I do like to go to Greenfield station (last one on the GMPTE day tickets) and then have a walk over the hills to end in the Diggle Hotel for an evening meal and drinks before a relatively simple stretch along the canal for the Railway, the train to Stalybridge buffet, etc.
One time I have done the walk to Diggle, then over the top to Marsden before coming back to Diggle for a meal. The brewery tap in Marsden is definitely worth a visit for its' ale but never sampled the food there.
When I was living in Manchester I would have to say I felt spoiled for good country pubs in easy reach, the Hope Valley line offering another load as mentioned (Hathersage was our usual eating place on that route, but the "crawl" from Edale through Hope, Castleton and Bamford is not a bad idea for those who like good real ale.
Ultimately it is the GMPTE tickets that always take me back to the Greenfield options, that and the Railway in Greenfield and Stalybridge buffet serve as excellent waiting rooms.