Little Hayfield

LITTLE HAYFIELD, BIRCH VALE, OLLERSETT MOOR, BIG ROCK, CRACKEN EDGE, PEEP-A-DAY, KINDER VALE, BOWDEN BRIDGE, THE SPORTSMAN AT HAYFIELD, SNAKE PASS TRAIL, MIDDLE MOOR, PARK HALL POOL AND THE LANTERN PIKE AT LITTLE HAYFIELD

Distance: Nine miles.

Difficulty: Moderate.

Weather: Dry but mostly cloudy.

Walkers:  Mickey Barrett, Chris Corps, Nigel Crank, Russell Crank, Tom Cunliffe, Lawrie Fairman, Alan Hart, John Laverick, Julian Ross and George Whaites.

Apologies: Peter Beal (narrow-boating), Colin Davison (sailing to Holland), George Dearsley (w*^king), Malcolm Halley (long-distance cycling) and Jock Rooney (w*^king in Turkey).

Leader: Cunliffe. Diarist: Hart.

Starting point: Car park of Lantern Pike at Little Hayfield, High Peak.

Starting time: 9.36am. Finishing time: 2pm.

Another Wednesday: another debutant. This week we were happy to welcome a new member to our group for a guest appearance. Russell Crank, brother of Nigel, lives on a working farm in Hayfield and was able to break away from the world of double-glazing to enjoy some of the sights in his neighbourhood previously unseen.

Tom was our leader for the day and, despite a technical fault for crossing a barbed wire fence, he managed to fulfil the main criteria of reaching the two pubs not only on time but a little ahead of schedule. Whether the leader’s badge sub-committee will overlook the illegal manoeuvre on Ollersett Moor remains to be seen. (They will probably sit on the fence)

From The Lantern Pike we headed downhill past the former rented homes of Coronation Street creator Tony Warren and actress Pat Phoenix on our right to pass what was once Clough Calico Printing Mill on our right. It has been converted into luxury apartments, one of which is occupied by George D, to whom we gave a wave as we passed by.

After swinging left beyond the mill we crossed a brook (4mins) and followed a wooden footpath sign to our left (8mins). This took us past a row of cottages (14mins). After passing Lower Cliffe Farm, built in 1713, on our left, we turned left at a wooden public footpath sign (18mins) to emerge by a farmhouse.

We are indebted to Tom for pointing out a washing line surrounded by netting which keeps off flies and dust. Much to his chagrin we were left somewhat underwhelmed by this information, wondering whether this was to be the highlight of our journey.

After heading right along a lane for 50 yards we turned left over a stone step stile, passing a field occupied by hens and guinea fowl. During the course of the day we also saw herons, lapwings and curlews.

We crossed a bridge over the River Sett (24mins) and passed a mill lodge on our left before crossing the Sett Valley Trail and emerging at a main road opposite The Grouse at Birch Vale. After crossing the road and with The Grouse to our right, we entered Morland Road (28mins) to start a long climb up Ollersett Moor. 

We carried straight on at a public bridleway towards Chinley (39mins) and we heard some rebellious mutterings as the ascent continued from a Wanderer sporting a beard and a Geordie accent.

When we reached a three-way crossroads (62mins), Tom consulted his map before leading us straight ahead across moorland in the only direction not indicated by the three fingerposts. This brought us to a low wall and a barbed wire fence (69mins).

Taking a leaf from his former metallurgy tutor’s book, Tom took the obstacle in his stride, showing no hint of surprise or hesitation. A year ago Lawrie might have had great difficulty in surmounting the wire without serious danger of partial castration. But on this occasion, mercifully,  he did not need to find a friend willing to disentangle him.

After clearing the wall and barbed wire, we turned right through an open gateway (71mins) and continued to head upwards until we reached Big Rock on Cracken Edge (74mins) where we stopped for pietime.

Resuming, we dropped down to a path 50 yards below and turned left (76mins) downhill. This brought us past Peep-A-Day, the 200-year-old landmark house, on our left (95mins). A few yards later we turned left on the main road to Glossop and then right uphill following a wooden public footpath sign (97mins).

After a short climb we followed a public footpath sign for the Kinder Valley. After passing Russell’s farm on our left, at a T-junction we turned left (125mins) and crossed Bowden Bridge. We turned left again (131mins) and reached The Sportsman on our right (136mins) just after its noon opening.

Here we enjoyed pints of Thwaites’ Original cask bitter at £2-90. We were persuaded to stay for a second pint, generously bought by Nigel to celebrate his birthday two days earlier. Age seems to have dulled Nigel’s memory for he described himself variously as 47, 53, and, somewhat optimistically, 39. At this point we bade farewell to Russell, who was returning to his farm.

