Allgreave

THE ROSE AND CROWN AT ALLGREAVE, EAGLE AND CHILD (DECEASED), BURNT CLIFF TOP FARM, GRADBACH YOUTH HOSTEL, ROACHES, HANGING STONE, SWYTHAMLEY HALL, ASH MOUNT COTTAGE, DANEBRIDGE, WINCLE BREWERY, THE SHIP AT WINCLE, HOG CLOUGH, ALL MEADOWS FARM, LONGDALE FARM, ALLGREAVE METHODIST CHAPEL, THE OLD KING’S HEAD AT GURNETT

Distance: 9 miles.

Difficulty: Easy.

Weather: Cloudy with light showers.

Walkers: Mickey Barrett, Peter Beal, Colin Davison, Lawrie Fairman, Alan Hart and George Whaites.

B walkers: To be added.

Apologies: Tom Cunliffe (bruised heel), Nigel Crank (preparing for Portuguese hols), Chris Corps (upset stomach), George Dearsley (Turkish hols), John Laverick (revisiting roots in Geordieland), Jock Rooney (walking coast to coast in the Isle of Man), and Julian Ross (hols).

Leader: Fairman. Diarist: Hart.

Starting point: Car park of The Rose and Crown at Allgreave, on the A54 Congleton-Buxton road.

Starting time: 9.45am. Finishing time: 2.25pm.

It has been said of many a man found lacking that he couldn’t organise a piss-up in a brewery. Well that remark cannot be laid at the door of our leader Lawrie, who managed to incorporate this activity into our walk.

The heatwave, which followed disappointing weather in May and June, disappeared for the last day of July and was replaced with light drizzle and a series of showers. Forecasters had predicted such weather so we were suitably attired with some of us adding umbrellas to our kit.

With schoolchildren taking their long summer break, we saw evidence of several scout camps which brought back memories of yesteryear – leaking tents, sodden ground sheets, cold baked beans and ludicrous songs around the campfire. We learned that all six walkers had been wolf cubs or scouts at some stage so Baden Powell has a lot to answer for. There was also talk of woggles, bushman’s thongs and other fashion accessories for scouts, of which more later.

The Rose and Crown at Allgreave is closed for renovation work while the new owners, Ian and Luda, serve six months notice at the nearby Hanging Gate where they have a contract with Hyde’s Brewery. They expect to have it up and running by January.

From its car park we went down to the side of the pub and turned left uphill. We soon reached a field on our right where five alpacas were grazing. One of them reared up by a gate, apparently trying to attract our attention.

George and Alpaca

This had a bizarre effect on Colin, who tried to copy the animal’s behaviour while emitting strange moaning noises. Whether the alpaca believed them to be a challenge or a mating call is uncertain. In any event it was not amused and appeared to be preparing to spit at him. This involves the bringing up of the acidic stomach contents and would have resulted in Colin being covered in green slime. What a shame that would have been.

As every schoolboy knows, alpacas are a domesticated species of South American camel which graze on level sections of the Andes in Peru, Bolivia, Ecuador and Chile at altitudes of 11,000 to 16,000 feet. One would have expected them to feel quite seasick in the lowlands of Cheshire. They are not bred as beasts of burden, like their large cousin, the llama, but for their coats which are converted into blankets, sweaters, socks, coats and bedding.

Interestingly, they use a communal dung pile and the males have much tidier and fewer dung piles than females. Alpaca females tend to stand in line and all go at once (rather like the girls at Sale Locarno in the Swinging Sixties)

After Colin had bade a lingering farewell to his new chum, we passed a house on the left (26mins) which had once been a pub called The Eagle and Child at Wildboarclough. A childish drawing of a bird, looking more like a blackbird than an eagle, hovering over a helpless infant, still adorned the wall of the former inn, which was built in 1753.

On our right (30mins) we came to Midgley Gate Barn, which announced it had no connection with Burnt Cliff Top, a neighbouring farmhouse. This indicated a feud was simmering between the respective owners, Messrs Picton and McInnes, unless it signals the start of a new trend (in which case can I be the first to register 68, London Road North, Poynton, as having no connection with Buckingham Palace or The Taj Mahal ?)

At a footpath sign we turned right (33mins) passing a cottage on our left and exited via a wooden stile in the right corner marked with a yellow arrow (35mins). We crossed a stone step stile on our right and headed diagonally downhill through waist-high ferns, which produced the second moans of the day from Colin.

After crossing a footbridge over the River Dane, we reached Gradbach Youth Hostel on our left (45mins). We turned right along a footpath with the Dane on our right. At the end of the fenced-in field, we turned left uphill to reach a five-barred wooden gate on our right (53mins). We went through this and followed a track downhill.

We went left over a stone step stile (55mins) and turned right downhill. After crossing a footbridge we turned left (56mins) at a wooden public footpath sign for Roaches. After a steady march uphill through the woods we reached a glade and stopped for Pietime (74mins).

