Little Longstone

Walk One: Little Longstone, Monsal Dale, Deep Dale, Great Shacklow Wood, Ashford in the Water

Distance: 7 miles.

Difficulty: Easy

Weather: Heavy deluge moderating to steady downpour followed by electric storm.

Walkers: Colin Davison, Jock Rooney and Tips

Wimped out: Alan Hart, George Whaites, Lawrie Fairman

Leader: Rooney                                  Diarist: Davison

Starting Point: The car park, Little Longstone

Starting Time: 9.42am. Finishing Time: 2.54pm

Walk Two:  Bollington , Oakenbank, Oakenbank Lane, High Cliff, Back-of-the-Crofts, Robin Hood Inn at Rainow, Virgin’s path, Bollington.

Distance: Six miles

Difficulty: Easy

Weather: Mainly dry except for prolonged heavy rain over lunchtime

Walkers: Geoff Spurrell, Peter Beal, Mike Walton, John Laverick

Non-walking drinkers: John Eckersley, Frank Dudley, Tony Job

Leader Spurrell                 Diarist: Beal

Starting Point:  Car park opposite The Spinners

Starting time: 10.00am. Finishing time: 2.45 pm.

Walk One. Colin Davison writes:

Your  diarist was surprised and dismayed by an early morning phone call informing him that Fairman had cancelled the planned walk due to inclement weather and that arrangements had been made to inform all Wednesday Wanderers of this state of affairs.

Luckily, these arrangements were imperfect and stouter hearts prevail within our peregrine band.

Disappointed and perplexed our young hero made himself another cup of tea and considered the day’s prospects bereft of the fine company he looks forward to each week. It was in this condition that a second phone call from Rooney found him.  Also discomfited by the abrupt loss of a day’s entertainment and exercise the latter suggested that the two of them might make an alternative plan.

Having both had the foresight some years earlier to purchase both waterproof outer clothing and boots, they were undaunted by the forecast of rain in biblical proportions. So it was that they set off at the slightly later time of 9.42am from the small car park at the side of the road at Little Longstone. From there they walked SSW along the road to Monsall Head with the beautiful vista of the Wye valley NW towards Cressbrook Dale and SW along Monsall Dale.

Taking the SW path they descended steadily to the weir which was in full flow and thence to the footbridge across the Wye and the flatter terrain on the North and West side of the river at this point. The well made footpath was flooded in many places and it eventually lead them to a large mill lodge and the main road.

Jock

Crossing the A6 at Lees Bottom they made their way past the car park and picnic spot and started the ascent of Deep Dale. Having crossed two stiles over walls this path arrived at the site of a neolithic settlement. Here the path diverged and they took the Easterly route which ascended steeply towards Shacklow Woods and Sheldon.

When the path split again at the next wall they elected to follow it Eastwards again through the woods and parallel to the river. This descended gently towards the valley bottom and the impressive resurgence of waters from Magpie Sough. Rooney pointed out the huge crater created by the hydraulic explosion of waters trapped by the blockage of that sough in the later part of last century. A 600ft head of water is not to be denied in the fullness of time. The resultant 10ft bore and flood made Ashford in the Water live up to its name.

Wheel

Pressing on our little band came to a water mill with two derelict undershot wheels. Though the buildings appear to be abandoned they still seem to be in a good state of repair. At this point, the rain having eased to almost nothing, lunch was consumed sitting on the stone parapets of the bridge leading to the mill.

A leisurely lunch was eventually curtailed by the resumption of rain and they walked on through three gates to the minor road leading to Kirk Dale and Sheldon. Turning left they met the A6 again where they turned right for a few hundred yards to a stile on the left and a path into Ashford.

Here they diverted from their path to the Bull which welcomes walkers if they wear the plastic galoshes which they provide. They are also happy to have leaded dogs in the premises. Pints of Robinson’s Unicorn bitter were well kept if slightly cold and cost £3.10p each. Just to make sure of the quality, your fastidious friends partook of a second pint each. One can never be too careful in these matters.

On leaving the pub, they walked Northwards along Ashford Lane climbing steadily until the reached a stile on their right. They crossed a narrow field, a stile and a road to another stile almost opposite. A broad and well walked path then lead them through fields and alongside a wood to the Monsal Trail, the track of a disused railway. This they crossed and followed their continuing path through fields back to Little Longstone and the car.

In the interests of Wanderers who may follow, they felt it incumbent upon them to see if the Packhorse Inn was open for business on Wednesday lunchtimes. Happily they found that this was indeed the case and so our chums celebrated with pints of Black sheep, again at £3.10p per pint.

Packhorse

Next weeks walk will start from Miry Meadow Car Park, Station Road, Chapel en le Frith at 9.30am. This is about 100 yards directly behind the Roebuck Inn. Indeed there is a connecting footpath to the side of the Inn. We anticipate taking a lunchtime libation around 12.15pm at the Wanted Inn, Sparrowpit before returning to the Roebuck by 2.35pm.

Walk Two. Peter Beal writes:

Your (in this case auxiliary) diarist arrived at the car park in Bollington in steady rain, but with the welcoming prospect of brighter skies to the West, where indeed they stayed all day.

By 9.35 there was no sign of any other walkers and a perplexed call to Alan established that the walk had apparently been called off earlier due to the weather and the lousy forecast. Your diarist had evidently been forgotten amid all this or someone thought he was away somewhere. I will be generous of spirit and assume it was the latter explanation.

Having got that far, I decided to sit and wait, read the paper, and see if a break in the weather made a solo walk feasible.

Sure enough by 10.00 the rain ceased, I booted up and left the car to be greeted by the sight of Geoff, Wally and welcome debutant walker John Laverick preparing to set off.

After a short halt at F.Smith’s orgasmic pie shop – Geoff for various reasons being the only pie purchaser – we head off towards the Poacher’s Inn and Oakenbank, with only a brief outbreak of light rain that soon ceased.

We embarked on the steady climb up Oakenbank Lane towards High Cliff with dark clouds looming on the horizon, as they did for much of the day but thankfully leaving us alone.

At the highest point on the track we took a footpath on the left which joined a track leading us to the farm at Back-of-the-Croft. Cutting through the farm yard we arrived on Jumper Lane and headed left uphill for no other reason than we were obviously going to be too early for opening time at the Robin Hood.

An intended loop seemed unfeasible due to the nature of the ground so we retraced our steps and headed downhill to emerge at the Robin Hood with around five minutes to wait until the doors were opened.

We overcame the shame of hanging round closed pub doors at that time in the morning to enjoy the excellent Black Sheep bitter at £2.90 a pint.

Shortly after our arrival the heavens opened and the expected heavy rain descended. There was a rumble of thunder in the distance so Health and Safety dictated that under no circumstances should we venture outside and risk a lightning strike. To pass the time we enjoyed a second round of drinks.

The rain stopped again and we headed towards Bollington by the Virgin’s path, pausing for lunch at 2pm at the Waulkmill Farm waterfall and mill race, which was in fine spate.

After debooting we repaired to the Dog and Partridge where the non-walking drinkers were waiting.

For details of next week’s walk, see Colin’s note at the foot of the report above.