On leaving the pub we turned right along Kinder Road towards Hayfield, then right again at a green public footpath sign (139mins) indicating the way to The Snake Inn. This took us past Twenty Trees, and at a bank by a drystone wall we stopped for lunch (153mins). It was at this point that the familiar cry of the curlew was heard and a pair of lapwings tried to scare us away from their nests on the moor by solicitous flights across our bows.

 After passing through a gate leading on to Middle Moor (164mins), we turned left downhill and emerged at the driveway to Park Hall. This took us past a dazzling display of a variety of rhododendron bushes which were the legacy of an expert, now dead.

Tom offered to take our group to the derelict Park Hall Pool, which was once a commercial, open-air swimming baths. This involved two false starts which clearly lost the confidence of some of his followers, who returned smartly to The Lantern Pike. Those of us who kept faith were rewarded with a fascinating glimpse into the past.

From the side of the bus stop opposite Tom’s pub, we headed uphill, before stepping over a low barbed wire fence and becoming trespassers for the second time. Here in a woodland glade was a remarkable sight. On two levels were the abandoned pool which was still being fed by fresh water from Kinder, with its overflow continuing down and under the main road. The changing rooms and toilets appeared to be still intact, although coated in grease and grime from more than 40 years of neglect.

The deeper of the two pools was occupied by a dozen bright orange carp – an example of what can happen if you give a goldfish a bit more room.

Here, in a microcosm, was a perfect example of the changing face of Britain. In the post-war years, Park Hall Pool had been a magnet for swimmers who came from far and near to visit this beauty spot. But when the Beeching axe fell on Hayfield railway station in 1970, the number of visitors fell into sharp decline and the pool was abandoned.

A subsequent attempt to revive it, Tom informed us, was stymied when a neighbour objected to planning permission being granted and the council upheld his view.

The village of Hayfield has suffered a similar fate. In 1901 it was a boom town with a population of 2,817. Of its 1,351 active workers, 788 were engaged in manufacturing , predominantly at the calico and print works and in weaving; 308 were in the service industries of which 140 were in the retail trade, 69 were quarrying and 46 farming.

The population was served by 17 pubs, eight grocers’ shops, seven greengrocers, seven butcher, two bakers, two tripe dealers, two confectioners, two newsagents, two chemists, one bookseller, one hairdresser and a yeast dealer. There were 15 dressmakers’ shops, 12 boot and shoe retailers, eight tailors, four drapers, six laundries, two milliners and one clogger.

Today, with a population of 2,615, Hayfield has eight pubs, two restaurants, two hairdressers, two antique shops, two surgeries, two motor dealers, one fish and chip shop, one butcher’s, one florist, one greengrocer, one general store, one health food shop, one gift shop, one art gallery, one newsagent, one chemist, one post office and one estate agent.

The arrival of the railway in 1868 seems to have brought about the rise in Hayfield’s fortunes. Its closure in 1970 seems to have marked its commercial decline. Discuss.

Despite the reduction in amenities, however, Hayfield’s popularity as a rural retreat has continued to grow. Its house prices continue to soar and are among the dearest in The High Peak area.

After our visit  to Park Hall Pool, we rejoined the rest of the nine-strong party at The Lantern Pike for pints of Timothy Taylor’s excellent Landlord cask bitter and chip butties generously provided by Tom.

Walkers; Wally, Tony, Ken.    Apologies: Pete (domestic duties) and Geoff (taking Gill to Oswestry for another mini op.

Route: Bollington Rangers' car park - F.Smith pie shop - Ingersley Vale - Virgins' path - Flagg Cottage - Kerridge Ridge - White Nancy - Kerridge - Bollington.

Wally had printed off 2 different walks, but Ken needed a pie, so when we reached the pie shop, we were not on one of Wally's routes. Ken suggested White Nancy; after chatting to a younger couple, we decided to attempt the ascent of Kerridge Ridge by a zig-zag path starting by the dam below Rainow. Ken would have led us back to Ingersley Vale, but we stayed put until he came back. After lunch at White Nancy, we descended towards Kerridge, and hit on an open Bulls Head. Emerging after a single pint (beer OK), we turned right, then headed left downhill, which brought us via the canal to the public library opposite the rec, and hence to the D & P., where we were joined by Geoff.

Stats:

Stats.

Mileage 4.75

Elevation 1116 feet

Average speed 1.46 mph

Fastest 3.73 mph

Time 2.55 hours

Next week’s walk will start at 9.55am from the main square in Longnor, Derbyshire, with a break at The Hartington Arms, Hartington, around 12.30pm. Our final watering hole has still to be decided, depending on whether Frank Dudley can be tempted out to celebrate his 97^th birthday.