High Lane

August 30, 2017.

HIGH LANE, LYME PARK, BOLLINHURST RESERVOIR, SHRIGLEY COTTAGE, PEAK FOREST CANAL, GOYT WAY, THE TORRS AT NEW MILLS, MILLENIUM WALKWAY, MOUSLEY BOTTOM, HAGUE BAR, LEA SIDE COTTAGE, THE FOX AT BROOK BOTTOM, STRINES STATION, DISLEY GOLF COURSE, CARR BROW AND THE HORSESHOE AT HIGH LANE

Distance: 9 miles.

Difficulty: Moderate.

Weather: Mostly dry with cloud, some sunshine and one heavy shower.

Walkers: Peter Beal, Colin Davison, Lawrie Fairman, Mark Gibby, Alan Hart, Steve Kemp, Chris Owen and Julian Ross.

B Walkers: Phil Burslem, George Fraser, Tony Job and Barry Williams.

Non-walking drinker: George Whaites.

Apologies: Mickey Barrett (packing for safari hols), Tom Cunliffe (long-term Achilles problem), George Dearsley (in Turkey), Hughie Harriman (Italian hols),  Terry Jowett (grandpa duties), Ken Sparrow (domestic duties) and Geoff Spurrell (nosebleed)

Leader: Davison. Diarist: Hart.

Starting point: Outside Chez Davison, 11, Carr Brow, High Lane.

Starting time: 9.27am. Finishing time: 2.17pm.

The organisation of a route for Wednesday Wandering can be a complicated matter. So it proved on this occasion as an inspirational masterstroke was foiled by the weather gods.

There have been many times in the past two years when we have arrived at The Fox in Brook Bottom just as the doors were opening at noon. Consequently the first few pints pulled had been in the pumps overnight and the beer was deemed unsatisfactory.

Using his fox-like cunning, our leader had plotted our journey so we would not be the first customers of the day. A slightly longer walk would bring us to the pub at 12.15pm. This strategy worked perfectly until, 15 minutes short of our destination, we were caught in a heavy shower which began precisely at noon. Consequently the A team were well soaked by the time we reached the pub.

Conversely the B-teamers, blissfully unaware of the plans of our tactical genius, had arrived at the hostelry just as its doors were opening at noon and had thus escaped the rain. If they were drinking second-rate beer it was not apparent from their joyful faces as we squelched our way to the bar.

Apart from the brief soaking, it was an enjoyable new route which ended with the return of one of our wounded soldiers, George Whaites, who is recovering well from a hip operation.

From Colin’s house we walked downhill to the A6, which we crossed, turned left and then turned right into Park Road (4mins). Another right turn (10mins) brought us to a passage where we turned first left and then right to reach a sign for Bollinhurst (14mins) which we followed.

This took us through a tunnel under the Manchester-Buxton railway line (16mins) and along a path which brought us to a ladder stile over which we climbed into Lyme Park (20mins). We passed the park’s entrance hut and exited through the East Gate (24mins) before turning immediately right.

After crossing a wooden stile we reached a drystone wall guarding Bollyhurst Reservoir (36mins). We kept to the left of the wall until we reached a stile on our right leading to a path through a wood (42mins). We crossed the stile, turned left and crossed another wooden stile before we ignored a gate 40 yards ahead of us and followed another footpath marked with a yellow arrow and a green footpath sign on our left (49mins)

After crossing a wooden stile (51mins) we crossed a road (53ins) and went, literally, through an iron gate (59mins). The route then took us through a series of stiles and gates to cross another road (67mins)

We crossed a wooden stile (68mins) walked through an open gate and turned left past a cottage on our right (71mins). Our route took us through three more metal gates before we passed a farmhouse on our right (77mins). Two more metal gates took us past Shrigley Cottage on our left (83mins)

This attractive three-bedroom property is for sale for £475,000. It includes seven acres of land and stables. Further details from Sutherland Reay estate agents (01663-744866)

Turning right at a yellow arrow (86mins) we went over a stone step stile and through a wooden gate marked with a yellow arrow (87mins), went over a wooden stile (92mins) and reached the A6 (93mins). We turned right and crossed the road before turning left at a broken footpath sign pointing us over a railway bridge (98mins)

This brought us to a bridge over the Peak Forest Canal. At the far side, while the next direction was discussed, we stopped for pies, port and damson wine (101mins). The debate ended in Peter’s favour with a decision to turn right rather than left.

