Poynton

 December 24, 2014.

POYNTON, MACCLESFIELD CANAL, LADYBRIDGE TRAIL, LYME PARK, PLATTWOOD FARM, HILLTOP FARM, BOAR’S HEAD AT HIGHER POYNTON, DAVENPORT GOLF CLUB, PRINCES INCLINE, BULL’S HEAD AT POYNTON

Distance: 8-9 miles.

Difficulty: Easy.

Weather: Dry and chilly.

Walkers: Alan Hart, Terry Jowett and George Whaites.

Non-walking drinkers: John Laverick and Geoff Spurrell.

Apologies: Peter Beal, Steve Courtney (sailing in West Indies), Tom Cunliffe (w*^king), Colin Davison (visiting Bristol and Wales), George Dearsley (in Turkey), Jock Rooney (supervising diving in Persian Gulf)

Leader: Hart. Diarist: Hart.

Starting point: Diarist’s home at 68, London Road North, Poynton.

Starting time: 10.05am. Finishing time: 1.50pm.

The fact that Christmas Eve fell on a Wednesday this year caused severe depletion to our numbers for domestic reasons. It also meant that those who did turn up at your diarist’s home were obliged to drink a larger share of mulled wine and to eat a bigger portion of pizza and mince pies than anticipated.

The absence of any recognised guides also meant that your diarist became the de facto leader – an unwelcome situation which was always likely to end in tears. Those were shed in the first hour when the trio found themselves up to their fetlocks in mud. No doubt a more experienced leader would have plotted a route avoiding such conditions.

We did, however, manage to reach our main goals – The Boar’s Head and The Bull’s Head – only a few minutes behind schedule and were rewarded with excellent pints of Black Sheep bitter in the former and Thwaites’ Original in the latter.

From your diarist’s home we turned right and followed a footpath which brought us out on Towers Road (3mins) We turned right along the road until we reached a wooden public footpath sign (12mins) and turned left over a wooden stile on to duckboards leading into a field. We headed diagonally right and then picked up a path which brought us to a kissing gate (20mins) which took us across a track.

After picking our way daintily through the mud on the churned up path, we came to a stretch of slime which led to a gate. Despite our best efforts there were many traps for the unwary and George had a “vicar of Dibley” moment when he stood on a treacherous tuft which gave way to sink him up to his knees.

Terry, who was at the rear, saw our plight and wisely took a circuitous route round the worst of the slime and over a broken fence to emerge relatively unscathed.  We then went t right over a wooden stile marked with a yellow arrow (39mins) to follow a narrow footpath which emerged in Middlewood Road.

We crossed this (41mins) and passed the former home of our late colleague Ian Price on Prince Road, crossing Hilton Road to go over the Middlewood Way (45mins) After passing Sunny Side Cottage and The Cedars on our left we reached the Macclesfield Canal (50mins) and turned left. At the first bridge (Number 13) we left the canal by turning left and winding round, admiring the gaily-decorated World War 2 pillbox on the far bank, before crossing Bridge 13 and turning left to walk past it on our left.

After 60 yards we turned right at a public footpath sign (58mins) This took us downhill to a pair of wooden footbridges which criss-crossed Lady Brook (65mins) We followed the yellow arrows of the Ladybrook Trail and crossed two ladder stiles to walk over the Manchester-Buxton railway line (75mins)

At a public footpath sign on our right we turned right (84mins) and then entered Lyme Park by a ladder stile (90mins) Our stay in the park was brief as we turned right 50 yards before reaching the entrance hut and swung right again to exit the grounds over a cattle-grid (96mins) Following the route marked for Poynton we turned left and then swung right across another cattle-grid (111mins) to head for Plattwood Farm.

After going through the farm (115mins) we continued downhill along a path which swung left and headed unpromisingly towards the drive of a house. However we spotted a wooden stile marked with a yellow arrow on the far side of the drive. We crossed this (122mins) and soon came to another wooden stile with a yellow arrow which we crossed and turned right.

Another wooden stile marked with a white (or possibly faded yellow) arrow took us to the left of a duckpond and through a kissing gate to the left of Hilltop Farm. The Path emerged at a lane where we turned right, over a cattle-grid and past Victoria Pit Moorings on our right (133mins) A bridge took us over the Macclesfield Canal and we continued downhill, passing the Nelson Pit Museum on our right, crossing the Middlewood Way and reaching the Boar’s Head opposite (137mins)

After pints of Black Sheep cask bitter costing £3 we left the pub’s front door and turned left into Anson Road. Our route was now all downhill as we reached the end of Anson Road and crossed Middlewood Road to head for Davenport Golf Club (152mins) At a public footpath sign we turned left across the fairway, went through a gate to exit the course (155mins) and head up through a copse.

