The Local area around ChadKirk Chapel
THE PEAK FOREST CANAL
One of Britain’s most beautiful waterways, the Peak Forest Canal runs from Bugsworth Basin, close to Whaley Bridge, to Ashton-Under-Lyne. The canal passes through Romiley, close to Chadkirk Chapel – and is well worth a visit. You can walk or cycle along the canal to Marple Bridge, Marple, New Mills and Whaley Bridge – or go the other way to Ashton-Under-Lyne or even pick up the Ashton Canal and walk all the way into Manchester. A great deal of the canal runs alongside the River Goyt – both are home to lots of wildlife and plants. The canal has two historic monuments along its length: Marple Aqueduct (the highest stone-built canal aqueduct in England) and Bugsworth Basin (the only surviving inland port on the canal). The canal was built between 1794 and 1804 (although it was opened in 1800). The canal is managed by the Canal & River Trust.
Romiley
St Chad’s Church, Romiley
Just half a mile from Chadkirk Chapel, Romiley offers visitors plenty of opportunities for refreshments – from the local cafés and restaurants to pubs and bars. Romiley is also home to two theatres, Romiley Forum and Romiley Little Theatre. Romiley is semi-rural and is close to Etherow Country Park – the largest country park in Stockport. Romiley has excellent public transport links to and from Stockport, Marple, Manchester, Tameside and Sheffield – with frequent services by bus and train.
MARPLE Bridge
A small village about half a mile from the canal, Marple Bridge offers multiple choices for refreshments – including pubs, bars, cafés and restaurants. From the canal, walk down the A626 (Station Road) into the village.
MARPLE
Less than three miles down the canal from Chadkirk Chapel, Marple is home to the famous Marple Lock Flight – a flight of sixteen canal locks which raise the canal by over two hundred feet over the course of a mile. Marple is directly on the canal, so a walk from Chadkirk Chapel to Marple for refreshments and back again is a pleasant way to spend part of the day. The town has numerous bars, pubs, cafés and restaurants.
