Bollington

BOLLINGTON, WHITE NANCY, MACCLESFIELD CANAL

Distance: Ten Miles.

Difficulty: Easy.

Weather: Sunny

Walkers: Colin Davison, Lawrie Fairman, Alan Hart, Jock Rooney and Tip, George Dearsley

B Walker: Geoff Spurrell

Non-Walking Drinker: John Eckersley.

Apologies: Peter Beal (Domestic duties), George Whaites (Visiting relatives), Frank Dudley (Hospitalised), Ivor Jones (Receiving dialysis) and Peter Miles (Still recovering from knee op).

Leader: Fairman. Diarist: Dearsley

Starting Point: The Pie Shop, Bollington

Starting Time: 9.51am. Finishing Time: 2.01pm.

Mr Hart’s amnesia caused early consternation. Having diaried that “next week’s walk will start from outside the Vale pub at Bollington at 9.35am” he promptly decamped opposite The Pie Shop, Bollington with Messrs Davison and Rooney and it necessitated mobile telecommunication to gather all the Wanderers together.

The Pie Shop having been visited for its renown comestibles, the group set off (turning right out of the shop) then right past the church with the Crown pub on our left.

We turned right again and headed for the track up to White Nancy.

White Nancy was built in 1817 by John Gaskell junior of North End Farm to commemorate the victory at the Battle of Waterloo. It originally had an entrance to a single room which was furnished with stone benches and a central round stone table, but the entrance is now blocked.

Before White Nancy was built the site was occupied by a beacon described as a small rotunda of brick. Such beacons were erected on high points across the land in which fires could be lit to warn of invasion. It was white-washed from the beginning, but painted green during World War II so as not to provide a landmark for enemy aircraft.

In the mid-1940s, the Royal Signal Corps Trials Unit based at Catterick would drive a truck-mounted dish-shaped transmitter/receiver up to White Nancy. Here they tested cathode-ray tube transmission and reception (data-based, not images), to a mobile receiving station on another truck. The receiver would be driven further and further south over time, until eventually the lads at White Nancy were sending a signal to the south coast of the country.

White Nancy, Colin and Jock

Having reached the edifice (adorned with a painted Christmas Pudding)  we stopped for “hot Pie Time”. A discussion quickly developed about Andrew’s Nob. Not boys’ talk apparently but an attempt to spot a local landmark on his horizon. Several Wanderers offered their considered  opinions in what might have been described as the rambling version of Call My Bluff. (geddit?)

More on the aforementioned Nob can be found here.

http://www.megalithic.co.uk/article.php?sid=5425

We traversed the ridge that offers a vista of Hurdsfield Industrial Estate to the right but fortunately lovely countryside to the left and eventually descended onto the Macclesfield to Whaley Bridge road, turning right and after 100 yards taking a left up some stone steps.

View from the ridge.

Crossing fields we reached the road from Tegg’s Nose to Rainow.

We turned right and after 150 yard ascended some stone steps on the left that we quickly discovered led absolutely nowhere apart from the rusting skeleton of a farm vehicle which duly provided a makeshift picnic seat for our official Pie Time at 11.08am. However, the diversion at least afforded another wonderful view (below)

Official Pie Time vista

We set off at 11.21am back to the road with echoes of the refrain The Grand Old Duke of York ringing in our leader’s ears. A conversation with a nearby dry stone walling local offered no greater insight into why the carefully crafted stone steps had been constructed in the first place, unless simply to fool adventuresome walkers.

The road we were on was Bull Hill Lane and at the end we turned left onto the road from Buxton.

Then, after a few yards, we turned right over s stile. Crossing a field we turned right along a path that ran alongside a stone wall. We hurdled a wire fence on our left on to what looked like a easier track and this eventually led to a fork, offering some woods to our left and a main road to our right. 

Throwing caution to the wind, we opted for the woods but this was to prove the second erroneous decision of the day and after a few minutes the Wanderers were forced to retreat and take the road instead.

Mr Davison wittily suggested a sign should be erected: “Caution, Lawrie’s Turning”.

After some minutes on the road we turned left up Back Eddisbury Road, leading to Buxton Old Road and then to the canal, via Blakelow Road.

We turned right on to the canal, stopping for lunch (but alas no alcoholic beverage) at 12.44pm at the Puss in Boots pub on the canalside which infuriatingly was shut.

We set off again at 12.52pm following the canal all the way into Bollington and leaving the waterway at Aqueduct Cottage. One notable landmark is the Adelphi Mill.

Adelphi Mill

Constructed circa 1868 by Martin Swindells, a local cotton spinner who also owned Clarence Mill in Bollington, he built The Adelphi Mill for his two sons, hence the name 'Adelphi', which is Greek for brothers. It is now converted to offices.

The mill began with the spinning of cotton but was soon converted to the production of fine silk. Within three years of the mill being built, the railway came to Bollington, running virtually along side the mill. This soon led to a decline in canal transportation, but the Macclesfield Canal remained navigable and the UK’s very first narrow canal cruising club, the North Cheshire Cruising Club, was established there in 1943.

http://www.adelphimill.co.uk/history.asp

The group then divided, Mr Fairman and your diarist crossing the road and negotiating Bollington Recreation Park to reach our cars outside The Vale  at 2.01pm. The remaining Wanderers plus Mr Eckersley joined us at The Vale, which was, sadly, full of guests lunching. After one pint (Bollington Best at £2.70 and an interesting Czech lager called Moravka at £3.10) we reconvened at the less crowded Dog and Partridge. We were joined there by Mr Spurrell who had conquered White Nancy.

On Sunday, January 1, the annual New Year’s Day walk will start from St George’s Church, Poynton, at 10am heading up Prince’s Incline to the Macclesfield Canal and right to The Miners Arms at Woods Lane. We hope to time our arrival to coincide with 12 o’clock opening time. We will return to The Farmer’s Arms, Poynton, around 2pm. Wives and girlfriends are most welcome.

