Wednesday Wandering: Ridgegate Reservoir

December 9, 2020.

RIDGEGATE RESERVOIR, MACCLESFIELD FOREST, NESSIT HILL, SHUTLINGSLOE, THE CRAG INN AT WILDBOARCLOUGH, LOWER NABBS, PIGGFORD MOOR NATURE RESERVE, OAKENCLOUGH, THE HANGING GATE AT SMALLHURST, FERNLEE, BACKLANE HOUSE FARM, LEATHER'S SMITHY

Distance: Eight miles.

Difficulty: Easy after strenuous start.

Weather: Early mist and chill evaporating: dry throughout.

Leader: Owen. Diarist: Hart.

Starting point: Roadside parking next to Ridgegate Reservoir, Langley, Macclesfield.

Starting time: 9.45am. Finishing time: 1.54pm.

During this enjoyable walk around Cheshire's hills and valleys we tortured ourselves by passing three of our well-loved pubs. For a variety of different reasons we were unable to drink in any of them. On a brighter note light rain which had been forecast failed to materialise and the early mist which had shrouded any views for the first hour started to evaporate. We also passed the former homes of two celebrities from the world of politics and sport.

As we put on our boots it became apparent that somebody was trying to attract our attention from across the reservoir. Was this the siren song which sailors experienced when lovely lorelei tried to lure them on to rocks ? In fact it was the dulcet tones of our unseen leader Chris seeking to announce his presence from 400 yards along the road.

As I joined him for our walk, once again we became aware we were being followed at a respectful distance by six other wanderers, Andy Blease, John Jones, Jock Rooney, Julian Ross, Dean Taylor and Dave Willetts. With the lake on our right we headed to a sign for Wincle and followed it to the right. Then we turned left at a gap stile to enter Macclesfield Forest and began a steady climb, following wooden signposts for Shutlingsloe.

At 1,660 feet this is Cheshire's third highest peak after Black Hill and Shining Tor. Its shape has given it the ironical title of Cheshire's Matterhorn. But at 14,692 feet the majestic mountain straddling the Swiss and Italian Alps has a decisive advantage for serious climbers.

On reaching Shutlingsloe's summit (60mins) we were faced with a wall of mist which marred the view. Tegg's Nose, Bosley Cloud and The Taj Mahal were just some of the sights we could not see. We descended on the far side, heading to our right to reach a metal kissing gate (68mins) from where we continued downhill following yellow arrows.

On reaching a road we turned right with Clough Brook in full flow on our left as we reached The Crag Inn on our right and stopped for Pietime (87mins). The pub itself was closed and it was difficult to determine whether it was continuing to open during the Covid restrictions.

Resuming we turned immediately right at a green public footpath sign marked with a yellow arrow and we headed slightly uphill and towards the right of a series of fields separated by gates and stiles. Eventually we reached a stone step stile leading to a lane where we turned left, passing Piggford Moor Nature Reserve on our right (107mins)

Where other minor lanes joined us on our left we continued ahead until we reached a green public footpath sign with a yellow arrow on our right and went through a metal kissing gate to follow a path uphill. Our journey took us across a footbridge, across a stream by judiciously placed stones and past the former home on our right of ex-Chancellor George Osborne when he was MP for Tatton.

The footpath led us all the way to a road opposite The Hanging Gate (137mins). This pub restaurant with spectacular views at its rear, has been closed for more than two years but is hoping to reopen in the New Year as a free house, initially serving Marstons. We look forward to it.

Following a footpath at the back of the pub which headed right behind its outside toilets we reached a lane and turned left, soon going left again uphill (143mins)

We turned right towards Smallhurst Farm, taking a footpath to the left and crossing a wooden stile before descending a flight of steps into a field. Keeping right we followed a yellow arrow which led us through a wood (154mins). After a metal kissing gate we crossed a footbridge and a wooden stile to reach a lane.

By turning right and right again after 10 yards through a metal kissing gate we headed through trees with a stream on our right. A metal kissing gate marked with The Gritstone Trail logo (160mins) took us uphill and through another metal kissing gate until we reached an open gate where we stopped for refreshments.

Resuming we reached a road (162mins) turned right and immediately left at a stone step stile marked with GT signs. The route took us across a lane (177mins), through a series of gated fields until we reached the imposing former home of former England rugby captain Fran Cotton on our right and a pond full of Canada gees on our left (183mins)

Cotton, who will be 74 next month, was a prop forward born in Wigan. He played for Coventry and Sale, representing England 31 times and captaining them on three occasions. He toured South Africa and New Zealand with the British Lions. In 1987 he founded Cotton Traders, a successful sports clothing firm, with teammate Steve Smith.

Continuing we reached a wood on our right (189mins) where our leader Chris bade us farewell as he carried on towards his home in Sutton. The rest of us turned right and went through a wooden gate marked with a yellow arrow, crossed a footbridge and headed up a flight of steep steps.

Emerging from the woods (192mins) we turned left along a path which soon swung right with the wall round Ridgegate Reservoir on our right. The path took us past Leather's Smithy on our right (194mins), a pub which was open – but only for diners who could drink if they were eating “substantial” meals. We swung right past the pub, with the reservoir now on our right, and returned to our cars (198mins)

Next week's walk will start at 9.55am from outside The Devonshire Arms at Hartington on the far side of Buxton. Jock will lead us along the Dove and Manifold valleys to Alstonefield, in Staffordshire, returning via Beresford Dale.

Happy wandering !

Pictures by Alan Hart