[1] From the entrance to the New Mills Heritage and Information Centre (directly opposite the small viewing platform and information board) turn left, but keeping over to your right, descend the broad walkway and steps into the Torrs Gorge.
(A) The Torrs Gorge was formed between 15,000 - 20,000 years ago by the erosive action of glacial meltwater. Waterfalls and cascades in the river bed allowed the construction of weirs and a steady supply of water for the water wheels originally providing power to the mills.
At the bottom turn right and follow the path along the river, over the splendid and dramatic new Millennium Walkway bridge, until the path joins an unmade road.
(B) The Millennium Walkway is a 175 yard long steel walkway part of which is attached to a massive retaining wall (built in 1860) supporting the railway.
Turn left on to this road and follow it until you reach a row of houses (Mousley Bottom). Immediately after a house named "The Cottage" turn left between the houses along a track running towards the River Goyt. After a metal gate leave the track and continue ahead on the riverside path (the Goyt Way) which should be followed keeping the river on your left. Eventually, after passing through a number of gates, you reach a finger post pointing the Goyt Way to the right up some steps in woodland. Ignore this and continue along the riverside path for a short distance until you arrive at a road.
[2] Cross, then turn left along the road, proceeding over the bridge, until you reach a 30mph speed limit sign. Here take the path on your right following the river (now on the right) for a short distance. The path then zig-zags steeply up to the left until it reaches an access road to the nearby paper mill. Turn right then immediately left up a stone track. In a short distance this track bears right into a parking area. Here take the grassy path on the left heading uphill, including steps, into woodland. Follow the path as it winds its way right off a large pond after which bear right to continuing to a stile and a flight of steps. Descend these steps but immediately before a footbridge cross a stile on the left then take the path as it follows a stream and crossing a footbridge. Continue on this path as it zig-zags steeply uphill. (Caution - this section of path is narrow and can be slippery underfoot ). Shortly it emerges onto the Peak Forest Canal foot path at a swing bridge (the access onto the towpath is a few metres to the right of a metal gate).Cross this bridge (Higgins Clough Swing Bridge) then bear left ontoo a narrow lane (Hag Bank Lane) which you follow until you reach a railway bridge. Continue ahead under the bridge towards the centre of Disley village. Use the pedestrian controlled crossing to your left to cross the busy Market Street (A6) and turn right along the pavement to the main road junction.
(C) The village of Disley has old stone built cottages going back to the 17th and 18th centuries, Victorian and Edwardian villas and houses.
[3] Turn left here onto Buxton Old Road (note that no street name is visible, but is opposite the Rams Head), walk a short distance ahead and cross in front of the White Horse public house. Take the lane to the right of the pub (Ring O'Bells Lane) and follow it uphill until you reach the Disley Quaker Meeting House. Turn right immediately before this stone building, proceed down a slope, crossing over a bridge. Turn left, go through a gate, up some steps and along a path between the main churchyard and a further burial ground (on your left). At the end of this burial ground bear left off the path and cross a rough grassed area soon turning left again to join a lane (Green Lane) which forms part of the Gritstone Trail. Follow the Trail as the tarmaced lane becomes a stone track and then a footpath. On reaching a metal gate across the path pass through this, shortly bearing right until you arrive at a point where several paths converge. Follow the Gritstone Trail signposts proceeding through a gate then turning right towards Lyme Park. Continue on this track for over a mile as it passes the estate's East Lodge on its way to stately Lyme Park with its magnificent house, refreshment facilities and toilets.
Just before descending the hill to the house you may wish to make a detour to The Cage, a few minutes walk away to your right. This former hunting lodge is set on a hill giving good views across Greater Manchester and Cheshire. Return to the route by descending across the grass hillside in the direction of the car park.
(D) Nestling on the edge of the Peak District, Lyme Park was once home to the Legh family and, in its heyday a great sporting estate.The 1,300 acre estate with its medieval herd of red and fallow deer offers fantastic walks and stunning views.
[4] Keeping the house and gardens to your left walk in front of the information building along the edge of the car park towards a fence and woodland straight ahead of you. At the end of the garden wall/hedge go up some steps through a gate in the fence and turn left along a path alongside the fence where good views can be had of the house, lake and gardens. Follow the path and fence round, eventually crossing a stone bridge, go ahead through a gate and turn right on to a track. Continue on this track until you reach a gate and high ladder stile. Climb over the stile and carry on ahead over a second stile then proceeding uphill keeping a stone wall on your left. This is the longest ascent of the entire walk (Caution - the second half of the climb is very stony underfoot). On reaching the top you are rewarded with excellent views across the Cheshire Plain. Continue to follow the path alongside the wall and, ignoring a stile on the left, climb another stile straight ahead and follow the path downhill across the whole of one field and part of the next. After passing a short boggy section the path turns left over a stile in a low wall then immediately right through part of another field then a newly planted area. Shortly you reach a lane which should be crossed to a stile directly opposite.
[5] Continue over the next field. (Caution - the right of way here is badly defined and is likely to be very muddy in wet weather. It is advised to bear slightly to the right across this field, heading to the right of a large ash tree and avoid walking near the boundary with the adjoining property). The right of way soon descends to a stile down to another lane. Cross the lane and follow the path opposite down to a footbridge. Go over this, climb the steps and proceed straight ahead keeping a stone wall to your right. Continue to follow the path ahead (waymarked to Furness Vale via Whaley Moor) as it skirts and winds its way around the side of Black Hill. The path here affords superb views across towards the Kinder plateau, the peaks of west Derbyshire, the Goyt Valley and the Toad Brook Valley towards the village of Kettleshulme. Continue on this path as it crosses the fields until it reaches a road (Whaley Lane). Cross the road and turn left along it for a short distance until a finger post is reached on the right. Go over the stile here and follow the path over a field heading towards a stone wall.Follow the path over a stile and along the wall (on your left) until you arrive at a farm called Brownough. Continue on the path between the farm buildings proceeding downhill as it becomes a track and then a tarmaced road (Yeardsley Lane) to arrive in the village of Furness Vale and the A6 road.
[6] Cross the busy A6 at the pedestrian crossing before turning right then immediately left into Station Road, continuing downhill over the railway crossing (next to Furness Vale station) until you reach the Peak Forest Canal. Cross the bridge over the canal then turn immediately left down the ramp to join the canal towpath. Follow the towpath straight ahead past the marina until you reach a swing bridge. Here turn right to join a track heading downhill towards a farm (Carr Farm). Just before the farm turn left through a gate and follow the grassy path ahead down towards a bridge over the River Goyt. Cross the bridge and follow the path round as it skirts farm buildings (Goytside Farm) to reach a track. Turn left on to the track and follow it as it rejoins the river passing under a railway viaduct and then a road viaduct. Where the track forks keep left along the narrower path as it follows the river.
[7] On reaching the confluence of the River Sett with the River Goyt cross the wooden footbridge and pass the small hydro-electric generator on your left.
(E) Known as the Torrs Hydro this project works on the Archimedes screw principle generating electricity by using the flow of river water. An indicator shows how much electricity is being produced.
Here turn right briefly following the River Sett before bearing left uphill under the far left hand arch of a railway viaduct. Continue up to a viewing platform before turning left up the cobbled Lower Rock Street towards the town centre. The town's main long-stay car park is on the right. Follow the signs back to the Heritage Centre across Torr Top Street, ahead along Rock Street then first left into Rock Hill Lane. This short street emerges onto Union Road at a pedestrian crossing. Cross here then turn right and immediately left to bring you back to the Heritage Centre and the start of the walk.