Danebridge

May 27, 2015.

DANEBRIDGE, DANE VALLEY, LUD’S CHURCH, BLACK BROOK, GRADBACH, EAGLE AND CHILD, HELMESLEY FARM, THE ROSE AND CROWN AT ALLGREAVE, CLOUGH BROOK, ALLMEADOWS, THE SHIP AT WINCLE AND WINCLE BREWERY

Distance: Nine miles.

Difficulty: Moderate.

Weather: Dry with early cloud giving way to sunshine.

Walkers: Peter Beal, Lawrie Fairman, Alan Hart and George Whaites.

Apologies: Tom Cunliffe (Anglesey), Colin Davison, George Dearsley (in Turkey), Jock Rooney.

Leader: Fairman. Diarist: Hart.

Starting point: Danebridge, near Wincle, Macclesfield.

Starting time: 9.40am. Finishing time: 2.32pm.

Only four wanderers enjoyed this beautiful trek in and around the Dane Valley in perfect walking weather. The valley itself was carpeted with a dazzling display of bluebells and the moorland was brightened with bursts of vibrant yellow from its gorse bushes.

We encountered the usual fauna and saw many of our feathered friends, but we also aroused the curiosity of a herd of alpacas and spotted a flock of seagulls who appeared to be taking a holiday from the seaside. We were also entertained by Luda, the Estonian landlady with the encyclopaedic knowledge of East Cheshire’s buildings and its inhabitants.

According to legend we also trod in the footsteps of Robin Hood and Bonnie Prince Charlie, of which more later.

We set off promptly, crossing the River Dane and turning left at a green public footpath sign (1min). As we walked along the right bank of the Dane there was a sea of bluebells in the woods to our right, covering every inch of ground. We crossed a wooden stile on our right and later followed a yellow arrow marked DVW (Dane Valley Way) to leave a gravel track and carry straight ahead through a field.

After turning sharp right at a wooden public footpath sign (58mins) we then followed a similar sign pointing towards Lud’s Church (67mins).

The “church” is in fact a gorge where, according to local oral history, non-conformists gathered to hear sermons during the 14th Century. It is believed one of the preachers was Walter de Ludauk, a follower of John Wycliffe (1331-84), who taught theology at Oxford University.

Wycliffe was a Yorkshire-born dissident whose followers were nicknamed Lollards. They were precursors to the Protestant Reformation.

Less reliable stories are that Lud’s Church provided a hiding place for Robin Hood and Bonnie Prince Charlie although there have not, so far, been any rumours of Lord Lucan being seen in the vicinity riding Shergar.

When we reached the gorge (75mins), we walked carefully down the stone steps and followed stepping stones in the deep mud to reach the far side (80mins). Here we stopped for pies and port.

Continuing away from the gorge we followed a wooden public footpath sign for Gradbach and Roaches (85mins) quickly picking up another sign for Roaches (86mins). This brought us to a footpath crossroads where we turned left towards Gradbach and Danebridge (98mins).

This path reached the left bank of Black Brook. While leading the way, Lawrie walked into a low branch and gashed his head. We are pleased to report that he never blubbed. In fact the only words which escaped his lips cannot be repeated in a family blog. After the application of a sticking plaster we continued to a footbridge on our right and crossed it (123mins)

After walking some 50 yards uphill we crossed a stone step stile on our left (124mins) and followed the path to a gap stile on our right (128mins). This brought us to the front of the former Gradbach Youth Hostel, a converted 18th Century mill. It has been bought by Newcastle-under-Lyme College and is being refurbished as an outdoor education centre.

We turned left and crossed a footbridge (130mins), then climbed a steep hill which led us through a hole in a wall (134mins). We turned left and followed a yellow arrow to our right. This took us out of the field and on to a gravel track which we ascended (138mins).

This took us to a road. On the far side to our left was the Eagle and Child, a former pub which is now a residential property. But, as we were to learn later from Luda, it has a licence which is renewed every four years. The pub, built in 1738, closed in 1963. Hilda Baker (not the comedienne), now in her 80s and the daughter of the last innkeepers, the Mitchells, still lives there.

We turned left to pass the building on our right. On our left further along the road was Helmesley Farm (145mins). Beyond it on the right was a field occupied by a herd of alpacas, recently shorn, who came over to stare at us in amazement. In the next field were a racehorse and his pal, a Shetland pony.

