For anyone who regularly frequents the A6 you’ll be aware it’s not exactly country walk territory, certainly not down at the Stockport end, but venture 10 minutes out of the way and you’ll find Chadkirk Chapel and Estate.
The sat nav will take you to the base of Vale Road where there’s a car park and ample space to leave the car free of charge. From there this route is a very simple circular with the promise of sustenance halfway around.
We opted to walk clockwise and start alongside the stream feeding into the River Goyt.
The track is flat and easy to walk, certainly children and dog friendly. The path leads around a field and through a small wooded area – I advise taking the path up into the trees as opposed to the one alongside them – equally easy route but much more interesting.
Lots of wild garlic and bluebells carpeted the hillsides on our walk and I’m sure during the early summer months there will be an array of wild flowers to appease the senses.
The path leads you to a farm house and around to the marvellously preserved 18th Century Chadkirk Chapel. Volunteers run a small coffee shop and there’s a lovely seating area next to the walled garden to sit and have a brew.
The walled garden should come into its own over the coming weeks and whilst it’s small it has a certain charm to it.
Walk around the back of the walled garden and pick up the woodland path to the top of Vale Road. You can at this point nip over to the left and get a good view over the bridge of the River Goyt and some people had opted to go for a swim, not one for us but great for the handful of kids we saw having a great time down there.
Head back down to the car and that’s your trip done for the afternoon. At a leisurely pace you’ll be there for an hour at most but it’s well worth the trip to support the chapel with any donations you may wish to make.