The next Wednesday Wandering will start from Ridgegate Reservoir, Langley at 9.45am, hoping to reach the midway point The Hanging Gate at 12.30pm and finishing at The Smithy. Your diarist will liaise with Messrs Beal and Davison to coordinate lifts.

 

High Lane

HIGH LANE, CARR BROW, DISLEY GOLF COURSE, PEAK FOREST CANAL, CRUX BARN, THE GOYT VALLEY, ROMAN LAKES, MELLOR GOLF COURSE, LILLY BANK FARM COTTAGE, THE FOX AT BROOK BOTTOM, STRINES STATION, STRINES HALL, LEA COTE FARM AND THE DOG AND PARTRIDGE AT HIGH LANE

Distance: Seven Miles.

Difficulty: Easy.

Weather: Overcast with Early Drizzle: Dry Later.

Walkers: Peter Beal, Colin Davison, Lawrie Fairman, Alan Hart and George Whaites.

B Walkers: Jock Rooney, Ken Sparrow and Geoff Spurrell.

Lone Walker: Tony Job.

Non-Walking Drinker: John Eckersley.

Apologies: George Dearsley (Working in Dubai), Frank Dudley (Hospitalised), Ivor Jones (Receiving dialysis) and Peter Miles (Still recovering from knee op).

Leader: Davison. Diarist: Hart.

Starting Point: Colin’s home at 11, Carr Brow, High Lane, Stockport.

Starting Time: 10.08am. Finishing Time: 2.22pm.

              

Our pre-Christmas walk began, as has become traditional, with a veritable feast at Carr Brow. In his role as 

Lady Bountiful, Colin excelled himself with a splendid display of bacon, sausages, balm cakes accompanied 

by mulled wine, the former served on a chafier to keep the food warm for late-comers.  It was augmented 

by a home-made parkin cake supplied by your diarist.

Upon learning that the promised topless go-go dancers had been postponed for yet another year, the A team set off in light drizzle and grey skies by turning left uphill, and then left over a step to enter Disley Golf Course (7mins). We crossed the course, where we empathised with a trio of soggy golfers and exited via a stile (17mins).

As we entered a field with a gate ahead, we swung right, keeping a chimney on our left and what appeared to be a derelict mill on our right. We swung left through a gate and followed a public footpath sign on our right (23mins).

After a five-minute delay while Peter B produced a blister plaster for Lawrie, whose new boots were rubbing, we turned left (31mins) to reach the right bank of the Peak Forest Canal. We proceeded with the waterway on our left until we turned right at a public footpath signed marked Cown Edge Way via Mellor (37mins).

We crossed a wooden stile to enter a field and left it by another stile at Crux Barn. This brought us to a road (44mins) which we crossed and turned left. We turned right at a broken track (45mins) on our right. This led us to the left bank of the fast-flowing River Goyt (50mins).

On our right we crossed the packhorse bridge, which was later to prove to be Ken’s downfall. (He revealed he had skidded on the slippery surface, sustaining bruised knees, hip and pride). After crossing the ancient bridge (52mins) we turned left towards Roman Lakes.

We forked right at a public footpath sign for Mellor and Cobden Edge (56mins) and turned left across a bridge over the Manchester-Sheffield railway line. We entered Mellor Golf Course (61mins) and exited it, passing Lilly Bank Farm Cottage on our left (84mins) as we descended towards Brook Bottom.

The absence of Pietime, in light of our earlier meal, resulted in a miscalculation which found us sitting outside The Fox at 11.50am (99mins) awaiting its noon opening. The landlord was nearly knocked over as he drew back the bolts and we ordered pints of excellent Robbies’ bitter at £2-60.

We were soon joined by Tony, who had walked from the Dog and Partridge, and by the trio of B walkers who had followed a similar route to our own.

Departing, we turned right through the pub car park and down a rocky path leading to Strines Station (113mins). We walked under the railway bridge, passing Strines Hall on our left. To its right was a mill pond with a dovecote.

We were indebted to Peter B for the information that the dovecote was designed by a famous architect, whose name he could not remember, but who was more famous for designing some other construction which he could not remember either. (Peter, you may recall, was awarded the MBE for his services to journalism).

After crossing a road bridge over the Goyt (118mins) we reached the end of Station Road, crossed Strines Road and headed uphill along a wide track (122mins). We crossed a wooden stile to reach a lane opposite Greenhills and turned right (130mins).

At a T-junction (135mins) we went across Wybersley Road to the left of Lea Cote Farm, heading straight on to follow a yellow arrow (137mins). This brought us through two fields reminiscent of the Somme battlefield, circa 1916, where some dainty footwork was employed to avoid the worst of the mud.

We emerged to the left of a farm (148mins), passing an impressive hall on our right. At a wooden public footpath sign (154mins), instead of heading right towards the canal, we kept straight on towards High Lane.

At a road we turned left (158mins), passing High Lane Primary School on our right (162mins). We dropped down to the A6 (165mins) and turned right. We reached the Dog and Partridge on our left (170mins) and de-booted.

We ordered pints of English Pale Ale for £2-30 and a carvery lunch for £3-69. A toast was drunk to absent friends, including our most senior member, Frank Dudley, who was detained in Leighton Hospital, Crewe, having treatment for his ongoing eye problem. We wish him a speedy return to the Guinness.

Our enjoyment of the low prices was tempered by the behaviour of a rather officious young barmaid, whose wearing of a jolly Santa hat seemed somewhat incongruous. She complained about our joining of tables together to seat the ten of us and told Jock he was a fire hazard.

Next week’s walk will start from outside the Vale pub at Bollington at 9.35am and finish there around 2.15pm. At the time of going to press, no midway pub had been chosen and we are still open to suggestions.

On Sunday, January 1, the annual New Year’s Day walk will start from St George’s Church, Poynton, heading up Prince’s Incline to the Macclesfield Canal and right to The Miners Arms at Woods Lane. We hope to time our arrival to coincide with 12 o’clocl opening time. We will return to The Farmer’s Arms, Poynton, around 2pm. Wives and girlfriends are most welcome – but don’t invite both !!

