Little Hayfield

LITTLE HAYFIELD, HAYFIELD, BIRCH VALE, ROWARTH

Distance: 9 miles

Difficulty: Moderate

Weather: Chilly, windy, some blue skies, showers later

Walkers: Pete Beal, George Whaites, Phil Welsh, George Dearsley, Alan Hart, John Laverick, Julian Ross, Colin Davison, Tom Cunliffe, Lawrie Fairman, Micky Barrett, John Jones

Apologies: Jock Rooney (Isle of Man)

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

Leader: Cunliffe Diarist: Dearsley

Starting Point: The Lantern Pike, Little Hayfield

Starting Time: 9.40am. Finishing Time: 1.50pm

On several occasions during our rollercoaster walk a number of Wanderers appeared to opine to leader Mr Cunliffe:  “You can’t”. (At least that’s what I thought they said).

However, having taken on the mantle, he was not going to be swayed from his carefully charted course, which involved more than the usual number of climbs.

I am indebted to m’learned friend Mr Beal, whose computer calculated we completed 1830 ft of ascent/descent.

We also had the pleasure of a new recruit’s company.  John Jones was given a warm welcome and like his fellow walkers was to enjoy some thoroughly energising views as we negotiated a loosely designed circle on the Cheshire-Derbyshire border.

We set off just five minutes late, walking from the Lantern Pike across the road and past the long abandoned public swimming baths to the gate at the end of the track.

In previous walks we have turned left here. But our leader was like an Exocet going straight on and up the heather-carpeted hill opposite.

On reaching the top we turned right, following a well worn path to Hayfield village.

This eventually brought us onto the road where we turned right  and passed the former grammar school on our left before turning left.

Here, like a TV chef revamping a traditional dish, Mr Cunliffe introduced some new “ingredients”, finding paths that even seasoned Wanderers had not previously walked.

We went through a children’s play area and came upon another road, going straight over up some stone steps.

Having walked past some houses we turned left again onto Highgate Road and past a dwelling called The Old School.

Within a few yards we took a path to the right and saw a steep hill facing us.

Initially we went to the left of it. But any lingering hopes that there might be a tunnel or even a funicular in the locality were soon dashed.

Around this time Mr Jones showed his prowess as a Horse Whisperer, when we came across a miniature pony, which appeared to have escaped from a field. Mr Jones removed two wooden bars from a fence and coaxed the beast to rejoin its equine pals. Let’s hope they don’t end up any time soon as Tesco value meals.

                                                             Jones, horsing around.

We came to a barn and turned right and then first left. There was a multi-directional sign here, one offering “to Peep-o-Day”. But we took another signalling “Birch Vale”.

Around this point we passed a rather spooky, derelict building, pictured below. It was clearly a mill of some kind but whether industrial or private was hard to tell.

We were soon in for another steep climb. On the top we turned right and began to go downhill.

Mr Welsh, accessing a new App called Maverick on his mobile phone, volunteered that we were 392m above sea level and that Barnsfold Farm was to our right.

                                                                      Spooky Mill

At this point the wind picked up and Pie Time had to be delayed as we descended for some shelter. Pie Time was eventually declared at 11.09am on Morland Road, just a few yards from The Grouse pub.

But almost before you could say “cucumber sandwiches, vicar?” we were off again at 11.17am. Our leader was later to exclaim:  “eight minutes is a long time” as no doubt many of us have told our wives.

However, it seemed to set a new Wanderers record for brevity. The fact that our leader had brought with him no food may have had something to do with his urgency to move forward.

We crossed onto Station Road and took a short path almost directly opposite. We turned immediately left and walked a few hundred yards to return to the road we had been on.

This is the road that leads to Mellor. But at the Sycamore pub we swung right onto a path which, after a short climb, took us to a T-junction of tracks. Here we turned left and right and then right again, following a “public footpath” sign.

Impressive view.

We negotiated a wall on our right and soon found ourselves passing a very grandiose pile called Aspenshaw Hall. It is a Grade 11 listed building dating back to the earthy 18^th century. I’m sure as they passed, many Wanderers would have appreciated the notable rusticated quoins. I know I did.

The building also boasts a Tuscan doorcase with open pediment. You don’t see many of them nowadays!

Originally the seat of the Buckley family, it passed by marriage to the Bower family, a clan of some note in the neighbourhood. Names of two of the Bowers appear on the Trust Deed of the first Hayfield Grammar School erected in Jumble Lane in 1719, namely Thomas Bour, of Worksop, yeoman and George Bour of Aspenshaw.

The Bower family were the first to recognise the industrial potential of the area around the Torrs in what is now New Mills. In addition to farming they developed a Fulling Mill, a Paper Mill and a Tanning Yard in the gorge around 1700.

