Poynton

POYNTON, LYME PARK, HIGH LANE

Distance: 10 miles

Difficulty: Easy

Weather: Mild with Occasional Showers

Walkers: Peter Beal, Julian Ross, George Dearsley, Lawrie Fairman, Phil Welsh, Alexander Welsh, Tom Cunliffe, Alan Hart, Micky Barrett, George Whaites, John Laverick

Apologies: Colin Davison (yachting in the Caribbean)

B Walkers: Geoff Spurrell, Tony Job, Jock Rooney, Ken Sparrow, Graham Church, Gareth Roberts, Mike Walton,

Non Walking Drinkers: John Eckersley and Frank Dudley

Leader: Hart with occasional guidance from Fairman Diarist: Dearsley

Starting Point: Mr Hart’s house

Starting Time: 10.04am. Finishing Time: 1.38pm

The lure of a Harty breakfast (see what I did there?) meant that the traditional Christmas walk was better attended than for many a year.

Neighbours of Mr Hart, alerted by the aroma of bacon and the queue at the door may well be checking the local authority’s planning department this week to see if a covert café (or a food bank) has been opened in their leafy road.

There were hot mince pies, too, adorned with cream laced with Baileys, mulled wine and even Pimms and ginger ale.

No wonder there was a reluctance to don boots and start walking.

The bacchanalia over, there was just time for a photo opportunity, the image below superbly captured by Mr Welsh’s 13-year-old son Alexander.

The Wanderers

Leaving Mr Hart’s drive we turned left and at the end of the road went straight ahead on a path that for a while runs parallel to London Road. Poynton Pool, of course, is on the left.

After a few hundred yards we moved onto the pavement but soon turned left into Woodside Lane, turning right at a sign saying “Kingswood”.

At the end of this track we turned right and first left, going down some steps and seconds later down and up over some more steps.

This brought us to a golf course where we turned right, going down a slope until we met a road, which we crossed.

We passed some stables, negotiated a stile and went diagonally across a field.

This brought us out on another road by a commercial building saying “Swiftec”.

We crossed the road and took a path to the left at a sign saying “Hunting Lodge”.

We came to another sign saying “Poynton Coppice” and here we turned left.

This brought us onto the Middlewood Way.

We went under Bridge 13, eschewing all superstitions.

We turned right at Bridge 12, then left and went across the bridge.

We then went through a farmyard and turned left to cross a field.

Negotiating a stile we turned right (11.25am) and passed Simpson Lane Cottage.

At the top of the hill we stopped for a six minute breather (11.30am).

Having set off again we turned right at a Methodist Church and began a modest climb.

Up we go

We went through a gate onto a path and turned left.

After 200 yards we climbed a ladder stile.

Right would have taken us to Bowstones but would have added an unwelcome 40 minutes to our walk. As the predicted rain had now started to fall it was deemed prudent to go straight on to Lyme Park.

We crossed a stream with a sign saying Cluse Hen Restoration Project. Bizarrely there is not a single Google reference to this.

At 12.52 we climbed another ladder stile and went left and first right. We crossed a cattle grid, went through a gate and negotiated a stone stile on the right.

We climbed a path up to a railway line, crossed over and turned right and then left over a stile.

This brought us to the canal (1.20pm).

At a structure that may have once been a pill box but which was now being used as a garden shed by one of the narrowboaters we took a path on the left and then turned right to cross the canal via a bridge and come back on ourselves on the opposite side of the canal.

By 1.32pm we had reached the Bull’s Head where we left the canal to join the main road, reaching our final destination the Dog and Partridge at 1.38pm.

Reinbeer, the only draught ale, was £2.70, some of the Wanderers preferring to drink lager, although the Reinbeer was quite palatable. The Christmas carvery was priced at £4.19.

The man operating the carvery was working behind a sign which said “your carver today is Carol”.

But it transpired that he was not a transsexual. And when alerted to the fact he reversed the sign which now read “your carver today is Dylan”.

The Times they are A-changing. But thankfully not that much in High Lane.

Already in situ were the B-Walkers who had started at Princes Incline, followed the Macclesfield Canal and crossed a bridge to Platt Wood Farm before reaching the gates of Lyme Park and down a hill to reach the A6.

