27/05/23 - Greater Manchester Ringway - Stage 7

England's highest aqueduct crossed on another great section of Manchester's boundary path

The walk that almost failed before it started. Manchester Rover ticket bought, bus to Piccadilly Gardens slightly late. Walk from Piccadilly gardens to the station longer than the names would suggest. Signalling failure and no trains west. Use #Ashburys for more information.

Nothing can stop you if you have a credit card and a mobile phone. But try arranging an Uber pick up from Piccadilly. The sting of having my number blocked by angry Waseem will last a long time.  In case he is reading, I did have "Location Sharing" set to on.

Eventually, 90 minutes later than planned, I get to Marple to pick up the canal. The walking soon soothes my mood. By the mid point of the ramble, I am returning people's "Good Afternoon's".

There are three highlights on today's section.

Highlight 1:  The Marple Aqueduct

A vertigo inducing walk across it and then a steep drop down to admire it from below.

Across the top

And the view from below

Highlight 2 - Country Parks

Excellent walking through the watery Etherow and the Trans Pennine Trail delivering the views from Werneth Low Country Park.

High on the Trans Pennine Trail

The City of Manchester in the far distance

War Memorial at Werneth Low Country Park

Highlight 3: Harewood Arms, Broadbottom

The end of the walk is Broadbottom Station. Still no trains running on this line. 

Just up the road is a fine pub. Not only a Good Beer Guide Tick but also a brewery Tap for Green Mill Brewery. If that is not enough, a fine collection of continental keg and bottles.

Inside the Harewood Arms, Broadbottom

Handily, the landlady is an expert on bus routes.

A Green Mill Extra Special Bitter, Northern Lights, taken to absorb this information and steel myself for two 40 minute bus trips.

But what;s this - Trainline suggest the 15:29 is actually running.

I hot-foot it back to the station for success. 

Walk Information

Start - Marple

Finish - Broadbottom

Previous Stages - Stage 1, Stage 2, Stage 3, Stage 4, Stage 5, Stage 6

Distance - 8 Miles

Geocaches - 4

Good Beer Guide Tick - #849

Walk Inspiration