Fulling or tucking or walking ("waulking" in Scotland), as every schoolboy knows,  is a step in woollen cloth-making which involves the cleansing of cloth (particularly wool) to eliminate oils, dirt, and other impurities, and making it thicker.  The worker who does the job is a fuller, tucker, or walker.  The Welsh word for a fulling mill is pandy, which appears in many place-names.

In 1710 George Bower the youngest son of Edward Bower married Elizabeth, daughter of Edmund Buckley, of Aspenshaw and in 1722 inherited the Aspenshaw Hall and estate.

Their son was Buckley Bower. Though his wealthy background meant Buckley had no need to work he became a successful Stockport lawyer. His father died in 1753 and Buckley inherited Aspenshaw and its extensive lands which he, like his father, continued to expand.

Buckley was a far sighted man who enclosed and improved a large portion of the Thornsett uplands in 1774. Transforming the landscape, building farmhouses, constructing walls and changing moorland to productive pasture some half a century before the surrounding areas saw the same changes.  Buckley married Frances Pennee in 1747. They had 4 children George Buckley, Robert who died in infancy, Frances Clare and Lucy.

Buckley Bower was also “a lover of the chase”, but alas something of a coward when it came to jumping fences at speed on a horse. Therefore, he kept a servant to accompany him on these occasions for the purpose of taking down the fences when required.

This servant was called Ben Cooke who “with one arm, hunted his masters pack of harriers for a long period of years, until, both from age and infirmity, he could no longer follow them.” Doubtless he died a pauper for his troubles. If only we could have a manservant to give us a fireman’s lift up some of the more arduous climbs.

                                                            Aspenshaw Hall

Lovely view

After the hall we swung right onto a path on the right, through a farm (12 noon) and past Casper’s Cattery.

We now found ourselves on a particularly boggy path.

At 12.10pm we arrived at the Little Mill, where Bank’s was £2.70 a pint and on good form.

There was a lot of talk here of mettalurgy and the minerals associated with lead mining.

Lead ore, of course, is most commonly found as lead sulphide (PbS), galena, a heavy, shiny grey metallic ore with a conspicuous cubic cleavage. Not quite the conspicuous cubic cleavage, however, that normally gets MY attention.

We set off again at 12.56pm turning left out of the pub then right passing Brookside Cottage.

We then passed a rusting Fordson vehicle, badly in need of some TLC.

Fordson was a brand name used on a range of mass produced general-purpose tractors manufactured by Henry Ford & Son,  from 1917 until 1920 when it was merged into the Ford Motor Company, which used the name until 1964.

American engineer, inventor, and businessman Henry Ford built experimental tractors from automobile components during the early 20th century, and launched a prototype known as the Model B in August 1915.

He formed Henry Ford and Son in 1910 in Dearborn, Michigan, taking his young son Edsel Ford as a partner, which was later incorporated on July 27, 1917.

I suspect the rusting carcass was probably originally something more like this (below).

Van

One of the best sellers in the Fordson range of commercial vehicles produced at Dagenham, the 10cwt van, was a very attractive and economical proposition for light delivery work. Like all Ford products, it was backed by first-class service facilities, and all components when due for overhaul were reasonably cheap and easy to replace. Those were the days, eh?

We came onto a road and turned left and then right and right again at an old fashioned red phone box.

We passed Harthill Farm and soon came to the house with some bizarre, bird-like creatures on gate posts. Gryphons anyone?

At the house we turned right, went through a gate and turned right again.

This track runs almost parallel with the road from Glossop to Chinley, although a lot higher up of course. At 1.30pm it began to rain and also we were hit by very powerful winds. It was a pleasure to descend to the back of Clough Mill, where your diarist lives and sadly had to take his leave to deal with an urgent e mail.

He was unable to return to the Lantern Pike, where the Wanderers met up with B walkers Tony Job, Geoff Spurrell, Ken Sparrow and Mike Walton.

The non-appearance of a scheduled bus had thrown the B walkers' plans into disarray. Eventually they set off from The Lantern Pike, taking the same route towards Park Hall and on to Middle Moor which the A walkers had taken earlier.

They reached the wall at the top of Middle Moor and turned right before dropping into Hayfield and the comfort of The Kinder Lodge.

From there they followed the Calico Trail back to The Lantern Pike, thus ending a walk which Wally described as "the longest four miles of my life."

The Wanderers were indebted to Tom and his chef Chris for sustaining us with a liberal supply of chips.

Next week’s walk will be setting off from Brabyns Park Car Park at 09:30.

Half way stop will be at the Oddfellows Arms in Mellor, and we will meet after the walk in the Norfolk Arms in Marple Bridge.

Happy Wandering.

Bollington

BOLLINGTON, MACCLESFIELD CANAL, HIGHER HURDSFIELD, CALROFOLD, ELY BROW, BROOKHOUSE, THE ROBIN HOOD AT RAINOW, VIRGINS’ PATH, INGERSLEY VALE WATERFALL AND THE DOG AND PARTRIDGE IN BOLLINGTON.

