Bollington

BOLLINGTON, WHITE NANCY, KERRIDGE HILL, BULL HILL, WALKER BARN, NEW FARM,RAINOW FOLLY,ROBIN HOOD, DOG AND PARTRIDGE

Distance: 9 miles.
Difficulty: Moderate.
Weather: Dry, warm, thin cloud with sunny spells.
Walkers: Tom Cunliffe, Lawrie Fairman, , Colin Davison, Alan Hart,  George Whaites.
B walkers: John Laverick, Ken Sparrow and Geoff Spurrell.
Apologies: Peter Beal(boating), George Dearsley (Turkish hols), Tony Job (recovering from hip operation), Julian Ross (domestic duties).
Leader: Fairman with “ input” from Colin. Diarist: Fairman
Starting point: car park opposite the Spinners Bollington, Derbyshire.
Starting time: 9.35am. Finishing time: 2.15pm.

Wed 25th June
Weather hazy sun very warm

Prompt start with only 4 walkers, Laurie, George, Colin and Tom
Apologies from Alan Hart (starting later with guests)  hopes to catch us at some stage     We left promptly at 9.35am pausing at the pie shop for orgasmic fodder George and Colin eating theirs immediately. Laurie made of sterner stuff kept his until 11 am (primarily to avoid indigestion when climbing) which we then did to the top of hill of White Nancy, as usual there were graffiti of unknown nature.( “50” on one side and “Thanks John” on another side: that is if a circular building can have sides!)

Laurie, worried about his knee on the stone,s went straight up on the grass to be the first arrival. Photos  were taken.
     
We followed the ridge to the road turned right at Kerridge to avoid losing height. The hidden steps on the left at the crown of the road took us up through a lovely meadow to the by road to Bull Hill Lane. More climbing up the road to Buxton New Road. Here we joined the Gritstone Trail over to Windyway  House.

On the way we paused at the well known picnic tables at 11am for a really welcome break (even Tom enjoyed a longer than usual break). As we left Colin dawdled and joined a lady and her daughter exercising her rescue dog. Tom unkindly remarked "that's her day spoilt".

Down we went to Walker Barn turned left to Gulshaw Hollow and contoured the hill to New Buildings Farm. Here we tried a small diversion to avoid the climb up to Thornsett Farm going down the Gritstone Trail –( better views on the way down) to the folly on Tower Hill road.

Nothing is known of the history of the folly but the adjacent house is grade II listed and recently sold for near £0.5 m

Then  up the hill to the Robin Hood the only pub left in the village out of 6 in happier days. Sitting outside having lunch at 12.15 pm we came across Harty with his visitors Howard and Lisa - for a horrible moment thought the pub might be closed.

Not so - excellent Welsh bitter @ £3.05 a pint also being enjoyed by the B team of Ken, John and Geoff . Left the pub and went our separate ways some taking the Virgin’s Path we opted for the high road just to give Tom another climb and got to the Dog and Partridge at 2.15pm  pleased to see a fit looking gent newly back in the driving mode -as  Ivor would say "Joby for a £"

Next week we will return to the Cock at Whaley Bridge leaving at 9.35am for the Swan at Kettleshulme for liveners around 12.30 pm returning to same at around 2.30pm