Bizarrely, two rival diaries were submitted for this walk....
HAYFIELD,TUNSTEAD,KINDER RESEVOIR, MARPIECE WOOD, WHITE BROW, WILLIAMS CLOUGH, BRADSHAWS, UPPER HOUSE, BREAD CLOUGH, KINDER LOW, COLDWELL CLOUGH, KINDER LODGE HAYFIELD Distance: 9 miles.
Difficulty: Moderate to HARD.
Weather: misty with cloud and later sunshine.
Walkers: Colin Davison, Laurie Fairman, Jock Rooney with Tips, Julian Ross and George Whaites Steve and Kieran Rooney.
B Walkers: Tony Job, and Ken Sparrow.
Apologies: Mickey Barrett (ankle injury), Peter Beal (in North Wales) and George Dearsley (in Turkey) Alan Hart and Tom Cunliffe (both on a cultural tour of York)
Leader: Davison. Diarist: Fairman
Starting point: Street parking at Hayfield.
Starting time: 9.45am. Finishing time: 2.00pm.
No day has more exemplified our motto than this day.
If I can remind you it is "firm of purpose, flexible in execution "
Or
"If you get lost don't let on, just make for the nearest pub"
The day started well, the rain stopped the hills shrouded in cloud
gave every indication that the gloom was temporary. Parking no
problem in Church Clough.We located Steve and Julian in Valley Way as we headed towards Kinder reservoir Soon we passed the empty (except for one hardy soul) camp site and
turned right up the hill your writer assuming wrongly that we were
heading for South Head. No such luck the leader had his heart set on walking round the reservoir to give the mist a chance to lift.
Thus we changed course (more of the consequences of this decision
later) up the hill to Tunstead house and a left to appropriately
named Hill houses
Following the path northwards we reached the path above Kinder
Reservoir at Marpiece Wood rising to White brow which skirted the
reservoir bringing us to the bottom of Williams Clough footbridge were
at 10.45am stopped for the tea/coffee break about 2.5 miles covered.
Sadly with no port to cheer us and no Tom to bully us we set off at
11.00am following the footpath to Blacks haws and on to the brook
crossing at Upper House
Note at this stage we were following obvious footpaths, few of which
are rights of way so are not shown on our leaders floppy thing.
Then the CLIMB of the day up the hill above Bread Clough due south
past Kinder Low
Reaching the brow of the hill (see Colin’s photo) your writer was
dismayed to find that at 12.01pm the mist had lifted and across the moor
and a deep valley was the imposing sight of South Head and Famine
Ridge.
Why the dismay? Only that our objective - The Lamb Inn was the other
side of that 1300ft ridge some 4km distance as the crow flies but not
being crows (we did see a raven) I realised would be about 7km and
another very steep climb.
Our leader -bless him - was more concerned in ensuring the pies an
peas were ordered on his mobile and the rest headed for Edale Cross.
Finally your writer pursued him to get out the floppy thing and
offered the advice that it would take at least 1 1/2 hrs to reach the
Lamb pub and as it was now 12 20pm the pies would be pretty cold by the
time we got to Edale at about 3.30pm
Colin continued to catch up the others George and I went straight down
through the heather to pick up the bridle track leading to Coldwell
Clough. An awful rubble strewn bridle track. A real ankle turner.
If I can remind you it is "firm of purpose, flexible in execution "
Or
"If you get lost don't let on, just make for the nearest pub"
The day started well, the rain stopped the hills shrouded in cloud
gave every indication that the gloom was temporary. Parking no
problem in Church Clough.We located Steve and Julian in Valley Way as we headed towards Kinder reservoir Soon we passed the empty (except for one hardy soul) camp site and
turned right up the hill your writer assuming wrongly that we were
heading for South Head. No such luck the leader had his heart set on walking round the reservoir to give the mist a chance to lift.
Thus we changed course (more of the consequences of this decision
later) up the hill to Tunstead house and a left to appropriately
named Hill houses
Following the path northwards we reached the path above Kinder
Reservoir at Marpiece Wood rising to White brow which skirted the
reservoir bringing us to the bottom of Williams Clough footbridge were
at 10.45am stopped for the tea/coffee break about 2.5 miles covered.
Sadly with no port to cheer us and no Tom to bully us we set off at
11.00am following the footpath to Blacks haws and on to the brook
crossing at Upper House
Note at this stage we were following obvious footpaths, few of which
are rights of way so are not shown on our leaders floppy thing.
Then the CLIMB of the day up the hill above Bread Clough due south
past Kinder Low
Reaching the brow of the hill (see Colin’s photo) your writer was
dismayed to find that at 12.01pm the mist had lifted and across the moor
and a deep valley was the imposing sight of South Head and Famine
Ridge.
Why the dismay? Only that our objective - The Lamb Inn was the other
side of that 1300ft ridge some 4km distance as the crow flies but not
being crows (we did see a raven) I realised would be about 7km and
another very steep climb.
Our leader -bless him - was more concerned in ensuring the pies an
peas were ordered on his mobile and the rest headed for Edale Cross.
Finally your writer pursued him to get out the floppy thing and
offered the advice that it would take at least 1 1/2 hrs to reach the
Lamb pub and as it was now 12 20pm the pies would be pretty cold by the
time we got to Edale at about 3.30pm
Colin continued to catch up the others George and I went straight down
through the heather to pick up the bridle track leading to Coldwell
Clough. An awful rubble strewn bridle track. A real ankle turner.