Distance: 8-9 miles.

Difficulty: Easy.

Weather: Dry but cloudy with snow and ice underfoot.

Walkers: Tom Cunliffe, Lawrie Fairman, Alan Hart, Pete Johnson, John Laverick, Julian Ross and George Whaites.

B walkers: Tony Job, Geoff Spurrell and Mike Walton.

Apologies: Micky Barrett (Goa hols), Colin Davison (out on the piste), George Dearsley (working), Jock Rooney (Isle of Man), Ken Sparrow (aversion to buses), Phil Welsh (job interview in France).

Leaders: Fairman and Hart. Diarist: Hart.

Starting point: Free public car park opposite Spinners Arms, Bollington.

Starting time: 9.32am. Finishing time: 2.10pm.

Another new recruit joined the Wednesday Wanderers in the form of Pete Johnson, friend of Julian and an ex-colleague still employed by Greater Manchester Police. We hope the warmth of our welcome was in sharp contrast to the weather which was decidedly chilly.

Nonetheless a half-hearted flurry of snowflakes which heralded the start of the walk soon fell away and we were treated to a largely dry day while the rest of Britain fought heavy snow showers and blizzards.

Our initial leader Lawrie had bowed to health and safety guidance, choosing a flat start along the Macclesfield Canal. So after a brief call at the orgasmic pie shop of F.Smith the baker we turned right out of the car park, crossed the road and headed right until we reached the aqueduct carrying the Macc Canal over the road.

A flight of steps on our left led us to the right bank of the canal which we walked along for the best part of an hour. Our pace was restricted by the icy conditions which required due care and attention. On our right was the Adelphi Mill, built in 1856 by brothers George and Martin Swindells. The mill, which produced cotton, silk, rayon and nylon, closed in 1975 and its 176 feet tall chimney which had dominated the landscape for more than 100 years was removed.

Classic scholars among the millworkers would have known that the name of their workplace, Adelphi, was derived from the Greek adelphos, meaning brothers. What joy that knowledge must have given them as they started their 12-hour shifts.

At bridge 29 we switched banks (27mins) and left the canal at bridge 34 (56mins). The towpath exit led us to a road where we turned right uphill passing The Three Crown at Higher Hurdsfield on our left. A few yards beyond the pub we turned right at a wooden public footpath sign (59mins) and headed uphill through the snow-shrouded fields. After a brief pause to eat the legendary pies while they were still tepid, we continued upwards following yellow arrows on marker posts until the crossing of a wooden stile brought us to a road (63mins).

We turned right, passing Cliffe Farm on our left and at Calrofold Lane we took the right fork (68mins). This led us to a road at the end of Cliffe Lane (78mins) which we crossed and followed a path uphill. This took us through knee-high snowdrifts until we reached a pair of adjacent stiles.

Your diarist crossed both of these, while Lawrie stumbled and fell between two stiles. After following the main group into and down the field indicated by a yellow arrow, Lawrie retraced his steps backwards to search for an alternative route.

Julian and John followed while the rest of us formed a splinter group which walked through fields parallel with a road on our left. Led by Tom, who was anxious to escape the snowy fields, we clambered over a gate, reached the road and turned right.

Your diarist found himself de facto leader as we walked along the road past Brinks Farm on our right. Shortly afterwards we turned left to follow a public footpath sign leading into a farmyard (106mins). As we paused for a snack and port, we were joined by a friendly cairn terrier which seemed to prefer our company to the healthy food which we offered him.

With no sight of our companions, we continued to the other side of the farm until we reached a Gritstone Trail sign pointing straight ahead. We ignored this, turning right for 40 yards before turning left over a stone step stile (110mins) into a field with Rainow in the distance below.

Our breakaway group continued downhill over a series of stiles, passing to the left of a farmhouse before crossing a footbridge over a stream (124mins). Then we headed uphill again until we reached a lane via a stile (132mins).

We turned left to reach a road and turned right, passing Holy Trinity Church, Rainow, on our right, and arriving at The Robin Hood on our left (140mins). The Black Sheep cask bitter was £3 a pint and the guest ale, a rather sharp-tasting Lazy Daze, was priced at £3-05.

By the time we were ready for our second pints, our co-walkers arrived some 20 minutes behind us with macho talk of battling snowdrifts and other adversities of nature. More fool them was the general reaction.

AN INTERESTING FACT ABOUT RAINOW

Your diarist recalls an amazing story which came to a bloody end in Rainow in January, 1977. The Pottery Cottage Massacre, as it was called, started a few days earlier when a prisoner named Billy Hughes, aged 30, from Preston, was being driven from Leicester Jail to a court in Chesterfield.

Hughes was charged with stabbing a man in the face and raping his girlfriend. He somehow overpowered his guards, slashing their throats with a blade, before making off in the vehicle. Hughes crashed on icy roads on Beeley Moor on the outskirts of Chesterfield.

