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!