Sandwiched between the White Peak and the Cheshire Plain, this quiet corner of the Peak District National Park – the Southwest Peak – is one of undulating farmland, densely wooded valleys, dramatic gritstone tors and wild moorland.
Where the River Dane divides Cheshire from Staffordshire, you’ll find the sleepy settlement of Danebridge in Wincle Parish, the starting point for this ramble.
It’s also a place rich in history. Sir Philip Lee Brocklehurst, 2nd Baronet of Swythamley Park, joined Shackleton’s Nimrod Expedition to the Antarctic between 1907 and 1909.
The Ship Inn’s sign in the hamlet pays homage to the adventurer, with a painting of the Nimrod, the sailing vessel that ventured into the uncharted waters of the Antarctic.
Cross a driveway, keeping the farm dwelling on your left, to climb through another field. Another stile takes you into a small woodland.
Continue to ascend steeply through the woods to its other end, climbing over a stile into yet another field. Go through the wicket gate at the other side onto a country lane.
2. Turn left onto the unnamed road and continue uphill as far as Wincle Grange Farm. Go through the gate into the farmyard and head straight through the outbuildings to a second gate.
Veer left to skirt newly planted trees on your right, curving right through somewhat marshy land until you come to a metal kissing gate. Access to this point doesn’t match the OS map as the farmer at the time of my taking this walk had erected electric fencing round the new planting to protect the saplings from livestock.
Go through the gate then head downhill towards Nettlebeds. You’ll see Kiss Wood Cabins to your right as you follow the wall boundary on your right down to a dirt track.
3. Turn left here and continue along the track until you come to a field gate. Go over the stile near it and veer right diagonally up and over the rise, crossing a second field boundary.
Enjoy the views of lush woodland surrounding Shell Brook, the moorlands above the valley stretching out to the skyline. Follow a line of trees to a stile beside the gate into a tree-lined track.
4. From here, the route follows the Gritstone Trail. The grass and dirt track passes a ruined building on your right. This is a good spot to sit down on the EU funded bench, carved with the landmarks of the Gritstone Trail between Disley and Kidsgrove. The views over the Southwest Peak to inky woodland and soaring moorland are soul-restoring.
5. Ignoring the gate on your left, continue between fields and rowan plantation. Here it’s just a question of following the frequent Cheshire East signposts mixed with Gritstone Trail signage.
Follow the path downhill towards the series of small wooden bridges crossing marshy land, climbing up again before descending steeply, latterly through woodland to a surfaced road.
This is where you leave the trail, continuing straight on at the wooden gate to follow the Dane Valley Way. Grassy track becomes a narrow pathway at a cottage, currently being restored. Continue alongside the river, the babbling water soothing mind and body.
7. Cross the metal footbridge back into Cheshire. Pause to enjoy the rush of water over the weir. Turn right to follow the river through floodplains. The soaring parkland trees of Swythamley Estate are a majestic sight on the hillside.
Leave the open floodplains to follow a narrow path through vegetation to housing before joining a surfaced lane. The driveway passes the trout lakes of Danebridge Fisheries. Soon you will see the cottages at Danebridge of Wincle Parish mushrooming out of the hillside.
8. Towards the end of the lane. You'll come to Wincle Brewery. Happy days. Sample the beers or enjoy an ice-cream or coffee in the Dane Valley. There’s outside seating in this beautiful setting.
The beer names pay homage to local characters and landmarks: the Wincle Waller; Sir Philip; Life of Riley (enjoying retirement); Old Hag (a hare transformed into a hag in local folklore) and more besides. From here turn left to climb the hill back to your car in the direction of the Ship Inn, an alternative well-deserved stop.
DISTANCE: 4 miles.
GRID REFERENCE: SJ 9626 6520.
MAP: OS Explorer Map White Peak OL 24
DIFFICULTY: Intermediate. There’s a steep hike at the beginning of the ramble, but it’s mostly downhill or flat after that.
REFRESHMENTS: Ship Inn or Wincle Brewery in the village at the end of your walk.
