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.