The moorland was a blaze of bright yellow from the gorse bushes and as we passed them we were serenaded by a willow warbler. We reached The Rose and Crown on our right (164mins), where Luda gave us the history of her new pub, her old pub The Hanging Gate, and the Eagle and Child. Three cask ales were on offer for £3-50 a pint.

Resuming our journey we turned left downhill past the Allgreave Methodist Chapel on our right and a farm on our left which was built in 1736. A more modern cottage on our right was dated 1746.

We crossed a road bridge over Clough Brook and turned left (173mins). This took us past Clough Brook Cottage (174mins) and over a wooden stile. Upon reaching a grassy bank we stopped for lunch with a splendid view across the valley (175mins).

Continuing, we took a path on our right, crossed a wooden stile (182mins) and followed a sign for Danebridge marked with a yellow arrow. Above us a flock of seagulls wheeled around the sky. We exited the field through a gate marked with a yellow arrow and turned left down a farm track (192mins).

We went left over a stone step stile into a field and turned right (193mins). After crossing a stile marked with a yellow arrow (194mins) we descended a steep path down to a footbridge and climbed up the far side. Exiting by a metal kissing gate (200mins), we went down a flight of stone steps and turned left to pass The Ship Inn at Wincle.

After reaching our cars (204mins) and de-booting, we sampled the Sir Philip cask bitter at the Wincle Brewery opposite, a modern-day bargain at £2-60 a pint.

Next week’s walk will start at 9.35am at The Lantern Pike Inn, Little Hayfield. It is intended to pass Park Hall, enter Middle Wood and turn left up Mill Hill and Knot Hill to Chunal, where we will cross the Hayfield-Glossop road and head for The Little Mill Inn at Rowarth. We expect to reach there at 12.30pm for a snifter and then return to The Lantern Pike at about 2.20pm.

Happy wandering !

Monyash

May 20, 2015.

MONYASH, LATHKILL DALE, THE GEORGE AT YOULGREAVE, MOOR LANE, LOW MOOR WOOD, CALES DALE, ONE ASH GRANGE, HIGH HEALTH FARM, LIMESTONE WAY AND THE BULL’S HEAD AT MONYASH

Distance: 9 miles.

Difficulty: Easy.

Weather: Mainly cloudy with some sunshine and occasional light showers.

Walkers: Tom Cunliffe, Colin Davison, Lawrie Fairman, Alan Hart, Jock Rooney and Tips.

Apologies: George Dearsley (in Turkey), Julian Ross (attending funeral), Peter Beal (New England), George Whaites.

Leader: Fairman. Diarist: Hart.

Starting point: Lay-by off B5055 just outside Monyash, Derbyshire.

Starting time: 10am and 10.07am.Finishing time: 2.50pm.

We have become used to pessimistic weather forecasts predicting dire conditions, only for the reality to be entirely different. On this occasion the forecasts were good, but a cloudy sky rarely cleared and we were subjected to two prolonged showers.

Your diarist’s waterproof pants worked their usual magic on the first downpour, but they were powerless against a second lengthy period of rain.

Nonetheless we enjoyed some stunning scenery in one of the more picturesque areas of the White Peak District. We also spotted early purple orchids, cowslips and primrose in the meadows near the path, a brown trout under the River Lathkill and swans, coots, mallards and tufted ducks swimming on its surface. There was also a sighting of a dipper, which never fails to excite local birdwatchers.

We also spotted a single swallow, but failed to sight a second so summer has not officially arrived just yet.

A traffic accident and a police diversion delayed the arrival of your diarist and Colin, so there were staggered starting times as Lawrie and Tom set off at 10am, while Jock awaited our arrival moments later. By the time we were booted and suited, our scouts had built up a formidable lead, but we were able to rein them in before Pietime. This diary records the times of the late starters.

From the layby, we crossed the road, entered a gate by the left of public toilets, and started our journey towards Lathkill Dale.   Eventually the river sprung from underground on our right and our path was along the left bank of the river.

After catching up Lawrie and Tom we paused for pies and port on a convenient bank (51mins).Continuing along the left bank, we exited through a gate on our left (78mins) to face Lathkill Lodge. We turned right following a wooden public footpath sign marked Youlgrave and Alport (95mins). The sign is testimony to the fact that nobody is sure whether the village should contain a letter “e.” Other signs spell it Youlgreave so it must be optional.

