Curbar

 

CURBAR GAP, BASLOW EDGE, WELLINGTON’S MONUMENT, BIG MOOR, WHITE EDGE, FROGGATT EDGE, CURBAR EDGE, BRIDGE INN.

 

Distance: 8 miles Ascent/descent: 1,080ft

Difficulty: Easy 

Weather: Mainly dry with one shower downpour

Walkers ,Andy Blease, Steve Brearley Mike Cassini, Mark Enright. 

Alternative Walkers: Jock Rooney with Millie,-

Leader: Mike Cassini. Diarist:  Mike Cassini

Starting point: Clodhall Lane Curbar Gap

Starting time: 9.40am. Finishing time: 1.15.pm.

 

We last walked this route in April this year, which was a glorious sunny day, and, although we were expecting rain, we mainly had good warm weather, until we were most exposed on White Edge and the heavens opened completely soaking everyone. 

There are numerous diarised instances of this particularly scenic route, so we managed without any diversions or incidents, encountering the Highland Cattle who always seem to be there to greet us, just past the Wellington Monument.

Further flora and fauna alert. We came across poisonous fungi, which we immediately identified as the fly agaric, once eaten by reindeer and then the reindeer urine was drunk to experience the psychoactive effects.

I asked for volunteers to feed the highland cattle and try their piss but not even microbiologist Mark was interested in this valuable scientific experiment.

We finished at the Bridge Inn where three of us sampled the local Bridge Inn Bitter and Andy tried Mr Clarkson’s Hawkstone lager. We found it most palatable. 

 

From the archives (by Alan Hart) October 28th 2020

From a lay-by opposite The Harrington Arms on the A523 at Bosley, we headed towards Leek, crossing the road opposite the derelict Queens Arms, and went through a metal kissing gate to follow a public footpath sign (2mins). This took us into fields which we reached and exited by two more metal kissing gates until we reached the remains of a factory.

Wood Treatment Ltd were the manufacturers of wood fibre and powder products. In July, 2015, many employees were injured and four were killed when at least three explosions rocked the area. The former mill was destroyed despite the arrival of 15 fire engines. One of the bodies was never recovered. The company was convicted of corporate manslaughter due to negligence. 

Next week we are meeting at the free car park in Eyam, which should be on Hawkhill Road, Eyam S32 5AD, for a 9.50 start. Anyone with a route plan will be most appreciated.

Happy Wandering!

Rowarth

 

Rowarth

September 16th 2026

 

LITTLE MILL INN AT ROWARTH, KNARRS FARM, THE MONKS ROAD, HOLLINGWORTH BROOK AT CARR MEADOW, MIDDLE MOOR, TWENTY TREES, THE KINDER LODGE AT HAYFIELD, SETT VALLEY TRAIL, BIRCH VALE RESERVOIR, THORNSETT, HIGH WALLS FARM, ASPENSHAW HALL, ROWARTH

 

Distance: 9.5 miles.

Difficulty: Moderately easy, some climbs

 

Weather: Mostly wet, showers very occasional sunny spells

Walkers:  Andy Blease, Steve Brearley, Mike Cassini, Stuart Kitchen, Greg Owen

Leader: Cassini. Diarist: Cassini

Starting point: Rowarth Car Park

Starting time: 9.50am. Finishing time: 2pm.

 

The start of this week’s walk was delayed exactly as it was when we left Chelford a couple of weeks ago ….by a torrential downpour. But as we are stout northern men (mostly, perhaps not that stout), we decided to brave the conditions and set off in a light drizzle, that improved but stayed with us for a large part of the walk.

This walk is diarised on at least two instances, though this time we took the easier option of the Sett Valley Way rather than the more exposed, and arduous, route up the Giggle Gaggle path. As a result we had one of the two more interesting experiences of the walk, as we enjoyed a late pie time in the car park/bus station in Hayfield we heard the sound of what turned out to be the crashing of a not insubstantial tree narrowly touching the front of a car a good 20 feet away. This led to  discussions about what constituted ‘parking at your own risk’ and did parking 20 feet away from a falling diseased tree constitute an acceptable risk.

The second experience was as a result of someone not following the countryside code and leaving a gate open allowing a number of young cows to wander free onto a wide footpath towards the start of our climb up from Rowarth. Fortunately, Andy and Stuart were well versed in cattle herding and managed to guide half of the number through the gate, which they later closed securely.

The poor weather followed us throughout the wander, although it was dry enough to briefly sit outside in the Little Mill beer garden enjoying a beer, to celebrate my 70th birthday the day before.

Next week’s wander is from Curbar Edge layby meeting at 9:50. The postcode is S32 3YR.

From the archives (by George Dearsley) December 5th 2012

Mr Hart, spurred on by the thought of ale, duly set a cracking pace.

Your diarist opined: “He’s like Mo Farrah”.

To which Mr Barrett retorted: “I’m more like Mo Mowlem”.

At 12.17pm leader Fairman became a faller on the boggy heather.