After leaving the trees we followed the path to our right which brought us to Towers Road (162mins) We crossed the road diagonally right to head down Princes Incline and reach the main road (172mins) Here we turned right to reach the Bull’s Head for further refreshment at £3-10 a pint.

There will be no organised walk next Wednesday (New Year’s Eve) but there is a traditional walk the following day (Thursday, January 1) to which wives, family members and friends are welcome. It starts from 10.30am near the nets at Poynton Sports Club car park. In recent years we have walked to The Miners Arms at Adlington but I am advised this has recently closed down. In those circumstances we are changing the venue to the Horseshoe at High Lane, aiming to arrive shortly after noon, and returning to The Bull’s Head at Poynton around 2pm.

In the past picnics have been taken and shared, along with fortifying drinks to keep out the cold.

Happy wandering !

High Lane

HIGH LANE, DISLEY GOLF CLUB, STANLEY HALL, PEAK FOREST CANAL, STRINES, GOYT VALLEY, STRINES HALL, GREEN CLOUGH FARM, WINDYBOTTOM, ROMAN BRIDGE, BARLOW WOODS, RING O’ BELLS AT MARPLE, MACCLESFIELD CANAL, DOG AND PARTRIDGE AT HIGH LANE

Distance: 8 miles.

Difficulty: Easy.

Weather: Cloudy but dry during walk.

Walkers: Peter Beal, Tom Cunliffe, Colin Davison, Lawrie Fairman, Alan Hart, John Jones and George Whaites.

B walkers: Tony Job, Gareth Roberts, Ken Sparrow and Mike Walton.

Non-walking drinker: Geoff Spurrell.

Apologies: Steve Courtney (sailing in West Indies), George Dearsley (in Turkey), Jock Rooney (supervising diving in Persian Gulf)

Leader: Davison. Diarist: Hart.

Starting point: 11, Carr Brow, High Lane, Disley.

Starting time: 9.55am. Finishing time: 1.50pm.

Despite forecasts of light rain throughout the day, the weather gods smiled down upon the Wednesday Wanderers as we worked up our appetites as well as our usual thirsts for the Christmas lunch which followed.

The day started with what has become traditional Yuletide hospitality from “Santa” Colin, this time with his helper Angela, at his grotto in High Lane. Bacon barm cakes, mulled wine and mince pies set us up nicely for a walk which was timed to perfection. 

Not only did we reach both pubs on schedule, but our stay in them coincided with the only rain of the day. Was this a case of the sun shining on the righteous or the Devil looking after his own ? Answers on a postcard please.

From Colin’s house The Magnificent Seven turned left uphill, turning left at a public footpath sign for Stanley Hall Lane (7mins) This brought us to a wooden stile which we crossed to enter Disley Golf Club (10mins) The public footpath led us across a fairway and past a sign for Disley Golf Club on our left (15mins) After passing the sign we turned left across a car park in front of the clubhouse.

This took us to the side of Stanley Hall, a listed building which has been in a state of decay but which is now surrounded by scaffolding and building materials. We turned right along a footpath, crossing a fairway and followed a blue arrow on a yellow circle (20mins) which brought us to the Peak Forest Canal (26mins)

We crossed over it by a bridge and turned right along the towpath with the canal now on our right. We passed Wood End Lift Bridge and just before we reached Higgins Clough Swing Bridge we squeezed through a gap stile on our left (38mins) to follow a muddy path downhill. We crossed a wooden footbridge over a stream (44mins) and climbed steps to reach a fence in front of a paper factory. 

We turned left (45mins), re-crossed the stream by another footbridge and reached a bridleway where we turned left (50mins) This brought us to a road (55mins) where we turned left and entered the village of Strines.

At Station Road we turned right (65mins) and found a field on our right which contained a suitable  wooden table and chairs for Pietime (67mins) It being the season of goodwill, Peter produced a supply of mince pies to complement the port. Continuing back on the road we crossed the Goyt and passed a lake on our left and Strines Hall on our right.