Continuing, we followed the wooden public footpath sign marked “Roaches” and reached a wooden stile (84mins). Some 50 yards ahead of us were Bare Stones at the start of The Roaches. Instead of heading uphill towards them we turned right following a wooden public footpath sign for Lud’s Church and Swythamley. To our left was Tittesworth Reservoir in the mist below.

Tittesworth Reservoir

We reached a junction of paths and turned left following a sign for Danebridge (96mins). Above us to our right was a crag where a raven and a crow were engaged in an aerial battle for supremacy. We passed Hanging Stone on our right and turned left heading downhill (121mins). 

This took us past the grounds of Swythamley Hall on our left and Park House. To our right we spotted a low-flying buzzard with its call similar to the peewit. Normally buzzards are seen gliding high in the sky and they are surprisingly large when observed at close quarters.

Just before we reached a large house on our left we swung sharp right to cross a wooden stile (138mins) and then plunged left downhill between two rows of trees. We emerged by Ash Mount Cottage on our right (140mins), turned left and then swung right downhill. 

This took us past Danebridge Methodist Church, below the road on our left and over the River Dane (144mins). As we started to climb uphill for a livener in The Ship, we spotted The Wincle Brewery on our left, where visitors are invited to try “a snifter.” Link here.

Wincle Brewery

We were happy to oblige, and then discovered that their cask-conditioned bitters, Life of Riley, Summer Lass and Sir Sidney, were on sale at £2-50 a pint. 

In the absence of rain we were able to sit on benches outside and discuss our various scouting experiences. It emerged that Mickey had been in Mallory patrol at the Holy Innocents Church troop in Fallowfield, where he wore a yellow and green necker. Peter B was with the Guy Gibson patrol in the 5^th St Mary’s troop in Leeds, wearing a purple necker with an emblem of a cock on it! He also wore a braided leather lanyard, known as a bushman’s thong, and went on to become a queen’s scout (He refused to name the queen involved). 

Lawrie was a member of the 1^st Heaton troop in Newcastle, where he wore a beret and shorts. George W attained the giddy rank of sixer with the 165^th Manchester wolf cubs, wearing the same green and yellow necker as Mickey. Your diarist was a sixer with 14^th Sale wolf cubs and then a member of Curlew patrol with Altrincham Grammar School’s 3^rd Altrincham troop. He wore the Canadian mountie style of hat favoured by Baden Powell, a pair of flared knee-length shorts in the style of Eric Morecambe, and carried a staff.

It will surprise nobody to learn that Colin headed the list for sartorial elegance in the 1^st North Leeds Strachan’s Caledonians, where he wore a green shirt with matching beret, a Stewart tartan kilt with matching necker, and a skean dhu down his sock. This was a sheath knife which he probably needed for protection against a local DJ called Jimmy Savile. 

Resuming our journey, we continued uphill, passing The Ship at Wincle (149mins) and turning right at a public footpath sign (150mins) which led us up steps and over a wooden stile into woods at Hog Clough (156mins). We crossed a footbridge and emerged via a wooden stile into a field (158mins). A stone step stile took us into a gravel yard (161mins) and we turned right uphill. Lunch was taken under the shelter of a large oak tree (162mins).

After lunch we went through a gate marked with a yellow arrow and turned left. We made the mistake of descending into a wood, instead of keeping to the high ground, which we had to rectify by heading upwards and climbing over a fence. 

Emerging at All Meadows Farm, we reached a road and turned right (196mins). We passed Longdale Farm on our right (199mins) and reached the main A54 road.

After turning right downhill, we passed Allgreave Methodist Church on our left and swung left round a sharp bend to return to The Rose and Crown on our right (207mins). After de-booting, we drove to The Old King’s Head at Gurnett for a selection of cask bitters at £3 a pint.

Old King's Head, Gurnett

Next week’s walk will start from The Cock at Whaley Bridge at 9.35am, calling at The Shady Oak, Fernilee, around 12.30pm and finishing back at The Cock around 2.15pm.

New Mills

NEW MILLS, THE TORRS, SETT VALLEY TRAIL, THORNSETT, BATE MILL, GOLDEN SPRINGS, CARR NOOK FARM, THE MOORFIELD ARMS, SPRINGBANK FARM, UPPER BRADSHAW FARM. CHATTERTON END FARM, THE ODDFELLOWS ARMS AND THE DEVONSHIRE ARMS AT MELLOR, LINNET CLOUGH, TARDEN FARM STABLES, MELLOR AND TOWNCLIFFE GOLF CLUB, NEW MILLS GOLF CLUB, AND PRIDE OF THE PEAKS AT NEW MILLS

Distance: Ten miles.

Difficulty: Easy.

Weather: Warm, dry and sunny.

Walkers: Nigel Crank, Colin Davison, Lawrie Fairman, Alan Hart, John Jones and George Whaites.

B walkers: B walkers were Geoff Spurrell, Tony Job, Ken Sparrow, Mike Walton and Pete Morrall

Apologies: Mickey Barrett (hols), Peter Beal (narrow-boating), George Dearsley (Turkish hols), John Laverick (visiting Shrewsbury), Jock Rooney (Isle of Man hols) and Julian Ross (hols).

