This is a fascinating stroll full of industrial archaelogy but the agricultural heritage of the area has never been lost.

1*The walk should therefore be combined with a visit to Reddish Vale Farm and Museum.

Start at the visitors’ centre, which has an impressive exhibition area.

Pass through the car park to reach the large mill ponds. In medieval times there was a watermill, powered by the River Tame, and ground cereals.

2*Follow a circular and obvious trail around the ponds, with the route overlooked by an impressive railway viaduct.

This was built in 1875 by the Sheffield and Midland Railway Company and is still in regular use to this day.

3*Continue towards a sweep of the River Tame and turn right.

Keep the river to the left and a pond to the right. This is an excellent birdwatching area.

The car park is visible but turn sharp left before this.

Cross a bridge, after which the River Tame is on the left. Approach a viaduct.

4*Pass under the viaduct and ignore the obvious path directly ahead. Instead, turn left and keep the viaduct on the left to reach the river.

The Tame can have changed little over the centuries but with one obvious exception away in the distance is the M60 motorway.

5*Sweep to the right and follow a path which veers gradually away from the river.

This area is called the Holt and, as this is the name for the residence of otters, we must assume that this mammal was once present.

Make sure always to follow the footpath to the left.

6*Pass through an area which is full of flowers in spring, but which is sure to produce a host of colourful fungi during the autumn.

The path here is straight and damp but there are several small wooden footbridges.

7*Approach a more substantial footbridge. Pass over this and continue into another stretch of woodland.

Through the trees to the right the urban aspect can be seen with blocks of flats in the distance.

8*Approach an even more substantial bridge crossing a steep ravine, through which flows a tributary steam of the Tame. Cross this and turn left.

The housing estate and flats are away to the right and yet more wonderful trees to the left.

9*Keep bearing left until a footbridge is reached.

Turn left and cross the bridge to reach yet another footbridge which crosses the every busy M60.

What a contrast between the start and end of this walk.

10*At the end of this footbridge turn left along a very narrow footpath.

Follow this track and bear sharp right. Ahead and to the left is Arden Hall.

11*Pass through a set of metal gates and to the left is the substantial farmhouse known as Arden Hall.

In 1350 this place was called Harden and the name is Saxon in origin. Some think that this translates as a place called where hares are found.

12*Continue into Battle Lane, which could have had Civil War links.

Some think that Oliver Cromwell lodged at the hall for a night in the late 1640s.

Continue along Battle Lane with Castle Hill to the left.

Although all traces have long gone, historians are sure that there was once a Saxon fortification here as early as the eighth century.

You now approach the busy Stockport Road. Turn left to reach the Arden Arms pub on the right.

Cross the substantial Beight Bridge over the river Tame.

13*Keep a sharp look out for a sign indicating Hyde Hall Farm. Turn left.

14*Pass Horse Close Wood to the right, and keep a sharp lookout to the left.

Here is all that is left of the ill-fated Beight Bank Canal.

This was built in the 1790s as a private venture and was intended to link with the Ashton Canal.

It ran out of cash and was never completed.

15*Approach Hyde Hall Farm, which dates to the 15th and 16th Centuries.

Turn along Ross Lave Lane.

Look out for a long-disused mineral railway line.

16*Cross over the M60 and continue along Ross Lane.

Pass under the viaduct and over a footbridge.

Return to the visitors centre via the ponds area.