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.