Poynton

POYNTON/SPOND HILL/LYME PARK/POYNTON

Distance: 9.93 miles; Avg. Walking Speed 2.65mph; Max Elevation 1073.12ft; Walking Time 3hrs 47mins 18 sec.

Difficulty: Easy

Weather: Wet, wet, wet, wet, wet and then we finished the walk almost dry.

A  Walkers, Julian Ross, John Laverick, Nigel Crank, Mick Barrett.

Apologies: Jock Rooney, Colin Davison, Alan Hart, Tom Cunliffe, Laurie Fairman, and from the B Team Geoff Spurrell, (sunning themselves in Portugal pretending to be on a walking holiday), Peter Beal (domestic duties after cruising in sunny Norway), George Dearsley (too wet, not George but weather), Malcom Halley (in London),

B Walkers: Apologies from all it was a bit too wet.

Leader: Laverick  

Diarist: Laverick

Starting Point: Car Park, Farmers Arms, Poynton

Starting Time: 9.40am (We were waiting for Mick to get his wet weather gear on). Finishing Time: 2.15pm

This is my second diary in an attempt to confirm to my fellow Wanderer’s that I can really do a passable written effort in the English language and more importantly my maiden voyage as a walk leader. 

This I could have handled however George D. phoned to say he thought it was a bit wet and took a leaf out of Harty’s book and wimped out. This resulted in the fact that not only did I have to lead the walk but have to do the diary as well. Executive stress I thought I had left that all behind me.

Being a walk leader I learnt is not an easy thing, for instance your flappy thing gets wet in the rain and to top it all some of the walkers complain about the weather and the paths they are walking.

Any way enough bitching and on to the diary… Sorry no pictures this week it was too wet to risk my phone, no insurance plus it was hard to see past the cloud.

Apart from the maiden leader two intrepid walkers turned up at the appointed hour, where Mr Crank arrived kindly provided continental coffee, the third arrived but then seemed to spend a long time trying to dress in his wet weather gear and missed out on the coffee.

So we ventured forward into the rain climbing up hill towards Spond Hill, looking around us for something that would keep us afloat should Poynton be under water when we returned.

First the boring bit out of the village on the roads; Farmers Arms turning right up Park Lane, turning right on to Clumber Road to the junction turning left on to Dickens Lane and continued past Waterloo Road to Narrow Lane just past the line of white cottages.

Then the good bit on paths; continued up Narrow Lane until we reached the footpath sign on the right that comes out on Wood Lane and just to the side of the Miners. (It should be noted that at this point the Leader received his first moan from one of the  walkers about narrow paths because it made him walk like a model, the Diarist will not mention your name Mick in this diary to save you the embarrassment; OOPS). 

Onward we paddled through the driving rain past the Miners (it was shut) turning left on to Wood Lane East, over the canal and following it up to Lockgate Farm.

Through the stile into the farmyard, out the over another style out of the farmyard turning right behind the farm house to the next strange combination of two styles so close together you can step across between the styles. (The writer would be interested to know why this strange arrangement appeared).

The walkers continued at an angle across the field to the far corner and a gate to a path leading on to Shrigley Road where the walkers turned left.

We continued down the road as far as the XXXX Café, sorry did not record the name but you cannot miss it, it is painted green, and turning left to join the North Cheshire Trail that will lead you up to some very smart residences called Birchencliff Farm. 

It was on the gentle climb up to Birchcliff Farm that I received the second moan, no sorry not a moan but an observation, that I had set a fast pace!! This did confuse the leader as he was normally at the back of the pack and the last up any hills the Wanderer’s venture up, past the desirable residences to join a track between two small lakes. It was raining so hard that the first lake appeared to have sprung a leak and was gushing water all over the track.

Proceeding up the track towards Moorside Lane pie time was called at 10.50hrs, at 908ft, 3.28miles, under the shelter of the last tree the walkers would see for a while. Mr Crank however decided he would be drier standing out in the rain? 

The diarist can only put this down to the amount of time he has spent out of the country. Also we did not need Mr Cunliffe to move us onward on our venture, the walkers were driven forward with the thought of a dry refuge in the Boars Head.

At the junction of the North Cheshire Way and Moorside Lane the Leader made an executive decision and turned left along Moorside Lane rather than proceed upwards into the cloud and even more rain.

Along the North Cheshire Way following the path to the left mark “way to Higher Poynton”, just past Keepers Cottage leaving Moorside Lane and proceeding downhill. The Cage in Lyme Park can be seen from this path through the rain and cloud.

Following the path down to the Methodist Chapel turning sharp right towards Lyme Park West Gate, following up the road past West Gate Farm, another barn conversion for the idle rich to live the country life. (sorry lapsed back into my left wing world there).

Past the new Tory pad (there I go again) walking through the gate, ignoring the road to the left, follow the path up and along the side of Lyme Park below Hase Bank Wood until it meets the track to Lyme House then turned left towards Windgather. Follow the track down over the canal, over the Middlewood Way and low and behold the welcome sight of the Boars Head hove into view at 11.59hrs.

The Black Sheep ale was in good form, (the diarist failed here forgot to ask the price of the beer) apart from Mick who was having a bad day and got the first one out of the pump but was too shy to take it back and complain. 

Also the local entertainment failed to show after all the effort the walker’s put into getting Mr Crank to sit in the corner seat. (Only those on the last Poynton walk will understand the importance of the corner seat in the Boar’s Head).

It was still raining when the walkers left the pub retracing the route over the Middle Way back to the canal turning left in the High Lane direction along the tow path.

Turned left down the Princes Incline where the Leader had found a seat so that lunch could be taken. At the seat more complaints, sorry observations, there was a lovely roaring fire to warm the walkers but apparently the smell of smoke did not agree with the nostrils.

So onwards across Carlton Road until the path on the right is reached. Followed the path through the field past the stables to the Middle Wood Road. Cross the Middlewood Road onto the track/path leading to New House Farm.

At the end of this track the delayed lunch was taken, again not a long one due to the fact that soggy bread does not taste great. One highlight however was a conversation that only can be described as bizarre when Mr Barrett asked if cows were circumcised, the Leader at this point decided it was time to move on.

Through the gate bearing right at an angle towards the style, over the style turning left to follow the fence line down to anther style in the corner of the field.

Over another style turning sharp left to follow the path towards Rabbit Burrow Farm.

Past Rabbit Burrow Farm towards Davenport Golf Club then turn right across the practice ground to join the path through Petre Bank.

Follow path to Towers Road, turn left proceed to Park Lane, turn right and then follow Park Lane which will lead you to the Farmers Arms.

At the end of the walk the maiden leader did ask “how was it for you boys?” There were no comments apart from some sighs so this will be taken as at least a pass and no one seemed to be missing from the starters.

The beer Trooper was is very good form at £3.15 a pint.

The B Team did not turn out.

Next weeks walk unless there are rumbling in the ranks is Errwood Car Park, Goyt Valley, starting at 09.30hrs. It was suggested before but there was snow to stop us. I seem to remember it involved a half time drink in the Cat and Fiddle, (it is open at Lunch time) but I leave it to my more learned friends to suggest a route and an end pub.