He then arrived at Pottery Cottage, near The Highwayman pub on the road into Chesterfield. It was occupied by Arthur Minton, a 72-year-old retired grocer, his wife Amy, 68, their daughter Gill Moran, 38, son-in-law Richard Moran, 36, a sales director, and their 10-year-old granddaughter Sarah Moran.

Wielding an axe he had found outside the cottage, Hughes forced his way inside and made the entire family his prisoners. For several days, while police hunted Hughes, he was holed up in Pottery Cottage. He forced Gill Moran to have sex with him while systematically butchering her family.

Eventually he escaped in a car with Gill, the sole survivor, until he was stopped by a police roadblock in Rainow. He threatened to kill Mrs Moran with the axe he was carrying and she suffered a head wound as police opened fire. Hughes was shot four times and died.

Mrs Moran sold the story of her ordeal to the Daily Mail for around £60,000 – a huge sum in those days. Less than a year later she married a man named Mulqueen, and six months after the wedding she had his baby. This is yet another example of the resilience of the so-called weaker sex.

END OF INTERESTING FACT

We left the pub by the rear exit and turned left into Stocks Lane, passing the village stocks on our left before heading right into Chapel Lane. We continued until Sugar Lane where we turned right and followed the public footpath sign to the rear of Flagg Cottage (150mins).

This brought us along The Virgins’ Path back to Bollington. For the uninitiated, this was the two-mile path from Rainow into Bollington which brides took in the days when Rainow had no church. Friendly farmers lay down slabs across their fields to prevent the brides’ white dresses from becoming muddy.

After pausing for lunch at Ingersley Vale waterfall (180mins) we returned to the car park to de-boot (195mins). From there we drove to The Dog and Partridge, where Robbies’ mild was £2-45p.

We joined the B walkers who had taken a route from Poynton up to the Middlewood Way at Higher Poynton. From there they had walked some six miles to Bollington.

Next week’s walk will start at 9.35am from The Lantern Pike pub car park at Little Hayfield, High Peak. It is anticipated that the walk, led by Tom, will reach The Sportsman pub, on the outskirts of Hayfield, around 12.30pm, and that we will be back in The Lantern Pike at 2.15pm.

   

Furness Vale

FURNESS VALE, WHALEY MOOR, LYME PARK, DISLEY

Distance: 9 miles

Difficulty: Easy

Weather: Chilly, blue skies and bright sunshine at times

Walkers: George Whaites, Phil Welsh, George Dearsley, Alan Hart, John Laverick, Julian Ross, Colin Davison, Tom Cunliffe, Jock Rooney and Tips, Lawrie Fairman

Apologies: Pete Beal (walking in Northumberland), Micky Barrett (sore heel)

B Walkers: Geoff Spurrell, Tony Job, Mike Walton, Graham Church

Leader: Fairman Diarist: Dearsley

Starting Point: The Soldier Dick, Furness Vale

Starting Time: 9.35am. Finishing Time: 2.26pm

Snow underfoot but blue skies flecked with wispy clouds greeted the Wanderers.

According to m’learned friend Mr Welsh, who used Google Earth, the walk was only 8.3 miles, while Mr Fairman’s pedometer clocked 9.25 miles.

The elevation we covered was a tough 1386ft. Pie Times was taken at our highest point (1200ft) at the top of Lantern Wood at 2.9 miles. The Dandy Cock was at 5.3 miles. And lunch was taken at 6.2 miles.

We started punctually at 9.35am leaving the car park of the Soldier Dick and turning right along the road the goes to Whaley Bridge.

Within a few yards we turned right again up Yeardsley Lane, at the side of the Imperial Palace Chinese restaurant.

But there was no smell of chow mein in our nostrils as we  began a  lengthy but not too taxing climb. We went through a gate and swung right onto a road where we turned left.

Around 50 yards on we turned right, negotiated a five bar gate.

We were now afforded panoramic views.

Mr Hart and Mr Davision went (10.05am)  to look at the “Dipping Stone” 50 yards below us, as the other Wanderers caught their breath and admired the scenery.

Described in the Ancient Monument Schedule as a "Wayside and Boundary Cross", it stands on the crest of a shallow ridge below the southern end of Whaley Moor, and just off a footpath that leads from Whaley Lane to Hawkshurst Head.

It is notably similar to the nearby Bowstones and Robin Hood's Picking Rods, though missing any cross shafts.

                                                   The Dipping Stone (Library picture)

                                                                        Whaley Moor

It's snowtime folks

At 10.22am we clambered over a ladder stile and soon found ourselves beset by confusion. Some said go right, some left and some straight on.

Our dilemma was not helped by Mr Davison who, complaining about the quality of a map being consulted, opined: “I have a better quality map but it is the wrong one.”

Despite this apparent critical weakness, the group was persuaded to follow Mr Davison across a cattle grid to the left and then right, turning sharply downhill.