 

Hayfield

LITTLE HAYFIELD, HAYFIELD AND ENVIRONS

Distance: Seven Miles.

Difficulty: Easy

Weather: Mainly bright, dry but chilly

Walkers: Peter Beal, George Dearsley, Colin Davison, Alan Hart and George Whaites.

B Walkers: Tony Job and Geoff Spurrell.

Non Walkers: John Eckersley, Frank Dudley

Apologies: Jock Rooney (Diving in Azerbaijan), Lawrie Fairman (visiting relatives in Southampton)

Leader: Peter Beal

Diarist: Dearsley

Starting Point: Car park at Clough Mill, below the Lantern Pike

Starting Time: 10.14am. Finishing Time: 2.05pm.

After mulled wine and  crudites at your diarist’s abode, we climbed the hill from Clough Mill to the main road and straight over into the grounds adjoining Park Hall. Here in bygone days was an open air public swimming baths, very popular in post War years but closing in the late 1960s and now derelict.

Park Hall Baths

At the end of the wide road we turned right and through a stile, turning immediately left and continuing along a wall. We crossed a small stream. Meeting a T-junction we turned right and began on what proved to be a steep climb and included quite an icy path over the moorland.

We stopped for a snack at 11.10am at a wooden bridge, setting off again at 11.20am.

Our walk afforded us spectacular views of Kinder reservoir and the surrounding countryside.

The Moors around Hayfield

All three of my photographs were taken before 11.45am as we skirted Kinder reservoir.

At 12.08pm we emerged onto a metalled road near a water company site. A white helicopter was parked outside.

After a few hundred yards we turned left to Hayfield Campsite, crossing Bowden Bridge,

This route brought us into Hayfield Village.

We crossed the main Chinley to Glossop Road and by 12.42pm were enjoying our first pint in the Kinder Lodge. Black Sheep was £2.80.

B Walkers Tony Jon and and Geoff Spurrell joined us. They had started their day at the Soldier Dick in Furness Vale, walking along the canal to the Co-op in New Mills. They then caught a bus to Hayfield and walked to Bowden Bridge and back.

We set off again at 1.35pm turning right out of the pub and first right down Station Road.

We followed a sign saying public footpath to Little Hayfield and eventually picked up a formerly muddy track that had now been transformed into a dry and easily negotiated path that took us back to Slack Lane, above Clough Mill. 

After trying in vain to negotiate a route to the Lantern Pike across the children’s play area we returned to Slack Lane, passing the former home of Coronation Street supreme Bill Podmore and turning left to reach the Pike by 2.05pm.

Next week the Wanderers will meet at Colin Davison’s house 11, Carr Brow, High Lane. His number is 07889 998528 or 01663 810002. The half way point is the Fox at Brookbottom at 12 noon. The walk will end in a visit to the Dog & Partridge for the traditional Christmas meal, which your diarist will sadly miss, on work duty in Dubai.

Old Glossop

OLD GLOSSOP

Distance: Nine Miles.

Difficulty: Moderate.

Weather: Overcast with rain and hail showers

Walkers: Peter Beal, George Dearsley, Colin Davison, Lawrie Fairman, Alan Hart, George Whaites and Gavin Eyquem

B Walkers: Ken Sparrow and Geoff Spurrell.

Apology: Jock Rooney (Diving in Azerbaijan).

Leaders: Lawrie Fairman

Diarist: Dearsley

Starting Point: Free car park opposite The Wheatsheaf at Old Glossop

Starting Time: 9.55am. Finishing Time: 2.13pm.

Squally early morning showers suggested the walk might be less than enjoyable. But although the Wanderers were hit by three hailstorms our perambulation proved both bracing and pleasurable.

We set off from the Wheatsheaf, joined by newcomer Gavin Eyquem, of Marple, whose surname would surely make a good Scrabble score.

We negotiated Manor Park, once the gardens of an impressive home owned by the Duke of Norfolk.

We emerged onto Shirebrook Drive, turning left across a small iron bridge and progessing between two houses Numbers 15 and 17.

Evidence of the recent heavy rain was found in the torrent of water flowing through a usually sedate weir on the edge of the park. (see photo)

Q-weir

At the top of the lane we turned right and after about 30 yards crossed a stile on the left and climbed a steepish hill.

We soon arrived at Bank House Farm and turned left onto Hague Street.

We past the rather shabby looking Beehive pub (offering English and Thai food) on the left and on the right a school built by the street’s eponymous Joseph Hague, a local philanthropist.

Hague was born in Chunal in 1695, allegedly into a poor family. As a result he became a pedlar and, through sheer hard work, amassed a considerable fortune.

After retiring Hague decided to use his money to help the people of the Parish of Glossop, initially by endowing a school in Whitfield in 1779. In his will he left money to provide linen cloth in winter for poor people of Glossop and Hayfield.

With the increasing provision of state education the school closed and arrangements were made to use the funds to provide grants for children from the Ancient Parish of Glossop to help with their secondary and further education. The Joseph Hague Trust still survives today.

We turned right opposite Pat-a-Cake Cottage and at the bottom of a hill turned left onto the road that links Glossop and Chinley.

Just after crossing Turnlee Road we went right up a path following a public footpath sign. At the top was a metalled track which we followed until we reached Herod Farm, stopping for a snack from 10.50am until 11am.

Pie Time

Resuming our walk, we were subjected at 11.15am to the first of a series of hailstorms.

We climbed a stile on the right and after coming off the hill turned left onto Old Lane, then right at a dog leg down High Lane.

We passed the Zion Methodist Church, Glossop, which led to a discussion about the word Zion.

Those interested can research here http://www.brin.ac.uk/news/?p=299

But it appears the movement had its origins in the puritans and separatists of Elizabethan England but traces its formal foundations to the Act of Uniformity 1662 and the subsequent ejection from the Church of England of some 2,000 Presbyterian and other ministers who refused to conform to legislation.

