Poynton Pool

December 23, 2015.

POYNTON POOL, LADY’S INCLINE, DAVENPORT GOLF CLUB, HIGHER POYNTON, MACCLESFIELD CANAL, LYME PARK, LORD VERNON’S WHARF, THE BOAR’S HEAD AT HIGHER POYNTON, PRINCE’S INCLINE AND THE BULL’S HEAD AT POYNTON

Distance: Nine miles.

Difficulty: Easy.

Weather: Dry, sunny and unseasonably warm.

Walkers: Ron Buck, Tom Cunliffe, Colin Davison, Lawrie Fairman, Alan Hart, Keiran Rooney, Jock Rooner with Tips, George Whaites.

S.O.B. walkers: George Fraser, Tony Job, Terry Jowett, John Laverick, Ken Sparrow and Geoff Spurrell.

Apologies: Steve Courtney (in France), George Dearsley (in Turkey), Mark Gibby and John Jones (recovering from hernia operation).

Leader: Hart. Diarist: Hart.

Starting point: Diarist’s home at 68, London Road North, Poynton.

Starting time: 10.05am. Finishing time: 2.02pm.

It is doubtful there has been a better day for the Wednesday Wanderers so close to Christmas. The sun shone from a blue sky and the temperature remained warm throughout. A cool breeze meant coats stayed on but there were no signs of the strong Atlantic winds which had been forecast.

There was a five-minute delay at the start when a clumsy drinker (me) knocked a full glass of mulled wine over a kitchen worktop while we were enjoying traditional bacon butties and mince pies. 

This, allied to an over-optimistic schedule within our time limits, meant the course was covered in something of a gallop. Consequently the A team arrived at our first watering hole in two groups of four. Happily the route was well known and both quartets were able to travel at paces which suited them.

Similarly the journey from The Boar’s Head to The Bull’s Head involved a staggered start with all parties arriving at times of their choosing at speeds within their comfort zones.

From my house we turned left, crossing Anglesey Drive to enter the car park and take the path to the right of Poynton Pool.  This lake is a haven for waterfowl, occupied by Canada geese, swans, mallards, coots, water hens, herons and seagulls. There has, until recently, also been a resident cormorant but it was absent on this day.

We walked to the end of the path (15mins), crossed South Park Drive and turned left at the main road to head towards Poynton’s magic roundabout. After 100 yards we turned left (16mins) into Woodside Lane with the grounds of Poynton Sports Club on our right.

We took the right fork up Lady’s Incline (17mins), following the ancient route of the line which once brought tubs of coal down from the many pits in Higher Poynton. At the end of the path we crossed Towers Road (30mins) and went up a track leading on to Davenport Golf Course (37mins).

After crossing the fairway along a well-trodden right of way we followed a track right downhill which led out of the course. As we reached the road heading to Middlewood on our left we crossed for Anson Road but followed a footpath sign to its right which brought us over a wooden stile into a field (40mins).

After passing a row of stables we headed diagonally right across the field, leaving it via a metal kissing gate and a wooden stile (45mins). We then crossed three wooden stiles to enter and leave a series of fields and reached the road to Pott Shrigley (53mins). We turned left in that direction, passed the entrance to a soccer pitch on our left and turned left into Elm Beds Lane (56mins).

At a green footpath sign 20 yards later we turned left through a narrow path which emerged at the far side of the soccer field where we kept right and reached the Macclesfield Canal (60mins). We turned left and, upon reaching a pair of benches just beyond Bridge 15, we stopped for port (63mins).

By the time we resumed we were 18 minutes behind schedule. Perhaps, with the benefit of hindsight, it would have been better to settle for a late arrival at our first pub. This is not a popular choice, and can lead to scathing criticism of the leader, but perhaps it should have been risked and borne.

Instead the pace was increased as we crossed Bridge 15 and took the path which leads in a straight line towards Lyme Park. We entered the National Trust grounds by a kissing gate (80mins). The option of a short cut over a ladder stile on our left or a longer climb up to Bowstones  were both rejected.

We took a well-trodden path on the left of the hard road, crossed a wooden stile (90mins) and headed for the car park below Lyme Hall. Here we turned left (93mins) and made a further mistake. Instead of climbing up to Lyme Cage, from where there are magnificent panoramic views, we became slaves to the clock and followed the paved lane until the entrance hut came into view (113mins).

A well-worn path on our left then took us across a bridge over a stream (115mins) and through a wooden gate (117mins) leading to a permissive path. We followed this path across a series of stiles, some marked with yellow arrows, and at one stage climbed a flight of wooden steps leading to a metal kissing gate (136mins).

A series of wooden stiles then took us through fields until the welcome sight of narrow boats showed us we were heading back to the canal as planned. We reached it at Bridge 14 (141mins) which we crossed and turned left with the waterway on our left.

Turning right into the Nelson Pit car park (144mins) we followed the winding road past the information centre, crossed a road bridge over The Middlewood Way, and reached The Boar’s Head at Higher Poynton (147mins).

The six-strong S.O.B. team were already in place in the vault, having just finished their first pints of Black Sheep or Theakstons’ Original. Neither was deemed to be up to scratch according to our resident connoisseur Tom.

Departing, we turned left out of the pub door and left again to head down Anson Road. This brought us out opposite the lane leading to the golf club which we ascended (160mins). Instead of turning left across the fairway we continued along the path with the course on our left until we reached a gap stile marked with a yellow arrow (167mins).

This took us through a field. At the far side a metal kissing gate brought us into Towers Road (173mins) opposite Princes Incline. This took us down to Woodside Close  and the main road (182mins). We turned right and crossed it to reach The Bull’s Head (184mins) for pints of Thwaites’ Original at £3-20 or a selection of three guest beers, including the locally-brewed Bosley Cloud.

Next week’s walk will start from The Lantern Pike at Little Hayfield at 9.40am. We will head via Middle Moor to The Little Mill at Rowarth, arriving there around 12.15pm, before returning to the pub at about 2.15pm. Tom started a rumour that chilli and rice might be offered.

Can we remind you that on New Year’s Day there will be the traditional mixed walk. It starts at 10.30am from outside Poynton Post Office opposite St George’s Church, calling at Poynton Sports Club car park at 10.35am to collect those who are parked there for convenience. 

The walk involves a gradual climb up to The Macclesfield Canal at Higher Poynton and a walk along the canal towpath to The Miners Arms at Wood Lane Ends, Adlington, arriving shortly after 12 noon. The distance is 3-4 miles. After refreshment we return by an alternative route to The Bull’s Head at Poynton. During this walk it has been traditional to share Yuletide leftovers in the form of turkey sandwiches, mince pies and Christmas cake. Some have even been known to bring hip flasks.

Happy wandering !