Wildboarclough, Gradbach, River Dane, And Danebridge

Introduction

This is always one of my favourite areas to walk.

Driving to Wildboarclough takes 45 minutes from Cheadle Hulme.

The weather was dry and misty in the low cloud. The cloud lifted as the morning wore on, but never really disappeared. It was unseasonably warm, and I was glad I chose to wear shorts!

It took me 3 hours 45 minutes to complete the 7.5 mile walk, plus 15 minutes for lunch.

The walk has 1300feet of ascent, but it feels less as, after the intitial climb, the walk is just undulating in the main.

The walk isn’t very suitable for dog walking, with plenty of open sheep pasture, some tricky stiles, and short road sections. However, the walk from Gradbach through Forest Woodand on to Danebridge is delightful and ideal for a doggy walk!

I walked in a clockwise direction.

The walk is on OS Explorer Map OL24.

I parked in the car park / lay-by on Nabbs Road, south of Crag Inn, postcode SK11 0BD, What 3 Words ///bloom.personal.downward. This cost me £5.50 for 4 hours. There is a free parking area up the road, the other side of The Crag Inn.

Wildboarclough To Gradbach

Opposite The Crag Inn, a footbridge took me over the fast flowing Clough Brook.

From here, it was a steady rise. The views were rather murky, but exhilarating.

Across the valley Shutlingsloe was shrouded in cloud, whilst on my route the sheep were looking happy with their lot!

After crossing the A54, I soon reached the moors, where this caravan looked rather forlorn.

After traversing the moors, I reached the top of the Dane valley at Gradbach.

Gradbach To Danebridge

The coffee shack at Gradbach only opens on Saturdays and Sundays now, so I pressed on along the riverside path.

At Forest Wood, there is a fantastic choice of walking destinations – Lud’s Church, The Roaches, or Danebridge.

The riverside route is a glorious walk. At this time of the year, there are still some leaves on the trees, but enough have fallen to allow great views of the full and fast River Dane.

The woods to my other side are also lovely, and full of native birdlife.

After the woods, the path rises as the the river flows through a steep sided, narrow gorge.

Then the land opens up with great views down and across the valley.

Finally, the impressive river crossing at Danebridge emerged through the trees.

Danebridge To Wildboarclough

Having crossed the bridge, I left the road to the right, opposite Wincle Brewery. A short steep climb, and a field crossing led me to the pretty Hog Clough.

After the clough, a couple of fields of pasture have to be negotiated. There was evidence of recent cattle grazing here, but no animals were in the fields today.

Beyond the fields, there is beautiful stretch of valley slope, with patches of trees and shrubs, and views along the River Dane and Clough brook valleys.

By now, the clouds had lifted and Shutlingsloe now towered above the valley.

A minor road then took me back over the A54, before I crossed the brook to take the short cut over the hill, and return to Hog Brook, where I was treated to seeing a pair of dippers whiz past in their classic habitat of a fast flowing brook or river.

I was amazed that there were no people around in this glorious, classic walking area, yet it found it very special to have it all to myself!

And Finally….

90’s rockers Suede are back with their 10th studio album, Antidepressants.

This track is “Disintegrate”