This brought us out on the main road into Glossop. We turned left and headed towards Dinting Viaduct but a couple of hundred yards before it we turned right, passing Lancashire Chemicals and taking a small track running parallel with the main road which led us under the viaduct.

Glossop from the snowy hills above.

At 11.55am we suffered the second hailstorm. We went through a gate and now faced a railway line, the line to Glossop. We turned right and crossed over the railway via a footbridge.

We reached the main road and turned left passing an unusual memorial to one Nicholas Garlick from Dinting, born 1555 and died in 1588 in Derby.

He was an English catholic priest, martyred in Derby in the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. With two other priests he was found guilty of treason, and hanged, drawn and quartered. The heads and quarters of the three priests were placed on poles in various places around Derby. Nice.

At 12.10pm the Wanderers endured their third hailstone battering. We passed Dinting Station and turned right along a path that a young girl should not take on a dark night.

We turned right through some houses, passing Hadfield School and then Hadfield Nursery School. Turning right at the Spinners Arms (up for sale) we quickly reached our lunchtime hostelry The Anchor at 12.29pm. Here Tetley’s Bitter was £2.48.

We resumed our walk at 1.15pm turning right out of the pub to Hadfield Station and out onto the road from Crowden to Glossop.

We turned left over a stile and were soon at Swineshaw Reservoir, which looks like this in better weather.

Swineshaw Reservoir

We reached the Wheatsheaf at 2.13pm, enjoying Wainwright at £2.80 and Theakston’s also at £2.80.

The B Walkers had ventured from Marple Church to Shiloh Road, crossed to New Mills golf club and negotiated paths across Mellor golf club to the Devonshire Arms.

Next week we will meet at the Lantern Pike, Little Hayfield. Before setting off your diarist invites Wanderers to partake of some hot wine and mince pies at Flat 24, Clough Mill. Drive down Slack Lane (the turning off the main road with the black bollards). Park in the car park at the rear and come to the front of the mill and press the button for Number 24 or call me on 07774 721287. The half way point will be the Kinder Lodge at 12.45pm.

Whaley Bridge

WHALEY BRIDGE, TAXAL, HILLBRIDGE WOOD, GOYT VALLEY, FERNILEE, TUNSTEAD HOUSE FARM, COOMBS RESERVOIR, CHAPEL-EN-LE-FRITH GOLF COURSE, BRADSHAW HALL, LYDGATE FARM, ECCLES PIKE, THE OLD HALL AT WHITEHOUGH, PEAK FOREST TRAMWAY, BUGSWORTH BASIN, MOSELEY HALL FARM AND THE COCK AT WHALEY BRIDGE

Distance: Nine Miles.

Difficulty: Moderate.

Weather: Dry, Blue Skies and Sunshine.

Walkers: Peter Beal, Colin Davison, Lawrie Fairman, Alan Hart and George Whaites.

B Walkers: Tony Job, Ken Sparrow and Geoff Spurrell.

Non-Walking Drinkers: Frank Dudley and John Eckersley.

Apology: Jock Rooney (Diving in Azerbaijan).

Leaders: Lawrie Fairman (immaculate first half); Colin Davison (shambolic second half).

Driver: Whaites. Diarist: Hart.

Starting Point: Car park of The Cock at Whaley Bridge.

Starting Time: 9.35am. Finishing Time: 2.22pm.

Beneath sunny blue skies, we set off promptly and looked forward to yet another walk in the autumn sunshine. We did not know this at the time, but things started to go wrong at the outset, when Colin proposed an alternative route back from Whitehough. More of that later.

Suffice to say that this diary will only take the reader along three-quarters of the A-team’s journey. To try to describe the final two miles might lead others to follow in the footsteps of folly.

Passing The Cock on our left, after 30 yards we turned left across a stream and reached the disused High Peak and Cromford Railway line, where we turned right. After passing Alpha Mews we turned right (9mins) at a path marked with a public footpath sign which led us into a children’s playground.

We took the path to the right and dropped down to the main road, which we crossed (14mins) and proceeded along a path until we reached a footbridge across the River Goyt on our right. Here we heard what seemed to be a cockerel with a sore throat, not so much crowing as wheezing.

We crossed the bridge (19mins) and headed up the steep path with gravestones on either side until we reached St James’ Church, Taxal, on our right. We turned left (21mins) and passed Glebe Farm on our left, on this occasion ignoring the stone step stile on our right which would have led us to Taxal Nick.

After edging around a gate we followed a wooden public footpath sign across a muddy field – the first of many (28mins). We exited the field through a gate at the entrance of Hillbridge Wood (34mins).

After passing a party of walkers from the Buxton University of the Third Age, we crossed a footbridge over the Goyt (40mins) and headed up a field, slightly left and over a footbridge. We crossed a wooden stile and headed towards some farm buildings (46mins).

In the farmyard a pair of goats approached us in a friendly fashion as we headed up the lane to The Shady Oak at Fernilee (50mins). We crossed the main road and took the lane to the left of the pub, crossing Elnor Lane and heading up a track (58mins).

We crossed another lane and turned right up a stony path (59mins), which soon swung left along a farm track (60mins). We turned left at a stone step stile (72mins) marked with a wooden public footpath sign and stopped for pies and port on the sheltered side of the wall.

Resuming, we went down the field, swinging first right, then left to reach a wooden ladder stile by Tunstead House Farm (82mins). We continued down the lane, passing Meveril Farm, Swallow Barn and Coombs Reservoir on our right just after we had crossed a bridge over the Manchester-Buxton railway line.

This brought us to Tom Lane (93mins), where we turned right away from Tunstead Milton. It became Manchester Road and we turned left at a wooden public footpath sign (95mins) which led us into Chapel-en-le-Frith Golf Course. We followed a series of posts marked with yellow arrows to cross the fairways and exit the course by a gate (102mins).