Ah well we had had a lovely walk and your writer remembered the
Sportsman Inn would be open so we followed the road down to the Quarry
and eventually reached the Sportsman at 1.15pm. The Thwaites bitter at
£3 a pint tasted like the nectar of the gods
Sportsman Inn would be open so we followed the road down to the Quarry
and eventually reached the Sportsman at 1.15pm. The Thwaites bitter at
£3 a pint tasted like the nectar of the gods
Finally we made it to Kinder Lodge pub, Edale at 2pm where Colin and Ken bought the
beer and we were served hot pies, mushy peas, chips, gravy and French
bread- marvellous - well done Colin and Ken
beer and we were served hot pies, mushy peas, chips, gravy and French
bread- marvellous - well done Colin and Ken
Perhaps Colin should concentrate on party organisation rather than
leading walks! Sorry couldn’t resist it - you still are an invaluable leader, Ms Davison
leading walks! Sorry couldn’t resist it - you still are an invaluable leader, Ms Davison
Next week in the true spirit of Wednesday Wanderers we will make another attempt to assault the Lamb Inn this time taking it by surprise from the west. Thus we will gather at the Old Hallcar park at 9.35am and if we find the Lamb return at about 2.15pm
Hayfield, Hill Houses, Booth, White Brow, Upper Moor, Kinder Low End, Oaken Clough, Coldwell Clough, Bowden Bridge, Hayfield
Distance: 9 miles.
Difficulty: Difficult.
Weather: Dry, cloud level about 1000ft until noon clearing to high clouds and sunshine.
Walkers: Steve Courtney , Colin Davison, Lawrie Fairman, Jock Rooney, Kieran Rooney & Tip, Julian Ross, George Whaites.
B walkers: Tony Job, Ken Sparrow, Geoff Spurell.
Apologies: Alan Hart (carousing with Cunliffe), Mickey Barrett (sore ankle), TomCunliffe (high jinx with Hart), John Jones (chest infection)
Leader: Fairman. Diarist: Davison.
Starting point: Valley Road, Hayfield.
Starting time: 9.41am. Finishing time: 2.08pm.
An alternative ‘Magnificent Seven’ set out in poor conditions for this walk and there were signs when we reached higher ground that we might be seeing the last of the snow for 2015. Most of it had already thawed and the few patches remaining could soon disappear if temperatures continue to rise.
Low cloud engendered our decision to stay low for as long as possible to give it time to lift and assess our situation as we went along. The Wanderer’s motto: ‘Firm in endeavour, flexible in execution’.
Sterling efforts by Kieran as back marker meant our group stayed largely together today until the usual impetuosity for the pub resulted in staggered arrivals at our first watering hole. But we finished in unison and joined the three-man B team at journey’s end.
With a glut of Birthdays occurring this week, the Wanderers were treated to Pies, Peas and Chips in addition to the customary Pint courtesy of Ken, Julian and your diarist.
We followed Valley Road up the river Sett past the quarry where the way becomes a footpath. Beyond the National Trust campsite at Bowden Bridge, the Kinder meets the Sett which we still followed to our right. 200 yards further on we turned hard left at a 4 way junction towards Hill Houses. The oldest cottage has a date of 1723 inscribed over its door.
The track continues along the contour to Booth then drops to meet the road to Farlands and Upper House where we turned left for a few yards then right through a gate to follow the path beside the river Kinder towards the Reservoir. Crossing the footbridge over the river, we passed through the little gate beside the waterworks and climbed the cobbled bridleway to White Brow.
Despite the low cloud, perhaps 100ft above us, the view across the water was still captivating. Having paused for breath and landscape appreciation, we continued along the side of the reservoir to William Clough where Pie Time was announced by our leader at 10.45am. Not for the first time, the absence of our portly chums enjoying themselves in York was noted with regret.
We crossed the stream by a footbridge and circuited the reservoir to our right. Having crossed the river Kinder and Upper Moor, we forded the stream at Broad Clough and headed straight up the steep ascent opposite to Kinder Low End.
As we climbed towards the base of the cloud layer, it began to part and shift as if to our will. Distant moors became visible and shafts of sunlight played across spurs of rock and heather. At our approach, the mists shrouding Kinder Low parted like ragged curtains. Your diarist fumbled for his camera and urged the Wanderers to group for a photo. But alas nature was not impressed and the curtains closed again to leave the vision a memory only.
Having made the climb, the next part of the path along the ridge to Oaken Clough (the bridleway up to Hollins Cross) was the most pleasant part. Where these meet at Stony Ford, we turned right to descend the bridleway which led us to Bowden Bridge. Here we turned left along the main road for about 400 yards to the Sportsman where we drank pints of Thwaite’s bitter.
Leaving the Sportsman we continued along the road to Hayfield where we turned left down the steps and across the Sett via the bridge. To the left of the Church, the path brought us to the bypass, which we crossed, then left through the car park to the Kinder Lodge. Here we met the ‘B’ team.
Next week’s walk will start from The Old Hall at a Whitehough at 9.30am, from where we will attempt to go via Chinley Churn to The Lamb at Chinley Head for about 12.20pm before finishing atThe Old Hall, at around 2.30pm.
Happy wandering !
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