Opposite the hall we turned left along a gravel lane towards Green Clough Farm (70mins) We passed the farm and turned left at a wooden public footpath sign for the Goyt Way (77mins) This took us past the delightfully-named Windybottom Cottage on our left (87mins) before we went under a railway tunnel. This route took us to the right bank of the fast-flowing Goyt (90mins).

We turned left, crossing the Goyt by Roman Bridge into Barlow Woods in the direction of Strines Road (94mins), soon heading right uphill along a flight of steps (95mins) We emerged at a road (101mins), turned right and crossed the road to turn left at a wooden public footpath sign marked with a yellow arrow (102mins).

This led us back to the Peak Forest Canal (105mins) We walked along the towpath with the waterway on our right. After going under a bridge (114mins) we left the towpath, going to the left of Churchgate Lodge and heading uphill. This took us past All Saints School on our left to reach The Ring o’ Bells at Marple across a main road (119mins).

Although the pub had only been open for four minutes, three enterprising members of the B team were already inside. The fourth member of their team, Wally, had retired hurt with a knee injury and retreated to our ultimate watering hole, The Dog and Partridge at High Lane. At the “Ringo” the Robbies’ bitter (£3) and mild (£2-80) were both in good form.

The heavens opened while we were safely ensconced inside the pub. Magically, the rain stopped just as we were leaving. From the pub we turned left to join the right bank of the Macclesfield Canal for our homeward journey. We left the canal when we reached the A6 opposite the Bull’s Head at High Lane (165mins)

A left turn soon brought us to The Dog and Partridge on the far side of the road (169mins) for  Christmas lunch at the bargain price of £4-39 and IPA cask bitter at £2-25. The B team, including our once-a-year Wanderer Gaz, joined us as we raised a festive glass to absent friends. Jock will be pleased to learn that his world height record for the amount of food piled on a plate remains intact.

Next week’s walk (Christmas Eve) will start from your diarist’s house, 68, London Road North, Poynton (SK12 1BY) with a 9am breakfast of pizza and a stirrup cup or two. We will then set off around 10am on a meandering route aimed at reaching the Boar’s Head at Higher Poynton around 12 noon, before returning to The Bull’s Head, Poynton, at about 1.40pm.

Please note there will be no Wednesday walk on Dec 31 (New Year’s Eve) because the following day, January 1 (New Year’s Day) we will be having our traditional walk with wives and girlfriends (but not both) setting out from Poynton Sports Club car park at 10.30am to head for The Miners’ Arms at Wood Lane Ends, Adlington.  

Little Hayfield

LITTLE HAYFIELD, PARK HALL WOODS, MIDDLE MOOR, SHOOTING LODGE, KINDER RESERVOIR, COLDWELL CLOUGH, HILL HOUSE BOOTH, ASHES FARM, THE WHITE LADY, MOUNT FAMINE, THE LAMB INN AT CHINLEY, VALLEY VIEW FARM, ASHEN CLOUGH, PEEP-O’-DAY, PHOSIDE, HAYFIELD, CALICO TRAIL, OLD SCHOOL FIELD, SWALLOW BANK FARM AND THE LANTERN PIKE AT LITTLE HAYFIELD

Distance: 8-9 miles.

Difficulty: Moderate.

Weather: Crisp, dry and windy.

Walkers: Peter Beal, Colin Davison, Alan Hart.

Leader: Davison. Diarist: Hart.

B walkers: George Fraser and Tony Job.

Apologies:  Tom Cunliffe (injured left knee), George Dearsley (Turkey), Lawrie Fairman (cataract operation),Jock Rooney (Persian Gulf), Geoff Spurrell (trapped nerve), George Whaites (w*^king)

Starting point: Car Park of Lantern Pike Inn, Little Hayfield.

Starting time: 9.40am. Finishing time: 2.30pm.

It might be just a coincidence that on the day Tom marked his 62^nd birthday with a generous display of largesse, the majority of Wednesday Wanderers taking advantage of his hospitality were from Yorkshire. The Tyke contingent of Peter, Colin and Tony were there to outnumber your diarist (from Cheshire) and “Geordie” George.

We were treated to pints of Britain’s most expensive beer along with what can only be described as an orgasmic dish of Lancashire hotpot provided by the Lantern Pike’s resident chef, Chris Caldwell. Many happy returns Tom. We hope a scan on his knee will provide a solution to his long-term problem and put him back in the walking team.