The path took us to the left of Bradshaw Hall and then we swung right in front of the imposing building before crossing a stone step stile by the side of a gate (108mins). We turned left over a wooden stile (112mins), crossing another wooden stile and heading diagonally right across a field (114mins).

After crossing a stone step stile we turned left, keeping a drystone wall on our left. We crossed a makeshift stile and turned left at a yellow arrow which took us through a gate. We passed Lydgate Farm on our left (119mins) and turned right at a public footpath sign to enter Eccles Pike (120mins).

As we reached the brow of the right shoulder of Eccles Pike, we saw the three B team walkers some 250 yards ahead of us. At Colin’s suggestion we headed diagonally left through a field, exiting by a wooden stile and carrying on with a fence on our right (126mins).

A gate brought us out on a lane where we turned left and then right over a stone step stile. After 30 yards we crossed another stone step stile, crossed a road and followed a public footpath sign pointing to a stone step stile covered in weeds and grass cuttings.

We swept them aside and crossed into a cottage garden, swinging right to exit on a road and turned left (132mins). Our party crossed above the A6 Chapel by-pass (134mins) and entered Whitehough village. Work was continuing at The Oddfellows Arms on our right, so we reached The Old Hall on our left (137mins).

Here Colin made his first, but by no means the last, error of the day. Instead of asking for the cheapest beer available, like the true Yorkshireman he is, he ordered pints of Jennings at £2-75p. He was later seen sobbing when he learned that Marstons’ bitter was £2-50p.

The B-teamers arrived moments later, and a little bird told me they had driven to The Cock after Tony arrived at The Rising Sun too late to catch the free bus. Colin’s local knowledge had enabled us to outmanoeuvre the B team with a flanking movement and arrive at the pub ahead of them. It was to be Colin’s last success of the day.

Daniel Capper, the genial young landlord of The Old Hall, informed us that although work was continuing on renovating and extending The Oddfellows Arms, it had been open at weekends since September. He expected it to be fully operational, though not finished, by Christmas, although initially it will only open at 6pm on weekdays.

He intends to give it back its original name of The Paper Mill Inn, and it will have four bedrooms.

Leaving the B team behind, we turned right out of the pub and headed downhill until we reached the route of the former Peak Forest Tramway on our left (139mins). On the right was a large millpond containing several species of wading birds including two black swans.

We continued with Black Brook on our right and the A6 on our left, pausing for lunch at a footbridge (152mins). As we approached Bugsworth Basin and the Navigation Inn later, we turned left to cross a footbridge over the A6 (159mins). We walked between a cricket pitch on our left and a soccer pitch on our right to reach the village of Buxworth (they rejected an offer to be named Bugsworth).

We turned right along the road and left at a cul-de-sac to follow a public footpath sign on our right, crossing a field towards Moseley Hall Farm. It was around this point that our new leader became disorientated, leading us over gates and barbed wire fences. At one point, to assert his authority, he said cheerily “I think I know where I am.” This did little to raise spirits.

Ignoring his exhortations to head left back towards Fernilee, we descended to reach a road we knew and made our way back to The Cock. The Robinsons’ Unicorn was in fine fettle at £2-60p a pint.

Next week’s walk will start from the spare land used as a free car park opposite The Wheatsheaf at Old Glossop.  A livener will be taken at The Anchor in Hadfield and we expect to return to The Wheatsheaf at 2.15pm.

It was decided the Wednesday Wanderers’ Christmas lunch would be held at The Dog and Partridge, High Lane, at 2.30pm on Wednesday, December 21.  

Compstall

COMPSTALL, CHADKIRK, OTTERSPOOL, DANBANK, HIBBERT MILL, MARPLE, MARPLE BRIDGE, COMPSTALL

Distance: 10 Miles.

Difficulty: EASY.

Weather: Dry, lovely sunny day for mid November

Walkers: Colin Davison, Laurie Fairman, George Whaites,

Apologies: Peter Beal (Hols in Caribbean) Alan Hart (hols in Barbados)

B Walkers: Tony Job, Ken Sparrow and Geoff Spurrell.

Non-Walking Drinkers: Frank Dudley, John Eckersley .

Leader: Fairman. Diarist: Fairman.

Starting Point; Car park at Andrews Arms

Starting Time: 9.30am. Finishing Time: 2.45pm.

A  short report on this occasion as we have done this particular walk many times – even going back into the vague annals of the Wednesday wanderers when Tony and Roy took their shoes and socks off and crossed the Goyt at Chadkirk – didn’t they know there was a bridge 200yards down the road?

We left promptly at 09.30 and made good progress taking the footpath on the north side of the bridge in Compstall this led us along the banks of the Etherow River which looked remarkably clean.

We left the river to cross the fields below Romily and passed under the railway bridge then climbed up the steps to the canal. Here we turned left and followed the canal to the steps above the road leading down to Chadkirk an interesting very old village – a real gem in the Stockport landscape.

Despite the early time 10.35 we could not resist sitting in the sun on the benches in the church gardens a really pleasant site.

Onwards, we gained the road at Otterspool and on crossing the bridge inspected the new works under way to install a double Archimedes screw to generate electricity from a fall of water less the 6ft. The nasty part of the walk continued to the traffic lights at Danbank. Here we were in a dilemma as the leader had forgotten his map and did not have the courage (or memory) to take the longer route through the fields to avoid the MUD. Despite Colin claiming to know the route well we opted to follow the rough track up to the muckiest farm in the area. There was the compensation that it did have an amazing selection of defunct machinery, but it is a path to be avoided.

After the farm track we reached the bridge over the Middlewood way, here we turned right and walked a short distance to the golf course. Then we followed the track to the canal opposite Hibbert’s mill the site of Colin’s famous ice non walk.

A short walk brought us to the Ring of Bells where we were made welcome, the Robbies in excellent form at 280p a pint. Colin must have thought it was his birthday as everybody responded to his wheedling and bought him crisps. We were however beaten to the pub by the B walkers who got the bus up to the Romper and walked along the canal to the pub.

