High Lane

May 31, 2017.

HIGH LANE, LYME PARK, LYME CAGE, MONKHOUSE MEMORIAL, BOWSTONES FARM, SPONDS HILL, HANDLEYFOOT, TODD BROOK, HARDY GREEN, THE SWAN INN AT KETTLESHULME, CORNHILL FARM, THE POSTING HOUSE, RINGSTONES CARAVAN PARK, HALLWORTH MEMORIAL AND THE SOLDIER DICK AT FURNESS VALE

Distance: 9-10 miles.

Difficulty: Strenuous climbs.

Weather: Blue skies and sunshine.

A walkers: Peter Beal, Tom Cunliffe, Colin Davison, Lawrie Fairman, Mark Gibby, Alan Hart and George Whaites.

B walkers: Phil Burslem, George Fraser, Tony Job, Geoff Spurrell and Barry Williams.

Apologies:  Mickey Barrett (sailing off Turkey), George Dearsley (living in Turkey), Terry Jowett (chest infection) and Julian Ross (decorating one of his portfolio of houses)

Leader: Davison (with amendment from Fairman). Diarist: Hart.

Starting point: Carr Brow, High Lane.

Starting time: 9.37am. Finishing time: 2.16pm.

A glorious sunny day brought out seven A walkers for a new route involving nearly ten miles of walking and a four-mile bus ride. We welcomed back Lawrie, whose wife Wendy is recovering from pneumonia, and George, who failed a fitness test and is still awaiting his hip replacement operation.

When we met the five B walkers at our final watering hole, the Magnificent Seven became The Dirty Dozen.

For the first 90 minutes the A team seemed to be climbing ever upwards as we went from High Lane through Lyme Park to Bowstones. When our leader indicated we had one more hill to climb before we started our descent, Lawrie intervened to steer us away from the summit of Sponds Hill and down to the first pub for a livener.

During the journey George described how his pre-operation assessment had turned into a script from Carry On Nurse, giving him high blood pressure. Consequently he was not deemed fit for the surgery. One would have thought that a septuagenarian who can walk the best part of ten miles on a hot day has more than proved his fitness.

We assembled outside Colin’s house and walked back down Carr Brow to the A6 where we turned left and crossed the main road to go right into Park Road (2mins). We then went right into Woodlands Road (11mins) which led us down a footpath to The Ladybrook Trail.

We turned left through a gate (15mins), went through a tunnel under the Manchester-Buxton railway line (18mins) and climbed over a ladder stile to enter Lyme Park (20mins). A long climb brought us to Lyme Cage (38mins), passing within a few feet of a magnificent herd of red deer.

From Lyme Cage we had a panoramic 360 degree view of the surrounding countryside. Descending towards Lyme Hall, we turned left before reaching the building, taking a lane with the former stables on our right (47mins).  The climb now continued to a ladder stile (53mins) which we crossed and turned left, keeping a drystone wall on our left.

This brought us to a memorial (72mins) erected by the family of Allan Monkhouse, playwright, novelist and literary editor of The Manchester Guardian, who hailed from Disley and was a keen hiker.

We reached another ladder stile on our left (77mins), crossed that and another wooden stile to reach Bowstones Farm on our left. Instead of viewing The Bowstones which gave the farm its name, we turned right following The Gritstone Trail towards Sponds Hill (79mins). At a convenient drystone wall we stopped for pies and port, overlooking Manchester Airport in the middle distance (83mins)

Continuing we crossed a wooden stile (85mins) and were heading for the summit of Sponds Hill when Lawrie executed a bloodless coup, leading us to the left to follow a sign for Whaley Bridge and Kettleshulme via Handleyfoot (89mins). His argument that Colin’s proposed route would make us late on arrival at the first pub won the day.

The footpath followed a depression in the fields until we reached a fork in the paths (102mins). We swung left and crossed a wooden stile to reach a road, where we turned right (105mins). At a green public footpath sign (107mins) we turned left over a little-used stile and followed a footpath along the left of a field full of ewes and lambs.

We crossed a stone step stile (111mins) and headed towards two tall trees. By the left of them we crossed the first of three stone step stiles (114-118mins) before crossing Todd Brook (122mins) and a derelict mill on our left. Reaching a road by the side of cottages at Hardy Green (126mins) we turned right.

