Barber Booth

November 18, 2015.

Barber Booth, Edale,

Distance: 7-8 miles.

Difficulty: Moderate.

Weather: Mainly cloudy with high winds and occasional driving rain.

Walkers: Peter Beal, Ron Buck, Colin Davison, Jock Rooney with Tips and George Waites.

Apologies: Tom Cunliffe (AWOL as usual), George Dearsley (in Turkey), Lawrie Fairman (man flu),Mark Gibby (suffering a bad attack of wind in Ripon) Alan Hart (holiday), Julian Ross (w**king).

Leaders: Beal. Diarist: Davison.

Starting point: Lay-by carpark, Barber Booth, Derbyshire.

Starting time: 9.50am. Finishing time: 2.00pm.

Atlantic Storm ‘Barnie’ had left its marks on the landscape as we approached our meeting point. The tarmac road to Upper Booth resembled a river bed complete with boulders and branches washed down by flood waters.

Still, the rain had abated temporarily and our band set off back along the road towards Barber Booth.  200 yds beyond the railway bridge we turned right, crossed a stile and followed the footpath through fields to Manor House farm.

Beyond, the path rises more steeply until it reaches ‘Chapel Gate’. This is a metalled track up the side of Rushop Edge which was badly torn up by 4x4 enthusiasts until they were banned by local by-law in recent years.

At the top of the ascent we arrived at a three way junction where we turned left and Southwards to a wall. Here we turned left again taking the track over Rushop Edge. The wind was now on our backs.This was fortunate as we became increasingly exposed to the elements the higher we climbed.

Pie time was called at Lord’s Seat, a tumulus on the summit. We scuttled over the edge for a sheltered lee. Despite the storm, we were favoured with the panorama of Kinder Scout and the Derwent Moorsin the distance, the Noe valley below and Mam Tor Ridge to our right.

Revived, we descended the edge to Mam nick. Having been buffeted by storm force winds a democratic decision was made to avoid the top of Mam Tor , taking a lower, almost level route to the North around the lower earthworks of this iron age hillfort.We rejoined the more popular path as it descended.

From here to Hollins Cross we were exposed to buffeting winds but we stopped complaining of our own discomfort when we encountered a party of perhaps 30 primary school children clinging to each other in small groups as they came the other way. Their accompanying teachers assured us that a 10% wastage figure was considered acceptable under the prevailing conditions.

At the Cross we turned sharply left with Edale, our goal, clearly visible in front of us. Visibility quickly deteriorated as we descended and heavy rain driven by the wind lashed the landscape and any foolish rambler caught out upon it.

At the next fork we bore right and eventually crossed a step through stile into fields which we crossed to Peter’s Barn. Here the path became a track which crosses the river Noe and brought us to the Road. 

Directly across the road, a stile gave access to a path by a wall. After 200yds a step through stile on our left led us into another field which we crossed diagonally to a bridge under the railway line. From here a partly paved path heads directly to the church in Edale passing through 3 fields and a wood.

At the Church we turned right along the main street and reached the Nag’s Head 5 minutes ahead of schedule at 12.25pm, a triumph of planning and navigation for our leader. Here we refreshed ourselves with pints of reckless at £3.80.

Resuming our walk at 1.10pm we were delayed only slightly by M.O.T. Ron going to talk to the children in the school playground. He assured us that he was definitely related to some of them so there should be no recurrence of any untoward behaviour which may or may not have clouded the Wanderers past.

We crossed the road from the pub and took the footpath past the cafe, across fields and over the railway line to Barber Booth and so back to the cars. 

Next week’s walk will start from the lay by on the A53 just South of Morridge Top, Grid ref.  031648, at 9.45am. The aim will be to reach The Knight’s Table, Quarnford SK17 0SN (Tel. 0129823695) at around 12.30pm (it will be open – I have phoned them) and return to the cars at about 2.15pm.

For your information only, the landlady at the Winking Man, Buxton Road, Upper Hulme (Tel. 01538 300361) has just rung back to say she is open in the afternoon, usually closing around 3.00pm. She has to collect a school child at 3.30pm.

Having bust his knee yesterday, your diarist is not 100% sure of walking next week.

SOB Walk Report November 18, 2015.

Nelson Pit Car Park, Higher Poynton,

Distance: 5.28 miles.

Difficulty: Gentle Stroll.

Weather: Mainly cloudy with high winds and occasional driving rain.

Walkers: Geoff Spurrell, Ken Sparrow, Malcolm ??????, Tony Job, George Fraser, Terry Jowett.

Apologies: Mike Walton, gone to find the sun in the Barbados

Leader: Laverick. Diarist: Laverick.

Starting point: Nelson Pit car park, Higher Poynton, Cheshire.

Starting time: 10:00am. Finishing time: 2.30pm. (By the time we left the Boars Head)

 

The SOB group numbered 7 walkers all keen to brave the elements of showers with a bit of sunshine with a resolve that reminded me of the film of the same name i.e. The Magnificent Seven.

The route had been carefully chosen to avoid the worst of the mud as a result of the previous heavy rainfall and to allow for the various levels of agility.

Leaving the car park we turned left and proceeded to the bridge over the canal at the end of Pool Lane. Crossing the canal we followed the track to Middlecale Farm, turned left and followed the track until the path cross roads. At the path cross roads turn left ( if you continue straight on this leads to Platt Wood) we followed the path down the fence line passing through a gate down into Ryles Wood, following the path where it emerged from the wood and followed it up the side of the wood in the direction of Elmerhurst Cottage.

Pie break was taken at Elmerhurst Cottage, a relaxed affair that would have had Tom frothing at the gills.

Ignoring the gate into Lyme Park, we turned left over a style following the path (which is the Ladybrook Valley Interest Trail) down across the field towards the railway, passing under the railway bridge. This bridge was always muddy and wet underneath, even in the driest weather, so it was very pleasing to find that some kind soles had laid a new hard surface path.

Under the bridge following the path round to the next stile which takes you over the railway line this time. After crossing the railway line and over another style turning right onto the Brookside Farm access road and continuing up to the next bridge and yes.... back over the railway line. Following the track turning left along the school playing fields, past the Brookside school, turning right up to Hartington Road. Turn left on Hartington Road, turn right at the junction with Alderdale Drive, and proceed to the junction with the A6 where we turned left towards our first stop of the day.

It was at this point the rain started, the Magnificent Seven pressed on to the Horseshoe Inn, the Leaders timing was perfect with noon striking as we approached the Inn door only to find it was shut !!! Lucky for the leader the Inn Keeper was seen through the window playing with his fire and a few taps on the window soon had the door open. 

For those who have not visited the Horseshoe in a while, it has now been transformed into a new look posh nosh pub. However the Robbie’s beer is as good as always and we received a warm welcome. Bitter was £3 a pint.

Once refuelled and the rain had stopped we left the Horseshoe turning right down the A6 towards the Middleway. Crossed the A6, turned left along the Middlewood Way until our last stop at the Boars Head where the Blacksheep Bitter was on excellent form.

Next week’s walk is under discussion.

 

Happy wandering ! 

 

 

 

Happy wandering !