Leader: Davison. Diarist: Hart.

Starting point: Car park of Pride of the Peaks pub, New Mills.

Starting time: 9.38am. Finishing time: 2.45pm.

There’s many a slip twixt cup and lip, as our leader found to his embarrassment during this splendid rural walk through the farmyards and fields of north Derbyshire. The route had been impeccable from New Mills to Mellor. It would seem churlish to even mention the fact that Colin had set off with the wrong map in his rucksack – or indeed to point out that he had changed the starting point without informing us.

We had reached pietime without faltering and it was possible to detect a smile of smug satisfaction on our leader’s face as we walked the last few yards to The Oddfellows Arms at Mellor two minutes ahead of schedule. 

Alas and alack. The pub was closed and the smugness evaporated before our eyes.

Happily The Devonshire Arms was only a quarter of a mile away and the Wednesday Wanderers are nothing if not flexible and forgiving. The alternative pub proved a worthy substitute, as did the Pride of the Peaks, which had replaced The Royal Oak as our final watering hole.

So let us not quibble. It was a thoroughly enjoyable walk, containing an entertaining interlude when George was both hounded and badgered by a pony.

From the car park we turned right across the front of the pub and right down Rock Street towards The Torrs. With the viaduct to our right, we turned left along the Sett Valley Trail (4mins) which we followed until we reached the road on the edge of Thornsett (16mins). 

We walked past the sign for Thornsett and Thornsett Cemetery on our right, crossing the River Sett and turning left at a T-junction into Batemill Road towards New Mills. We crossed the road and walked to the left of Bate Mill Trade Centre (26mins) and followed a footpath. When the path ended we turned left into a field and right through a gate marked with a yellow arrow (31mins).

The unmarked path was through a garden which we exited via a wooden stile on our left (34mins). The route lay straight ahead through fields and over stiles until we reached a wide mown path. We turned left uphill to the left of a farm cottage (42mins).

Reaching a lane we turned first right down to the cottage called Golden Springs and then left at a wooden public footpath sign (46mins). A stone step stile brought us out opposite a farmhouse commanding magnificent views across the hillside. It is for sale and an inquiry by your diarist elicited further details. It has four bedrooms, three reception rooms and two bathrooms. 

With more than an acre of garden it is on the market for £699,950, or you can take it with 17 acres of land for £760,000.

We turned left uphill (51mins) then right at a wooden public footpath sign (53mins), following the right of two alternative paths. Aftercrossing a particularly awkward stone step stile, we crossed a ladder stile and a footbridge (63mins). At a wooden public footpath sign we turned left over a wooden stile (69mins) and headed uphill.

To our right a pair of wooden sleepers provided adequate seats for pietime (72mins). Our picnic was interrupted by the arrival of a pony which wanted to share George’s sandwich.

George and the pony

The animal’s persistence and George’s increasing irritation were the source of general amusement. Eventually Nigel managed to distract the pony by allowing it to nibble his nuts (Is this legal? Ed.)

We also have Nigel to thank for producing a map of the area which he had found during last week’s walk. The introduction of a flappy thing served initially to delay us while Colin and Lawrie consulted the oracle rather than continuing to rely on the instinct which had served so well thus far.

Resuming, we headed downhill diagonally right and crossed a wooden stile (79mins) then a stone step stile with a wire mesh gate which led into a garden (81mins). We passed a farmhouse and turned left into a field heading uphill. We emerged at The Moorfield Arms, near Rowarth (87mins), and turned right.

On reaching Springbank Farm we turned left (92mins) at a public footpath sign which took us through Upper Bradshaw Farm (94mins). We exited via a stone step stile by the side of a gate and turned right (96mins). After crossing a wooden stile (98mins) we headed diagonally left through a field to the left of a group of farm buildings. We crossed a stile marked with a yellow arrow between an electrified fence and went to the left of a renovated farm.

Beyond the farm we went left downhill and at the end of the paved farm lane we turned right downhill (112mins). After passing Chatterton End Farm on our right we turned left up some steps (117mins). The route was straight ahead through a gate keeping a drystone wall on our right. We crossed a stone step stile marked with a yellow arrow (122mins) and entered a farmyards, turning right and then left following a public footpath sign towards Mellor (124mins).

Mellor from the air

After crossing a stone step stile we followed a stony track and turned right through a wooden gate uphill (128mins). With Mellor Church in view 150 yards ahead, we crossed a stile on our left and went downhill through a field, squeezing through a tiny gap stile and right through a gate marked with a yellow arrow (145mins). We turned right down a cobbled street with Hillside Cottage on our left and reached the main road, turned left and after 50 yards arrived at The Oddfellows Arms (150mins).

Our leader was bemused, protesting that the pub had always been open at lunchtimes on several visits earlier this year. Rebellion was quickly averted with the news that The Devonshire Arms was a quarter of a mile away. 