Youlgrave or Youlgreave is the largest of three villages on the same road, the others being Bradford and Alport. It is believed the optional names mean “yellow grove” so I suggest everyone call it Youlgrove and have done with it.

The village has a distinctive water tank called “The Fountain” which used to contain 12,000 gallons piped up from the River Bradford. Next to the village post office is a house known as Thimble Hall. It contains two small rooms, one above the other, connected by a ladder.

We ignored a wooden public footpath sign on our left (98mins) , turning left at a sign for Youlgreave (101mins) and spotting a solitary swallow wondering why he had bothered to venture north so early. The road brought us to The George, opposite the 600-year-old All Saints Church with its massive tower which can be seen for miles in every direction (113mins).

The Theakstons’ Black Bull bitter at £3-12 a pint was in excellent form, even winning an accolade from our beer sommelier, Tom. However, Trip Advisor critics advise against eating here.

Resuming our adventure, we turned right out of the pub with the church on our left. After passing The Bull’s Head on our left, we turned right at The Fountain (115mins), passing Dawsons Cottage on our left and climbing steadily up Moor Lane.

After a long climb we passed Moor Lane car park on our left (140mins) and reached a road. We crossed it and went through a gap stile and a gate into a field (144mins). From here we were heading steadily downhill, entering Low Moor Wood (155mins).

At this point we encountered a couple who were two months into a charity walk from Land’s End to John O’Groats with their dog Barney. They carried their clothing and camping equipment on their backs in an effort to raise money for the Guide Dogs for the Blind Association. Readers of this diary can make a contribution online by clicking onwww.JustGiving.com/BarneysLongWalk

After exiting the wood we went through two more fields before reaching another wood where a farmer had kindly left a picnic table for hikers to stop for vittals. We paused there for lunch (161mins).

Continuing, we went through a gate marked with a yellow arrow, following a wooden public footpath sign for Cales Dale (163mins). We then descended a steep flight of stone steps (170mins), reaching the foot in a gorge (174mins), then climbing and taking the path to the left marked One Ash Grange on a wooden public footpath sign.

We passed a gate marked High Health Farm (178mins) and headed through a farmyard (181mins), passing a shrine in a cave on our right which housed a nativity scene. By following a wooden public footpath sign for The Limestone Way towards Monyash (182mins) we reached a similar sign marked Lathkill Dale (188mins).

Ignoring the sign straight ahead for Monyash, we took this path past a pile of slurry on our right and followed a yellow arrow on a wall which led us through fields to a drystone wall (199mins). We turned left here and the path led us back to our cars (209mins).

After de-booting, we drove half a mile to The Black Bull at Monyash, which was about to close at 3pm. We charmed the barmaid into serving us pints of Black Sheep at £3-20. Also on offer were brews called Hartington, Timothy Taylor Landlord and Easy Rider, no doubt in tribute to the many motor cyclists who use the pub.

Next week’s walk will start at 9.40am from the road alongside Danebridge, near Wincle, Macclesfield. We expect to reach The Rose and Crown at Algrave for a bracer about 12.15pm before finishing around 2.15pm at The Wincle Brewery.

Happy wandering !

Bollington

13th May 2015

BOLLINGTON, WHITE NANCY, KERRIDGE, BULL HILL LANE, WALKER BARN, GUNSHAW HOLLOW, BERRISTAL ROAD,  THORNSETT FARM, ROBIN HOOD AT RAINOW, OAKENBANK, DOG AND PARTRIDGE AT RAINOW.

Distance: 8 miles​​Ascent/descent: 1650 ft

Difficulty: Moderate

Weather: Glorious Spring day, sunny, warm,clear

Walkers:  Tom Cunliffe, Laurie Fairman, Steve Courtney

Apologies: , George Whaites (Spain), Micky Barrett (Turkey), Alan Hart (Cuba)), Jock Rooney (I of M?), Julian Ross (w^*king), Colin Davison (Spain)

Leader: Fairman,also scribe for the day

Starting point: Free car park opposite Spinners' Arms, Bollington

Starting time: 9.35 am​Finishing time: 1.15pm

We rejoiced that the weather was just the job for walking – sunny ,warm but not too sweaty)- what a change from last week’s downpour.

The Cheshire countryside looked at its best, multiple shades of green and bright yellow dandelion and buttercup fields. What could go wrong a lovely walk good company and best English ale? We felt superior to those missing walkers enjoying brown bare fields and over – cooled lager.