From the pub we turned right towards Hayfield, crossed the main road and turned into Park Hall Woods (3mins). This brought us through a gate to Middle Moor (9mins), where we carried straight on uphill along a path through the gorse. When the route levelled out we turned left toward the distinctive white-painted shooting lodge.

Just before we reached the lodge on our left (29mins) we turned right downhill, taking the right fork along a bridleway shortly afterwards (30mins) This took us down to Kinder Reservoir, where we turned right with the wall on our left (36mins) At the entrance to the treatment works we turned left along a footpath which crossed the Kinder River by a footbridge (42mins)

We followed the path with the Kinder on our right until we reached a lane where we swung left uphill(46mins) We forked right towards Tunstall and Coldwell Clough (48mins) and when we reached a stony track we bore right (53mins) We passed Hill Houses, built in 1723.

This was during the reign of George 1, who spoke no English and was born in Hanover. He ascended the throne earlier that century on the death of his distant cousin, Queen Anne. The Act of Settlement of 1701 prohibited Catholics from becoming British monarchs and George, ruler of the Duchy of Brunswick-Luneburg, was her closest Protestant relative.

From Hill House Booth we took the path towards Famine Ridge and South Head, crossing the River Sett as we headed up a lane (64mins). When we reached a pair of benches with views across the valley, we paused for pies and port (66mins) Resuming, we entered Ashes Farm on a lane to the right of a cattle-grid and passed a standing stone known as The White Lady on our left (72mins)

We followed a wooden public footpath sign for South Head (73mins) and at a gate with a white acorn depicted inside a blue arrow we turned left (88mins) This brought us to the summit of Mount Famine (103mins)Descending again we crossed a wooden stile and turned right at a pebbled path (109mins)

We went through a gate and over a stone step stile immediately on our left (112mins) After crossing a wooden stile marked with a yellow arrow we took the left fork (116mins) and then turned right before a broken wall (119mins) After going through a wooden kissing gate marked with a yellow arrow (124mins) we went through another gate and over a wooden stile to reach a main road (130mins)

At the road we turned right and before us on our right was The Lamb Inn which we entered (131mins) to drink excellent pints of Betty Stoggs, a Cornish cask bitter, costing £2-80. After one more round for good luck we departed, crossed the main road and turned left for a few yards until we reached a wooden public footpath sign (132mins). We followed it down a steep bank and headed towards Valley View Farm.

We turned right just in front of the farm, following public footpath signs round its perimeter until we emerged at a road opposite Ashen Clough (143mins) We turned right uphill and then dropped down to Peep-o’-Day, where we stopped for lunch (153mins) Continuing we followed the footpaths sign for Hayfield via Phoside, passing the derelict Phoside Mill (173mins) This had been a cotton mill, built in the 1780s.

After passing a house, built in 1784, on our left we went through a gap stile (184mins) and descended a steep bank to a lane which continued downhill. After passing Ridgetop Cottage on our left (186mins) we walked from Meadows Road into Chapel Street and followed signs for the Sett Valley Trail.

These led us to the right of the bus terminus where we picked up signs for the Calico Trail (191mins) taking us across a bridge over the River Sett. This led us into the Old School Field, known locally as May Queen Field, which we exited and passed to the right of a house called Oaklands (199mins) After we had passed Swallow Bank Farm on our right (202mins) we turned right at a green public footpath sign for Little Hayfield (203mins)

This brought us back to The Lantern Pike (214mins) where the B team duo of Tony and George were already enjoying pints of Timothy Taylor’s Landlord cask bitter provided by birthday boy Tom. The freshly-made hotpot was the icing on the cake, if you will forgive such a metaphor.

Next week’s walk ends with the traditional Wednesday Wanderers’ Christmas lunch at the Dog and Partridge, High Lane, at 2.15pm. It starts, as has become the custom with bacon sandwiches, mince pies and mulled wine at Colin’s house, 11, Carr Brow, High Lane, at 9am.

Happy wandering !

B Walkers' Diary

Wanderers:  Tony, George Fraser.

Apologies: Geoff (still injured but intending to meet us on 17th for lunch), Wally (catching up on work after holiday),  Ken (awaiting a plumber to repair leak above bathroom).

Route: Newtown - New Mills - Sett Valley Trail - Hayfield - Little Hayfield.