Retracing our footsteps we continued downhill to reach the pub on our right (162mins) and sample the delights of mild at £2-90 a pint with Robbies’ Unicorn cask bitter at £3. The beer garden provided an idyllic setting in the summer sunshine. All we lacked was the sound of a cuckoo.

Leaving with some reluctance, we crossed into Gibb Lane and forked right towards Linnet Clough Scout Camp (167mins). We passed Primrose and Rose Cottages on our right and reached Tarden Farm Stables on our right (174mins). At this point two familiar figures came into view on bicycles. 

Our former walking companion Phil Welsh and his son Xander were on a cycle ride so they stopped to chat. Continuing, we reached Mellor and Towncliffe Golf Club and turned left to stop for lunch on a convenient wall (179mins). Resuming, we passed The Banks on our left (187mins) and took the left fork uphill, passing Lily Bank Farm Cottage on our left (191mins). At a T-junction we turned left uphill (197mins).

At a public footpath sign we turned left and headed uphill and diagonally right to reach a stone step stile (207mins). We turned right, crossed a footbridge (211mins) and turned right again. We squeezed through a gap stile to cross a field (212mins), crossed a wooden stile and turned left (213mins). At a public footpath sign we turned right into New Mills Golf Club (218mins).

After crossing a fairway we left the golf course by a stone step stile (222mins). We reached a road and turned right downhill (225mins). After 40 yards we turned left at a public footpath sign (226mins). This was the start of a series of footpaths leading downhill through a post-war housing estate.

We eventually emerged into a road with a school on our left and and a building firm on our right. We reached the main road at the end of Meadow Street and turned right, passing New Mills Town Hall on our right (233mins) and arriving at the Pride of the Peaks (236mins).

For the B Walkers this was more a bus trip than a walk, but both offered a share of the delights of the White Peak on a glorious day. We got the 10 am TP (Trans Peak) bus from the Rising Sun, which took us via Buxton, Chelmorton and Taddington to Ashford-in-the-Water. 

After a pause on the sheepwash bridge, we returned to the cricket ground, and took a path along the Wye to Bakewell. This led us across fields, before hitting the busy A6 again. After passing the Riverside business centre, we crossed the river, and followed a path into the centre of Bakewell. The first pub we encountered was the Castle Inn, with a pleasant beer garden, and bitter at about £2.75 a pint. 

We crossed the river again, and strolled South through the Show ground as far as the A6 again, but found a path back to the centre through allotments and a park adjoining the cricket ground. The TP buses run hourly at this time as far as Buxton. so we got the first bus to Buxton market place, and settled down outside the Eagle for pints of Hydes' Original at £2 a pint, Carling £2.25. Then it was time to get the 4.05 pm 199 bus back to Hazel Grove.

TP bus service from Manchester to Nottingham is mainly July and August only.

*The phrase “There’s many a slip twixt cup and lip is believed to have its roots in Greek mythology. When one of the Argonauts ventured on their epic voyage, he was warned by a soothsayer that he would never again enjoy a glass of his home-made wine. After returning many years later from a series of perilous adventures, the Argonaut poured wine into his goblet and scoffed at the soothsayer’s pessimism. But before he could drink the wine, he heard that a boar had been spotted in his vineyard. The doughty Argonaut put down the goblet, went out to hunt the boar, fell off his horse and died. Colin would be well-advised to stay clear of bores in future !

Next week’s walk will start at 9.45am from the car park of The Rose and Crown at Allgreave, on the A54 Congleton to Buxton road. Lawrie has promised to direct us round a route which will take us to The Ship at Wincle for a livener around 12.20pm. We will return to The Rose and Crown around 2.15pm. As this diary goes to press it is not clear whether The Rose and Crown has yet reopened with our Estonian landlady Ludmilla behind the pumps. Should it be closed, we will drive from its car park to The Old King’s Head at Gurnett, Macclesfield, for further refreshment.

Poynton

POYNTON/SPOND HILL/LYME PARK/POYNTON

Distance: 10.36 miles; Avg. Walking Speed 3.25mph; Max Elevation 1082.04ft; Elevation Gain 1073.73ft.

Difficulty: Easy

Weather: Hot and sunny.

A  Walkers, Julian Ross, John Laverick, Nigel Crank, Chris Corps, Colin Davison, Alan Hart, George Whaites, Jock Rooney and Tips, Syd Marland

Apologies: Tom Cunliffe poorly foot, Laurie Fairman campervan holiday, George Dearsley long Turkish holiday, Peter Beal narrow boating holiday, Malcom Halley holiday, Micky Barrett  steam train trip down memory lane and from the B Team Geoff Spurrell yet another holiday, Mike Walton poorly knee.

B Walkers: Tony Job, Peter Morrell, Ken Sparrow.

Non Walking Drinkers: Mike Walton, Chris Wood

Leader: Laverick, Diarist: Laverick 

Starting Point: Alan Hart's house.

Starting Time: 09.40hours. Finishing Time: 14:15hours.