We began walking along the towpath with the canal on our right but soon forked left along a footpath leading gradually away from the waterway. We crossed the River Goyt by a footbridge (107mins) and turned left, then left again following a Goyt Way sign (109mins)

Our group took the lower path next to the river now on our left (115mins) and passed through a tunnel named Old Mill Leat to reach The Torrs (118mins) – a dramatic 70-feet gorge at the confluence of the Goyt and Sett rivers, where a community hydro-electric scheme has been installed to provide power for nearby homes.

We continued with cliffs on our right at Woodhead Hill and the river on our left to reach The Millenium Walkway, a 160-metres long elevated path built in 1999.

The walkway ended with the once derelict Torr Vale Mill on the far side of the Goyt apparently being renovated. We entered Mousley Bottom (131mins) and crossed the Manchester-Sheffield railway line to head right uphill (136mins) before reaching a road and turning left (137mins)

We passed the sign for Hague Bar (138mins) and immediately crossed the road to follow a wooden public footpath sign by Lea Side Cottage (139mins). This was the steepest climb of the day as we went through a wooden gate (142mins), reached a road and turned left (144mins). It was at this point that the heavens opened.

After donning waterproofs we reached The Fox at Brook Bottom (156mins) and found the B teamers already in situ, looking both dry and smug. Our only comfort was the knowledge that our £3-30 pints of Robbies cask bitter would be fresh from the barrel.

The beer was in good form but we had to drag ourselves away, turning right at a red phone box opposite the pub door to head down a rocky path which brought us to Strines Station on our left after walking through a tunnel (166mins). We also passed Strines Hall and Whitecroft Farm on our left and a lake on our right before stopping outside Bruce’s Clock for lunch (170mins)

Continuing we crossed Strines Road (175mins), went through a tunnel under a railway line (182mins) and crossed a wooden stile to head for Greenhills, turning left uphill (187mins). We went through a wooden gate (189mins) and over a wooden stile (193mins) to enter the grounds of Disley Golf Course (195mins)

By following a public footpath sign pointing right (196mins) we exited the golf course (203mins) and reached a road, where we turned right downhill. This became Carr Brow and took us back to our cars to de-boot (209mins). Further refreshment was then taken at The Horseshoe, where we met our colleague George Whaites, who appeared to be in good health and was looking forward to walking with us again.

Next week’s walk will start at 9.50am from the free car park at Barber Booth. This can be reached by taking the A6 towards Buxton, leaving at the exit for Chapel-en-le-Frith and turning away from Chapel towards Castleton along the A625. After about four miles follow the sign on the left towards Barber Booth. At Whitmore Lea Farm turn left to go under the railway viaduct and the car park is on the left. We intend to stop for a stiffener at The Nag’s Head in Edale at about 12.20pm and finish our adventure by driving to The Wanted Inn at Sparrowpit around 2.30pm.

Happy wandering !

Longnor

Longnor

August 23, 2017

LONGNOR, LOWER BOOTHLOW, BRUND MILL, LOW END FARM, THE STAFFORDSHIRE KNOT AT SHEEN, YE OLDE CHESHIRE CHEESE

Distance: 9 miles                            Ascent/descent: 650ft

Difficulty: Easy

Weather: Misty and damp early, bright later

Walkers: Peter Beal, Colin Davison, Laurie Fairman, Steve Kemp, Chris Owen, Jock Rooney and Tip

Apologies:  Mark Gibby, Hughie Harriman (hols), Alan Hart (funeral), George Whaites (hip op recovery), George Dearsley (in Turkey), Tom Cunliffe (injury/imminent hols)

Leader: Fairman                              Diarist: Beal

Starting point: Village square, Longnor

Starting time: 9.49 am                    Finishing time: 2.23 pm

Today's walk was a quite straightfoward descent of the Manifold Valley through at times very muddy fields and a return along the gritstone ridge between this and the River Dove, where early mist cleared to give us splendid views.