Little did we know what was in store for us.

Rather than plagiarise Mr Hart’s excellent account of the walk I have attached it as a seperate file as we last did the same walk in January of this year.

I will just draw attention to the differences. Few but critical!

Tom set a cracking pace after finding the public toilets in the car park had been removed, he kept this up for all the walk. His diet is working and new slim Tom is bounding with energy ( and urgency)

White Nacy was decorated overall with a commemeration of the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Waterloo

The pace was such that we reached the picnic tables near Tegg’s nose at 10.50 – a record.

Ther was no stopping the frantic pace we reached the Robin Hood at 12.05 – another record.

To our dismay it was CLOSED – though the pub sign read open 12- 12 there was no sign of life.

Local inquires revealed the landlord’s and staff disputes made opening times variable and generally no lunchtime openings

This caused Tom some discomfort and Steve an I an unslaked thirst, just as we finished our sparse lunch round the corner came Ken and Tony equally  shaken.

Nothing to do but press on to the Spinners which was also CLOSED- fortunately we had had the presence of mind to stop at the Crown and enjoy a pint or two of Doombar at £3.35

I met up with Ken and Tony at  the Dog and Partridge where we were joined by a much improved and fitter looking Geoff

Next Week

We will go on the Lathkill Dale walk to look for early flowering orchids, have an expensive pint at the George in Youlgreve and afters for those that need it; sustenance at Weatherspoons in Buxton

The meeting place at 9.50 will be the layby some 300m past the village on Monyash at the head of Bgshaw Dale on the B5055

New Mills

May 6th 2015

NEW MILLS, STONYPIECE FARM, HUMBLETON FOLD FARM, MELLOR CHURCH, ROYAL OAK AT MELLOR, PRESCOTT OLD HALL FARM, ROMAN LAKES, EXCAVATIONS OF MELLOR MILL, MANCHESTER-SHEFFIELD RAILWAY LINE, GOYT WAY, PEAK FOREST CANAL, GOYT VALLEY, BARLOW WOOD, ROMAN BRIDGE, STRAWBERRY HILL, LINNET CLOUGH SCOUT CAMP, MELLOR AND TOWNSCLIFFE GOLF CLUB AND NEW MILLS GOLF CLUB

Distance: 9 miles shortened to around 7 miles

Difficulty: Moderate.

Weather: Overcast to begin, raining cats and dogs from lunchtime.

A walkers:  Tom Cunliffe, George Whaites,  Steve Courtney, Lawrie Fairman, John Jones.

Apologies: Peter Beal, Colin Davison, Julian Ross, Mike Barratt, Alan hart

A walk leader: Cunliffe. Diarist: Cunliffe (Hart.)

Starting point: Car park at New Mills Golf Club, Derbyshire.

Starting time: 9.39am. Finishing time: 2.30pm.

This was a repeat walk form the 24th September 2014, no real need to reinvent the wheel so to speak, suffice to say the carefully crafted narrative expressed with such articulate detail and precision by Mr Hart from Sept last was so accurate in every detail that our group was able to follow every word (almost), albeit a slight deviation around the Roman Lakes area in order to get to the Golf Club for our well-earned refreshments ……………….. and to get out of the rain.

Mr Hart is acknowledged as the original creator of this piece since I wouldn’t want to be accused of plagiarising.

Next Week’s walk, May 13th, will begin from the main car park in Bollington taking in the marvellous sights of the Macclesfield environs, the half time watering hole will be the Robin Hood at Rainow at 12:15 finishing at the Spinners in Bollington by 2:15pm

A seating arrangement commemorating the untimely death of a child

From the car park we passed the clubhouse on our right and crossed at the junction to ascend Castle Edge Road. We passed Stonypiece Farm on our left (3mins) and Coal House Farm on our right (11mins) just before we turned right down a stony track with a row of trees on our left. On reaching a road (17mins) we turned right downhill and then left (19mins) at a sign for a restricted byway.

We turned left at Briargrove Road (25mins) and headed uphill. After 30 yards we turned right at a wooden public footpath sign. This brought us to a gate, before which we turned left to climb uphill and then turned right to go through a gate marked with a yellow arrow (27mins).