The day started well with bacon butties kindly provided by Mr Hart. Our new walker Syd Marland was introduced and welcomed into the group for his maiden walk. Colin was of course welcomed back after bobbing about on the North Sea and more recently annoying the Welsh.

Leaving the house the group turned right picking up the public footpath that runs through a thin belt of trees and leads onto Towers Road. Turn right onto Towers Road walking along until it crosses the Princess Incline turning left to follow the Incline until it crosses the track just before entering Prince's Wood, turn right on to the track. Follow the track through the golf course until it joins the Middlewood Road.

Cross the Middlewood Road to walk up a short slope to the right of the old bridge support over a style towards the stables past the stables towards the next style. Over the style towards a metal gate. Through the gate following the footpath to a style on the left. Over this style following the path to yet more styles which comes out eventually to Coppice Road.

Cross Coppice Road into the left hand rough road, where a non alcoholic drink was taken due to the heat. It was at this point that one of our walkers mentioned Mr Darcy again. The Coppice, and follow until it splits, take right hand track proceeding along the track until the footpath sign to Wards End Bridge. Turn left following the footpath to the bridge, over the bridge turn right following the path to Narrow Lane. Turn right proceed a short distance until the footpath sign, to Miners, on the left is encountered, turn left and follow this path which will arrive at Wood Lane West.

Turn right past the Miners (it was shut) turning left on to Wood Lane East, over the canal and following the track up to Lockgate Farm. 

Through the stile into the farmyard, out the over another stile out of the farmyard turning right behind the farm house to the next strange combination of two stiles you can step across between the stiles. 

(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.

Pie time was called at 11:08am and finished at 11:15am. At this point there were shouts of dissent pointing out that Tom was not on the walk plus they also decided to rename the Walk Leader John Thomas or Dick for short. 

A second time leader trying to gain his spurs should not be subjected to such dissent but I thought at least Tom would be pround of me.

Proceeding to Shrigley Road where the walkers turned left and continued down the road as far as the Coffee Pot Café. 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,  past the desirable residences to join a track between two small lakes proceeding up the track towards Moorside Lane.

At the junction of the North Cheshire Way and Moorside Lane the Leader made an executive decision and turned left along Moorside Lane which is 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.

Following the path down to the Methodist Chapel turning sharp right towards Lyme Park West Gate, following up the road past West Gate Farm 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 12.34hrs.

Boar's Head

The B Team were already in residence. The Black Sheep ale was in good form, as was the Thwates Original at £2.86 each

After a 45minute refresher break the Wanderers were rounded up and lead back to the canal, turned left and proceeded to Princes Incline on the left. Down the incline to London Road turning right to reach the Bull's Head at 14:15 hours.

The Summer Girl ale hit the right spot at £3 per pint and the Wanderers thank Sally for the excellent sandwiches.

A Team next weeks walk meeting at 9.30am in the car park of  The Royal Oak at New Mills. The first refreshment will be taken around 12.15pm at a pub called The Oddfellows somewhere near Mellor, returning to The Royal Oak around 2.20pm. I believe Colin was going to seek permission for us to leave about three or four cars.

B Team Walk Report Tony Job

Route: 393 bus from Poynton Church to just above Shrigley Hall.

Walk: Cross onto Long Lane towards Bollington, take one of many paths down to Styperson Pool, enjoying shady woods. Turn right at road for Poynton, then left at footpath sign, continue to canal bridge, then along canal to Higher Poynton, reaching Boar's Head at 12.20 (before the A-team).

After medicinal Black Sheep, down Anson Road, then right through Davenport G.C., as far as Prince's Incline, and down to the Bull for bitter at £3 a pint, inclusive of butties.

B Team next week: Possible TP bus journey from Rising Sun (10am) to Ashford-in-the-Water, gentle walk to Bakewell, and return bus about 2pm. The trouble is buses only 3 hourly!

High Lane

HIGH LANE, LYME PARK, LYME CAGE, LYME HALL, DEER PARK, MONKHOUSE MEMORIAL, BOWSTONES, HANDLEY FOOT, MOORSIDE HOTEL, RINGSTONES CARAVAN PARK, THE SOLDIER DICK AT FURNESS VALE, THE PEAK FOREST CANAL, HIGGINS CLOUGH, DISLEY, AND THE HORSESHOE AT HIGH LANE

Distance: 12 miles.

Difficulty: Moderate.

 Weather: Dry and warm, but cloudy with a gentle breeze.

Walkers: Mickey Barrett, Nigel Crank, Alan Hart, John Laverick, Jock Rooney plus Tips, Julian Ross and George Whaites.

B walkers: Tony Job, Peter Morrall and Ken Sparrow.

Apologies: Peter Beal (narrowboating), George Dearsley (Turkey hols), Colin Davison (Welsh hols), Geoff Spurrell (French hols) and Mike Walton (wounded knee).

Leader: Hart. Diarist: Hart.

Starting point: Outside Colin's home at 11, Carr Brow, High Lane.

Starting time: 9.17am. Finishing time: 2.43pm.