There was the welcoming discovery that a pub in often dry Longnor has now resumed all-day opening and the fact that - perhaps a first this -  another hostelry opened specially for us en route. This allowed us to join Laurie in celebrating his 82nd birthday.

My Peak District Companion, of which your temporary diarist's regular readers will have heard before, describes Longnor as 'a plain, compact yet higgledy-piggledy place with dark old gritstone houses and a significant location.

'It stands on the east-west boundary between the bright greenery of the limestone country and the sombre browns and greys of the gritstone landscape; on a ridge between the Dove and the Manifold where they are only three-quarters of a mile apart.'

Longnor is no longer a market town, but high on the market hall, in the square where we parked, is a notice of the tolls salesmen had to pay at markets and fairs in 1903. It was also the last place used as 'Cardale' in the 1990s medical TV drama Peak Practice.

We turned left out of the cobbled square and shortly after passing the Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese - of which more later - we turned right down a lane which brought us to the yard of Field End Farm, where three recently-born black and white calves were hanging about looking cute.

We went through two gates and right across a stile, of which dozens more were to come, slanting across a field towards the River Manifold. A series of gated stiles took us through the fields alongside the river until we started to veer away from the waterside to come to an abrupt halt at a hedge barring our way (26 minutes).

A search revealed the path to be higher up the field and we located a gate where a footpath sign proclaimed us to be on the Manifold Trail, possibly the most poorly marked walking route anywhere.

We reached Lower Boothlow Farm on our left, crossed a small bridge on to a farm track

and went through a large gate on our right. We crossed two stone stiles which took us over a green lane, crossed a bridge over a stream and ascended steps to reach a gate (56 min).

We crossed a very muddy small valley, churned up by cattle, and we were now alongside the Manifold again.

We went left then right along a wall and declared early pie-time in a copse of trees near a broken wall (61 min). After a leisurely break of 16 minutes we continued with the river below us on our right and reached a hamlet which we skirted on the left on a narrow path to emerge at a T-junction.

The road ahead was signed 'Sheen 1 1/4 miles', but we bore right along the lane and crossed a hump-backed bridge over the Manifold near a house on the site of the former Brund Mill.

About 100 yards further on we took a stile in to a field to the left, again signed for the Manifold Trail (77 min), and reached a line of hawthorn trees, which we followed on the right, crossing stiles over six fields before turning left at a small gate (88 mins).

We bore right towards a footbridge that took us back across the River Manifold and headed uphill across a large, open field with a lone telegraph pole in the middle.

We reached a muddy farm track at the top (102 mins) and turned left through the well-kept Low End Farm, which has a small caravan park attached.

A metalled lane to the right brought us out on a minor road, where we turned left uphill to reach a sign telling us we had reached Sheen (112 mins). The road brought us to the Staffordshire Knot pub (122 mins), where the landlady had earlier succumbed to Colin's blandishments (don't ask) to open specially for us.

If she was disappointed by the arrival of a mere six walkers and a dog rather than the hordes possibly promised by Colin, she showed no sign and we enjoyed pints of Wincle Waller (£3-40) kindly provided by the birthday boy.

Sheen apparently is a small village of little distinction apart from, mysteriously, producing world-class tug o' war teams - both male and female - over the years. Sadly - or perhaps fortunately - we encountered none of the later during our brief visit. They must be formidable.

We left 55 minutes later and turned left to take the road to Longnor. At a farm we took a path to the right through a field (131 mins) to give us a brief respite from the tarmac and rejoined the road shortly afterwards (136 mins).

Above us on the left was the  craggy hilltop of Sheen Hill, with the white trig point visible. At a roofless barn on the left we stopped for lunch (159 mins). On our right there were fine views of the iron age Pilsbury Castle fort, Wheelstone Hill, and ahead of us the pointed peaks of Chrome Hill and Parkhouse Hill.