We left at 1.15 and walked down through Marple Bridge to Brabyn’s park were we took lunch and relieved ourselves, George very nearly being caught in the act by a young lady.

An unevental stroll brought us to the Andrews Arms at 2pm again the Robbies was excellent at the same price  

Next week’s walk will start from the car park of the Little Mill at Rowarth 9.40am. It is anticipated we will stop for refreshment at a suitable pub to be discussed (the Grouse was mentioned), around 12.30pm and be back in Rowarth around 2.15pm.

Bollington

BOLLLINGTON, ANDREWS NOB, SPONDS HILL, BOW STONES, BIRCHENCLIFF, WOODEND FARM, MINERS ARMS, BOLLINGTON

Distance: 10Miles.

Difficulty: Medium.

Weather: Dry, Patchy sun and Cold.

Walkers: Colin Davison, Laurie Fairman, George Whaites,

Apologies: Peter Beal (Hols in Caribbean) Alan Hart (hols in Barbados)

B Walkers: Tony Job, Ken Sparrow and Geoff Spurrell.

Non-Walking Drinkers: Frank Dudley, John Eckersley .

Leader: Fairman. Diarist: airman.

Starting Point; Car park in Bollington

Starting Time: 9.32am. Finishing Time: 2.45pm.

At 0920 a call from Colin told us that he was delayed by emergency dental treatment and couldn’t make it on time and suggested we met him at Bow Stones. This seemed a good solution so George and I set off via the  famous orgasmic pie shop.(not much profit today!) .Leaving the shop we picked up the Gritstone trail northbound and climbed the steep hill up to the fells here I had the pleasure of sending a text message declaring we were at Andrews Knob.

Still following the trail we met Colin few  yards short of  Bow  Stones and crouched in a low ditch for elevenses , avoiding the very strong SE wind.(11.05)

After Colin had dried out his tea bag for later use we headed back towards Dale Head and down the hill not following the official path but keeping close to the dry stone wall. On reaching  the rough track we turned left and then right to follow the track to  Birchencliff admiring the farm development as we passed. When we got to the road at Harrop Brow we turned right and then turned left past the last house and crossed the fields towards. Woodend Farm.

When we got close to the stile we could see the most enormous red bull in the next field Colin thought the barbed wire fence would separate us but  on reaching the top of the stile stopped dead when he saw that the fence was on the other side.

Taking our courage in both hands we entered the field and crossed behind the animal giving it a very very wide berth. Must losing our  sex appeal as it was not the slightest interested  in us. A muddy wooded track round Woodend Farm took us to the canal and the Miners Arms.(12.35)

Here we found the B group relaxing in easy chairs after I put mud on the carpet our trio decide the decent thing to do was to sit out in the sun. George celebrating his 69^th birthday kindly bought us a  pint of IPA which was much enjoyed(280p)

The weather started to look a bit grim so we headed off at 1.20pm for Bollington along the Middlewood Way and the canal reaching Frank and John at 2.25pm The Spinners was busier than we have seen it for ling time with new staff in charge the Black Sheep was on form at the atrocious price of 320p

Next week’s walk will start from the car park of Andrews arms at Compstall at 9.35am. It is anticipated we will stop for refreshment at Ring of Bells Marple, around 12.30pm and be back in The Compstall around 2.15pm.

Castleton

CASTLETON, CAVE DALE, MAM TOR, HOPE

Distance: Eight and a half miles

Difficulty: Moderate

Weather: Overcast with Sunny spells

Walkers: Colin Davison, George Dearsley, George Whaites, Peter Beal, Lawrie Fairman, Jock Rooney and Tips, Jock’s son Keiron

B Walkers: Tony Job, Geoff Spurrell, Ken Sparrow

Apologies: Alan Hart (meeting)

Leader: Beal/Fairman   Diarist: Dearsley

Starting Point: The George, Castleton

Starting Time: 9.41 am. Finishing Time: 2.30pm

The group set off a few minutes early but was soon stopped in its tracks by Mr Fairman who remembered he had left his Sat Nav on his car roof. The forgetfulness proved a stroke of good fortune because Mr Rooney, Tips and son Keiron (thought absent) were actually delayed finding a parking spot and were able to link up with the Wanderers. Mr Whaites sported his new Brasher boots.

We left the village with the Old Barn souvenir shop on our right, following the signs for Cave Dale.

A steepish climb took us well above the village and near the summit we dog legged right, climbing a wooden stile and then turning right with a farm on our right.

George, Colin and Peter

 Mam Tor (below) could be seen in the distance. We crossed the road to Perryfoot and a few minutes later crossed a second road (to Chapel-en-le-Frith) to begin the climb up to Mam Tor.

Mam Tor

The view half way up Mam Tor

As we reached the summit of Mam Tor the wind seemed to stiffen, blowing from right to left in the direction of Edale. We stopped for a snack at the summit at 11.01am. Mr Davison had found a blue garment which looked like oven gloves but which was some kind of scarf-come-hand-warmer obviously dropped by one of a number of schoolchildren visiting the area. It was to remain in his possession.

View from the summit

We resumed our walk at 11.15am following the stones on the Great Ridge to Hollins Cross and beyond.

Two beasts at the summit

Negotiating a stile and turning left we began our descent into Hope, reaching the outskirts of the village at 12.26pm and the welcoming doors of the Cheshire Cheese at 12.26pm.

The B Walkers hove into view just as we arrived.

Here was a cornucopia of choice, including Peak Ales’ Swift Nick and Farmers Blonde both at £3, Hartington Bitter at £3.20 and Brown Cow at £3.30.

The B Walkers had started in Castleton, followed Hollowfold Road and passed Loosehill Hall and Riding House Farm.

Sign

Joined by the B Walkers we resumed our walk at 1.20pm, turning right out of the pub. After a few minutes later we reached Castleton Road, turning left at the Woodroffe Arms pub.