It was only when the Wanderers had reached the bottom of the slope that we realised we were on the wrong side of a fence topped with barbed wire.

Some brave souls attempted to climb the fence, straddling precariously with their crown jewels hovering an inch or two above the spikes.

Mr Fairman, meanwhile, had found a compromise route, through a muddy track and across a small stream, sans barbed wire.

Climbing the short  incline opposite both groups reunited on a metalled road and went straight over, climbing a stile that led to another hill.

We crossed another road continued to climb, finally declaring Pie Time at 11.57am just beyond a largish stone wall and within the shadow of Lantern Wood.

Mr Welsh generously provided some pork and pickle pies.

We resumed our walk at 11.07am entering the wood and soon passing a belvedere known as the Lantern (see my picture below). It is built in sandstone and has three storeys and a spire; the lowest storey is square in plan while the other storeys and the spire are octagonal.

The top storey and spire date from about 1580 and originally formed a bellcote on the north gatehouse. This was removed during the restoration of the house by Wyatt and rebuilt on the present site. It is a Grade II listed building

We exited the wood to take a track that led to the famous Lyme Park Cage. This we reached at 11.39am. It was originally a hunting lodge and was later used as a park-keeper's cottage and as a lock-up for prisoners.

The first structure on the site was built about 1580; this was taken down and rebuilt in 1737. The tower is built in buff sandstone rubble with ashlar sandstone dressings. It is square in plan, in three storeys, with attached small square towers surmounted by cupolas at the corners. The Cage is a Grade II listed building.

We followed a route we have taken before, left the park via a gate and passed some very expensive houses to reach the Dandy Cock at 12.09pm.

Here Robinson’s Bitter was £2.60 and Mild £2.50.

With no sign of the B Walkers we set off again at 12.58pm, crossing the road and heading to the White Horse before turning right into Ring o’ Bells Lane. Instead of going straight on (as usual) we turned left up a very narrow path. We turned left again at a sign saying “Gritstone Trail”.

Lunch was taken between 1.21pm and 1.30pm. We reached a road and turned left. Then left again down Corks Lane.

This brought us onto another road where we turned right passing some houses (one called Seven Springs). The path we were on was helpfully labelled Number 38. But efforts to trace this on the internet proved fruitless.

We bisected some farm buildings and turned right and immediately left past Oakwood Cottage.

At 2.10pm we could see the Soldier Dick in the distance.

The Lantern in Lantern Wood

Superman, waiting to stir himself.

                                           This week’s guest picture courtesy of Mr Welsh.

Mr Hart, striding ahead as usual, seemed to take a wrong turning. The cannier Wanderers stayed high and almost caught him up.

We eventually reached the pub at 2.26pm. We were soon joined by the B Walkers who had taken the bus to Disley and walked 3.93 miles through Kettleshulme, consuming two pints in the Swan before reaching Furness Vale.

At the Soldier Dick Wainwright was £2.70

Next week’s walk will start from the big car park in Bollington at 9.30pm. The half way point (ETA around 12.30pm) will be the Robin Hood and post de-booting ale will be taken at the Dog and Partridge. Unfortunately your diarist will be absent, on a hastily arranged break to Istanbul.

Old Glossop

OLD GLOSSOP, GLOSSOP LOW, LONGDENDALE TRAIL, HADFIELD, PADFIELD

Distance: 10 miles

Difficulty: Moderate

Weather: Chilly and overcast but bright sunshine and warm on the tops.

Walkers: Peter Beal, George Dearsley, Alan Hart, John Laverick, Julian Ross, Micky Barrett, Colin Davison,Tom Cunliffe, Jock Rooney and Tips,

Apologies: George Whaites (Moreira), Phil Welsh (DIY)

B Walkers: Geoff Spurrell, Tony Job, Mike Walton,

Leader: Fairman Diarist: Dearsley

Starting Point: The Wheatsheaf, Old Glossop

Starting Time: 9.56am. Finishing Time: 2.45pm

A challenging walk, which afforded the Wanderers stunning views, bright sunshine, weird cloud formations and, for those drinking, decent beer.

There was a late start after Mr Hart suffered from geographical amnesia and took a wrong turning in Marple Bridge.

The group duly left the car park opposite the Wheatsheaf at 9.56am, shortly after a slightly larger band of male and female walkers whom, bizarrely, we never saw again.

We went up Blackshaw Road and through some flats on the right to pick up a trail that led past some farm buildings.

Mr Hart was then insistent that your diarist captured – photographically - two peacocks grazing in a field.

But by the time the shutter had clicked we had lost the group and Mr Hart made his second wrong decision of the day, taking us up a path to the left (which we were to revisit much later on).

Actually, the errant route might well have eventually linked us back with the other Wanderers. But we decided to re-trace our steps and within a few minutes had caught up with the tail end of the group which had, in fact, carried on along the path and through a five bar gate on the left.