Within a few minutes we were delighted to be joined by Frank Dudley and John Eckersley.

The carvery was excellent and good value, especially if like Mr Rooney, you managed to fill your plate (below) with an amount of food which would have impressed Alan Partridge at the Lintern Travel Tavern.

Jock's Christmas Dinner

Some of the Wanderers tucking in to their Christmas fayre, including Frank Dudley (centre, in coat)

I’m indebted to Phil “Statto” Welsh  for informing me that Google Earth had the A Walkers completing about 10.3 miles. Total ascents amounted to 1100ft. The highest point was the second stile in Lyme Park at about 1000ft (after 6 miles). The lowest point was Harty’s house at 310ft. Our “breather” stop at top of Simpsons Lane came after 4.5 miles.

May I wish all the Wanderers a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

There will be no walk next Wednesday. But the following Wednesday we will meet at the Cock at Whaley Bridge at 9.35am. Further details may well follow later.

Whaley Bridge

WHALEY BRIDGE, ERRWOOD HALL, FERNILEE

Distance: 11 miles

Difficulty: Moderate

Weather: Cold and Crisp but Sunny

Walkers: Julian Ross, George Dearsley, Lawrie Fairman, Phil Welsh, Tom Cunliffe, Alan Hart, Micky Barrett, George Whaites

Apologies: Colin Davison (yachting in the Caribbean), Peter Beal (having his bones checked) Jock Rooney(Christmas duties).

B Walkers: Geoff Spurrell, Tony Job, John Laverick, Gareth Roberts, Mike Walton,

Leader: Fairman Diarist: Dearsley

Starting Point: Car park at the Cock, Whaley Bridge.

Starting Time: 9.40am. Finishing Time: 2.27pm

With Jock Rooney unavailable for selection and therefore Tip ineligible, Mr Hart decided not to wear his cricket box as another Hannibal’s Army-style gathering of Wednesday Wanderers congregated.

We were again rewarded by good weather, even Jack Frost proving a friend as potential bogs were turned into a giant duvet filled with cornflakes.

I am obliged to m’learned friend Phil “Statto” Welsh for researching on Google Earth to reveal we walked 11 miles. No fewer than nine to the Shady Oak and another two down the valley back to the Cock.

We did 1502 feet of elevation, which is 250 less than last week, but over 30% more distance which makes it much more shallow of course.

Pyms Chair was our highest point at 1526ft (3.7 miles into the walk), Errwood Hall was at 5.2 miles, and the bridge between Errwood and Fernilee reservoirs was 6.7 miles.

The end of Fernilee reservoir was just over 8 miles. The lowest point was of course the Cock.

There were also claims of a Wanderers all-time record from the Cock to Windgather in 58 minutes. More of that later.

We set off on the familiar route past the Cock on our left and up the track, the first on the left.

The path leads to some houses and here we swung right, past a rather forlorn play area and eventually crossed the road out of Whaley Bridge to continue on the other side.

We passed the graveyard on our left at Taxal Church, turning left at the top of the hill and a few yards further on took a path on the right.

This heralds a steep climb past a tree planted in memory of rambler Terry Lardner and on to Taxal Moor Road.

Just when you think the worst is over there is a further climb to the summit, which we reached at 10.38am. A glimpse at previous diaries reveals the last time your scribe undertook this walk (in June 2012) we reached Windgather Rocks at 10.31am. However the starting time was 9.28am.

So maybe we do have to exhume Norris McWhirter.

                                                            Just reaching Taxal Moor Road

Pie Time was declared at 10.45am and held in the stone “sheep pen” which affords shelter from the winds. We set off again at 10.57am and eventually saw a road to our right which we joined.

But at 11.15am we swung left. At 11.33am we turned right following a sign to “Errwood”.

We went down a rocky track. At the bottom was a sign to “Errwood and Stakeside”.

Two more stunning views

Chapel

We turned left, following a stream and crossed a wooden bridge.

We soon came to a conical structure which is in fact a chapel, erected by the Grimshawe family to the memory of one Miss Dolores de Ybarguen.  She was a Spanish aristocrat who was the teacher at the estate school and governess to the family.

