Shining Tor Walk
Climb to the highest point in Cheshire on this wonderful walk in the Goyt Valley.
The walk starts from the Erwood Hall Car Park at the southern end of Erwood Reservoir. The route then ascends to Shining Tor, passing the Errwood Estate with its old ruined hall and attractive woodland. The hall was built in the 1830s by Samuel Grimshawe with a 2000 acre estate consisting of farmland and woodland with azaleas and rhododendrons. You can see the Grimshawe's family cemetery and an attractive Spanish Shrine to the governess of the children at Errwood Hall. The estate is a popular start point for walks in the Goyt Valley.
At the 559 m (1,834 ft) summit of Shining Tor you can enjoy great views of the Cheshire Plain, Winter Hill, the city of Manchester and Jodrell Bank. On a clear day you can also see as far as Snowdonia.
The route then heads north along the ridge to Cats Tor and then on to Pym Chair. It's a lovely stretch of the walk with a good path leading along the ridge with views of Cats Tor and the surrounding Peak District hills and moorland. Pym Chair is another popular viewpoint with a car park. You could also start the walk from here if you prefer.
From Pym chair you descend back to Errwood Reservoir along a nice country lane before a final waterside section leads you back to the Errwood Hall car park.
If you would like to continue your walking in the area then you could pick up the Midshires Way which runs past the reservoir. You could actually start the walk from nearby Buxton and follow the Midshires Way to Shining Tor from there. The Errwood Reservoir and Fernilee Reservoir Walk also starts from the same location.
If you head north from Pym Chair then you would soon come to Windgather Rocks, a popular place for rock climbers.
Shining Tor and Cats Tor Ordnance Survey Map 
- view and print off detailed OS map
Shining Tor and Cats Tor Open Street Map 
- view and print off detailed map
Shining Tor and Cats Tor OS Map 
- Mobile GPS OS Map with Location tracking
Shining Tor and Cats Tor Open Street Map 
- Mobile GPS Map with Location tracking
Pubs/Cafes
Just to the north of the car park there's the Shady Oak in Fernilee. The pub is a great position overlooking the Goyt Valley. There's a good menu, a pub garden and it is also dog friendly. You can find it on Long Hill Road at a postcode of SK23 7HD for your sat navs.
Further Information and Other Local Ideas
Just a couple of miles to the west there's a nice circular trail to follow around Lamaload Reservoir. There's easy waterside paths and pleasant woodland trails in this quiet area.
A few miles to the north east of the site there's Combs Reservoir near Chapel en le Frith. Here you can also enjoy some splendid rock formations and another excellent viewpoint at Castle Naze. The Promontory fort on Combs Edge commands fine views to the surrounding Peak District hills.
For more walking ideas in the area see the Peak District Walks and the Cheshire Walks pages.
Cycle Routes and Walking Routes Nearby
Photos
Shining tor. 1834ft [559m] highest ground in Cheshire.
Shining Tor peak. This is the view towards Shutlingsloe across the notorious A537 'Cat & Fiddle' road, reminiscent of the Isle of Man and loved by bikers!
Footpath to Shining Tor from the Cat and Fiddle Inn, Shining Tor can be seen in the background. The wall on the left is the boundary between Cheshire and Derbyshire, with the footpath to the right of the wall in Derbyshire.
The top of Shining Tor. The foreground of this picture shows the top of Shining Tor taken from the footpath above Milldale. The view in the middle distance is of Dove Dale leading to Wolfscote Dale in the far distance.
The paved path between Cats Tor and Shining Tor. This is looking north and Cats Tor is in the background.
From Cats Tor
Elevation Profile
