Old Glossop

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

Distance: 10 miles

Difficulty: Moderate

Weather: Rain and wind.

Walkers: Peter Beal, George Dearsley, John Laverick, Julian Ross, Colin Davison, Chris Corps and Fergus, Steve Courtney, George Whaites,

Apologies: Alan Hart (funeral), Tom Cunliffe (said it was “too wet”), Nigel Crank (funeral),

B Walkers: please see blog

Leader: Fairman Diarist: Dearsley

Starting Point: The Wheatsheaf, Old Glossop

Starting Time: 9.45am. Finishing Time: 2.16pm

The BBC’s weather forecast was spot on: rain, rain, rain.

However, the Wanderers who braved these horrid conditions enjoyed a challenging walk, good company and fine ale.

The inclement weather made note-taking difficult. So I hope you will forgive your diarist if my account is shorter than usual.

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

There has been a fair bit of work here since our last visit a year ago.

We continued as far as possible, up a slope and then climbed a stile on the left.

Swineshaw reservoir was below us.

We began a long ascent towards Glossop Low, with an area called Peaknaze Moor in the distance to our left.

Pretty early on Mr Fairman realised he had made a grave mistake by bringing an umbrella instead of sticks, as his brolly turned inside out.

Wet, wet, wet

The climb to the top was quite taxing, especially as we were being buffeted by the wind.

Pie Time was declared at 10.55am and taken in a rather decrepit stone built erection, which at one time was – we guessed – a shelter for grouse shooters or Shooting Box.
Had Tom been with us we'd have all concurred - for once - with his exhortation to finish Pie Time early, such was the cold.

Immediately below is a picture taken the last time we visited this refuge….and immediately below that the scenario from our latest visit.

Pie Time 2013

It ain’t half cold, mum. 2014

pic courtesy of C Davison

The only bonus was that on our previous visit in January 2013 the valleys were full of cloud and mist and we were unable to see anything.

This time we could appreciate the wonderful vista, albeit with the wind blowing rain and sleet into our eyes.

                                         View from the top, Tintwistle reservoir below

Our descent took in part of the Pennine Way, 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".

The track itself was tricky, especially in the high winds.

But finally we reached the bottom and crossed a main road to join the Trans Pennine Trail turning left at a sign which read “Hadfield 3 miles”.

This, is also part of the Longdendale Trail.

The trek into Hadfield is flat and without a great deal to observe. But we were just glad to reach the Anchor pub by 12.31pm.

Tetley’s was £2.67.

Here Mr Laverick treated himself to a plate of chilli and onion chips.

At 1.14 were left the pub, turned right and proceeded down Railway Street to the railway station.

We passed the station, crossed the road and took a ginnel on the left which brought us to Temple Street.

This took us past the Peels Arms pub.

At the end of the road we turned right.

We then negotiated a series of stiles which brought us onto a metalled road.

We turned right and the left.

We climbed a stile on the left and found ourselves on another metalled road with a huge graveyard on the right.

Colin decided to play Lawrie bingo….trying to find a headstone with a cadaver younger than our leader.

We were soon alongside Swineshaw Reservoir again and trudging on a muddy path. This brought us back to a slippery descent which led to the road we had originally taken out of Old Glossop.

John, messing about in the river (pic by C Davison)

B Walkers' Diary

Walkers: Geoff, Tony, Wally, Terry        Apology: Ken (family business)

Route:  199 bus to Newtown, walk to Queen's Arms (New Mills), 61 bus to Monks' Road, walk towards Charlesworth, turn right onto path leading eventually to Herod Farm. Lees Hall, and  Charlestown, then A624into Glossop.

The idea of attacking Glossop from the South had two attractions when we started: 

1. The 61 bus would keep us out of the rain, and

2. The walking would be mainly downhill.

The reality when we got off the bus was that the wind and rain increased steadily until we reached a spot above Herod Farm for late elevenses, by which time we were really cold and wet, and struggling to keep on our feet in a gale. By the time we got down to Charlestown, and found the first pub we used in the past convereted into a private dwelling, we had decided to shorten the walk by cutting out Whitfield and Old Glossop. Geoff's discomfiture was complete when a 61 bus passed us 200 yards past a bus stop, heading for Glossop. A bit further on, we came to the Surrey Arms with a Boddies sign outside, open for business and selling English Pride bitter, 4.5% ABV at £2.05 a pint. Other drinks were correspondingly cheap. Toilets and beer garden not pretty!Spirits restored after a couple of pints, we continued into the centre of Glossop, past a Wetherspoons and into the Norfolk Arms for warmth, cleanliness, and Joe Holt's bitter at £2.40 a pint. This good pub is opposite the 374 bus stop back to Hazel Grove, in our case via Simmondley and Gamesley (both best avoided).

By 2.16pm we were back at the Wheatsheaf car park and after de-booting we enjoyed a libation in the nearby Queens.

Old Speckled Hen was £2.95 as was Wainwright. Unicorn was 5p cheaper.

Next week’s walk will start from the main car park in Bollington. The Robin Hood is our half way stop and we will visit the familiar Dog and Partridge at the end of our walk.

Happy Wandering.