We continued down the road to Longnor, a long stretch of road but redeemed by the views on either side. We arrived back at the square (197 mins)  and four of our number adjourned to the Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese to enjoy pints of Robinson's Unicorn (£3-25) and Double Hop Pale Ale (£3-35).

The landlords Matt and Zoe have been in the pub for a year and now open from noon everyday through the afternoon.

Next week's walk will start from Colin's house at 11, Carr Brow, High Lane, at 9.30 am. We will call at the Fox Inn at Brookbottom around 12.15 pm. Drinks afterwards will probably be at The Horseshoe in High Lane.

Happy Wandering!

Ridgegate

August 16, 2017.

RIDGEGATE RESERVOIR, MACCLESFIELD FOREST, SHUTLINGSLOE, CRAG INN AT WILDBOARCLOUGH, PIGGFORD NATURE RESERVE, THE HANGING GATE INN AT HIGHER SUTTON, THE GRITSTONE TRAIL AND THE LEATHERS’ SMITHY AT LANGLEY

Distance: Seven miles.

Difficulty: Moderate.

Weather: Breezy but dry and warm with occasional sunshine.

A walkers: Colin Davison, Lawrie Fairman, , Jock Rooney with Tips,  Chris Owen, Steve Kemp Julian Ross and Hugh Harriman

Leader and Scribe (3^rd reserve) Lawrie Fairman

S.O.B. walkers: no report.

Apologies: Mickey Barrett (yachting Scotland), Tom Cunliffe ( Achilles tendon problem), George Dearsley (living in Turkey), Alan hart (hols), Peter Beal (entertaining) George Waites ( recovering from hip op),others unknown to me

Starting point: Roadside next to Ridgegate Reservoir, Langley, Macclesfield.

Starting time: 9.36am.Finishing time: 1.40pm.

This is a popular outing with WWs good pub, beer only! £3 a pint (c.f.  Leather’s Smithy at £3.95.) great  views, lovely countryside. To quote Alan from the plagiarised report of last year It left many of our group asking: why don’t we use this route more often ?

During our journey we passed the former homes of ex-Chancellor George Osborne and England rugby captain Fran Cotton.

Walking with Ridgegate Reservoir on our right, we headed uphill and turned right at the sign for Wincle (4mins). After 40 yards we turned left along a stony track and turned left to follow the footpath. This brought us to a T-junction (11mins) where we turned right. We turned right again at a sign for Shutlingsloe (14mins).

This is a distinctive hill which can be seen peeping above the skyline for miles in every direction. Its shape gives it the ironic title Cheshire’s Matterhorn. At 1,660 feet it is Cheshire’s third highest peak behind Shining Tor and Whetstone Ridge.

We turned right again at another sign (26mins), went through a kissing gate (28mins) and ascended a set of stone flags. This brought us to a metal kissing gate (38mins) and two alternative routes. The younger members i.e messers Davidson, Owen, Harriman and Ross  headed right for the summit and the magnificent views it afforded.

The rest followed their leader as he walked over the left shoulder of Shutlingsloe, going through a wooden gate (46mins) and a wooden stile (52mins). We went over another wooden stile followed by a footbridge (56mins) to reach a lane and turn right (58mins). After crossing a cattle-grid (62mins) we reached a road and turned right (68mins).

This brought us to The Crag Inn on our right where we stopped for Pietime (70mins). Tips was overjoyed when the rest of her flock, who had been to the top of Shutlingsloe, were reunited with their chums for snacks and port.

After leaving the bench in the pub car park we turned right and immediately headed right through a wooden gate marked with a yellow arrow (71mins). There followed a series of wooden gates, all well signed with red dinner plate-sized markers, through a series of fields. Eventually we came via a stone step stile to a lane (93mins) where we turned left.