Senior moments are a natural hazard and occasional source of joy for the Wednesday Wanderers. There have been many occasions when Lawrie has arrived the best part of an hour early, only to discover at the last moment that his boots were standing on the drive of his home 20 miles away. This usually happened on an extremely muddy day. The same affliction was suffered by George W.

One time your diarist emptied his entire rucksack to search for the walking socks he clearly remembered packing, only to find he was already wearing them. Jock once set off but had to return with an empty lead after 200 yards when he remembered that Tips was still in the car.

On this occasion it was John who provided the entertainment. While marching metaphorically to the tune of The Happy Wanderer, long before the Valderee, Valderah, let alone the Valderahahahahahahahah section, he reached the line "And as I go, I love to sling my knapsack on my back." He was then heard to mutter: "Oh bother. What a silly boy I am."  - or words to that effect, before returning to George's car to pick up his rucksack

Holidays had once again taken their toll on our numbers, but Mickey made a welcome return after his sailing trip off the coast of Turkey to buy us a belated drink in celebration of his 63^rd birthday last month. For he's a jolly good fellow, and so say all of us.

                                     Free parking provided by Colin.

From outside Colin's house we walked back to the A6, crossed the road and turned left until we reached Park Road and turned right downhill (8mins). After awaiting John's return to complete The Magnificent Seven, we went left into Woodlands Road (10mins) and along a path leading to a T-junction. We turned right downhill (12mins) and then left over a wooden stile towards Bollinhurst (13mins) along the Ladybridge Trail. After crossing a stream on our left via a footbridge, we went right over a ladder stile and into Lyme Park (24mins).

We turned right at the ticket cabin and soon left the road by a path on the left which led us to Lyme Cage (28mins), pausing to admire the view and catch our collective breath after a continuous climb. Continuing (31mins), we passed the entrance to Lyme Hall on our left, the foyer and the picnic area to aim for the left corner of the car park.

This brought us to the entrance to the deer park (43mins) and another opportunity to admire the view across the lake to the hall. This is now known as "Darcy's Lake" since it was the setting for Mr Darcy's plunge in the BBC adaptation of Jane Austen's novel, Pride and Prejudice. After passing the lake on our left we spotted a small group of fallow deer grazing a few yards to the right of our path.

Spot Mr Darcy

After reaching the exit gate to the deer park (53mins) we turned right uphill and climbed over a ladder stile (54mins). Another long climb brought us to the memorial to Alan Monkhouse, literary editor of the Manchester Guardian (72mins). We continued ever upwards until we reached Bowstones Farm (88mins) and paused for pietime.

             Mr Hart trying to educate, (not sure about the dodgy shorts)

In the absence of the impatient Tom, we lingered for 15 minutes before following the footpath sign for Whaley Bridge via Handley Foot. This took us down through a series of fields and stiles until we reached a road by the side of a farm (103mins). We turned left, passing Handley Barn Farm on our left (109mins), before heading right at a public footpath sign on our right (110mins). This soon led us across a footbridge over a stream and a choice of footpaths.

We followed the one heading left, numbered 54, and walked through fields until we came to a gravel track running across our route. The Moorside Hotel, in the process of being converted into a home for wayward juveniles, was to our left covered in scaffolding. We can only suppose the authorities were adding pool tables, plasma TV screens and bidets to make the facilities acceptable.

We turned right (116mins), heading slightly uphill. Some 20 yards before we reached a cattle-grid, we turned left uphill (119mins) and over a ladder stile (123mins). The route now afforded us splendid views to our right across the picturesque valley as we walked along a flat beaten path just below a ridge. We crossed a footbridge ((132mins) and went over a wooden stile (133mins) before crossing a stone step stile to reach a road (137mins).

After turning left for 80 yards we went right following a wooden footpath sign (138mins) which took us over a wooden stile (143mins). We exited a field on our left through an open gateway (148mins) and went through a farmyard (152mins).

Continuing downhill along a gravel track, we turned left at the entrance to Ringstones Caravan Park on our right (155mins). The track became a tarmac road called Yeardsley Lane, which we followed downhill until we reached the A6 (162mins). A left turn soon brought us to The Soldier Dick on the left (163mins).

B walkers Tony Job, Pete Morrall and Ken Sparrow had just arrived to avail themselves of a choice of well-kept cask beers, including Bad ToThe Bone, at £2-70 a pint. Just before we left, a group of kindred spirits arrived in the form of some retired railway workers sporting matching ties. I am indebted to John for discovering that they had all been employed by British Rail in Manchester in various capacities, and they all called for a tipple at 5pm before heading home from work. In comradely fashion, they continued to meet regularly for pub visits after their retirements. We salute them.

Suitably refreshed, we left the pub and turned right back to the traffic lights, where we crossed the road and headed left downhill over the level crossing. This took us to The Peak Forest Canal (166mins) where we turned left to walk along the towpath with Furness Vale Marina on our left. Lunch was taken on a bench near the Swizzels factory at New Mills (190mins).