This took us to the end of Kishfield Lane (131mins). Another right turn brought us to The Swan Inn on our left (132mins). We enjoyed pints of Marstons’ cask bitter at £3-30 in the beer garden.

Resuming after our thirst-quenching drinks we turned right to retrace our steps into Kishfield Lane and continued past Hardy Green until we reached the road bridge over Todd Brook where we paused for lunch (148mins). When we continued our journey we passed on the left a farmhouse to where late Wednesday Wanderer Ivor Jones was evacuated from Hazel Grove during the war.

As we approached Cornhill Farm we turned left at a public footpath sign to go through a wooden gate (159mins). We crossed a ladder stile on our right (165mins) and headed downhill. After crossing a stone step stile (167mins) we went diagonally left through a field to reach a wooden gate and emerge on a road (172mins) by the side of The Posting House.

Colin informs us this was not a post office but had been a stable where fresh horses could be provided.

We turned left along the road and turned right at a footpath sign (175mins). We went through a small wooden gate  (177mins) and followed the beaten track to reach Ringstones Caravan Park on our left (185mins). We went through a metal gate and turned right along a stony track. We joined a lane straight ahead (187mins) and on our left was the second memorial we encountered.

It was to David Hallworth, a 50-year-old farmer and father-of-two, who died at Ringstones Farm in 2007 after sustaining head and chest injuries when he was crushed by one of his cows. An inquest was told that he was herding his animals through a cattle race, which is a metal barrier used to guide cows in a queue facing forwards so they entered a corral in single file. An eye witness said one of the cows appeared to have been spooked because it ran back into the race and crushed Mr Hallworth against the barrier. The memorial said he was now “Farming pastures new.”

Our descent brought us to the end of Yeardsley Lane (200mins), where we turned left and reached The Soldier Dick on our left (201mins) for pints of Wainwrights’ cask bitter at a bargain £2-85. We then caught a bus back to High Lane and a short walk up Carr Brow to the cars outside Colin’s house.

Next week’s walk will start at 9.30am from The Soldier Dick car park. We have permission to use it but are asked to park as far from the pub building as possible. We intend to head for The Pack Horse on Mellor Road, New Mills, arriving at about 12.15pm and returning to The Soldier Dick for further refreshment around 2.25pm.

Happy wandering !

Monyash

May 24, 2017.

MONYASH, LATHKILLDALE, OVER HADDON, ALPORT, THE GEORGE AT YOULGRAVE, MOOR LANE, LOW MOOR WOOD, ONE ASH GRANGE, HIGH HEATH FARM, LATHKILLDALE AND THE BULL’S HEAD AT MONYASH

Distance: 10 miles.

Difficulty: Easy.

Weather: Cloudy start, sunny finish.

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

Apologies: Mickey Barrett (yachting in Turkey), Peter Beal (narrow-boating), George Dearsley (living in Turkey), Lawrie Fairman (taking wife to hospital), Steve Kemp (memory loss), Chris Owen (visiting relatives),Julian Ross (w*^king), George Whaites (hip operation pending)

Leader: All bar Tom. Diarist: Hart.

Starting point: Lay-by in Monyash opposite public toilets at start of Lathkilldale.

Starting time: 10.02am. Finishing time: 2.46pm.

The exertions of the Polish trip appeared to have taken its toll on our numbers for this walk through one of the prettiest dales in the White Peak District on a glorious late spring day. Lawrie was a late cry-off because of illness to his wife Wendy and we all wish her a speedy recovery.

The B walkers outnumbered us yet again, although they suffered a double disappointment in Bollington, which is mentioned separately.

The route itself is amazingly straightforward so those familiar with it took turns to blaze a trail. Basically you follow the river through Lathkilldale which leads you into Youlgrave and our first watering hole, The George. Then you turn right along Church Street, right again at the water tower and climb up Moor Lane until you have passed the free public car park. Then you head right at a public footpath and follow the beaten track back to Lathkilldale and the path where you started.

The limestone valley is a stunning sylvan setting, much loved by dog walkers. It is also the summer home to dippers but none were spotted during our walk. We did however see and hear a peacock.

