The Goyt Valley
Management And Conservation
Moorland
Woodland
ESA (Environmentally Sensitive Area)
Recreation And Tourism
Increased Visitor Pressure
Upper Goyt Liasion Group

The Goyt Valley

The Goyt Valley lies in the west of the Peak District National Park on the Derbyshire/Cheshire border.....

The valley is close to the towns of Buxton and Macclesfield and within an easy journey of many large towns and cities. It is considered to be one of the 'honeypot' area of the National Park.

The name of the valley is associated with the dialect word goyt or goit for stream or watercourse. This is turn came from the Old English word gota.

Detailed Map of the Area

Formation Of The Goyt Valley

Around 280 to 350 million years ago, mud gravel and sand were washed down to the Peak District area by a vast river from what is now the highlands of Scotland.

These layers of mud and sand were laid down in the sometimes deep and sometimes shallow waters of the estuary of the river. Over millions of years the muds and sands were compressed to become layers of shale and gritstone rock.





Vegetation growing in the river delta formed the pockets of coal found in the valley. The lower coal measures exposed at the southern end of the valley make this an area of special geological significance and contribute to its designation as an SSSI (Site of Special Scientific Interest).

Movements of the earth tilted and folded these rocks to form the Goyt syncline - a downward fold in the rocks.

Successive Ice Ages shaped the exposed shales and gritstones and later still the river Goyt started to carve out the valley as we see it today. The layers of carboniferous grits and shales reach their highest point at Shining Tor (559 metres).

Landscape of the Goyt Valley The Goyt Valley is a typical example of Dark Peak scenery. Here you can find high moorland, river and valley scenery with the man-made additions of the Fernileee and Errwood reservoirs. The landscape of the Goyt Valley is a mosaic, ranging from the heather and grasses of the moorland pastures, to the woodland and enclosed farmland of the valley. This interesting mix of landscapes provides nationally important, semi-natural habitats for wildlife and nature conservation. It also adds to the attraction of the Goyt Valley. The river Goyt rises on the moorland slopes near the Cat and Fiddle Inn. It flows northwards through steep rocky 'cloughs' (valleys) and is the main feeder for the Errwood and Fernilee Reservoirs. The Goyt collects tributaries at Whaley Bridge, and merges with the Etherow and Tame at Stockport to become the River Mersey.

History of the Goyt Valley

The earliest history of the Goyt Valley belongs to Neolithic farmers around 3,000 BC, who were the first to start felling trees and clearing the ground for cultivation. farming continued to be the predominant use of the valley for centuries. Following the Norman Conquest the Goyt lay between two Royal Hunting Forests (Peak Forest and Macclesfield Forest).

Since at least the 1500s and until earlier this century, the Goyt Valley supported a flourishing community. Tenanted farms, coal mines, a water mill, a railway and a gunpowder mill were all part of the landscape. The flooding of the valley to form the Errwood and Fernilee reservoirs changes its use dramatically.

Local industry

(see map for locations)

The Chilworth Gunpowder factory (which may date back to the 16th century) now lies under the waters of Fernilee Reservoir. A serious explosion in 1909 killed three men, but the factory was still very active during the First World War (1914-1918).

In 1670 Thomas Pickford turned to road mending after his estate was confiscated by Cromwell. Packhorse trains carrying the stone from Goytsclough Quarry were found an alternative load for their return journey and in this way, the giant Pickfords removal firm had its humble origins.

Near Goytsclough Quarry are the few remains of a Paint Mill operating in the 19th century, where a water powered wheel crushed barytes (mined locally) to a powder, which was used in the manufacture of paint.

Around Derbyshire Bridge are the remains of dozens of old coal mining shafts, which provided coal for homes and for the local lime burning industry.

Errwood Hall

The Cat & Fiddle in the 1920's

Errwood Hall

The grounds and ruins of the former Errwood Hall lie to the west of Errwood Reservoir. Built in the 1830s by the Grimshaw family, Errwood Hall was once a solid Victorian mansion where the family lived and entertained in style. The house was reduced to a ruin when the Fernilee reservoir was built in the 1930s. A shrine built in memory of a well-loved Spanish governess can still be seen.