As to the derivation of the phrase Harry Hut little could be found.

I can exclusively reveal that in 1980 no fewer than 1083 pieces of artefacts and tools from the Mesolithic Period were discovered here. Anyone operating a market stall selling gloves and woollen hats in this period would have been onto a “good earner”. But beyond the archaeology, zilch.

We plodded on like Napoleon’s infantry retreating from Moscow but at last reached the road again where Tom’s wife Stella arrived to end the cruelty and take him to a Nativity play.

(No, he wasn't playing the Donkey!).

Happy Wandering!

 

 

Hayfield

 

Hayfield – Kinder Downfall Circular

Sept 10th 2026

PLACES VISITED – Sportsmans Arms, Nab Brow, Sandy Heys, Pennine Way, Kinder Downfall,

Three Knolls, Clough Farm.

Distance: 7.06miles Ascent/descent: 1682 ft

Difiiculty: Moderate/Difficult. One long climb

Weather: Fine & dry

Walkers: Andrew Blease, Steve Brearley, Mike Cassini, Mark Enright, Russell Spencer, Simon

Williams, Keith Welsh.

Alternative walkers: Jock Rooney with Milly, Kieran Rooney

Leader: Russell, Diarist: Russell

Starting point: Sportsmans Arms, Hayfield.

Starting time: 9.40am Finishing time: 13.30pm

This Weeks Route:

Hayfield – Kinder Downfall Circular

I have saved this walk for public consumption. Anyone can follow the route using the OS app,

providing you have a registered account (Free) in future.

Weather proved to be fine on this morning, and we had a surprise late guest in Mark who decided to put his ankle to the test. We set off from the pub and followed the road skirting the reservoir and over to the bridge in the far corner. We then went up, straight up, no flat sections, which on

reflection proved to be too much, even though we were taking it easy (we are supposed to enjoy

this after all).

 After a 10min rest at the top we proceeded along the very rocky, Pennine Way.

Stopping at Kinder Downfall for Pie Time, we then took an easy steady descent down to the pub.

On reflection this walk is probably best walked in reverse.

We met Jock and Milly in the pub for a very nice pint of Thwaites.

Next week’s walk will be led by Mike, starting at Rowarth Public Car Park and finishing at The Little

Mill for approximately 1.30pm

From the archives. By Alan Hart. April 3rd 2019

When we reached a cairn (76mins) we paused for pies, port and damson gin kindly provided by Chris and prepared ourselves for the final assault on Kinder Ridge along The Pennine Way.

On April 24, 1932, this same route had been taken by 400 hikers who had assembled at Bowden Bridge under the leadership of Benny Rothman, a member of The Young Communist League. Ignoring the civil laws against trespassing they had climbed William Clough where they were confronted by gamekeepers near Ashop Head. Scuffles broke out. Six of the protestors were arrested and subsequently jailed for periods up to six months for assault on the gamekeepers. Their “martyrdom” marked the start of a media campaign by The Ramblers' Association which led to The Countryside and Rights of Way (CROW) Act of 2000 which legislates rights to roam on mapped access land.

Happy Wandering!

Chelford

Chelford – Alderley Edge Circular

June 18,2025

Egerton Arms, Sossmoss Wood, Nether Alderley, The Edge, Alderley Edge, Warford Hall

Distance: 10.53 miles Ascent/descent: 260 ft

Difiiculty: Easy

Weather: Drizzle at first but turned fine later.

Walkers: Steve Brearley, Mike Cassini, Russell Spencer, Simon Williams, Keith Welsh, Cliff

Worthington.

Alternative walkers:

Leader: Russell, Diarist: Russell

Starting point: Egerton Arms Chelford, SK11 9BB

Starting time: 9.50am Finishing time: 14.00pm

 

This Weeks Route:

Chelford – Alderley Edge Circular

I have saved this walk for public consumption. Anyone can follow the route using the OS app,

providing you have a registered account (Free) in future.

Travelling to the meeting point the heavens opened and it looked like it was going to be a wet one,

Cliff had threatened to stay in the car, however it subsided somewhat and we got our boots on.

Unfortunately it turned out the Mark was supposed to be leading but had to pull out, so we hastily drew up a route with the OS app (once we had a signal) and off we went.

The rain eased off and it turned into a fine day for walking, we stopped on ‘The Edge’ for lunch, with a fine view of the Cheshire Plains and you can now see the Woodford Housing development becoming a landmark.

On the way back we had a slight concern about crossing the bypass road, as it showed an Orange

dotted line (not green) however a quick chat with AI confirmed that this is a concessionary

footpath and is passable.

We had to double back a little at Warford Hall as the gate had been locked due to some major

renovations being done by some famous footballer and his wife.

Next week’s walk will be led by Russell, starting at The Sportsmans Arms, Hayfield, SK22 2LE, and I

intend to go up to Kinder Downfall and back down to the pub for approximately 1.30-2.00 pm.

weather permitting!

Happy Wandering!