From the lay-by we crossed the road and went through a wooden gate to follow the path to the left of the public toilets which soon brought us into Lathkilldale (6mins). Soon the river appeared on our right and we followed the track to its left.

After pies and port at a convenient log (63mins) we reached a bridge at Over Haddon and crossed it before taking a path on the left with the Lathkill on our right (73mins). We went through a wooden gate (77mins) and reached a road (87mins) where we turned right over a road-bridge in the direction of Youlgrave and Alport.

This took us up a road designated as a Quiet Lane, where Jock and your diarist turned left at a wooden public footpath sign (91mins). Tom and Colin opted to stay with the road so they could reach the pub quicker – regardless of the trauma this caused to Tips, who is genetically programmed to keep her flock together.

We crossed a wooden stile (93mins) and a lane via a wooden gate (97mins) until we reached a road (108mins). Instead of heading straight on for Bradford Dale and extending the walk further, we turned right uphill, passing the sign for Youlgrave (112mins) and reaching The George on our right (119mins)

Colin and Tom were already well into their drinks as we ordered pints of Lightfoot at £3-60. They also tucked into two large home-made sausage rolls at £2-50 each. We sat outside at the trestle tables, enjoying the sunshine and remarking how the refuse collection lorry had caused a half-mile tailback in this quaint village.

Replete we turned right opposite All Saints Church along Church Street, passing The Bull’s Head on our left. At the water tower we turned right up Moor Lane at the start of a long climb (123mins). This continued until we passed Moor Lane Car Park on our left (151mins). It levelled out and when we crossed the road to follow a wooden public footpath sign on our right (153mins) we began our descent back to Lathkilldale.

A series of stone step stiles and wooden gates took us through Low Moor Wood (164mins) and a smaller one beyond it. We entered Lathkilldale by the steep descent of a flight of stone steps (179mins). At the foot of these steps we started our ascent immediately, taking the wooden public footpath sign pointing to One Ash Grange to our left (184mins).

At the top of the climb we headed through a wooden gate to the yard of High Heath Farm (197mins) where your diarist was greeted by the distinctive call of a peacock perched on a barn roof. We turned right following signs for the Limestone Way and Monyash (201mins)

However when we reached another sign indicating that Monyash lay directly ahead we turned right following a sign for Lathkilldale (206mins). The path led to a drystone wall where we swung left downhill with the wall on our right. We crossed a stone step stile (217mins) and returned to the path we had walked along some five hours earlier.

We turned left to go back to the cars (222mins), where we de-booted and drove to The Bull’s Head at Monyash for pints of excellent Chatsworth Gold cask bitter at £3-40. Colin was less than thrilled to be told that the round would have been ten pence a pint cheaper yesterday.

B Walkers' report

Walkers: Geoff Spurrell, Tony Job, George Fraser, Phil Burselm and Barry Williams.

 Apologies from Terry – upset stomach.

The first bit of bad news was that F.Smith, baker of orgasmic pies, was closed until further notice. We purchased 3 large meat-and-potato pies from a shop further down the road (£1.60 each – incredulous shouts of “How much?” fro the Yorkshiremen). After a short sit down in the park, we climbed up to the canal, and proceded towards Kerridge. Geoff introduced us to a variation in the established route, turning South(ish) towards Swanscoe Hall. Very flat and pleasant, but a bit longer than expected, with the result that we missed the 12.00 61 bus to Rainow. So we took an early lunch and got the 13.00 bus to the Robin Hood.

Second bit of bad news – new opening time for Wed and Thur now 4 pm. So we followed the virgin’s path back to Bollington, passed the defunct TRC bowling green, now yellow and unkempt, and at last found beer in the Crown pub opposite the mill dam. Excellent Sharps’ Atlantic at about £3.20, and nice ambience.

What with no pies at F.Smith, and the Robin Hood closed, is this the end of Bollington as a walking venue?

Tony Job

Next week’s walk will start at 9.30pm from the road outside Colin’s house at 11, Carr Brow, High Lane, calling at around 12 noon at The Swan in Kettleshulme, returning to The Soldier Dick at Furness Vale at about 2.15pm before catching the bus back to High Lane for the drive home.