Cat And Fiddle

Dating back to at least the early 19th century, the Cat and Fiddle Inn is the second highest inn in England, standing at 515 metres above sea level.

The old Macclesfield to Buxton turnpike road passed behind the Cat and Fiddle Inn and then followed the road down to Derbyshire Bridge and along the Old Macclesfield Road to Burbage. The new A537 was built in 1823.

Routeways and transport

Roman roads, medieval packhorse tracks and hollow ways cross the area and show its past significance as a trade route.

Before surfaced roads, packhorses, led by jaggers were the main form of transporting valuable goods such as salt. One packhorse route came over the hills from Cheshire via Pym Chair, down across the Goyt, over a packhorse bridge at Wildmoorstone Brook and on to Buxton. There is a local legend that Pym the highwayman used to watch from Pym Chair and then ambush the jaggers. The old packhorse bridge was dismantled when the reservoirs were built and rebuilt over the river at Goytsclough Quarry. It is now known as Goyts Bridge.

Railway line

In 1830 the Cromford and High Peak Railway was built to link the Peak Forest Canal at Whaley Bridge with the Cromford Canal at Matlock. Stationary steam engines were used to haul trains up the steep Bunsal Incline. Following a fatal accident in 1877, passenger services were ended.

Farming

At the height of activity, the population of the Goyt Valley supported about 15 farms, mainly stocked with sheep but also some herds of Shorthorn cattle. The Derbyshire Gritstone sheep, one of the oldest native breeds, was commonly known as the Dale o'Goyt in the past - indicating that it may well have originated in this part of the Peak District.

Sheep farming is still the most common form of agriculture in the valley, although enclosed farmland now occupies only the lower land around Fernilee Reservoir. The hardy hill sheep graze the large areas of moorland throughout the valley in all weathers and contribute to the shaping of the moorland landscape.

Reservoirs

An increased demand for drinking water in the early 20th century led Stockport Corporation Waterworks to acquire Goyt Valley for the building of two reservoirs. by 1930 the farms and houses were empty and demolished in order to provide an uncontaminated water catchment area.

Fernilee Reservoir

Fernilee was completed in 1938. It cost about £480,000 to build and holds 4940 million litres. Errwood was completed in 1967. It cost £1.5 million and holds 4215 million litres.

North West Water now own much of the Valley and surrounding moorland, which is the water catchment area for the two reservoirs. These two reservoirs supply an average of 7-8 million gallons of water a day, some direct to Whaley Bridge and the rest to the Stockport region. A fly fishing club and sailing club use Errwood Reservoir; the sailing club have a permanent clubhouse on the eastern shoreline.

Common sandpipers and other birds breed along the reservoir banks - take care no to disturb them. The noisy canada geese and mallard are the most common resident summer waterfowl.

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Management and conservation

Moorland

Moorland rings three sides of the valley and its familiar heather and grassland vegetation has been formed through human influence over hundreds - even thousands of years. Heather, cotton grass, crowberry and bilberry are common plants of the moorland.

Heather is dominant in the better drained areas of moorland. There are also areas of bracken, particularly in the cloughs.

Blanket bog can be found on the higher and flatter areas of the moor, which are much wetter. Here the vegetation is dominated by cotton grass with some bilberry crowberry and big moss.

Mountain hare

Much of the moorland and the cloughs that cut across it, have been designated an SSSI, in recognition of its national importance. Landowners must notify and consult English Nature before carrying out any potentially damaging changes to the land. The designation helps to protect the habitat and its valued bird community. Birds found on the moors include birds of prey and golden plover which need large undisturbed areas. You might also see snipe, curlew, lapwing, skylark, meadow pipit, whinchat and ring ouzel. Wild animals found on the moor include voles, hares and foxes.

