottages to reach the main road. Take care and cross this road continuing downhill along the lane directly opposite. This lane meanders over the River Goyt and climbs to Strines station. Follow the cobbled lane under the railway to reach a junction of tracks. Take the track forking right which leads uphill through woodland. The path climbs quite steeply above the valley to emerge in the hamlet of Brook Bottom with the Fox Inn on the left.

The walk continues along the lane to the right hand side of the pub which winds through the hamlet and passes a church. Continue along this farm lane past farmhouses and when it forks, take the track forking right -- the higher track -- rather than following the lane down to farmhouses in the valley. The higher track passes more houses and maintains its height above the valley. At a crossroads of tracks continue straight ahead and you soon reach Mellor golf course. When the track reaches the driveway entrance to the golf course turn sharp left and continue along the driveway which forks left (the right fork leads to the car park).

Keep to the main drive, ignoring footpath signs on the left and you pass the entrance to Linnet Clough Scout Camp. Continue straight ahead from here along the stony track which gradually drops down through woodland to reach an old farm (Bottoms Hall). Continue straight ahead along an access road and when it forks into two at a road sign take the right fork and follow Low Lea Road. This farm road eventually brings you out by the shops and pubs along Marple Bridge's main street overlooking the river. Turn left along this street then left at the traffic lights by the road junction to return to the car park or train station up the hill.

The featured walk around Marple Bridge follows paths which form part of no less than four promoted longer routes making this ideal walking country for ramblers looking for something slightly more challenging. You may like to try the following:

The Goyt Way -- a 10 mile river valley walk from Compstall to Whaley Bridge. This also links up with the Etherow Way, a 12 mile route to Stockport. Leaflets on the route available from the information centre at Etherow Country Park in Compstall.

Cown Edge Way -- a 19 mile walk across the eastern fringes of Greater Manchester from Hazel Grove via Werneth Low to Gee Cross. Booklet available from the Etherow Country Park information centre or from the Ramblers Association (Manchester Area).

Cheshire Ring Canal Walk -- a 98 mile easy to follow flat towpath walk along the network of historical canals linking Cheshire with central Manchester.

The Midshires Way -- a 225 mile route linking the counties of central England -- from Buckinghamshire to Stockport! Along the way it passes through Northamptonshire, Leicestershire, Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire. This route also uses part of the Goyt Way.