Happy wandering !

Brabyns Park

May 10, 2017.

BRABYNS PARK, MARPLE BRIDGE, ETHEROW VALLEY, REDBROOK WOOD, PEAK FOREST CANAL, HYDE TUNNEL, HYDE BANK FARM, ST CHAD’S WELL, CHADKIRK CHAPEL, OTTERSPOOL ROAD, OLD MANOR FARM, MARPLE GOLF CLUB, MACCLESFIELD CANAL, GOYT MILL, RING O’ BELLS, MARPLE, PEAK FOREST CANAL (AGAIN), MARPLE LOCKS AND NORFOLK ARMS AT MARPLE BRIDGE

Distance: 7 ½ miles.

Difficulty: Easy.

Weather: Warm with sunny blue skies.

Walkers: Mickey Barrett, Peter Beal, Lawrie Fairman and Alan Hart.

Apologies: Tom Cunliffe (decorating), Colin Davison (hiking in Yorkshire Dales),George Dearsley (in Turkey), Mark Gibby (hospital appointment), Jock Rooney (transporting B teamers), Julian Ross (w*^king) and George Whaites (recovering from hip operation)

Leader: Fairman. Diarist: Hart.

Starting point: Free car park at Brabyns Park, Marple Bridge.

Starting time: 9.35am. Finishing time: 1.55pm.

Our ranks were depleted for this walk on a glorious day of constant sunshine and blue skies. A variety of excuses were proffered – some more acceptable than others. Perhaps the absentees were girding their loins for the flight to Poland tomorrow and the start of a week-long tour by the Wednesday Wanderers International Formation Drinking Team.

The shortish walk chosen was a repeat of one made earlier this year, so I will not reiterate those items of historical interest which have already been mentioned. Suffice to say that we passed an unusual iron bridge, the former home of an English queen, a well reputed to have healing properties and visited one of our favourite pubs.

From the car park we walked through Brabyns Park, exiting by a white lodge at the side of a rare iron bridge (10mins). We crossed the River Goyt by a footbridge, reached a main road and turned left (15mins). This took us past the sign for Compstall, over the River Etherow and immediately left at a wooden public footpath sign indicating Valley Way (19mins)

This took us through Redbrow Wood where we saw a dazzling display of wild garlic with white blossom. We also spotted a lone Mandarin duck paddling in the Etherow on our left. Where the path forked we went left and crossed two wooden stiles before reaching a makeshift wood and stone stile leading into a farmyard (34mins)

We went through the farmyard and started to climb uphill before hopping over a stile on our left and heading for the impressive viaduct supporting the Hope Valley railway line linking Manchester with Sheffield. Just beyond the viaduct is an aqueduct supporting the Peak Forest Canal. We walked under this (43mins) and headed up a flight of steep steps to reach the canal.

We turned left (46mins) with the waterway on our right until the towpath headed left as we reached Hyde Tunnel (53mins). We passed Hyde Bank House, Romiley, on our left. The property is for sale at the surprisingly low price of £799,000. It was built in 1655, is a Grade 2 listed three-storey building, has six double bedrooms, a detached double garage, a vegetable garden and an orchard.

Next door is Hyde Bank Farm, the former Romiley home of Anne Hyde, who was married to King James ll. We returned to the towpath at the far side of Hyde Tunnel (69mins) and turned left at a flight of stone steps which brought us into the hamlet of Chadkirk.

We passed Chad’s Well on our right (70mins) and turned left into the grounds of Chadkirk Chapel (73mins) for Pietime. Suitably refreshed we left the grounds and went through a wooden kissing gate, turning left along a footpath with Coronation Meadow on our right. We turned right along a lane (76mins) which brought us out on Otterspool Road where we turned left (84mins)

After crossing the Goyt (86mins) and the Hare and Hounds on our right we reached a T-junction and a set of traffic lights with Marple to the left and Stockport to the right. We went straight across taking a track for Old Manor Farm (95mins), forking first left and then right (101mins) to enter a field.