Inside the Chapel

Samuel Grimshawe (1768-1851) was a rich Manchester merchant  who, in 1835,  purchased 2,000 acres of land, including the Cat and Fiddle pub, from John Jodrell of Yeardsley Hall at Whaley Bridge and had a hall built.

Errwood Hall became the centre of a thriving estate, comprising several farms, kitchen gardens, a private swimming pool, tennis courts, a school, a private coal mine and the hamlet of Goyt’s Bridge that eventually disappeared under the waters of the reservoir.

In time, the Errwood estate was virtually self-supporting.

The Grimshawes were great travellers and met Miss Dolores while on a yachting holiday.

Apparently Dolores was never in good health and died in her 40s during a visit to Lourdes. Either she was already terminally ill or incredibly unlucky. Isn’t Lourdes meant to cure you?

The chapel’s heavy oak door is not locked and it is worth a look inside.

Just above the picture of St Joseph is a marble slab with the inscription 'Munca se le Invoca evano a San Jose prueba de gratitud' which translates to - No one asks in vain of St Joseph, a token of gratitude. The shrine is still regularly used for private acts of devotion, intercession and remembrance

Apart from Dolores the Grimshawes also brought back tens of thousands of rhododendrons and azaleas.

A few minutes later we passed the remains of Errwood Hall. Wanderers who wish to learn more about its history can check out the link below to a very informative website.

http://gerryco23.wordpress.com/2010/08/31/errwood-hall-a-mansion-on-the-moor/

We then swung left to see Errwood Reservoir below us.

Errwood Library picture

By 12.08pm we had reached the metalled road at the side of the reservoir.

We turned right where the Errwood and Fernilee reservoirs divide to cross and then swung immediately left and left again down a track.

The reservoir was now on our left and the flat pathway eventually leads onto a road which turns right up a short incline and again flattens out.

We turned left at the end of that road and at 12.57pm your diarist, now bringing up the rear, reached the Shady Oak pub a few minutes later than the main group.

Already there (since 12.30pm) were the B Walkers who had walked from White Hall outdoor centre via Buxton Old Road to reach the hostelry.

Marston’s Bitter, the popular choice and in very good form was £2.90 as was another brew called The Dog’s Bollocks.

We left the pub at 1.40pm, crossing the road and after bisecting a farm we swung left to cross a field diagonally.

We stopped for lunch between 1.55pm and 2.02pm and reached the Cock at 2.27pm.

Next week we are all guests of Mr Hart. His Poynton home will reek with the smell of bacon butties and mulled wine from 9am.

Our walk (or stagger) thereafter will take in, among other things, Princes Incline and Lyme Park.  After de-booting at Mr Hart’s house, Christmas luncheon will be taken at the Dog & Partridge.

Rowarth

ROWARTH, GLOSSOP, HARRY HUT

Distance: 9 miles

Difficulty: Moderate

Weather: Cold and Crisp but Sunny

Walkers: George Dearsley, Lawrie Fairman, Phil Welsh, Tom Cunliffe, Alan Hart, Micky Barrett, Tom Cunliffe, Jock Rooney and Tip

Apologies: George Whaites (working), Colin Davison (yachting in the Caribbean), Peter Beal (cruising, in the nautical sense)

B Walkers: Geoff Spurrell, Tony Job, John Laverick, Ken Sparrow, Mike Walton,

Leader: Fairman Diarist: Dearsley

Photographs: Phil Welsh and George Dearsley

Starting Point: Car park at the Little Mill, Rowarth

Starting Time: 9.51am. Finishing Time: 2.32pm

The largest turn out of the Wanderers for some weeks was rewarded with clear blue skies and bright sunshine, which conspired to deliver excellent light for photographs.

The cadre might have been larger but road closures (due to flooding and ice) and an indecipherable Sat Nav meant Julian Ross had to return home when less than two miles from the meeting point.

There was further early drama, when Mr Hart was injured in the warm up, after being butted in the gonads by an over enthusiastic Tip.

Happily there was no need for the “magic sponge” and after some deep breaths and much cursing Harty was declared fit.

                                                                The dog…..bollocks!

Thus delayed, we left the car park at the Little Mill at 9.51am and walked away from the pub up the hill, turning right at a sign to “Rowarth”.

We walked through the tiny hamlet and turned left up what proved to be a steepish climb. At the top of the hill we negotiated a stile and went left and immediately right.

