A Walk in the Goyt Valley from Buxton

This was a relatively short walk of around 6 miles starting and finishing near the centre of the town of Buxton.

We parked near the lovely park of Spring Gardens and walked through the park and along the Serpentine Walk until we followed a short path through woods and then across part of the Cavendish Golf Course. There was a wide track to follow eventually leading past Watford Farm above the golf course which led to a path running uphill behind the farm. After reaching a large open area of moorland, we dropped down a valley side soon reaching an old section of the High Peak Railway by the closed Burbage Tunnel. As we were getting hungry and this was a suitable lunch stop, we sat next to the old tunnel entrance and ate lunch watching a few groups of people following the old railway walking dogs.
Afterwards we followed onwards down the Wildstoneclough Valley passing a group of kids having a rest (probably a “DOE” group) until we arrived at a track which we had walked along on a previous walk near Errwood Reservoir. This track led us above the reservoir and eventually to a steep minor road which once was part of Bunsall Plane associated with the High Peak Railway.
We followed the road downhill for a short distance then through a stile to a footpath leading through woods and a footbridge across a stream. We had a short drinks break near the footbridge and then started uphill following a path which gave us views back to the route we had followed with the Errwod Reservoir in the distance.
Up until now it had been cool but dry but we could feel a few drops after we crossed the main road (A5002) and passed through a gate. So we stopped for a minute while Karen got her Paramo Velez on. We followed the gradually rising path up the fields and after following a short vehicle track along the White Hall Outdoors Pursuit Centre until we met a tarmaced lane which was an old Roman road according to the map. This lane gradually rose uphill to reach its highest point at about 1,500 feet above sea level with views across to the Cat and Fiddle pub in the distance on the Macclesfield to Buxton road.
After the highest point, the lane continued downwards with views of Buxton in the distance below with the surface of the lane rough and unmetalled. This brought us back to the A5002 again and after crossing the road, we followed the grass verge for a short distance until the pavement started. We followed the pavement for a short distance until a narrow footpath led down past part of the golf course, then past the Clubhouse until we arrived back at the footpath through the woods we had followed earlier.
We only had to retrace our steps through the Serpentine Walks and Palace Gardens with a short detour when we accidentally passed the exit form the park we needed – but soon were back on the right track and also soon back where we had left the car.
I had been wearing the Paramo 3rd Element Jacket I had bought which arrived last weekend for the first time as well as the Osprey Kestrel 38 rucksack. The jacket was very good and removing the hood and sleeves part made an enormous difference being much cooler when walking uphill. The rucksack, as expected, was very good and very comfortable.