Furness Vale

December 2 2015

FURNESS VALE, PEAK FOREST CANAL, BIG TREE FARM, BALLBEARD FARM, NEW MILLS, THE TORRS, MILLENIUM WALKWAY, TORR VALE MILL, CHALKERS’ SNOOKER CLUB, ELLIBANKE COTTAGE, SHRIGLEY COTTAGE, THE SOLDIER DICK AT FURNESS VALE

Distance: 10 miles.

Difficulty: Easy.

Weather: Dry; sunny at first and cloudy later.

Walkers: Colin Davison, Alan Hart and John Jones.

Apologies: Peter Beal and Mark Gibby (hols in La Palma, Canary Islands), Lawrie Fairman (visiting relatives), Julian Ross (w*^king), George Whaites (domestic duties).

Leader: Jones. Diarist: Hart.

Starting point: Car park of The Soldier Dick pub, A6, Furness Vale.

Starting time: 9.44am. Finishing time: 2.43pm.

Eagle-eyed readers among you will have no doubt spotted that two of our Wanderers were both holidaying at the same time on the same island in the Canaries. I hope this will not start tongues wagging again.

Earlier this year there were rumours when Lawrie and Tom decided to holiday in Anglesey at the same time. Hints that Tom might have been groomed as a teenage metallurgy student were completely without foundation.

Any suggestions following this latest “coincidence” that the Wednesday Wanderers is a front organisation for a swingers’ club must be dispelled. We will not allow this vile gossip to continue.

Despite forecasts of heavy rain starting in the area at noon, we enjoyed a sunny start to this new walk and the predicted precipitation did not begin until we had de-booted in the pub car park at journey’s end.

We are indebted to John for leading us along pastures new and for keeping up a running commentary on the landscape which provided us with splendid views of the gently undulating terrain.

The relaxation of the forest laws in the 17th century created new tracks and roads, and of many open-cast coalmines. But how many of you knew that coal came in many forms ? In this area of the Goyt Valley the miners extracted yard coal, red ash coal, big smut coal, white ash coal and ganister coal in the most difficult and dangerous conditions.

Beneath the coal was a grey clay deficient in lime which made it suitable for bricks and tiles, creating another local industry. At its best, coal seams produced 4,500 tons per acre but when railways spread towards the end of the 19th Century, a superior product was brought into the area from the Yorkshire and Lancashire coalfields. The last local pit, The Beard and Bugsworth Colliery, closed in 1903.

From the car park of The Soldier Dick we crossed the A6, turned left for a few yards, then headed right down Old Road (1min) under the Manchester-Buxton railway line to reach the Furness ValeMarina (2mins). We crossed Bridge 31 over the Peak Forest Canal and turned left to reach the towpath and walked under the bridge with the canal on our right.

After walking under Bridge 32 we went immediately left at a gap stile (11mins) and crossed a lane leading to the sewage works on our left. After crossing a footbridge over the River Goyt we saw a field of black sheep in a field on our right which our leader identified impressively as being Hebridean. Interestingly, there were no white sheep in that particular family.

We squeezed through a gap stile marked with a yellow arrow on our left to take a short cut through a field and went through two gates to cross a lane and enter a field. We kept to the left of this field and exited it by a wooden gate. Just before we reached the Manchester-Sheffield railway line we turned left at a wooden public footpath sign (18mins).  

The path swung right through a tunnel under the railway line (21mins) and we climbed a flight of steps before reaching a lane at Big Tree Farm. We turned right for 20 yards and then left opposite the farmhouse (26mins). We aimed for the left corner of a field uphill, crossing a stone step stile (29mins) and going through a wooden gate into woodland (36mins).

After exiting the copse by a stone step stile we turned right to cross moorland via a stone step stile (44mins) and a wooden stile (45mins), following a beaten path towards a yellow post. We crossed two more stone step stiles and passed a sealed mineshaft in a copse on our right before exiting the field by a stone step stile at the side of a seven-barred metal gate (53mins).

Our trio turned right up a stony track, taking the left fork where it divided (73mins) and turning sharp left at a wooden public footpath sign (78mins). After passing through a metal gate, we encountered a large group of ramblers belonging to the University of the Third Age from Buxton, who wereoccupying a grassy bank in the lee of a sheltering wall.

Heavily outnumbered, we chose a nearby depression to stop for pies and port (83mins) out of the wind. Resuming we rejoined the path to the right of a drystone wall and walked through a five-barred metal gate (84mins). We again took a left fork keeping to the right of a drystone wall and turned left through a wooden gate following a wooden public bridleway sign (95mins).

After passing through two metal gates (103mins) we began a gradual descent and through a wooden gate (111mins). At a three-way junction we turned right (116mins) and passed Ballbeard Farm on our right (124mins). We entered the outskirts of New Mills and turned left at a wooden public footpath sign (133mins), passing The Grange on our left (138mins).

At New Mills School playing fields (139mins) we headed right along a lane, reached a main road and turned right (141mins). We turned right into Church Lane (142mins) where we were stopped by a Polish van driver seeking an address in Church Lane. Our leader insisted we were not in Church Lane and sent the confused driver on a wild goose chase. Moments later we passed the house he had been seeking !

After passing New Mills Football Club on our right and St George’s Church on our left we turned left after the school (149mins). This path took us under a road bridge (151mins) and we followed a sign for The Torrs. We went left down a flight a steps and passed the sign for The Torrs Riverside Park.

With the River Sett on our left we turned right towards the Millenium Walkway and saw the colfluence of the Rivers Sett and Goyt. Despite a heavy flow of water the reverse Archimedian screw on the local hydro-electric plant was not turning and therefore not generating electricity to supply nearby homes as planned.