On reaching a farmyard we turned left uphill (35mins) and reached a road. We turned right downhill for 25 yards and then went left at a green public footpath sign (38mins) which pointed up steps to a path. After crossing two wooden stiles we entered a field through a metal gate (41mins) Two stiles, one wooden and one of the stone step variety, took us into another field which we exited by a stone step stile and turned left up a lane (43mins)

At a T-junction we turned right downhill (44mins) and carried on along a footpath where the lane swung right towards Humbleton Fold Farm. We went straight on again through a wooden gate into a field (49mins), which we left by a similar gate and followed a stony track uphill. After going through another gate (54mins) we started the descent towards Mellor Church.

We reached the entrance to the churchyard (60mins) but diverted to the right where a plaque described the finding of ancient relics from the Iron Age, Bronze Age and Roman occupation. We learned that among the things the Romans did for us was to introduce roses, lilies, lavender and box to our indigenous flora.

After crossing a wooden stile we were able to inspect a replica thatched roundhouse, which Phil photographed with two ancient relics standing in the foreground. We then retraced our footsteps to enter the churchyard. St Thomas’s Church stands on the site of Christian worship from the 14thCentury. Its tower dates from the 15th Century. Inside the church yard are the remains of a Saxon Cross (now a sundial) and the village stocks.

We examined the Masonic symbols of Thomas Brierley to the left of the main church door, and read the headstones of some children who had died tragically young. Tom was in an uncharacteristically melancholic mood as we paused for reflection, pies and port (70mins)

Resuming, we left the churchyard by descending a steep flight of steps leading to a field, crossing a wooden stile marked with a yellow arrow and a gap stile to go through the left side of a farmyard (76mins) and pass Mellor Primary School on our right (85mins). At the end of Knowle Road we turned right (86mins) and passed The Royal Oak pub. Coincidentally we had been eating our pies on a bench placed there in memory of a former landlord.

Immediately beyond the pub on our left, we turned left down a lane and turned left again into Old Hall Lane (89mins). After passing Prescott Old Hall Farm on our left (93mins) we emerged on a lane with the North Lake of Roman Lakes on our right.

We retraced our steps to the end of Bottoms Hall Road and turned right. Immediately after crossing a bridge we went uphill at a post marked with a yellow arrow (102mins). This path took us over a footbridge across the Manchester-Sheffield railway line (105mins) and across a main road to steps marked “Goyt Way” (109mins)

We reached the Peak Forest Canal at Bridge 19 and turned left with the canal on our right. It was here we spotted two herons fishing on the far bank. Just before Bridge 21 we turned sharply left (127mins) away from the canal, crossing a wooden stile at a wooden public footpath sign and over another wooden stile marked with a yellow arrow (129mins).

After crossing a road we followed a green public footpath sign down steps into Barlow Wood (133mins). We reached the Goyt (137mins), turned left and crossed Roman Bridge. On the far side of the Goyt we turned left and followed a green public footpath sign on our right for Mellor and Cobden Edge (142mins).

The path took us to another footbridge across the Manchester-Sheffield railway line. On the far side was the sickly sweet smell of Himalayan balsam which dominated the area. The path brought us on to Mellor and Townscliffe Golf Course, where we followed a footpath sign leading just outside the course before it came back and we walked directly across it.

We emerged with Linnet Clough Scout Camp on our left (160mins), turned right and headed right again up a lane. Turning left at a sign for the club (161mins) we reached the clubhouse (163mins) for pints of Doom Bar.

Continuing our walk, we went to the left of an equipment shed and the 16th tee, then to the right of the 18th and 2nd tees. We exited the course (178mins), passing the rear of a house called The Shielanbefore turning left up a stony track. We carried straight ahead at a junction in the paths (183mins) and stopped for lunch (191mins) at a bench on the edge of the course’s 10th tee.

Instead of continuing to Mellor Cross uphill ahead, we turned right along a lane, entered a field and kept left before exiting via a stone step stile (199mins). We went down another stone step stile and after 20 yards stepped over a wooden stile on our left marked with a yellow arrow. We turned left with a drystone wall on our left (203mins).

After squeezing through a gap stile (206mins) we headed diagonally right through a field, leaving it by a series of three stiles. We turned left (210mins) and went into a farmyard. Once again Tom could not resist posing for a photo next to a slurry pit with a sign warning “Toxic Gas.”

We turned right and emerged at a road with New Mills Golf Club on the other side of a fence. We turned left along the road with the course on our right and entered the car park (218mins). After de-booting we joined the B walkers, George F, Tony and Geoff, in the clubhouse bar.