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.