New Mills to Marple Walk

5.2 miles (8.4 km)

This walk takes you from New Mills to Marple, using sections of the Midshires Way and the Goyt Way. The route runs for just over 5 miles, following the waymarked trails to Hague Bar and Brook Bottom before coming into Marple.... Along the way there are waterside sections along the River Goyt and the Macclesfield Canal where you will pass the photogenic Marple Canal Locks before finishing at Marple train station.
The walk begins in New Mills, a historic mill town set in the dramatic Goyt Valley. The route soon leaves the town behind, following the River Goyt through attractive woodland and riverside scenery towards Hague Bar. This section combines peaceful waterside paths with the industrial heritage that has shaped the valley, with the river once providing power for the mills that made New Mills an important centre for cotton production.
From Hague Bar the route continues through the countryside towards Brook Bottom before joining the canal at Marple. The towpath provides an easy and pleasant finish to the walk, with narrowboats, bridges and the surrounding woodland adding interest along the way. The highlight is the impressive flight of Marple Canal Locks, where sixteen locks carry the Macclesfield Canal through the town.
The final section brings you into Marple, with the walk ending conveniently at Marple train station. This makes the route particularly useful as a linear public transport walk, allowing you to explore the Goyt Valley and enjoy a varied combination of river, woodland, countryside and canal scenery without having to retrace your steps. *marple *whalley bridge