This took us to a farm, which seems to be collecting bales of either paper or cloth, it was difficult to be certain.

Here we turned right and began a fairly long ascent towards Glossop Low, with an area called Peaknaze Moor in the distance to our left.

                                   Mr Peacock but no sign of Mrs Slocombe’s pussy

As every schoolchild knows the word low comes from the Anglo-Saxon Hlaw which means rounded hill and was often applied to a hill with an ancient barrow or tumulus on its summit.

Incidentally, in the North the word became “law” hence place names like Tow Law. Law is commonest in Northumberland and Durham but rare in Yorkshire, where the Viking word Howe predominates in place names like Ainderby Quernhow and Carlin Howe.

At 10.44am the sun began to appear to our right.

At what purported to be the top of the climb we turned right and went through a gate. To our right was the Cock Hill trig point.

In fact the rise continued a little further and brought us to a path bathed in bright sunshine but with a strange cloud inversion on our right, evidence by my snapshot below.

Here was also a sign saying “Recovery Roof Project”, a long track of solar panels planted about 18 inches off the ground and beyond that a wind turbine.

                                       Tom Cunliffe with his head in the clouds as usual

It transpires that this boffinry is all about climate change and pollution. Certain kinds of pollutions, damaging to upland areas, have fallen dramatically since the 1980s. For example, sulphur dioxide from burning fossil fuels like coal has fallen by 60% since the mid-1980s.

But other pollutants have remained high. For example nitrogen oxide emissions have increased with the rise in the number of vehicles on the road. Nitrogen oxides react with other chemicals in the air to produce ground level ozone and nitrates, which are bad for human health as well as damaging crops and natural communities.

Climate change is - allegedly - bringing changes in weather patterns and increased temperature, which will also impact on upland areas and will affect the ability of these habitats to recover following pollution.

The Recovery Roof project, therefore, looks at how fast and how well our moorlands will recover from pollution and how this will compare with changes brought about by climate change.

The Peak District, it turns out, is historically one of the most polluted upland areas, mostly because of its proximity to large cities like Manchester and Sheffield.  So the experiment, set up on Peaknaze Moor, replicates future predicted changes in pollution levels and climate to large areas of the moor.

Researchers aim to see how the plants, animals and the soil react to less pollution and the changes in climate that we might see over the next few decades. The hope is to identify any changes that come from climate change and falling levels of pollution.  This is important for land managers, who have to decide when to act to preserve these habitats.

It’s all being run by the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, presumably funded by Wanderers’ and other people’s taxes.

Or, as Mr Rooney might say, “what a load of bollocks”.

Pie Time was declared at 11am and taken in a rather decrepit stone built erection, which at one time was – we guessed – a shelter for grouse shooters or Shooting Box.

Pie Time

My snap managed to include a rather earnest chap in blue on the horizon, armed with camera and binoculars, who duly enthused about the views we would later enjoy looking over towards Bleaklow on the right. He was not exaggerating.

                    Bright sunshine and blue sky….but you can have too much of a good thing

                                                                   Tips on the Top

During Pie Time Mr Davison made the radical suggestion that we amend the walk to stay in the sunshine on the tops, rather than descend to the cloud and cold, albeit eventually to reach the Anchor pub.

Although there appeared to be eight votes in favour and only one against (Mr Hart), the motion was duly defeated and we resumed our trek across the moor, covered in thick heather, the colour of an old welcome mat. (The moor that is not us).

                                                             Heather but no Mills

Soon we were to find ourselves on what looked like the rim of a great cooking pot, the “steam” being replaced by inverted cloud.

This, said Mr Beal, was actually part of the Pennine Way.

Just for the record, the Pennine Way is a National Trail running 431 km (268 miles) from Edale, in the Derbyshire Peak District, through the Yorkshire Dales and the Northumberland National Park, ending at Kirk Yetholm, just inside the Scottish border.

The path runs along the Pennine hills, sometimes described as the "backbone of England".

                                         Strange halo effect…and a rainbow (pic by John Laverick)

Although not the United Kingdom's longest National Trail (this distinction belongs to the 1,014 km - 630 miles - long South West Coast Path), it is according to the Ramblers' Association "one of Britain's best known and toughest".

The path was the idea of the journalist and rambler Tom Stephenson, inspired by similar trails in the United States of America, particularly the Appalachian Trail. Stephenson proposed the concept in an article for the Daily Herald in 1935, and later lobbied Parliament for the creation of an official trail.

The walk was originally planned to end at Wooler but eventually it was decided that Kirk Yetholm would be the finishing point.  The final section of the path was declared open in a ceremony held on Malham Moor on 24 April 1965.

Our descent from the sun kissed summit was a little tricky but accomplished without mishap.

At 11.49am we reached a metalled track and a sign pointing back to where we had come from saying “Bleaklow Head”.

