There's a secret world beneath the hustle and bustle of Woodley where the tree-lined Peak Forest Canal belongs to the countryside and a more tranquil past. Continuing through woodland and up over fields you come to Back o'th'Hill, a delightful hamlet on the slopes of Werneth Low, then footpaths meander on until at last the waterway is rejoined. And the walk ends with an adventure, for the canal goes through a long dark tunnel and you emerge into town blinking at the sunlight.
LOCATION: South-east Manchester
START: A560 Woodley shopping precinct carpark, toilets
Grid ref: SJ933921 Postcode: SK6 1RJ
DISTANCE: 5.5 miles
GRADE: Moderate, after a long spell of rain it can be very muddy in places
TIME: 3 hours
MAP: Explorer - Manchester & Salford Landranger 109
REFRESHMENTS: Woodley or pack a flask
EN ROUTE: Trans Pennine Trail, Tame Valley, Romily
This walk was originally published by
The Manchester Evening News