After some delay we found a gap opposite where a stile had once been (113mins) and proceeded into a field with a hedge on our right. This brought us to a metal kissing gate and a bridge over the Middlewood Way (117mins). We crossed the bridge and turned right down a flight of steps before turning left (118mins)

We continued along the Middlewood Way until we reached a wooden stile on our left which led into Marple Golf Club (125mins). We stuck to the left edge of the course until we reached a path on the left where we could make our exit (134mins). We ignored a bridge on our left and took the path heading right which brought us to the Macclesfield Canal (138mins)

Turning left, we passed Goyt Mill on the far bank of the canal on our right (140mins). We continued along the towpath under Bridge 3 (142mins) until we came to Bridge 2, exited the canal and crossed the road to reach the Ring o’ Bells in Marple (151mins)

After enjoying pints of Robbies’ Unicorn in the beer garden for £3-40 we went back to the Macclesfield Canal, taking the towpath with the canal on our left. When we reached the bridge at the junction with the Peak Forest Canal (154mins) we swung left over the bridge so the PFC was on our right.

When we reached the start of the 16 Marple Locks (158mins) we paused for lunch before continuing to pass the locks on our right. At a road we switched to the right bank (165mins). After Lock 8 we turned right between posts and headed left along a gravel track (168mins)

After crossing a bridge over the Hope Valley railway line (170mins) we turned right along a footpath and swung left back to the car park (173mins). We then repaired to the Norfolk Arms for further refreshment (178mins). There were several cask beers on offer at £3 a pint but some cloudy ones had to be exchanged before we could enjoy them outside in the beer garden.

As manywalkers will be away in Poland next Wednesday, remaining individuals will have to make their own arrangements for their walk. The following week, May 24, we will start at 9.55am from the lay-by opposite public toilets in Monyash. We expect to reach the George at Youlgrave around 12.30pm before returning to The Bull’s Head at Monyash at about 2.30pm.

Happy wandering ! 

Whaley Bridge

May3rd, 2017.

WHALEY BRIDGE, CROMFORD AND HIGH PEAK RAILWAY LINE (DISUSED), GOYT VALLEY, ST JAMES’ 

CHURCH, TAXAL, TAXAL NICK, WINDGATHER ROCKS, PYM CHAIR,DUNGE VALLEY KETTLESHULME(SWAN INN),TODDBROOK VALLEY AND RESERVOIR COCK INN WHALEY BRIDGE

Distance: Ten miles.

Difficulty: Moderate.

Weather: Sunny

Walkers: Laurie Fairman, Mark Gibby, Tom  Cunliffe, Steve Kemp, Julian Ross and Chris Owen.

Apologies: Mickey Barrett (attending memorial), Peter Beal (walking( in Lakes?)(Portugal?), Colin Davison (Lost at sea), George Dearsley (in Turkey), George Whaites (hip operation), Alan Hart (Luxubourging)

Leader: Fairman. Diarist: Fairman

Starting point: Outside Cock Inn Whaley Bridge.

Starting time: 9.35am. Finishing time: 2.30pm.

This will be a short report owing to the extreme jet lag and general incompetence of the author but will serve as a useful reminder of the route and the personnel

The walk came about by the reluctance of Chris and Colin to write up last week’s (26^th April) doings. They in fact, if anyone is interested, did the April 19^th walk in reverse but omitted to make suggestions for May 3^rd.

Tom wanted to discuss the forthcoming trip to Poland ; Alan was away and your writer was Transatlantic. Emails flew across the ether and general conclusion was a popular walk and destination as Stella was bringing our flight tickets to the Cock.

The weather was glorious, sunny with clear cloudless  skies, a somewhat chilly east wind made for perfect walking conditions.

As your diarist has a thing about the Swan being a dining venue, not a pub, it is only really suitable if we sit outside and today was perfect. Also this is the best time to visit Dunge Valley Gardens the rhododendrons being in full flower.

The following is from Alan’s report of an earlier walk with some alterations

From outside the pub we had headed left, passing The Cock on our left, and after 20 yards turned left

Up a path over a stream. This brought us to the former track of the Cromford and High Peak Railway 

Line where we turned right (1min).

This line from Cromford to Whaley Bridge was completed in 1831. Initially the trains were horse-

drawn, but later the animals were replaced with small steam locomotives.Their main cargo was 

limestone, giving Derbyshire the reputation for exporting itself. The line was linked to The Peak 

Forest Canal at Whaley Bridge Basin, from where the minerals could be distributed.

