We usually meet on the last Wednesday of each month and on the second Tuesday of every other month, at 9:30am by the village hall. Walks are not long or strenuous; 5 or 6 miles on average, each with a different leader. 
Come along to see the countryside in all its moods, sometimes bathed in sunshine, often with a shower or two, even perhaps with a carpet of snow!
Our walkers might pass stone-age remains, badger setts and tracks, and fascinating old farmhouses and cottages. They will certainly enjoy sweeping views over the Cheshire plain, Peak District panoramas of hills and dales, and gentler scenery by canals and parkland in Lyme, Alderley and Ladybrook.
You are guaranteed a friendly welcome when you join us.
Do come!
Group Leader David Burke
walking@highlaneu3a.org.uk
2021 Walks
Due to the the covid19 pandemic, only three walks were undertaken by the walking group in 2021
U3A Walk Report Walk Report 29th September 2021
Weather forecast looked promising for the return of the walking group following Covid.
13 walkers joined Merlyn & Joyce for an easy 6 ½ mile ramble into Lyme Park.
The walk started from the Village Hall following a back route to Lyme via Woodside Tennis club, over and under the railway line and then following Bollinhurst Brook to Lyme Park. The paths despite the rain on previous days were fine but care was needed over the broken stile following railway crossing. We passed the stone renovated cottage and barn conversion alongside the brook before entering Lyme.
A welcome coffee stop was taken seated on a low stone wall under trees just before reaching Bollinhurst Reservoirs .We circled the reservoirs on field paths and woodland to the surprise of some local members who had not used them before and join the old road to East Gate Lodge. On route we stopped to watch local farmers loading sheep into a double stack trailer possibly off to fresh pasture.
We had a photo stop on the path down to Lyme Hall and had good views of the Highland cattle and calves on the hillside adjacent to the fence but the Red Deer must have been hiding.
Distant views towards Manchester looked threatening as waves of sunshine and storms approached. As we approached our lunch stop the rain and hail flurries caught us in open countryside but soon passed over.
Lunch was taken near the Hall on picnic tables and under trees sheltering in case of the occasional shower.
The showers had passed and the sun was out again for our return journey which took field paths towards Platt Wood Farm and then Macclesfield Canal to High Lane.
David thanked Merlyn & Joyce for leading the walk and gave details of forthcoming walk dates.
Merlyn Joyce Young
Walking group visit on Wednesday 27/10/2021 to The Torrs gorge at New Mills
Twenty U3A members attended this easy 4-mile walk led by David Burke.
We started from the Hague Bar carpark and joined the Midshires Way and followed the river Goyt upstream to the spectacular Torrs Gorge at New Mills, where we enjoyed an early coffee stop and admired the grandeur and scale of the area. (if you've not been there, it's well worth a visit).
The millennium bridge provides easy access to the wonders of the Torrs gorge with its wealth of industrial archaeology, the spectacular Union Bridge completed in 1884, the confluence of the rivers Sett and Goyt, the Hydro-electric Archimedes screw generator and plenty more evidence of the important of the power generating area in former times.
We were impressed by the quality of the stone work, particularly the various bridges and the impressive stone block railway embankment adjacent to Millennium bridge.
We progressed further upstream along the Goyt and passed under the magnificent curved multi-span railway viaduct constructed in 1902 by Midland Railway to provide the express link between Manchester and London. On reaching Bankend we crossed the river Goyt and entered Goytside Meadows Nature Reserve and climbed up to the Peak Forest Canal walking towards Disley, passing the site previously occupied by Victoria Mill. This mill was built in 1860 and when closed in 1985, it was the last cotton spinning mill working in Newtown. There was a disastrous fire here 1986. Our walk followed the canal towpath towards Disley where we turned right into Burymiwick, dropping down to the Goyt floodplain and back to Hague Bar carpark. The weather remained bright and dry throughout the walk, contrary to the forecast and we all were pleased to be out and about again!
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David Burke
Walk Report 24th November 2021
Fourteen of us met at the Longshaw Estate car park near Hathersage. After some of us made use of the facilities, we set off along the main footpath to cross the B6521 and pick up a well marked path until we reached a footbridge. After crossing this bridge we followed the stream which led on to Padley Gorge. Finding a very picturesque area with tree trunks an boulders to sit on, we stopped for a short coffee break before continuing down the Gorge, noting its ancient woodland and some unfinished millstones lying around.
Continuing along this path, we eventually emerged near Grindleford Station, just near the western portal of the railway tunnel. Just next to the station, we took a short steep uphill path, which, interestingly, was provided with electric lamp posts. On reaching the B5621, we crossed the road and entered Tedgeness Road. Obviously the lighted footpath was for the benefit of these local residents accessing the station at night.
Taking a footpath to the left, we entered a climbing woodland path which eventually led to the top of Tumbling Hill. The views from this vantage point were fantastic and we were able to identify several local landmarks. We stopped here for some time while we ate our packed lunches.
We then descended to pick up the A 625 and join the easy path through the Longshaw Estate back to the car park.
Jeff Mortimer
Walking Group report for Wednesday 15 th December 2021
David Burke led a party of 27 on our final walk in 2021. We started from the Torkington Park car park at Hazel Grove on a dry crisp sunny day, leaving the park via Sandown Road and followed a footpath through woodland to Hazel Grove Golf Club. We followed the path across the course to the A6 road and onwards to Norbury Hollow. Our route then involved a tricky climb up a steep wet slope leading to better conditions on field paths towards Higher Poynton, where a welcome coffee-stop and seasonal chocolate cherry liquors were enjoyed under bright skies. We then followed an old coal-pit incline and circled back towards Hazel Grove via Towers Farm and the footbridge across the A555 to Mill Lane and Simpson's corner on the old A6, leading back to Torkington Park. A distance of about 4.5 miles in total.
