Holmes Chapel Railway Station is on the Crewe to Manchester line. The station dates back to opening of the Stockport to Sandbach section of the line in May 1841 (although the stone buildings and goods yard are long gone).
The centre of the village of Holmes Chapel is five minutes walk from the Railway Station. There is a Railway Pub at the top of the station ramp (The Swan is under full refurbishment and due to open on the 1st February 2016) and two other excellent hostelries in the village (The Red Lion and the George & Dragon) together with shops, coffee bars and small supermarkets. Holmes Chapel lies betwixt the River Dane and the River Croco.
The centre of the village is a Conservation Area and includes the Red Lion and St Luke’s Church, the latter dating from about 1430 (and is a Grade 1 Listed building)
A stream, the Alumbrook , runs through the centre of the Village between the two rivers. Green fields are within a mile of the Village Centre – in all directions.
This walk takes some 2 hours and is about 5 miles long. All the footpaths are public rights of way. Care should be taken in crossing the main roads and on some of the narrow footpaths by the roadside and suitable footwear will be required in muddy times. On the walk you are never more than about a mile or so from the Railway Station.
On arriving at Holmes Chapel Railway Station, either ascend the steps or the ramp and turn left at the bridge walking along the pavement towards the pedestrian lights (A54, Congleton Road). The original Railway cottages can be still be seen on your left. Just beyond the pedestrian lights turn left into Manor Lane, walk the length of Manor Lane (Holmes Chapel Industrial Estate is on your left). If you have time visit the famous Morrey’s of Holmes Chapel.
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When you reach the end of Manor Lane turn right (A535, Macclesfield Road) and you will see a lay by at Salterford Corner. The footpath continues beyond the lay-by, follow the narrow foot path down the hill to the bridge over the River Dane. You will pass a number of dwellings.
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After crossing the road bridge over the River Dane, cross the busy road to the stile. Looking back, the Old Toll House at Saltersford Bridge can be seen.
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Climb over the stile and walk towards the viaduct keeping the River Dane to your left. During construction, the navvies who helped to build the viaduct, lived by the banks of the Dane in a tented community. The viaduct across the River Dane was originally part of the Manchester & Birmingham Railway, opened in 1842. The Engineer was G W Buck.
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Under the viaduct keep to the path straight ahead until you reach the wooden footbridge. Over the bridge and follow the path with the Dane immediately to your left. Follow the winding and turning course of the river for the best part of a mile. The river stays to your left and you will cross a ditch and go through a number of metal kissing gates. You will reach the stone Hermitage Bridge, originally built in 1707 by Thomas Hall, Iron Master. The
first metal kissing gate by the side of the bridge brings you to the lane which leads from Holmes Chapel to Goostrey. Cross Hermitage Lane and directly opposite go through another metal kissing gate. Again keep ahead with the river to your left.
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Next, the extension to the rear of the Old Vicarage Hotel comes into view .At the edge of the next field go through the kissing gate and bear right away from the River Dane.
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Climb the slope of the field towards the next kissing gate. Go along the narrow path which is bordered by vegetable plots.
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Emerge by the side of the Vicarage Hotel on to the Knutsford Road (A50). Turn left and cross the road after the Dane Bridge. Turn right along the path some 20 yards after the bridge. Keep the River Dane to your right. You will soon see the thundering Cranage Weir, the Archimedes screw beneath the Green Shed, and on the opposite bank of the river can be seen Massey Brothers Feeds Ltd, Holmes Chapel Mill.
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Follow the path for a few hundred yards, Passed through the first kissing gate (one entrance to the Dane Meadow) ascend 37 steps to a landing and then a further 19 steps brings you to another entrance to Dane Meadow where you will turn right into the meadow.
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Walk down the path and take the path to the right nearest the River Dane (approximate hundred yards) . Follow the path to the right after Shady Pool, which will soon bring you down the 15 steps with the wooden handrail. Continue along the path and just after the bird feeding station you will walk underneath Holmes Chapel Aerial Poo Pipe. This pipe is heading for the sewage works.
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Walk up the slope, turn right at the top of the slope passing the picnic area. The water meadow now opens up. Follow the path along the loop of the Dane. Look out for Kingfishers, listen out for Woodpeckers & don’t forget to look up for birds of prey. Just after the fallen tree ascend the 18 wooden steps. Turn left at the bench (and carved Buzzard) and follow the Contour Path through the trees.
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At the end of this path 16 steps take you to the kissing gate. Go through the kissing gate and head for the small red postbox. Cross the road, turn right and follow the footpath along Bramhall Drive bearing left until we meet the main road (A54, the Old Middlewich Road) Turn left and continue along the footpath to the pedestrian crossing. Cross the road and turn right, walking along the main road passed the garage on your left until you meet Broad Lane. Descend Broad Lane to the bottom of the valley, passing Coniston Drive on your left.
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At the bottom of Broad Lane, the Lane begins to rise and you will see Broad Lane Pumping Station on your left. Take the path by the pumping station. Continue along the footpath, with the Alumbrook Stream to your right and houses to your left. In about 10 minutes continue forwards, crossing a cul- de-sac (Sedbergh Close) The footpath bears right a little, before continuing along the straight path after crossing the head of the second cul-de-sac. This straight path is bordered by tall Leylandii Trees on the left and garden walls to the right.
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You will come to metal barrier. Continue round the metal barriers where the straight footpath continues after crossing the road. At the end of this path cross over Grasmere Drive, take the footpath left. Before meeting the main road turn right, at the Grasmere Drive signpost. The footpath you now walk along is bordered by a Beech Hedge on your left. Walk the length of the footpath and, at the end immediately turn right into Selkirk Drive just beyond the pelican crossing. Walk along the footpath, passed the Comprehensive School, this path bends to the left, descend as far as far as Dunoon Close, walk down the Close, Head for and cross the grassed area to meet the path by the river of Croco. Turn left along the path.
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You will come to metal barrier. Continue round the metal barriers where the straight footpath continues after crossing the road. At the end of this path cross over Grasmere Drive, take the footpath left. Before meeting the main road turn right, at the Grasmere Drive signpost. The footpath you now walk along is bordered by a Beech Hedge on your left. Walk the length of the footpath and, at the end immediately turn right into Selkirk Drive just beyond the pelican crossing. Walk along the footpath, passed the Comprehensive School, this path bends to the left, descend as far as far as Dunoon Close, walk down the Close, Head for and cross the grassed area to meet the path by the river of Croco. Turn left along the path.
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Follow the footpath, keeping the meandering River Croco to the right, cross the wooden footbridge over the river Croco by a large Ash tree and bear left after crossing the stile. Now follow the well worn footpath keeping the Croco to your left. Look out for Grey Squirrels, Woodpeckers and Nuthatches.
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Soon the railway bridge will come into view.
Walk under the railway bridge (there is often the smell of foxes here) and you will soon come to the lane (Dunkirk farm can be seen to the right). Turning left into the tarmac covered lane, soon you will meet the main road (A50 London Road)
Turn left at the A50 and follow the footpath, passing over the Croco. To your right is the site of the Fison’s factory.
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With care, cross the main road under the railway bridge and turn right down the footpath immediately before the garage, pausing to look at the restaurant and grill bar (to the right of this, in one of the terraced houses, was the home of Harry Styles. At the end of the footpath bear left into Bromley Drive. Walk along Bromley Drive until you meet Station Road. Cross the road and turn right following the footpath up to the Railway Station for your journey home. (Turning left and right at the lights will bring you to Holmes Chapel Village centre.)
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