Mellor Church

(S/E) Exit the golf club via the main entrance, above the clubhouse. Bear right along Gibb Lane past the cottages of Tarden, passing a covered well on your right. At the junction with Whetmorehurst Lane, turn left onto a footpath beside a gate, running downhill to the left of two ponds. At the bottom of the field, follow the path along a laurel hedge that bends to the right below the second pond. Beyond the pond, bear left between gardens and climb the steps to the road.

(1) Cross and take a few steps to the left, then turn right into a driveway (signposted “The Cathedral Country Home”). Take a footpath straight to the left of the entrance to the house. Follow the path as it bears left and descends along a wire-mesh fence to a footbridge and cross the stream. Cross a stile into a field and walk up the left-hand side of the field to a further stile. Walk up the side of the field to a third stile, to the left of the Parish Centre.

(2) Climb a narrow walled path to the churchyard, and turn left past the church. By the church door, take a path on the left that descends some steps and leaves the churchyard. Follow the obvious path down the slope to a stile and thence to Knowle Farm. Turn left and walk down the farm drive until you reach a wood on the left. Take the footpath that leads down some rough steps to a stone bridge over a stream. Climb the steep steps up the far side of the valley then walk along a hedged path between gardens to the road.

(3) Cross over and walk down the drive opposite. Beyond the stream at the bottom bear right, then (before a gate) turn left to climb a narrow flight of stone steps (signposted to “Brookbottom via Tarden & The Banks”). Follow the wall up to Tarden Farm and walk out to the road between the buildings. Turn right to return to the golf club.(S/E)

Two significant descents and ascents, including steep steps; field paths may be muddy after rain.