Only 26 minutes after departure it was time for the first map check.

Our route took us past Near Slack Farm. In 1983 I attempted to buy neighbouring Far Slack Farm but was gazumped by notorious financier Peter Clowes. Unfortunately he used other people’s money to purchase the property. His investment empire collapsed in 1988 with 15,000 people swindled out of millions. He got 10 years.

We went through a gate and turned left. The path dog -legs left (10.25am) and from this point we had a great view of the flight path to Manchester airport.

We turned right through a gate and the sun was now shining brightly directly from our right.

We came to a four-way intersection. There was a bridle path going down steeply ahead but we turned left over a stile.

Pie Time was declared at 10.52am at a vantage point which gave stunning views over Cheshire.

                                                                           Stunning view

We set off again at 11.05am turning right and heading eventually to the road which links the Grouse and Charlesworth (11.16am). This we crossed.

We climbed a stile, again with the sun to our right.

We then descended a steep path on which Mr Barrett was a faller and on meeting a metalled road at the bottom, we turned left.

A path to the right eventually brought us onto the road from Glossop to Chinley, opposite the O Sole Mio Italian restaurant. Well, I’m presuming it’s Italian, never having dined there.

We were on the road for only minutes before swinging left at a sign for Gnat Hole Farm. One can only imagine what was in the farmer’s mind when he so named his beloved home.

We turned onto a path to the right about 200 yards before the farmhouse. Of course, had we stayed on the road we would have been at the Grouse in about 25 minutes.

Our detour would delay our arrival by nearly 90 minutes. While affording spectacular views, it was to involve a climb Paras would have been proud to complete to the heights of the so called Harry Hut (please note NOT Harry’s Hut)

Harry Hut trig point

Mr Hart, spurred on by the thought of ale, duly set a cracking pace.

Your diarist opined: “He’s like Mo Farrah”.

To which Mr Barrett retorted: “I’m more like Mo Mowlem”.

At 12.17pm leader Fairman became a faller on the boggy heather.

As to the derivation of the phrase Harry Hut little could be found.

I can exclusively reveal that in 1980 no fewer than 1083 pieces of artefacts and tools from the Mesolithic Period were discovered here. Anyone operating a market stall selling gloves and woollen hats in this period would have been onto a “good earner”. But beyond the archaeology, zilch.

We plodded on like Napoleon’s infantry retreating from Moscow but at last reached the road again where Tom’s wife Stella arrived to end the cruelty and take him to a Nativity play.

(No, he wasn't playing the Donkey!).

One hopes the singing of the herald angels was not drowned out by Tom snoring.

By 12.55pm your diarist reached the Grouse, 10 minutes after Mr Hart. Thwaites Original was on offer at £3.

Five B Walkers were already in situ. They had gathered at the Little Mill, crossed a ford and walked via Plainsteads Farm to the Grouse.

Peacock (not a Grouse) at the pub

Leader Fairman insisted this was a one pint pit stop only and we set off again at 1.21pm.

The B Walkers left a little earlier but we soon overtook them.

Climbing the hill to the turning for Charlesworth we continued on the metalled road for a couple of hundred yards before taking a path to the right.

Lunch was taken between 1.45pm and 1.52pm. But the main body of Wanderers left Mr Hart behind. He was either taking a phone call or doing a bit of Horse Whispering to the animal in the nearby field.

Luncheon is taken

We followed a sign to “Rowarth via Long Lee Farm”.

This took us over a wall where we saw a sign pointing left to “Hayfield”. We turned right here.

We were back at the cars at 2.32pm but amazingly Mr Hart was already in the car park.

Had he ridden the horse?

At the Little Mill Banks’ Bitter was £2.70.

One further picture of today’s walk follows below.

Another stunning view

Given average walking speed today’s walk should have been around 10-11 miles. But Mr Welsh calculated it via Google at 8.5 miles, which may well be correct given the climbing.

Although the non-walking drinkers were absent, there is good news of Frank Dudley who has recovered from a fall at home.

Next week’s walk will start at the Old Cock, Whaley Bridge at 9.35am, with a stop at around 12.30pm at the Shady Oak, Fernilee. We will finish, of course, back at the Cock.

Happy Wandering!