Etherow Country Park, Compstall and Werneth Low Cenotaph

Jim Grindle

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In football commentator terms, this is a walk of two halves. After ten minutes by the River Goyt the ascent towards Werneth Low starts... and continues. Pleasant fields lead up to a farm and tracks from there lead up again to the war memorial. The views from there are outstanding; I can think of several other such memorials which are testimony to the determination of the survivors that the sacrifices of WWI should not be forgotten. From here, by contrast, it is all downhill and mostly on tracks or estate roads that are easy underfoot, while the views are still there for some time. It's a good day out if you can manage 1,000' of climbing in 2.5 miles.

In August 2019 the footpath between Waymarks 2 and 3 was closed as the riverbank had given way and it is now necessary to turn right at Waymark 2 and follow the road uphill on the pavement past the church to Waymark 5. However,the path between Waymarks 3 and 4 has deteriorated to the point where it has become an almost dangerous struggle and I would recommend the temporary route even when the river path has been restored.

England - North England - Manchester - Countryside

Features

Ancient Monument, Birds, Butterflies, Cafe, Church, Flowers, Food Shop, Gift Shop, Great Views, Hills or Fells, Industrial Archaeology, Lake/Loch, Play Area, Pub, Public Transport, River, Tea Shop, Toilets, Wildlife, Woodland

3/27/2022 - Simon Worrall

Additional comment to add to last comment re footpath closure between WP20 and WP21. The response from Stockport CC was 'The landslide is significant and would be requiring a substantial budget to make the repairs and therefore the closure is indefinite.'

3/15/2022 - Simon Worrall

Walked March 2022. Good walk - surprisingly rural given it is so close to several built up areas. NAVIGATION - the permissive footpath between WP20 and WP21 is currently closed due to subsidence about 75 meters from WP20. There is a public footpath near WP20 that leads onto an unclassified lane which is a direct route back to the car park entrance at WP1. However this route means missing out on the section through Etherow Country Park. NAVIGATION - the footpath between WP2 and WP3 has re-opened. MUD - The section of footpath from WP3 to WP4 is a little tricky in wet weather and the top section was very boggy as it's poorly drained. NAVIGATION - the stile (pictured)at WP6 on the north east side of the main road is currently broken - has no steps - making crossing it tricky. NAVIGATION - the path off the gravel track heading NW across the field is now marked with a small unofficial 'path' sign heading towards another unofficial white arrow marking the route that passes to the right of a bungalow called 'Silverdale'.

8/12/2019 - Jim Grindle

August 2019. The river bank has given way between Waypoints 2 and 3 and it will remain closed for 6 months. An easy diversion is to turn right rather than left when you reach the main road and follow the pavement uphill past the church to Waypoint 5. In fact,the path from 3 to 4 has now become so dangerous that I would recommend this as the better route even when the riverside path is re-opened. Jim Grindle.

7/11/2014 - Geoffrey Robertshaw

Once again Jim Grindle has come up with a great walk. The walk is muddy in places but on a good day like today the views from the Cenotaph are fantastic and well worth the effort of getting there.

1/28/2013 - Vivien Quigley

Did this walk yesterday and found it very enjoyable, if a little muddy in places. Also at No 9 when you reach another farm, go through little gate attached to blue metal gate would help.

9/18/2011 - Andrea Goodall

Just did this walk on a sunny September day (but after several days of heavy rain). The path between 3 & 4 was quite overgrown & we must have missed our way as we ended up scrambling up a muddy & bramble covered bank when the path we were on fizzled out - so look out for the path going off to the right as you are climbing the steps (as we thought we had followed the apparent path). We managed to make our way across to point 4 & the walk was then very enjoyable. There is a useful pub stop half way & after the climbing is finished - turn left at point 12 & walk about 200yds along the road to the Hare & Hounds. Farm fields for the first half so dogs on leads but second half excellent for dogs.