TO THE START OF THE PENNINE WAY

New Mills Central was once the junction with the short branch to Hayfield. The only intermediate station on that line was Birch Vale (Ben Brooksbank - Creative Commons License). 

Back to a line that's still open - at New Mills South Junction. The map here will explain all.

Furness Vale is a station on the Buxton Line.

The Peak Forest Canal is alongside.

Moving on, we come to Whaley Bridge village (Creative Commons License).

The terminus of the Peak Forest Canal is in Whaley Bridge. Goods were once transhipped to and from the Cromford & High Peak Railway.

The trackbed of the Cromford & High Peak Railway is still walkable in Whaley Bridge.

Buses of Trent Motor Traction and Bower's Coaches operated in Whaley Bridge in 1999.

The Goyt Inn is a welcoming pub in Whaley Bridge.

High above Whaley Bridge is Fernilee Reservoir. This tiny loco aided in its construction.

To the north of Whaley Bridge (there's logic to this route, see the map) is the junction of the Peak Forest Canal "main line" and the Buxworth branch.

The Buxworth branch was derelict in 1985.

At Buxworth Basin, the remains of the Peak Forest Tramway can be seen.

The basin has since been rewatered (Creative Commons License).

The Midland Railway ran through a deep cutting at Buxworth.

Buxworth once had a railway station, seen in 1965 (Ben Brooksbank - Creative Commons License).

Here's a view of the village (Creative Commons License).

Sadly, the Navigation Inn has now closed.

Not far to the east is Chinley station, once an important stop on the Midland Railway.

Two class 40s pass at Chinley.

Next stop, but on the former LNWR line, is Chapel-en-le-Frith station, still open today.

In contrast, the Midland station at Chapel-en-le-Frith is closed to passengers, but sees regular freight.

Bower's Coaches had their depot in Chapel-en-le-Frith. A Bristol LH bus resided there in 1980.

We now take the ex Midland Railway route eastwards through Cowburn Tunnel, emerging into the Hope Valley.

Soon we come to Edale station, where D7590 and 48073 are seen in action.

The signal box was still in use in 2011...... and receiving a new coat of paint.

Modern traffic in 2011.

Beside the station is the Rambler Inn.

Let's go into the village, passing the Church of Holy Trinity (Creative Commons License).

At the other end of the village is the Nag's Head. It hasn't changed a lot.

This is the southern end of the Pennine Way. Are we going to follow it? Find out when the next post appears.

OLD HISTORY, NEW MILLS

We're now in the suburbs of Stockport (see the map of the route here) at a place called Offerton, once served by the short lived trolleybuses of Stockport Corporation.

There's a decent free house in Offerton, the Victoria.

South to the Buxton Road, in the suburb of Heaviley.

There's plenty of buses passing through Heaviley.

There's a great Robinson's pub here too - the Blossoms. (Top photo by Smabs Sputzer CC).

East now to Rose Hill station, at the end of a short branch line in Marple. In 1979, a DMU was getting a drenching during a thunderstorm.

Better weather in 2006.

There's a very handy Robinson's pub here called the Railway.

On the main line that passes through Marple, there's an impressive viaduct, with another carrying the canal.

In Marple, we find a flight of locks on the Peak Forest Canal.

The junction with the Peak Forest and Macclesfield canals is in Marple.

Here's the start of the "Macc" in 1993.

All Saints church in Marple (Creative Commons License).

The stocks. Don't be naughty! (Creative Commons License).

Marple's other railway station (Creative Commons License).

Bullock's of Cheadle used to serve Marple.

There are fine views from Marple, as we're in the foothills of the Peak District.

We follow the Peak Forest Canal, passing close to Strines.

Stepping briefly into Cheshire, we call in at the Albert in Disley, now an independent free house, but seen here in the hands of Vaux.

Two more pubs in Disley, the Dandy Cock and the White Horse, both tied to Robinson's.

The Derbyshire town of New Mills has two railway stations, on different lines. Here's New Mills Newtown (Creative Commons License).

A class 40 arrives at New Mills Central.

Glossopdale buses could once be found in New Mills.

Stagecoach was the main operator in 1999.

Here's New Mills town hall (Creative Commons License).

I promised you history. The Union Bridge and the packhorse bridge it replaces (Creative Commons License).

Our first pub stop in New Mills is the Rock, another Robinson's pub.

The Pineapple, the Crescent and the Beehive are all consigned to history.

So we end our tour of New Mills at the Masons Arms. Good night.

Next time, we'll still be in North West Derbyshire.