Buxton, adjacent to the Peak National Park, is surrounded by some of the most stunning countryside in England. The following list is just a few of the places worth a visit. Click on the thumbnails for a bigger picture.
Solomon's Temple grid ref 065722
Take
the A53, Leek road out of Buxton. About 400 yards after the turning on
the right to Macclesfield, take the left turn signposted Harpur Hill.
Then turn left into the Grin Low car park. From the car park the route
to Solomon's temple is marked.
Solomon's Temple is on top of the hill "Grin Low" and is directly
above
Poole's Cavern.
It was built in the late 1800's to provide work for unemployed of Buxton.
You do have to walk to get to it. However, providing you approach from
the Grin Low car park side, the climb isn't too severe.
Once you get to the Temple, climb the steps to the top. All your efforts
will be rewarded. The view from the top is magnificent; looking right
over Buxton and the surrounding hills. It's even possible to see Kinder
Scout
From its source near the Cat and Fiddle Pub the river Goyt flows North into Errwood reservoir - the last of the Goyt Valley reservoirs to be built.
A road along the side the river Goyt, but this is narrow and hence has been made one way from West to East. Therefore the best way to get to Goyt Valley is a narrow lane leading down from the Buxton to Whaley Bridge road (A5002). The turning is about 3 miles out on the A5002 from the centre of Buxton. Go all the way down the lane and eventually you go across the top of the reservoir dam.
There is a one car park at the end of the dam, and, if the road is open, you can turn left and drive alongside the reservoir (on your left) until you reach the Errwood Hall car park. There are maps at the car parks showing the various walks which are well worth the effort.
The Errwood Hall area is particularly beautiful in the spring when the Rhododendrons are in full bloom.
Can be damp and muddy underfoot so make sure you have suitable footwear.
Tissington
Trail
Running
from Parsley Hay (off the A515 about 10 miles out of Buxton) to Ashbourne,
the Tissington Trail
about 13 miles long,
follows the old London and North Western Railway line from Buxton to Ashbourne
(Mapleton Lane).
The last train used the line in 1967.
The Peak Park purchased the route and began the work to turn it into a
pedestrian way. The tracks were removed and soil covered the old limestone
ballast. The stations were pulled down or turned into visitor centres
with car parks and toilets. The Hartington signal box was restored and
the route fully opened to the public in 1972.
Being an old railway line the gradients are not too steep, so the trail
has become popular with cyclists as well as pedestrians. You can hire
cycles at Parsley Hay and Ashbourne (there may be others), and, in the
season, there are a number of mobile catering facilities available along
the trail.