As we continued past the factory on our right the aroma of Love Hearts was heard to bring nostalgic sighs from some of our group. We walked on until we reached Higgins Clough Swing Bridge (No. 25) where we turned left (217mins). This took us uphill under a rail bridge until we reached the A6 again and turned right (225mins).

There then followed a somewhat tedious walk along the A6 for more than a mile until we reached Carr Brow on our right (248mins) and turned right back to our cars.

After de-booting we returned to the A6 in our cars, turned right and reached The Horseshoe at High Lane on our right at the first set of traffic lights. Here we were reunited with the B walkers and enjoyed Robbies' Unicorn at £2-80 a pint after the Trooper cask bitter costing £3 had been rejected and replaced by the landlord. Mickey kindly stood the first round.

Next week's walk will start with a meeting at your diarist's home, 68, London Road North, Poynton, Cheshire SK12 1BY, at 9am with bacon butties, accompanied if requested by brown sauce. We will then leave around 9.40am for a walk led by John through the southern section of Lyme Park and Sponds Hill prior to a livener at The Boar's Head, Higher Poynton, around 12.20pm.

John will then lead us via Princes Incline to The Bull's Head in Poynton, arriving at about 2.30pm. I am reliably informed that sandwiches will then be provided.

   

Taddington

TADDINGTON, ROCK LODGE FARM, PRIESTCLIFFE, WYE VALLEY, MONSAL TRAIL, CHEE TOR TUNNEL, TOPLEY PIKE, THE CHURCH INN AT CHELMORTON, BANK PIT SPRING, SOUGH TOP AND THE QUEEN'S ARMS AT TADDINGTON

Distance: 9 miles.

Difficulty: Moderate.

Weather: Dry with early cloud giving way to sunshine.

Walkers: Chris Corps, Nigel Crank, Tom Cunliffe, Lawrie Fairman, Alan Hart, John Laverick and George Whaites.

B walkers: Tony Job, Pete Morrall, Geoff Spurrell, Mike Walton and Chris Wood.

Apologies: Mickey Barrett (hols),Peter Beal (narrow-boating), George Dearsley (Turkish hols), Jock Rooney (diving instruction), Julian Ross (lecturing), Ken Sparrow (hols).

Leaders: Fairman and Hart. Diarist: Hart.

Starting point: Outside Queenís Arms, Taddington, near Buxton, Derbsyhire.

Starting time: 9.55am. Finishing time: 2.17pm.

Our faith in the meteorologists was rewarded when early morning drizzle on the drive to our starting point finally ended as we passed through Buxton. By the time we reached the White Peak village of Taddington the dark rainclouds were beginning to disappear and were replaced by the friendly white fluffy ones.

The focal point of the walk was a cracking village pub recommended by your diarist reached by a route plotted by Lawrie. Despite our early misgivings when we set off by walking for the best part of two miles away from the pub, a loop to the left put us on course as Lawrie had assured us it would (why do some of you doubt him?), and we reached our main targets on time.

This was not before a high-speed headlong fall had sent your diarist sprawling, to general merriment.

With the Queenís Arms on our right, we walked uphill, turning right at a public footpath sign before the Old Post Office (4mins). Following the path first right and then left, we reached the A6 (8mins) and turned left. After 40 yards we turned right at a wooden public footpath sign and kept to the right edge of a field.

The path led us through two gates to the right of the field. After the second one we turned left and left again (12mins) to reach a lane (20mins) where we turned right. After passing Rock Lodge Farm on our right (23mins) we entered the hamlet of Priestcliffe, with Priestcliffe House on our right (27mins). We passed Lydgate Farm on our left and followed a wooden footpath sign for Millers Dale (30mins).

The path reached a T-junction where we turned right (46mins). It came to a road (51mins) where we turned left uphill for 60 yards before turning right through a gate marked with a wooden public footpath sign (53mins). After going through a gate marked with a yellow arrow we turned left for a few yards before veering right uphill and following a row of trees until we reached a path on the right through a wood (60mins).

This took us down to the Monsal Trail in Wye Valley  where we turned left (64mins) to walk along the former railway line which heads east out of Buxton. The source of the  Wye is Axe Head Moor and it runs east for 15 miles before joining the Derwent at Rowsley.

When the railway line was built with trains emerging from a tunnel at Monsal Head across a viaduct, art critic John Ruskin described it as an abomination, ìtaking every Buxton fool to Bakewell in half an hour and vice versa.î Ironically, although the railway line fell under the Beeching axe, the surviving viaduct despised by Ruskin is now a listed building.

After walking through the Chee Tor tunnel towards Buxton we stopped for lunch on a convenient bridge wall (66mins).  Continuing, we walked through Chee Tor Number 2 Tunnel and through Rusher Cutting Tunnel (70mins).

Your diarist overshot a gentle slope on the left leading to the riverbank below (84mins). In trying to negotiate a steeper descent rather than go back, he found himself running at breakneck speed down a shale slope, finally falling headlong as the ground flattened. This brought hoots of derision from his chums.