We turned left onto the track and a few minutes later crossed a main road to join the Trans Pennine Trail turning left at a sign which read “Hadfield 3 miles”.

This, if I’m not mistaken, is also part of the Longdendale Trail.

The trek into Hadfield is flat and without a great deal to observe, but we were passed by a woman with a three legged greyhound, which I’m sure many of us have bet on in the past.

We reached Hadfield at 12.48pm and were in the Anchor pub by 12.51pm.

Mr Cunliffe, who I believe is on a New Year’s Resolution diet, ordered a giant baguette containing enough cholesterol to block the Mersey tunnel.

Tetley’s Bitter was £2.60 and in good fettle.

Hadfield, of course, was the real Royston Vasey in the television sitcom The League of Gentlemen.

Naturally, Glossopdale residents weren't thrilled that their locality was portrayed as an insular community of weirdos, sadists and secret cannibals.

But eventually they rose above it and Hadfield later had a Cafe Royston and a butcher's shop advertising "human flesh" sausages.

We left the Anchor at 1.40pm, retracing our steps to return to the Longdendale Trail.

After a while we took a path on the left and walked into Padfield, once home to Bez (real name Mark Berry) and Shaun Ryder of the Happy Mondays.

There was a moment’s hesitation before we took a road on the right called Peel Street. This led us over four stiles onto a road where we turned left (although some Wanderers went right).

The main body of walkers came to Little Padfield Farm where we took a path to the right.

We passed a farm, came onto a road and turned right. Just 30 yards later we turned left and took a very short lunch break, from 2.16pm until 2.24pm. In fact, I believe the slaves used to get longer on a Roman galley. By this time we had been rejoined by the breakaway walkers.

We were soon alongside Swineshaw Reservoir and trudging on a muddy path which, according to experienced Wanderers, has the consistency of lumpy porridge even in summer. This brought us back to the muddy descent your diarist and Mr Hart had visited early in the walk.

By 2.45pm we were back at the Wheatsheaf car park and after de-booting we enjoyed a libation in the nearby Bull, the Wheatsheaf itself being closed. Robinson’s Bitter was £2.85 and Mild £2.50.

The B team were driven by Geoff to Brabyns Park from where they crossed the Peak Forest Canal, passing Marple Cricket Club and The Railway at Rose Hill, joining the final section of The Middlewood Way and crossing Marple Golf Club to return to the canal.

After two pints of Robbies in the Ring o' Bells at Marple, they walked back along the canal to Brabyns Park. They concluded their five-mile walk with further refreshment in The Royal Scot at Marple Bridge.

There’s a lot of Dick and Cock in next week’s walk, which will begin from the Soldier Dick in Furness Vale at 9.30am. We propose to visit the Dandy Cock pub as the half way point around 12 noon to 12.15pm, finishing back at the Soldier Dick.

Whaley Bridge

WHALEY BRIDGE, CRACKEN EDGE, OLLERSETT MOOR

Distance: 9.9 miles

Difficulty: Moderate

Weather: Mild with Occasional Showers

Walkers: Peter Beal, George Dearsley, Alan Hart, John Laverick, Gavin Hill

Apologies: Colin Davison (Holding hands), George Whaites (Moreira), Jock Rooney (Family commitments), Tom Cunliffe (Post New Year celebration fatigue), Micky Barrett (Lake District), Lawrie Fairman (Flu), Phil Welsh (Virus).

B Walkers: Geoff Spurrell, Tony Job, Mike Walton,

Leader: Beal Diarist: Dearsley

Starting Point: The Cock, Whaley Bridge

Starting Time: 9.36am. Finishing Time: 2.17pm

A Happy New Year to all Wanderers.

This week’s walk was marred by mist and showers but offered a welcome chance to dislodge some turkey, Christmas pudding and a few mince pies.

Despite more cry offs that Roy Hodgson gets for an England friendly against Estonia away, a quintet of Wanderers braved the elements for a perambulation which m’learned friend Mr Beal’s computer clocked at an impressive 9.9 miles.

For once we turned right not left out of the Cock’s car park and immediately set a new Wanderers all-comers record by taking a wrong turning within about 250 yards.

Order restored, we duly picked up the correct path, which took us onto a stretch of the old Cromford to High Peak railway line.

As every schoolchild knows, this line was completed in 1831, to carry minerals and goods between the two destinations.

It was the brainchild of Josias Jessop, who, with his father William Jessop and their former partner Benjamin Outram had gained wide experience in building tramways where conditions were unsuitable for canals.

Even so, as almost the first long distance line at 33 miles, it was a bold venture. To reach its summit at Ladmanlow, it would have to climb a thousand feet from Cromford, making it one of the highest lines ever built in Britain.

The railway was laid using so-called "fishbelly" rails supported on stone blocks, as was common in those days, rather than timber sleepers, since it would be powered by horses on the flat sections.