At a sign saying “footpath to Castleton” we turned off right to follow what appeared to be a small river identified on the map as Peakshole Water.

We stopped for lunch at 1.46pm, resuming at 1.58pm. At the end of the track we turned left into Castleton and a few hundred yards later reached the second Cheshire Cheese of the Day.

Here Chatsworth Gold and Black Sheep was £3.06 and Castleton Ales bitter £2.40. Mr Beal duly dispensed birthday beer to celebrate his 63^rd.

Next week we will meet in Bollington at the free car park opposite the Spinners. The Miners Arms will be the half way stop. Mr Beal extended his early apologies for a three week absence from Wandering. He’s off to the Caribbean, lucky chap.

Whaley Bridge

WHALEY BRIDGE, TAXAL EDGE, KETTLESHULME

Distance: Ten and one fifth miles

Difficulty: Easy

Weather: Drizzle, some Sunny spells

Walkers: Colin Davison, George Dearsley, George Whaites.

B Walkers: Tony Job, Geoff Spurrell, Ken Sparrow

Non Walkers: John Eckersley, Frank Dudley

Apologies: Peter Beal (work commitments), Jock Rooney (Diving in Azerbaijan), Alan Hart (domestic duties) Lawrie Fairman (Cruising in the Adriatic).

Leader: Davison   Diarist: Dearsley

Starting Point: The Cock, Whaley Bridge

Starting Time: 9.34 am. Finishing Time: 2.54pm

Leaving the car park of the Cock at Whaley Bridge we walked past the pub and took the path to the left which snakes through a housing estate. The last time we were here a funeral was in progress. Not so today. We crossed the main road that leads out of Whaley Bridge and climbed the hill opposite.

Excavations

 We soon came across what appeared to be either excavations or preparations for some kind of pond or boating lake. (see picture above)

Old vehicle

Nearby was a rather ancient vehicle, extensively modified, which sharp-eyed Mr Davison immediately recognised at an Austin Gypsy. Going into Jeremy Clarkson mode he gave us a Top Gear style potted history of the motorised device.

Further research by your diarist reveals that The Gipsy was visually similar to the Land Rover, but unlike the Land Rover, the Gipsy's bodywork was steel and, in time, suffered badly from rust in the outdoors off-road environment it was intended for.

The suspension was sophisticated - independent suspension all round, using 'Flexitor' rubber springs. Later models used leaf springs on the front and rear which was felt to offer a greatly improved ride over rough surfaces. It used either a BMC 2199 cc petrol based on the one in the Austin A70 car: by the 1960s the compression ratio was unfashionably low, making the petrol powered vehicle unusually tolerant of low octane fuel. A 2178 cc diesel engined version was also offered. Production of the Gipsy was stopped after some 21,208 vehicles had been sold. Afficianados might like to visit this site. (click on the hyperlink).

 Our route then took us past the large graveyard adjacent to Taxal Church.

At the end of the steep path past the church we turned left, past Glebe Farm and a few yards further on past the Rectory we took a path to the right marked “Kettleshulme via Taxal Edge”. Conversation was temporarily suspended as we climbed higher and higher. At 10.13am the sun made a brief appearance.

We reached a metalled road (Taxal Moor Road) at the side of a wood and made to turn left. But Mr Davison, throwing caution to the winds, decided we would change the habit of a lifetime and turned right. We took a path into the woods but it quickly petered out and a decision was taken to simply take the shortest route to the top (Taxal Edge) which involved crossing an acre or two of heathered slope.

The climb afforded us spectacular views of the Cheshire countryside, the one below looking down to Toddbrook reservoir.

Excellent view

Reaching Windgather Rocks, we decided it was time for our “elevenses” even though it was just 10.51am. We resumed our walk at 11.05am

Passing Taxal Nick, we proceeded along Taxal Edge and a few minutes later reached Pym Chair. Local legend has it that a highway man called Pym used to lay in wait to ambush those who used the packhorse route, (at Pym Chair) although another version says Pym was a preacher who gave sermons here.

At the end of the road we turned right, following a sign marked “to Saltersford”. We then turned left onto a footpath, crossing a cattle grid.

We traversed a farm and then a second farm (Saltersford Hall Farm), exiting via the front gate and turning left. We crossed a stile and came to a stream, crossing over and passing an attractive looking white house on our far left and an equally impressive pond immediately to our left.

A brand new looking circular gate installed by Cheshire County Council took us onto a small metalled road. We climbed a hill and after 50 yards negotiated a stile on the left (stile number 176 in memory of rambler George Rochford) and through a metalled five bar gate onto the road.

The sun came out again as we past Greenbooth Farm on the right. We then past a house called Autumn Croft and as an imaginary clock chimed one we found ourselves at the Swan, Kettleshulme.

Already in situ, enjoying such ales as Marston’s at £2.75 were the B Walkers. They had taken the bus to Disley and then used Red Lane and Green Lane to reach the Moorside. Their trek then took them past Cornfield Farm, down to Hole House and over some muddy fields to the Swan.

Mr Davison then had one of those embarrassing moments when he uttered (rather loudly) the word “pornography” at the very moment that the entire pub fell silent. Luckily, no maiden aunts or vicars appeared to gag on their Cock-o-Leekie and the moment past without incident.

Mr Davison calculated that the main walkers had covered 7.6 miles up to that point.

We left the pub at 1.56pm crossed the road and walked through the garden centre. At the far side we turned right and then left down Kishfield Lane.

We took lunch on a picturesque stone bridge at 2.10pm, resuming our walk at 2.19pm.

Our route took us to Toddbrook reservoir where the water was higher than normal and necessitated us climbing an escarpment to reach the road.

Soon afterwards we caught up with the B Walkers. They had covered more than seven miles in the day.

We were back at the cars at 2.54pm and in The Cock soon afterwards, where John Eckersley and Frank Dudley were already seated.