We walked down the lane with Piggford Nature Reserve on our right. When we reached a road we turned right  (101mins) and turned right again at a kissing gate marked with a yellow arrow (104mins). We went through a metal gate and over a footbridge (109mins) into a field full of exclusively black sheep.  On our right was the former home of David Cameron’s right-hand man, George Osborne, whose Tatton constituency lies nearby (115mins)

We went left over a wooden stile (116mins) and left through a wooden gate to head uphill (121mins). Another wooden stile (126mins brought us to the path leading down to The Hanging Gate Inn. Although your diarist reached the pub (132mins) at 12.02pm, he had already been beaten to the recently-opened bar by the five-strong  S.O.B. team.

The pub is nearly 400 years old and has stunning views at the back from its modern decking area, where we enjoyed pints of Hydes’ Original for £3. A former landlady was Luda from Estonia and the current licensees are Ernst Van Zyl and his partner Sarah Richmond. They also run The Lord Clyde at Kerridge.

After slaking our thirsts we left the back garden by a gate and followed the well-worn path through a field to exit by a metal gate (134mins). This brought us to a lane where we turned left and then headed right over a stone step stile at a wooden public footpath sign (138mins). We stopped for lunch just before a gate near a wooden farm building (146mins).

Resuming we went through two metal gates (147mins), a wooden kissing gate and a farmyard, following a wooden footpath sign marked with a yellow arrow and the footprint symbol of The Gritstone Trail (150mins)

We went through two kissing gates to cross a road (152mins), crossed a field and went through a kissing gate to reach a track where we turned left. This brought us to a gate where we turned right and passed the former home of Sale and England rugby legend Fran Cotton on our right with a duck-pond on our left.

A few yards further we left The Gritstone Trail to turn right down a path leading to a wooden gate(162mins) and crossed a wooden footbridge (163mins). This brought us to a track where we turned left in the direction of Langley (166mins). This took us to cars from where 3 of us, Fairman, Owen and Kemp adjourned to Sutton Hall where the beer at £3.25 was a saving on the Smithy

Next week’s walk will start at 9.50am from car park in the centre of Longnor calling at around 12ish at the Staffordshire  Knot in Sheen final drinks may be taken at the Weatherspoon’s in Buxton.

Happy wandering !

Langley

Langley

August 9, 2017

BOTTOMS RESERVOIR, TEGG'S NOSE COUNTRY PARK, SADDLERS WAY, CLOUGH HOUSE, HARDINGLAND, FOREST CHAPEL, TOOT HILL, BUXTORS HILL, NESSIT HILL, RIDGEGATE RESERVOIR, THE LEATHER'S SMITHY, MOSS LEA FARM, LANGLEY

Distance: 9 miles                Ascent/descent: 1,850ft

Difficulty: Moderate with stiff climbs

Weather: Dry and mild, sun later

Walkers: Peter Beal, Mark Gibby, Hughie Harriman, Chris Owen, Julian Ross

Additional walker: Laurie Fairman

Apologies: Jock Rooney and Colin Davison (believed in Isle of Man), Steve Kemp, Tom Cunliffe (injured), George Dearsley (in Turkey), George Whaites (recovering from hip op) and Alan Hart (man 'flu).

Leader: Owen                      Diarist: Beal

Starting point: End of Holehouse Lane, Langley, between Bottoms and Tegg's Nose reservoirs.

Starting time: 9.44am                     Finishing time: 2.04pm

Today's walk was an extended version of a route that marked Chris Owen's debut as leader back in March. This time he decided that the previous outing was clearly not long enough or steep enough and threw in one more hill.

The extra effort was justified however by some superb views over the Derbyshire and Staffordshire hills and the Cheshire plain as sunshine replaced the cloudy conditions at the start of the walk.

Your temporary diarist had the duty unexpectedly thrust on him by Alan's heavy cold and as he was on unfamiliar ground without the benefits of pen or paper, the following account will rely heavily on the usual journalistic assets of a fertile imagination and a healthy dose of plagiarism.

As the walk was completed so recently I will also omit some of the interesting local history included in your regular diarist's report of March 29, 2017.

We started at a parking place at the southern corner of the Tegg's Nose reservoir dam, overlooking the adjoining Bottoms reservoir.

