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.