Shining Tor & Windgather Rocks

A high level moderate walk along the Cheshire/Derbyshire border with extensive views.

About 13km. (8 miles) taking 4 to 4½ hours. Can be shortened to 8km (5 miles).

Pym Chair Car Park, 5½ km (3½ miles) east of Rainow on the road to the Goyt Valley. Grid Reference SJ995768
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For this walk you will need Ordnance Survey map OL24 The Peak District (White Peak Area)

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From the car park turn left on to the road and left again at the T junction, a short distance along the road take the path to the right signposted Shining Tor. Walk over the moorland, keeping the wall on the right, for approximately 3km (2 miles). On a clear day the views throughout this section are magnificent. To the west can be seen the Cheshire Plain with the outline of Alderley Edge prominent in the middle distance. To the east is the Goyt Valley, the Derbyshire moorlands and Kinder Plateau on the skyline. The summit of Shining Tor is reached just before the wall angles to the left, cross over the ladder stile to the right to reach the Triangulation Point. This is the highest point in Cheshire 559m. (1834 feet) above sea level. The summit is a short diversion in the walk, well worth it to allow you to enjoy the view

Retrace the path over the ladder stile, turn left and follow the path back for a short distance to a deviation in the line of the fence, where there is a Peak and Northern footpath sign to Lamaload Reservoir. Turn left, crossing the fence between two wooden posts and follow the path, keeping the wall on your left, down a steep hill. Eventually the path leads to a junction of stone walls with a stile in the corner. Do not cross the stile but turn right and follow the fence, keeping it on your left and proceeding down the hill. After walking for about 500m, a fence and wall cross the path, cross these and take the path which leads diagonally to the left. When the brow of the small hill is reached ahead the corner of two stone walls can be seen, walk towards this corner and follow the path, to the left of the wall, which runs down to the ruined farm buildings (Thursbitch).

Upon approaching Thursbitch it is worth looking back, the scenery is somewhat reminiscent of the wilder parts of Wales or Scotland.

On the approach to the ruins take the right hand (newer) stile, bear slightly right, cross the stream, over a stile and on up to the ruins. Keeping the ruins to the right, follow the grassy track/path crossing gullies to the wide gap in the distant wall ahead. Proceed through the gap, on to the next gate and follow the track over the shoulder of the hill, keeping the wall to the right. Pass through the broken wall, which crosses the path, by a single stone post and follow the track running alongside the wall which leads to a wooden gate at Howlersknowl Farm. At the gate there is a stile on your right. Cross this stile and follow the path round the farm, bearing left over a ladder stile to reach a track which leads from the farm to the road. On reaching the track turn right and follow it to the road.

Short walk. Turn right up the road, after a steep climb of 800m. the starting point is reached.

Long walk Turn right up the road and in a short distance at a signpost turn left over a stone wall and then almost immediately over a wooden stile into a field. Follow the path down the hill to Greenstack Farm and, keeping the farm to the left, cross the wooden stile positioned diagonally to the right. Follow the path along the left hand side of the wall, eventually the wall ends and the line continues as a wire fence as a stream and clump of trees comes into view. Cross the stream and the wall stile and continue on round the left hand side of the barn ahead. Bear right after passing the barn where a wire fence meets a stone wall. Turn right and cross a small stream, and then turn left and bearing slightly left proceed to a stile ahead of you. Cross the stile and turn right, cross another stile and bearing left follow the path round to the front of Dunge Farm and on between the farm and the barn. Take the track from Dunge Farm which leads eventually to a road junction. Cross over the road and in 20m. the road bears left but straight ahead is the track which leads to Taxal Edge. At the farm turn right through a wooden gate and cross the field ahead of you to a broken wall with a gate. Cross the wall and go forward to reach the top of Windgather Rocks. The view to the west looks down on the Todd Brook Valley with the slopes of Charles Head beyond. To the east are the trees of the Goyt forest.

Walk on in the same direction with the rocks on your right and ahead is a wall with a stile. Go through the stile and follow the path keeping the wall on your right. This leads all the way back to the car park.