Buxworth - Hayfield and the Goyt Way

Eric Davies

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Leave the car near the Navigation Inn at Bugsworth Basin and head for Chinley Churn. The village used to be called Bugsworth, but was changed by referendum to Buxworth in 1929. More at www.navigationinn.co.uk/history.htm

The moors on Chinley Churn are reached by path from the village, even going through a garden (dogs on leads please), crossing the moors to Peep o Day Farm, again via another garden. The farm is so called because of the eye-like window built into the eastern wall. The sun is supposed to shine through the window and wake the farmer up ready to start work, or so the story goes.

Crossing the A624, join an old drovers' road into Hayfield. Some information at www.cressbrook.co.uk/chinley/haytext.htm. The village has plenty of amenities, pubs, shops cafes etc. From Hayfield we now follow the disused railway, now the Sett Valley Way into New Mills, again with all the usual amenities. Information on the Sett Valley Trail can be found at www.derbyshire-peakdistrict.co.uk/settvalleytrail.htm. Turning into Tors Riverside Park on the Goyt Way, it would not seem like being in the middle of a large town. This park is where the rivers Sett and Goyt join, again information at www.localauthoritypublishing.co.uk/councils/newmills/park.html. A slight detour to the Millenium Bridge is well worth while.

Following the Goyt Way, join the Peak Forest Canal which is followed back to Bugsworth Basin. There is a floating community on the canal, serviced by a barge which empties sewage and supplies fuel for the barges. A row of cottages is passed just before the end, called Teapot Cottages, so called as the original tenants emptied their teapots into the canal.

Again information at www.penninewaterways.co.uk/peak/pf12.htm.

England - Central England - Derbyshire - Peak District

Features

Birds, Flowers, Food Shop, Hills or Fells, Moor, Mountains, Pub, River, Toilets, Wildlife, Woodland

3/10/2022 - Eric Davies

Thanks for your lovely update Simon, very helpful.

3/8/2022 - Simon Worrall

Walked March 2022. Enjoyable walk with a good mix of moorland paths, towpaths and canal history at Bugsworth Basin. Bit boggy across the moorland but no different to other walks this time of year! NAVIGATION: No particular navigation issues - the footpath closure referred to in previous comments is no longer an issue. The old footpath directly under the rock face has been re-routed over the new "Torr Top Bridge". The route then tracks south on the riverbank path (signposted Goytside Meadow, Nature Reserve, Peak Forest Canal) passing the small hydroelectric power station at the confluence of the Sett and Goyt. ACCESS INFO: we travelled by train to Furness Vale (on the Manchester to Buxton line). Furness Vale station is alongside the towpath section between WPs 24 and 25 so picking up the walk is easy and there is a pub (The Crossings) there too (opens at 2pm on weekdays, 12pm weekends).

11/11/2016 - Eric Davies

Thank you Sarah and Graham for your helpful comments on the walk. I have asked WW Admin to update the instructions at WP 21 until the path is reopened.

11/7/2016 - Sarah Freshwater

We also walked this route on 29 October 2016, also met a scramble biker and agree that the section is extremely muddy now. There is no problem navigating the recent diversion for the sinkhole; however, it is not so clear how to pick up the Goyt Way at waymark 21 owing to the closure of the path at Torside Park. As you approach waymark 21 you will be passing a leisure centre on the right which you can see through the fence. At the end of the fence, don't walk down to waymark 21 but instead follow the footpath sign to 'Leisure Centre' to go up to Hyde Bank Road. Cross the road, turn left and travel a short distance where you will find steps down to the bridge. Crossing the bridge, you will see the area of the rockfall. Turn left and continue with the walk. Despite the mud, we thoroughly enjoyed this varied and interesting walk. Highly recommend the Navigation Inn for excellent real ales.

10/31/2016 - Graham Moss

Walked 29/10/16. Walked this route in Oct 2013 and despite some heavy rain showers made no adverse comments about the walk in my notes. This time however I found that the footpath between WP10 and WP15 has become something of a mud bath due to the activity of scrambler bikes. Even as I walked this section I had to get out of the way of a scrambler bike coming towards me. From Hayfield the walk is very pleasant and undemanding but due to a sink hole the path has been closed at GR SK 0146 8678. There is however a very easy marked diversion to take you around the obstruction. In view of the poor condition of the footpath this is not a walk I would do again.

8/6/2016 - Geoff Tideswell

Great walk with lots of variety. However, due to rocks falling from the cliff it is not possible to walk through Torside Park at Waymark 21. As a result you will need to go into the town and find an alternative route to the Goyt Way. The Millennium Walkway is worth a visit and is a very short detour.

4/10/2007 - Kay Doyle

Great walk but a few comments after point 6 cross the road and go over the stile. Point 7 is hard to spot on the left hand side of the path if you reach a gate you have gone too far.