Next week it was decided to explore the Castleton area. Walkers are invited to meet at 9.15am at the Fallow Deer pub, just off the by-pass for onward ferrying to our start point.

Litton

LITTON, TANSLEY DALE, MONSAL TRAIL, TIDESWELL

Distance: Nine and a half miles

Difficulty: Easy

Weather: Drizzle

Walkers: Peter Beal, Colin Davison, George Dearsley

B Walkers: Tony Job and Geoff Spurrell.

Non Walker: John Eckersley

Apologies:  Jock Rooney (Diving in Azerbaijan) and Ken Sparrow (Cruising on Queen Elizabeth). Alan Hart (Holidaying in Benidorm), Lawrie Fairman (Cruising in the Adriatic), George Thwaites (Spain)

Leader: Beal   Diarist: Dearsley

Starting Point: Red Lion pub, Litton, Derbyshire

Starting Time: 9.50 am. Finishing Time: 1.51pm

The trio of walkers set off out of the picturesque village of Litton with the Post Office on our right, past the Methodist Church on the right and took a right turn.

Almost immediately we climbed a wall and set off following a sign which read: “public footpath to Cressbrook Dale”.

We negotiated a second wall and turned left, the grey drystone walls on each side of us forming a silent guard of honour.

A climb over yet another wall on the right led us into Tansley Dale, although somewhat confusingly a sign a few yards on said:  “Welcome to Cressbrook Dale”.

Whatever. The scenery was striking, even if the weather was inclement, with Messrs Beal and Davison quickly donning full weatherproofs.

We passed some cottages, one called Quiet Ways and spotted an old MG 1600 looking rather forlorn.

MG

A quick check on Google showed that the car was from around 1960 and in good condition might fetch up to £14,000. 

Cressbrook Mill

We passed Cressbrook Mill on our right and were soon alongsidethe River Wye, which Mr Beal thought had the accolade of being the purest river in Britain.

The River Wye, which rises on Axe Edge and flows through Buxton and Bakewell before joining the mighty Derwent at Rowsley, was certainly, at one time, a working river. Although it is only about 20 miles in length, at least 25 mill sites have been identified along its route. Many were originally local corn mills, but when the Industrial Revolution came along, textile manufacturers were quick to realise the potential of its water power at places like Litton Mill, Cressbrook Mill and at Bakewell, where Richard Arkwright had a mill at Lumford.

We stopped for a snack at 11.01am, some very friendly ducks sidling up to see what scraps they could elicit and set off again at 11.15am.

We crossed a footbridge and took the path that climbed steeply to the disused railway line, actually going under the arch of a bridge before turning back on ourselves to walk over the top of the bridge, which forms part of the Monsal Trail.

A sign pointed to “Wye Dale” but really no maps, compasses, Lode Stones, Tom Toms or other GPS devices were needed because this was the M 1 motorway of Wednesday Wandering, a more or less straight trek along what must have been a very attractive train route, taking in three tunnels, although we were only to negotiate two.

The tunnels opened earlier this year and it is the first time the public have been able to go through them since the former Midland Railway Line closed in 1968.

Following work by the Peak District National Park Authority – using £2.25 million funding from the Department of Transport – the tunnels have been repaired, resurfaced and lit to form an extension to the existing Monsal Trail.

Along the way are wind-up metal boxes that trigger recorded messages detailing some of the history of the line. 

My picture shows Litton Tunnel.

Having navigated the tunnels and dodged a number of bicycles that came towards us, some at breakneck speed, we took a plunging path to our right, signposted for “Millersdale”. We were soon back at the River Wye, crossing a footbridge and stepping over the threshold of the Anglers Rest pub at 12.12 pm.

Angler's Rest

The pub has a hikers’ room, which was occupied by two elderly women and an elderly man. But later a seven-strong Probus group arrived from, of all places, Marple.

We left at 12.39pm after one pint of Adnams Southwold Bitter (£2.70) which Mr Davison thought “cloudy”.

Turning right out of the pub we then went to the back of the building where some well worn stone steps took us to the road above and an old fashioned red telephone box.

We turned left, crossed over to a row of houses opposite and turned right up a steepish slope with houses to our left, one called Rock View.

Some of the gardens to these homes were decorated with railway signs and other memorabilia, which I have no doubt were all purchased from reputable retail outlets.

About 200 yards up the slope we dog-legged left, through some metal gates, following a sign saying: “Limestone Way”.

This quickly took us through a farmyard where we veered to the left through another one bar metal gate to resume our walk along Limestone Way.

After a few hundred yards we hopped another wall on our right, following a public footpath sign. At the end of this path we turned right, then left and right again past a United Reform Church to find ourselves in the village of Tideswell.

As every schoolboy knows, Tideswell is one of the most ancient settlements in the central Peak District and was granted a charter for a market in 1251. These were held regularly until relatively recently.

 It was also the site of the 'Great Courts' of the Royal Forest of the Peak in the time of Edward I and a few of the buildings along the main street have foundations which date from this period. However the major feature from the medieval era is the magnificent 14th-century church, known locally as 'The Cathedral of the Peak'.

Tideswell was also featured in a popular TV programme called Village SOS. If you click on the highlighted words, and are on the internet, you should be able to view the episode.

We turned right onto Church Lane and followed the road which soon took us back to Litton and Mr Davison’s car, which we reached at 1.51pm.

By 2.29pm we were back at the Cock, Whaley Bridge, where Mr Eckersley was already warming himself in front of a coal fire.

A few minutes later B-Walkers Job and Spurrell arrived. They had taken two buses to end up a Peep-o-Dale, walked to near Cracken Edge and then taken a path below Cracken Edge to Chinley. After a pint in the Old Hall Inn, they followed the old railway via Buxworth to Whaley Bridge, a total distance of around 6.5 miles. A sterling effort.

Next week it was decided to start from the Cock at 9.30am with an intended half way stopping off point at the Swan, Kettleshulme. Hopefully the weather will be more favourable. Mr Beal will not be joining us due to work related commitments.