Cumberland Clough

CUMBERLAND CLOUGH, THREE SHIRES HEAD, CAT & FIDDLE

Distance: 8.2 miles

Difficulty: Moderate

Weather: Cold and wet

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

B Walkers: Geoff Spurrell and Ken Sparrow

Non Walkers: Frank Dudley, John Eckersley

Apologies: Jock Rooney (Isle of Man)

Leader: Fairman. Diarist: Dearsley

Starting Point: Clough Farm, Cumberland Clough

Starting Time: 9.47am. Finishing Time: 1.33pm.

Wanderers in the mist

I always wondered what National Service must have been like. Not any more. An 8.2 mile trek, soaking clothes, the half way pub shut. All that was missing was Windsor Davies booming out instructions. But were we downhearted? Well, you can be the judge.

It all started so well with Mr Hart redeeming himself with laser-guided instructions to driver Whaites, who negotiated the narrow country lanes like Colin McCrae (before he died, of course). The assembled Wanderers duly set off from the car park at Clough Farm, following a sign to the “Cat and Fiddle”  but our ascent immediately took us into dense mist.

We negotiated a five bar gate and on meeting a sign, we followed a path to “Three Shires Head”. There was a waterfall on the right and the place, apparently, is known as Cumberland Brook.

The gentle climb took about 40 minutes. We negotiated a second five bar gate and came out onto a road which we crossed, then descended a metal ladder onto a field and after 40 yards crossed a stile straight ahead.

We progressed through another 5 bar gate and saw what appeared to be a wooden marker on our right but in the gloom there was no certainty that it was official. Mr Whaites then suffered the first of two falls in quick succession, the terrain growing increasingly boggy.

We reached a dry stone wall and turned right, hugging the wall. The existence of a path was far from conclusive but our faith in leader Fairman was vindicated. We went through yet another 5 bar gate and across a wooden bridge, two healthy (and possibly gay) fell runners heading in the opposite direction. I may be assuming too much.

A fast flowing river was below us to our left and by following the river we eventually reached Three Shires Head for Pie Time at 10.40am.

Pie ‘Ere Bridge….and Happy Campers

We set off again at 10.51am crossing the bridge with the children’s pool below us to our right and through yet another 5 bar gate.

By 11.07am we reached a T-junction and turned right.

Coming to a fork we took the right hand path, passing a farmhouse on our left. After a short delay while maps and a compass were consulted, we went left over a cattle grid and up a very steep hill.

We passed a house on the right  which was actually a self catering cottage to let. Not in this weather, I suspect.

This brought us to a descent and a rather ominous looking, fast flowing stream, which needed crossing.

Colin photographs Lawrie crossing the dangerous stream….in case we all have to appear before the coroner.

Like some sadistic version of the Krypton Factor one of the larger stepping stones proved to be loose.

We ascended a hill to the left and eventually passed the famous chimney on our left, turning right there up a short but steep hill to the A54.

Crossing the road we were now on a familiar – straight and level -  path to the Cat & Fiddle and the prospect of drying out while supping a welcome pint. The lure of the hostelry saw the Wanderers split into two groups of three, Messrs Davison, Beal and Hart heading to the pub like exocet missiles.

The mist was still so thick it was impossible to see more than about 40 yards ahead. So it was something of a shock for the slower group to see their colleagues heading back towards them at 12.40pm with the calamitous news that the Cat & Fiddle was closed “due to circumstances beyond the management’s control”.

Like Napoleon’s weary troops heading back from the Russian front the Wanderers duly retraced their steps to the signpost on the right of the path which indicated a track to the right, in the direction of the original car park.

The route involved crossing yet another tricky water course and taking care on some slippery stones.

We duly reached the cars at 1.33pm and made the short journey to the Stanley Arms, where a roaring fire awaited. Jennings’ Cumberland Ale was £3 a pint as was Marston’s Pedigree. Marston’s Bitter (Mr Davison’s choice) was £2.80.

At the Stanley Arms we were joined by B Walkers Geoff Spurrell and Ken Sparrow. They had gone from Clough Farm to the Crag Inn in a 3.5mile circular route, taking a pint at the Crag.

We were also joined by Frank Dudley and John Eckersley

The next Wednesday Wandering will start from Errwood Reservoir (using the most southerly of the two car parks) at 9.45am with the half way point the Cat and Fiddle (if open) at around 12 noon. The walk will finish at the Cock, Whaley Bridge. Sadly your diarist will be absent due to work commitments.