We tried a new route from Newtown - down a path in front of a row of houses which led to a path at the back of the same row of houses - as a consequence of which we missed the 10.31 to Hayfield, and had to walk.  The Timothy Taylors bitter at the Kinder Lodge (£2.90 a pint) went down exceptionally well.  A couple of pints there were followed by lunch in the park, en route for the Lantern Pike.  We were joined there by a depleted A team. Tom had arranged a splendid hot-pot, which was thoroughly appreciated, especially by Colin. Alan provided transport back to Hazel Grove.

Breakfast at Tiffany’s (AKA Colin’s) next week.

Whaley Bridge

WHALEY BRIDGE, CROMFORD AND HIGH PEAK RAILWAY (DISUSED), SHALLCROSS INCLINE GREENWAY, COMBS RESERVOIR, TUNSTEAD MILTON, CHAPEL-EN-LE-FRITH GOLF COURSE, BRADSHAW HALL, ECCLES PIKE, THE OLD HALL AT WHITEHOUGH, BUGSWORTH BASIN AND THE GOYT INN AT WHALEY BRIDGE

Distance: 8 miles.

Difficulty: Easy.

Weather: Crisp and sunny.

Walkers: Colin Davison, Lawrie Fairman, Alan Hart, John Jones, Julian Ross and George Whaites.

Apologies: Mickey Barrett (Spain), Peter Beal (Lanzarote), Tom Cunliffe (sore knee), Jock Rooney (diving in Abu Dhabi)

Leader: Fairman/Davison. Diarist: Hart.

Starting point: Tom Brad’s Croft car park next to Whaley Bridge Marina.

Starting time: 9.35am. Finishing time: 1.44pm.

As the admiral of the fleet at Pearl Harbour once said, there was a nasty nip in the air as we assembled for this walk. Blue skies and sunshine soon appeared to literally brighten our day and provide perfect visibility from the hills above Whaley Bridge.

High on a hill we had a chat with a lonely goat-herder, passed a site associated with 17^th Century regicide, and thanks to Colin’s recommendation we added another pub to our list of top hostelries.

Lawrie was notionally the leader of this walk, although there was some confusion as the usual usurper was often seen striding away in the vanguard. Despite being shorn of his curls, he has lost none of his strength of purpose. He has, however, lost some of his memory because we set off without waiting for his mate John, whom he should have been expecting. John caught a glimpse of our quintet after we departed the car park and was able to join us. Another ten seconds and we would have passed out of sight.

From the car park we headed away from the marina across a cobbled bridge which was once the route of the Cromford and High Peak Railway, which reached Whaley Bridge in 1831 to link the Peak Forest Canal, opened in 1800, and the Cromford Canal.

Coal and limestone were exported through the basin whilst cotton for the mills was imported. Commercial traffic ceased in the 1920s, but the railway to the gas works next to Shallcross sidings worked on until the 1950s. We passed the retirement flats at Cromford Court on our left which had been marshalling yards shifting coal for the gasworks which closed in the 1980s.

We entered Shallcross Incline Greenway (16mins) and turned left at the end of it to reach Elnor Lane. Here we turned right (25mins) and soon reached Shall Cross (28mins), where we turned left and passed Elnor Lane Farm (30mins) We turned left up a track (34mins) and reached a wooden public footpath sign (48mins) where we stopped to admire the views across the valley before crossing a stone step stile.

These were our first downward steps as we headed towards Combs Reservoir below. We crossed a ladder stile marked with a yellow arrow (58mins), turned left at Tunstead House Farm and right over a stone step stile (60mins) This took us into a field occupied by Houdini goats, so-called because of their ingenuity in escaping their boundaries.

They take their name from Harry Houdini, the renowned escapologist, who was born Erik Weisz in 1874 in Budapest, Hungary, and died in 1926 in Detroit, Michegan. Weisz, the son of a rabbi, changed his name in honour of his hero, a French magician called Jean Eugene Robert-Houdin.

After a mediocre career as a trapeze artist, cross-country runner and magician, his big break came in 1899 when he met manager Martin Beck in Woodstock, Illinois. Beck advised Houdini to concentrate on escapology and he subsequently toured Europe as “The Handcuff King.”

As we crossed the goat field, the lady who owned them told us how she inherited one of the breed when a friend died, and subsequently she had been persuaded to take on more.

