Goyt Valley walk 2: Errwood Hall

Walk description & directions

This is one of the most popular and easy walks in this part of the Goyt Valley; visiting the evocative ruins of Errwood Hall, before heading up the hillside to the Grimshawe family graves. It returns along a fairly narrow path with a series of wooden steps. This section can get muddy after rain, so you may prefer to simply return the way you came.

Please note: The path between points 9 & 10 was closed in September 2023 by Forestry England (click for details). Until it’s reopened, come down the slope from the graveyard (point 7) to reach the ruins of Castedge Cottage (point 6) and then turn left down the wide track to return to the car park.

1: The starting point is Errwood Hall car park, beside Errwood Reservoir. If the road is closed – which it is on bank holidays and Sundays between May and the end of September – park at one of the other car parks on either side of the dam wall, and walk along the road to reach the starting point.

2: Walk up the grass slope, past the information board, go through a gap in the stone wall at the top, and head down the path which bends to the right.

3:  Keep going as the path slopes upwards, then turn right at the footpath sign towards the ruins of Errwood Hall.

4: There’s lots of information on this website about Errwood Hall and the Grimshawes who lived here. It was demolished in the early 1930s following the death of the last of the family, and Stockport Corporation’s purchase of the land to build the twin reservoirs.

5: Walk through what was once the ornamental garden to the Hall and climb some stone steps at the far end. Look out for some more steps on the right, a short distance further. Climb these and turn left between the trees. (This path can get muddy and overgrown. To avoid it, simply continue along the path until you exit through a pair of large stone pillars. And then turn right past the stone ruins, and right again up the slope.)

6: As you exit the trees, follow the path to the right, continuing up the slope. Below you to the left are the ruins of Castedge Cottage which was demolished at the same time as the Hall.

7: There’s information on the website about this small hill-top cemetery. The central grave commemorates members of the Grimshawe family. Those to the right are for their close friends and servants.

8: Head back down the slope and look out for a narrow path descending to the right as you near the ruins of Castedge Cottage. Go down here and follow the larger path to the right. (Update: see note below the walk description.)

9: Cross the small footbridge, climb halfway up the steps on the opposite side, turn right and follow the path across another small footbridge.

10: Follow this narrow path all the way back to the ruins of Errwood Hall, and then continue in the same direction, turning left at the next junction of paths.

11: At the foot of this slope, look to your left. This was once the main drive leading from the hamlet of Goyt’s Bridge to Errwood Hall. Follow the main path all the way back to the car park. 

This YouTube video was created with photos taken when the walk was first recorded in March 2011. I’ve updated the photos since then as the walk looks so much better bathed in summer sunshine. I’ve also slightly simplified the route. Click the expand link to view in full screen.