Human influence is still shaping the moorland of the Goyt Valley. Sheep graze the moors and maintain the shrubby vegetation. Heather is burned in rotation to encourage new growth which provides food for both sheep and red grouse.

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Woodland

Much of the woodland in the Goyt Valley has been planted relatively recently and is managed by Forest Enterprise. There are however some areas of older relict woodland in some of the valleys or cloughs where native species, such as oak and birch, are mixed with those introduced into Britain over the centuries.

Around Errwood Hall the native sessile oak and scots pine are found alongside the sweet chestnut introduced by the Romans and the European larch brought over from the Alps in the 17th century.

Subsequent planting by the Grimshawe family included the rhododendrons which are such a feature of the present landscape and a management problem to keep in check.

Timber harvesting (Courtesy North West Water)

Since 1963, Forest Enterprise has planted over 400 hectares of trees, mainly consisting of pine, spruce and larch on exposed upper slopes and oak, beech and birch on the lower ground. Forest Enterprise's objectives include the production of timber for industry, together with conservation of wildlife and the provision of recreation opportunities.

The mixed woodlands are rich in bird life and resident birds are owls, woodpeckers, goldcrest, nuthatch, tree creeper, jay and finches. Summer visitors include tree pipit, redstart, warblers and flycatchers.

Most woodland mammals are nocturnal, such as fox, badger, hedgehog and log-tailed fieldmouse. Grey squirrels and rabbits can be seen during the day, often around picnic sites. You may even glimpse Britain's largest mammal the red deer.

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ESA (Environmentally Sensitive Area)

The Goyt Valley lies within the newly designated South West Peak ESA. This designation, introduced to help safeguard areas of national importance, encourages land managers to enhance conservation values.

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Recreation and tourism

The Goyt Valley is a very popular area of the Peak District National Park, with about 390,000 day visits a year (Visitor Survey 1986/87). Active visitors enjoy walking, cycling, climbing, horseriding, fishing and sailing. Many people drive through the valley to enjoy the scenery and maybe stop for a picnic. All these activities have to fit in with the basic land use of the valley.

Although there is no formal access agreement on the open moorland, a network of concessionary and public paths give access throughout the valley.

A National Park Ranger (also partly funded by Forest Enterprise and North West Water) is assisted at the weekends by part-time patrol rangers.

Six car parks (some with information boards) provide for 500 cars and there are three picnic areas and toilet blocks - two, one at each end of the valley, are open all year. There are two car parks for people with disabilities. A wheelchair route runs alongside Errwood reservoir during times of road closure (see below). Another wheelchair route follows the track of the former High Peak Railway and winds into the heart of the moorland. There is no accommodation of camping provision in the area.

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Increased visitor pressure

The Goyt has been a popular area for visitors throughout this century but growing car ownership has increased the pressure on the valley. The greatest visitor pressure is around Errwood reservoir with Derbyshire Bridge as an attraction for the more active visitor.

The Packhorse Bridge

Sailing on Errwood Reservoir

The National Park Plan confirms that, "The recreation facilities in the Goyt work at maximum capacity and any increase in facilities could cause great harm to what is at present a finely balanced mix of land uses".

Traffic management scheme

The approach roads to the valley are narrow and difficult for coaches an there is no coach parking. A Traffic Management Scheme was introduced in 1970 and involved the closing of the central section of the valley road at peak times in summer. At present the road is closed to visitor traffic between 10.30 am and 5.30 pm on Sundays and Bank Holiday Mondays from 1st May to the end of September. A park-and-walk system operates in this area.

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Upper Goyt Liasion Group

Since 1985 this group (with representatives from the National Park Authority, Forest Enterprise, North West Water and other organisations) has been responsible for guiding day to day management issues.

The joint management consists of working, in partnership with other bodies, to help maintain the balance between agriculture, forestry, water supply, nature conservation and recreation.

Detailed ecological and archaeological surveys are being carried out at present. The information provided will help to guide future management decisions. Any proposals for increased provision for visitors have to be carefully considered in relation to the balance of land use.

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