We departed through a stone step stile (65mins) and continued downhill to a tunnel underneath the Manchester-Buxton railway line before heading diagonally left through a field (70mins) We exited by a wooden stile by the side of a large tree (71mins) and crossed two wooden footbridges and a wooden stile marked with a yellow arrow to reach a main road at Tunstead Milton (73mins)

After crossing the road and turning right past Postbox Cottage, we stopped for Pietime at the side of a phone box near a stile (75mins) Resuming, we crossed the stone step stile marked by a green public footpath sign with a yellow arrow, crossing further stiles until we reached one with alternative yellow arrows pointing straight ahead or left (78mins)

Choosing to go straight on, we passed Spark Farm on our left (83mins) and crossed a wooden stile marked with a white arrow. Another wooden stile led us into Chapel-en-le-Frith golf course (85mins), which we traversed by following the directions of the public right of way. We followed a wooden public footpath sign where we crossed a road and turned left downhill (91mins) The route took us past Bradshaw Hall on our right (96mins)

The hall, built in 1620, was the home of John Bradshaw, president of the council who tried Charles 1 and signed his death warrant in 1649. Bradshaw’s was the first of 59 names on the document. After the restoration of the monarchy in 1660, six commissioners and four others were found guilty of regicide and executed. One was hanged, and nine were hanged, drawn and quartered.

Three who had died in the intervening years, including John Bradshaw and Oliver Cromwell, were exhumed so their bodies could be hanged drawn and quartered at Tyburn. What might they have done, one wonders, to Jimmy Savile ?

After passing the hall we crossed a wooden stile and went diagonally right through a field (102mins). We then crossed a stone step stile and turned left with a drystone wall on our left (105mins) We exited through a gate, passing Croft Barn on our right (107mins) before turning right at a green public footpath sign on the shoulder of Eccles Pike (108mins)

Instead of aiming for the summit on our left we plunged right to a gate (109mins) which led away from it and headed diagonally left through a field. A wooden stile led us into another field (118mins) from which we reached a lane. We turned left and then right over a stone step stile (122mins). This brought us to a stile and a steep descent to a road, where we turned right and immediately left.

We passed Eccles Terrace on our left and went over the road-bridge across the A6 (126mins) This brought us to The Papermill Inn on our right and a little further The Old Hall (131mins) For the second successive week we had reached our first watering hole before noon and for the second successive week we found the premises open for business.

Pints of Marstons’ and other cask bitters costing £2-80 were despatched before we resumed our journey with a departure from our normal route. Instead of walking down to the Peak Forest Tramway, we left the pub and crossed the road to follow a green public footpath sign. This took us across a stream (134mins)

The path brought us to a car park (143mins) where we turned left. We were now on the Peak Forest Tramway and we stopped for lunch by the side of a wooden footbridge across Black Brook (149mins)

Continuing along the tramway, we passed The Navigation Inn at Bugsworth Basin (155mins), turned left over a bridge and headed uphill, re-crossing the A6 by a different road-bridge and turning right a Silk Hill (159mins) At the top of the hill we passed Silk Hill Farm on our right (164mins).

As we reached The Croft on our left (168mins), we split into two groups with Colin leading  John and Julian to head up a hill on our left, while Lawrie led the remaining duo down towards Whaley Bridge.

We turned right after a red phone box (172mins) and then turned right at the cobbled bridge (174mins) to return to the car park (175mins) 

After de-booting we filled in time at the White Lion before joining our comrades at The Goyt Inn at the appointed hour of 2.30pm. Three different cask ales were on offer, including an excellent dark beer called Old Bob which was recommended by the genial landlord.

B Walkers' Diary:

Wanderers: Ken, Tony, George Fraser.

Apologies: Geoff (possible trapped sciatic nerve), Wally (in Sri Lanka for cricket).

Route:  Brabyns - Compstall - Romiley - Chadkirk - Otterspool - Marple - Brabyns.

An opening time of 2.30 at the Goyt Inn deterred us from that venue, so we decided on this well-tried walk of the right length. The length was extended before we set off by the news that the Marple acqueduct and towpath were closed for repairs for 12 weeks, so we included Compstall and Romiley. We made the first stop - The Hare and Hounds at Otterspool (< £3 a pint) - by 12.15, and without the guidance of Geoff. Eventually made it back to Brabyns car park and the Norfolk Arms (£3 a pint).

Next week’s walk will start at 9.40am from the Lantern Pike at Little Hayfield, where we intend to belatedly celebrate Tom’s birthday. The first stop will be The Lamb at Chinley around 12.30pm, ending at the Lantern Pike around 2.15pm. Don’t be surprised if Tom produces a cake.

Happy wandering.