Gawsworth & Danes Moss

(S/E) From the War Memorial, turn left into Woodhouse Lane. Walk down Woodhouse Lane, away from the war memorial, passing the end of Longbutts Lane on the left.

(1) Opposite the end of Wardle Crescent, turn left up three steps into a footpath between two houses. This winds between gardens. You emerge at a turning circle into Benbrook Way. Turn left to another turning circle and take the footpath directly beyond it, which leads between more gardens then out into a field. Follow the righthand field edge to a short track to the right which leads out to Lowes Lane. Turn right and follow the lane to a T-junction.

(2) Turn left down a private driveway. After 150 yards, turn right over a stile and cross the field. Cross a stream and follow the fence on the left to a stile. Beyond the stile, bear half-left to the far corner of the field, skirting a wet area in the middle. Cross a stile into a tree-lined green lane and follow it down to a junction of tracks beyond a stile, where you turn left.

(3) Enter Danes Moss nature reserve and, after a short distance down the main path, turn right onto a boardwalk. This crosses the open area of the moss and then bears left as it enters the trees on the far side. Pass under a line of pylons into more trees, then follow the path to the left when it reaches the railway. On regaining the main path through the reserve, turn right and cross the railway via a high footbridge to meet the canal towpath at a swivel bridge.

(4) Turn right along the towpath, with the canal on your left. Follow the canal for half a mile. As it nears the main road, pass under a footbridge and continue past a canalside house. Turn right off the towpath and go down a flight of steps and over a footbridge into a field. Cross to a small stream and then climb up the other side, aiming for the left-hand end of the farmyard at the top of the slope. Go through a gate on the left into another field and turn right to reach a gate into the farm. Bear left through the farmyard and out to the road.

(5) Turn right and walk up the road to cross over the railway. Ignore the turning to Bosley and follow the road ahead, signposted to Gawsworth. Beyond Mount Farm (on the left), when the road bends to the right, take a track on the left which leads to a footpath. Follow the path along the left-hand edge of a series of fields. Beyond a farm gate, join a metalled track which runs along the wall of the Gawsworth Hall estate (on the left) with a lake on your right, passing a statue of Robert Peel.

(6) Bear right at the Old Hall entrance to reach the public road at a bend. To visit the church and view the Old Rectory, turn left, returning to this point when you've finished. Follow the road past the parking area for Gawsworth Hall, and past the entrance to Gawsworth New Hall on the right.

(7) Turn left along Maggoty Lane. Turn right into the wood and climb the slope to visit Maggoty's Grave. Continue beyond the grave back to the road, where you turn left and follow Church Lane slightly uphill and back to the starting point at the war memorial.(S/E)

Several stiles. Field paths may be muddy in winter and after rain.