​

The line was closed completely in 1967. Four years later the Peak Park Planning Board and 

Derbyshire County Council bought part of the track and turned it into The High Peak Trail.

We followed the line until shortly after passing Alpha Mews on our right we turned right at a wooden

public footpaths sign. This path took us over a wooden footbridge (11mins) and emerged at a 

children’s playground where we headed right, picking up a road which led down to the main road 

(13mins)

After crossing the road we started to climb again up a path opposite, which brought us to a wooden 

footbridge on our right over the River Goyt (17mins). After crossing this we had a steep ascent to St 

James’ Church, Taxal, on our right (23mins)

Originally this was called St Leonard’s Church and it has a record of baptisms, marriages and 

burials dating back to 1610. To its right is a house which was once the village pub, The Chimes at 

Taxal.

We turned left and after 60 yards, opposite Glebe House on our left, we turned right over a stone 

step stile (24mins). A long climb through fields ensued before two ladder stiles brought us to a lane 

(33mins). This brought temporary respite as we turned left for 100 yards before heading right at a 

green public footpath sign for Windgather Rocks (34mins) and another climb uphill.It was nice to have a pause at the memorial to Terry Lardner his tree seems to be in better health.

We finally reached the cleft in the ridge called Taxal Nick (41mins) and reached a drystone wall with a

view over the valley. We turned left through a gate marked “No Bike Riding” and followed the ridge 

towards a wood. Just before we reached the trees, we headed briefly left and then went right over a 

wooden stile. This took us through a field to a gate, which we went through to pass the wood on our 

left (47mins)

There was now another climb to the cliffs called Windgather Rocks (55mins). Here we stopped to 

admire the views across Dunge Valley with Kettleshulme below on our right and above it on a ridge 

the distinctive white farmhouse surrounded by telecom aerials easily recognised as Bowstones.  

Behind us to the left was The Kinder Range with Castle Naze on our right as we took in the panoramic view. On reaching the quarry we paused for pie time Tom as usual chivvied us along but not before Chris had dispensed slugs of Damson Gin (75 mins)

Continuing, we walked along the cliffs with the drop on our right until it levelled off by a road. This 

brought us to a plaque informing us that the rock formation ahead was called Pym Chair (85mins)

Two alternative legends claim that Pym was either a highwayman or a non-conformist preacher.

We turned right along a lane and descended the hill towards Jenkin Chapel turning right at the fist footpath sign to reach Green Stack(95 mins). Continuing along the footpath we reached the entrance to Dunge gardens(105 mins)

DUNGE VALLEY GARDENS

.You will see a kaleidoscope of colour featuring Rhododendrons, Azaleas, Magnolias, Acers and the Blue Poppy. 
These and many other desirable plants, grow with us at 1,000ft plus. See a collection of over 500 species and hybrid Rhododendrons as though in a hidden Himalayan valley, with streams, waterfalls, ponds, bridges, bog gardens and a wide variety of unusual perennials, trees and shrubs in a magnificent setting.
There is a wealth of wildlife in the Dunge Valley Gardens and surrounding land. For the keen Ornithologists there is a wonderful variety of bird life such as Goldfinches, Greenfinches, Kestrels, Redstarts, Spotted Flycatchers and Tawny Owls.

Dunge Valley Gardens 2017 - May be open for charity - details awaited- no longer trading as a garden centre or for public access except in May.

We followed the road out of the gardens took the first right and walked along the road to Kettleshulme reaching the Swan at 12.15 (140 mins) here we enjoyed Marston’s bitter @3.30 a pint a bit of change from $6 for a small American pint.

 Leaving the Swan we headed through the nursery gardens and the lovely displays to the Kishfield bridge over Todd Brook we had had lunch (160mins).Turning into Scar Wood we climbed out of the valley and back down again to the newly repaired weir and followed the track down to the dam on Toddbrook reservoir. Down the hill across the park and at the pub exactly 2.30pm

Next week before the grand adventure we intend to meet at Brabyn’s park drink at the Ring of Bells finishing at a pub in Marple Bridge around 2.30pm

.

Happy wandering !