WHALEY BRIDGE
is an attractive small town in the High Peak. We call ourselves
the Gateway to the Goyt Valley, the area of outstanding natural
beauty which is a magnet for walkers, tourists and those seeking
adventure. The whole town is surrounded by the beautiful hills
and woods, typical of this part of the Peak.
Whaley Bridge (population 7,000 approximately)
is 18 miles south of Manchester, seven miles north of Buxton,
nine miles north east of Macclesfield and 28 miles west of
Sheffield.
The town stands on the A5004 road,
formerly the A6, which is now the designation for the Whaley-Chapel
by-pass. A whole network of roads leads out from the Whaley
Bridge valley, towards Buxton, Castleton, Chapel en le Frith,
Chinley, Hayfield, Kettleshulme and Macclesfield, New Mills
and Stockport. The major conurbations of Greater Manchester,
Sheffield and Stoke on Trent, are each about an hour away.
We are also on the Buxton-Manchester railway,
allowing many people to commute to jobs in the city, in Stockport
and nearby Buxton. The line is also much used by walkers coming
to Whaley Bridge as a starting point for their latest walk.
There is also a station at Furness Vale.
The
motorway system is relatively near Whaley Bridge - the M60
and M56 links at Stockport, with access to the Greater Manchester
ring road; the M6 at Sandbach(J17) or Knutsford (J19); and
the M 1 near Chesterfield(J29) or Derby (J25).
Many canal boat owners use Whaley Bridge
and its canal basin as a destination or mooring place. The
Peak Forest Canal is especially beautiful in the narrow,
wooded valley which is the setting for our town. The Toddbrook
reservoir, within the parish boundary, is used by yachtsmen.
Manchester Airport, the third biggest in
the UK, with many international, charter and domestic flights,
is the nearest airport to Whaley Bridge. East Midlands Airport,
just off the M1 south of Derby, is also accessible for many
flights.