On the nine inclined planes, stationary steam engines would be used, apart from the last incline into Whaley Bridge, which was counterbalanced and worked by a horse-gin.

The engines, rails and other ironwork were provided by the Butterley Company. It would take around two days to complete the journey.

With its corkscrew curves, it has been described as "being laid out by a mad Archimedes endeavouring to square the circle".

The line was initially under-capitalised because many of the subscribers did not meet their dues, and it was mainly funded by the Butterley Company which was its main creditor.

The final cost was £180,000, more than Jessop's estimate of £155,000, but still much cheaper than a canal.

Nevertheless, the line never achieved a profit. Francis Wright, the Chairman was later to say, in 1862:  "We found ourselves getting into difficulties from the third year of our existence." and added it was clear in retrospect that the line "never had a remote chance of paying a dividend on the original shares."

Clearly the Chunnel of its day.

We went straight on over a bridge to the right and on reaching the canal we traversed a pedestrian bridge which brought us to the other side where we turned right following a sign marked “Goyt Way”.

Sticking to the canal towpath, we went under Bridge 36 and on reaching Bridge 31 we went up a ramp to the right and found ourselves on the road (Marsh Lane) just down from Furness Vale.

We headed as if towards New Mills but having negotiated a bend we took a path immediately on our right.

This brought us out onto a road and we turned left.

We followed a path on the right passing some huge electricity pylons.

We negotiated two stiles and turned left before taking a path on the right.

This brought us through some renovated farm buildings and onto a metalled road which we followed until we reached a T-junction where we turned right.

At the top of an incline we went straight over onto Ollersett Moor.

In 1831, George William Newton JP of Ollersett Hall obtained a private Act of Parliament to supply the farms of his estate and various parts of New Mills using springs from the Moor.

Apparently, "powerful and constant springs of water" were present on Ollersett Moor and their height provided a sufficient head of water to supply farms and much of New Mills by gravity.

                           Library picture of the view from Ollersett Moor on a sunny day.

                                                                Er….what we saw.

We stopped for Pie Time at 10.55am before a stiffish climb, setting off again at 11.09am.

By 11.25am we had reached the large rock where the above photo opportunity presented itself.

This, I believe is Cracken Edge, famous for its quarrying.

The Cracken Edge Quarries were exploited for gritstone in the nineteenth century and probably earlier. There is very little published on the history of the workings.

It was noted for the production of paving stones and roofing slates, and remained open until about 1930

Quite a lot of the output was despatched by train from the goods yard at Chinley, with a first peak in the 1890s when about 16,000 tons per year went via train, declined slowly after then, but there was a brief second peak in 1929 of 11,000 tons for that year.

The Cracken Edge Quarries are noteworthy for the extensive vertical faces created along the edge, where there is good stone. 

Banks of spoil divide a series of working areas, and extensive waste heaps built up as debris was tipped down the steep slope.  There are access tracks and signs of an inclined tramway with a pulley wheel on stone supports at its upper end.  There were also underground stone mines behind the faces, now mostly collapsed, although entrance approach routes between spoil-heaps retained by dry stone walls remain.

Library picture of the quarries

Getting down from Cracken Edge was slightly tricky, given the steepish slopes and slippery stones but we achieved it without incident.

We eventually reached a metalled road where we turned left and at around 12.30pm (alas I did not record the exact time of arrival) we reached the Old Hall Inn at Whitehough.

The three B-walkers were already there, having taken the 199 to Chapel and meandered via Bridgeholme Green and the Tramway Trail to the hostelry.

The highly palatable Marston’s Bitter was £2.70 but it did not tempt your diarist whose annual New Year Resolution (since 2004) is to abstain from alcohol in January.

We left the pub at 1.20pm (without the pleasure of bumping into Edwina Currie, whom we met last time) and went down the hill.

We turned left and stopped for lunch at 1.33pm, resuming our walk at 1.42pm.

While we munched a man emerged from the woods with a dog, holding a mug of tea,  (the man that is, not the dog).

We passed a pond where we spotted three black swans.

Swans

The British Trust for Ornithology claims there are just 65 black swans living in the wild across the UK, compared to around 74,000 mute swans. Although I suspect the three we saw do not qualify as “living in the wild”.

Although indigenous to Australia black swans -Cygnus atratus - were initially brought over to the UK to brighten up ornamental wildfowl collections. The birds used to have their wings clipped but the practice was discontinued a few years ago, allowing some of the swans to escape.

Over the years the birds have managed to thrive alongside native swans, ducks and geese and slowly the population has started to expand.

We reached the canal and followed it until we came to the footbridge we had crossed in the morning.

We re-traced our steps passing Tesco on our left and the several narrowboats until we reached Whaley Bridge, arriving at the Cock at 2.17pm

Next week’s walk will begin from the Wheatsheaf in Old Glossop at 9.45am. We propose to visit the Anchor pub as the half way point around 12.30pm, finishing back at the Wheatsheaf.