Walk / Run Marple - Peak Forest Canal, Marple Aqueduct & Etherow Country Park

Today on Run Adventurer, we’re in north of Macclesfield, just south of Stockport in Marple. We’re taking a run down the Peak Forest Canal to Marple Aqueduct which is the tallest aqueduct in England and dates from 1800. It spans the river Goyt and was built to allow the canal to carry limestone from the quarries in Derbyshire. From here we head through Redbrow Woods down to the River Etherow and follow it through to Compsall and into Etherow Country Park which is beautiful and has a pretty impressive weir at the top. We then climb up through Ernocroft Wood to Glossop Road for some great views across Manchester and Marple before dropping down into Marple Bridge and taking the public footpath beside the River Goyt through the Garden House and back up to our starting point at Strines Road. Its absolutely beautiful countryside, I hope the video persuades you to give it a visit.

The Route

From the playing field off Strines Road head up Oldknow Road to the Peak Forest Canal at Lock 13. Join the canal turning right through the tunnel under the road and follow the canal to the Aqueduct. Now turn left and follow the path under the aqueduct bearing left up the field to Watermeetings Lane and turn left.Take the first right into Waterford Avenue and take the path into Redbrow Wood. At the information board turn right and right again down the hill towards the river. The path then goes left along the edge of the woods down to the river. Follow the river coming out on Andrew Street where we turn left. Now turn right into Etherow Country Park and take the path up the middle the bisects the pools. At the Weir we turn right passing the weir and then right into Ernocroft Woods. Follow the path which goes uphill eventually coming out on Glossop Road. Turn right and follow the road to Ley Lane where we turn left and then take the footpath on your right to Hollins Lane. Turn right and follow this down into Marple Bridge, turning right at the end of the road onto town street and then turning left over the bridge. Immediately after the bridge take the public footpath by the pub which heads alongside the River Goyt. The path passes through The Garden House, we then turn left down the hill on Lakes road and take the path right just before the bridge up to Strines road where we turn right back to our starting point.