We continued to reach the Millenium Walkway, a £525,000 project which spans the otherwise inaccessible cliff wall, rising from the riverbed on stilts and partly cantilevered to create the final link in the 225-mile Midshires Way. At its start is a plaque commemorating Stan Brewster (1953-2005), the Derbyshire County Council civil engineer who helped to build the construction before being blown up by home-grown Islamic suicide bombers when they attacked the London tube network.

At the far side of the walkway, after passing the semi-derelict Torr Vale Mill (162mins), we crossed a footbridge over the River Goyt. We passed a children’s playground on our right, turned left at the main road, crossed it and reached The Beehive on our right (170mins). After nearly three hours of walking we had worked up considerable thirsts, but further patience was needed as the pub had recently revised its opening hours. We were thus four hours early.

John had a cunning plan B so we retraced our footsteps and turned left into Hibbert Street (174mins). A right turn into Redmoor Lane brought us to a footbridge which we crossed (177mins) to reach Chalkers Snooker Club on our left (178mins) where we enjoyed excellent pints of Mill Town mild and Monk’s Gold bitter for £2-90.

Resuming we turned left out of the club to reach and cross the A6 before heading up Redmoor Lane. After passing Ellibanke Cottage on our left (185mins) and Shrigley Cottage on our right we went through a metal gate and turned left at a wooden public footpath sign through a white gate (192mins).

We walked through a farmyard to pass through a wooden gate marked with a yellow arrow (193mins) and crossed a wooden stile. When we reached a six-barred metal gate (197mins) we stopped for lunch. Continuing, we kept a drystone wall on our left, crossed a wooden stile (202mins) and went through a metal gate, now heading downhill (211mins).

We went over a wooden stile on our left and followed a gravel track to the A6 (214mins). We turned right and reached the car park of The Soldier Dick at Furness Vale on our right (215mins). We had just finished de-booting when the promised rain started to fall so we congratulate our leader on his impeccable timing .

Photos by John Jones

SOB Walk Report December 2, 2015.

Bollington, Rainow, Bollington.

Distance: 5.12 miles.

Difficulty: Gentle stroll, bit of a slope.

Weather: Mainly cloudy with rain at the end of day.

Walkers: Geoff Spurrell, Ken Sparrow, Malcolm Smith, Tony Job, Jock Rooney and Tips, John Laverick.

Apologies:  Mike Walton, George Fraser, Terry Jowett.

Leader: Spurrell. Diarist: Laverick.

Starting point: Middlewood Way Car Park, Adlington Road, Bollington.

Starting time: 10:00am. Finishing time: 3.00pm.

The SOB group numbered 6 walkers plus Tips to ensure none of the group wandered. Tips greeted the group in her normal boisterous way doing her best to head butt as many walkers as possible in their sensitive areas.

Leaving the car park the group crossed Adlington Road and set off through the park following the footpath until it rejoined the B5090, Palmerston Street, just before the canal viaduct. Passing under the viaduct and turning left to follow the B5090 through Bollington. 

First stop was the orgasmic pie shop run by F Smith where a variety of pies were purchased to sustain us until the first watering hole was reached.

Continued up B5090 as far as the roundabout at the top of the village. Crossing straight over to Shrigley Road, turning first right into Ingersley Road.  Continued up Ingersley road bearing left past Savio House, onto Smithy Brow.

Savio House is a Salesian retreat centre for groups of young people and adults who want to enjoy some time of reflection away from the busyness of everyday life. The retreat experience allows young people to develop the confidence to be themselves, understand their gifts and the meaning of faith in their lives. The gentle, relaxed and fun atmosphere provides the backdrop to renew friendships, strengthen self-esteem and help young people meet life with more resilience, so that they can build a better world. Run by the Salesian community and young volunteers. 

Starting the gentle climb up Smithy Brow one of NASA`s or Russia`s Mars Landers was discovered, no wonder they think Martians look like horses or sheep they were in the field with it.

 

Leaving the Lander behind the group headed of up towards Blaze Hill, turning right at the end of the row of houses, into Oakenbank Lane, which is the Gritstone Trail.

Continued up Oakenbank Lane , turning left to avoid the loop back to Blaze Hill, until it joins the Smithy Lane. Turned right towards Rainow and the Robin Hood Inn.

There was some concern the group would arrive before 12 noon, it is not a good look to be waiting outside a pub waiting for it to open, people might think the group had a drink problem!

The Gods however were looking down on us, the Robin Hood has started opening at 09:00 hours Wednesday to Saturday. However beer is not available at 09:00 hours. Normal hours other days. The Blacksheep ale was very acceptable at £3.10 per pint.

Leaving the Robin Hood turning left onto Stocks Lane then turning right onto Chapel Lane then right again onto Sugar Lane the group made its way onto the Virgins Footpath.

Following the Virgins Footpath down to Waulkmill Farm where lunch was taken while admiring the large amount of water coming over the weir.

 

After lunch proceed down Ingersley Vale past the derelict mill and onward past the TRC Bowling Club. Just opposite the club was a tree offering a variety of houses at different levels to the discerning bird population of the area.

 

Passing Mill Pond on the left continued to the end of Ingersley Vale turning right onto Church Street. Continued to the end of Church Street turning right back onto the B5090 and retracing our earlier route back to the Dog and Partridge. The Robinsons Unicorn and Dizzy Blonde were both very good priced at £3.10 and £3.20 respectively.

Considering the weather forecasting rain from 11:00 hours the day stayed dry until the group reached the cars for the return trip home.

Next Weeks Walk...... TBA.

 

 

 

Next week’s walk will start at 9.40am from the road outside The Cock at Whaley Bridge. We intend to reach The Swan at Kettleshulme at about 12.15pm and return to The Cock for further refreshment around 2.15pm.

Happy wandering !