The pain from the scratches and bruises, dear readers, was trivial compared to the psychological scars suffered by such lack of sympathy. Clearly schadenfreude is not confined to Harry Hun and his comrades.

We proceeded along the riverbank with the Wye on our right. Here fly fishermen can be seen angling for well-nourished brown and rainbow trout and grayling. The river is also a haven for a large population of water voles.

After passing through Wyedale car park (94mins), we crossed the A6 and followed a public footpath to the left of Topley Pike Quarry, run by Aggregate Industries, on our right (97mins). We ignored a sign pointing straight ahead for Chelmorton and turned right to follow a wooden public footpath sign for Deepdale (100mins).

This was the start of a steep climb to a stone step stile at the summit of Topley Pike (108mins). Grumblers had to be reminded: we are the A team. From there we went diagonally right through a field until we reached a stone step stile, which we crossed and turned left (112mins). The path was ill-used between two walls. Wet grass, weeds and nettles grew to waist height, and with your diarist now at the vanguard, there were soon mutterings about the convening of a leaderís badge committee.

At a lane we turned left, later ignoring a track to our right, and reached a road (136mins). We turned left and immediately right over a cattlegrid, passing through grazing cows and a farm on our left (142mins). The lane brought us to a road (146mins) where we turned left and soon reached The Church Inn at Chelmorton (147mins).

By now the sun was shining, the sky was blue, the beer garden was open and Marstonís cask bitter was £3 a pint. Tom, despite sitting on a wet chair and giving the impression, this time falsely, that he had disgraced himself, described the beer as ìfine.î This, from a beer critic such as Tom, is the equivalent of being awarded three stars in the Michelin Guide. 

Across the road is the church of St John the Baptist, first built in the 13th Century and restored three times since. The church is always open and before the altar rail is a long kneeler embroidered with locusts, which have a connection with John the Baptist, the man who lost his head to Salome, the Bibleís most renowned stripper. There is also a locust-shaped weathervane atop the church spire ñ an incongruous sight in this rural farming community.

The parish registers, dating from 1589, include a sprinkling of highly unusual names. In the 17th Century a boy was christened Cutbeard and a girl Sabrae. The following century one boy was named Exuperious and a girl given the hopeful name of Silence.

The church tower houses five bells, and campanologists will be interested to learn that the treble and tenor bells were re-cast in 1960 to incorporate metal from the bells of Derwent Church, which now lies submerged in the Derwent Reservoir.

 After a second pint, we sallied forth uphill with the pub on our left and the church on our right. Where the path forked, we swung right past Bank Pit Spring. A sign informed us that the contents of this spring were known locally as the ìilly willy waters.î We were not tempted to try a taste to find out why.

Shortly afterward we reached a four-way junction (152mins) and stopped for lunch. Continuing we walked to the right for 40 yards before heading left over a stone step stile at a wooden public footpath sign. We ascended gradually in a straight line through several fields, passing a Trig Point on our left just before reaching Sough Top (172mins) where we turned left over a stone step stile.

We then began our descent into Taddington, crossing a lane and squeezing through two gap stiles (179mins) and crossing a stone step stile leading to a narrow path which emerged at Humphrey Gate. We turned right downhill (182mins) passing St Michaelís Church on our left and reaching The Queens Arms (186mins) on our left. After de-booting we drank pints of Doombar at £3-20.

B Walkers

Itinerary:  392 bus Poynton Church to Macclesfield, dep.Poynton 9.44 arr. Macc. 10.23. Fare £3.00 single for those without passes, though a day ticket can be had for £5.00 according to SK12 magazine. Walk downhill to Macclesfield Pie (shop), meat and potato £1.40, steak £1.50. Walk uphill to canal bridge, access towpath at the Puss in Boots, where pies were consumed. Walk South under 1 bridge, turn left for Macc.G.C. at next bridge, and follow path starting at the clubhouse, climbing gently before dropping down to Langley. Plan to walk up to Leather's Smithy abandoned when alternative via Church House, The Lamb at Sutton, and King's Head was suggested. Good Robbies at Church House (£2.65 a pint), No stop at The Lamb, but walk to Gurnett via Sutton Hall. Landlord at King's Head (£3.20 a pint) very good. Return via towpath and Storm Brewery to Macc. for draught Bass in the Jolly Sailor, before catching the 16.14 393 bus to Poynton. Distance walked 5 miles. We could have used the 14 bus from Langley Chapel to Macc, which leaves at 22 minutes past the hour.

Next week: 199 bus from Rising Sun at 09.48 to Disley, walk to Kettleshulme or Furness Vale via Green Lane to meet up  with the A team, then 199 bus to the Horseshoe at High Lane.

Next weekís walk will start from outside Colinís house in Mill Brow, High Lane, at 9.20am. It is our intention to march through Lyme Park up to Bowstones, before dropping down to The Soldier Dick in Furness Vale around 12.15pm for a livener. We will then take the Peak Forest Canal route back towards High Lane and our cars before driving to The Horseshoe for further refreshments around 2.20pm.