Rarely if ever can a Wednesday walk involve such a tough start - a climb up to the 1,246ft summit of the Tegg's Nose Country Park, an ascent of more than 600 feet in the first half mile.

We passed a stone memorial bench as the steep section levelled out (20 minutes) and passed some well-maintained and brightly painted remains of the machinery used by the quarry workers that helped shape the landscape here, where millstone grit has been extracted since the 16th century.

We turned right at a T-junction on the track (35 min) and followed a sign for the Gritstone Trail, the 35-mile walk from Disley to Kidsgrove. We reached the Tegg's Nose visitor centre and car park (40 min) and bore left to reach a steeply descending bridleway that emerged at the dwelling of Clough House (53 min).

Here we began to climb again up a track between drystone walls until we reached a stone stile over the wall on the left (63 min). We crossed two fields and then entered Macclesfield Forest on a good track contouring through the trees.

This brought us out on a more substantial track known as Charity Lane, where pietime was declared (80 min). There were splendid views towards Cheshire's highest point of Shining Tor and the pointed peak of Shutlingsloe.

We continued right along the track, which brought us to a junction with a lane a short distance from the remote St Stephen's Chapel - more commonly known as Forest Chapel - on our left (98 min).

We turned right down the road and soon took a stile to the left (104 min) to join another good path through the forest, descending to a minor road, which we crossed to take first a footpath and then a more substantial forestry track, climbing steadily.

We reached a junction near a spot where on earler walks we have emerged on to the open moorland for the ascent of Shutlingsloe and bore right uphill to reach an excellent viewpoint with three benches where we paused to admire the views over the reservoirs towards the Cheshire plain. The map reveals this as Nessit Hill.

From here we descended gradually on tracks and paths to reach the head of Ridgegate reservoir, so depleted of water that a lone angler was almost in the middle of the expanse.

We took a track alongside the road to reach The Leather's Smithy pub (163 min), where we found Laurie waiting for us. Laurie, recovering from a scalp op, had done a five-mile walk through the forest but apparently narrowly missed us at Forest Chapel.

Leaving the pub we crossed the road and crossed the bottom of the reservoir dam, through a metal kissing gate to a field where we paused for lunch. Shortly after we passed a field on our right containing three small ponies. Rather bizarrely Chris was able to tell us their names (for the record these were Jacko, Gizmo and Lily).

We emerged on a minor road at Moss Lea Farm (183 min), turned right and passed Langley Cricket Club on our right. We turned right in to the residential Forest Drive and

took an alley at the end to emerge opposite the (closed) St Dunstan's pub.

We turned right and very soon left up Holehouse Lane to soon reach the cars (218 min).

Our leader and your diarist debooted and adjourned to the nearby Sutton Hall for pints of Lord Lucan bitter from the Wincle Brewery at £3-70.

Next week's walk will return to Macclesfield Forest with an ascent of Shutlingsloe. We will start at 9.40am from the parking spaces on the road at the top end of Ridgegate reservoir, calling for refreshments at the Hanging Gate around 12.30pm. Post-walk drinks will be taken again at the Sutton Hall around 2.30pm.

Buglawton

 August 2, 2017.

BUGLAWTON, MACCLESFIELD CANAL, BOSLEY CLOUD, GRITSTONE TRAIL, TIMBERSBROOK, WEATHERCOCK FARM, HOOFRIDGE FARMHOUSE, MACCLESFIELD CANAL, CONGLETON AQUEDUCT, THE BULL’S HEAD IN CONGLETON, MEADOWSIDE MEDICAL CENTRE, CONGLETON PARK, MACCLESFILED CANAL AND THE ROBIN HOOD AT BUGLAWTON

Distance: 11 miles.

Difficulty: Easy after early strenuous climb.

Weather: Early light drizzle and mist gave way to sunny skies.

Walkers: Mickey Barrett, Alastair Cairns with Daisy, Hughie Harriman, Alan Hart, Steve Kemp, Chris Owen and Julian Ross.

Apologies: Peter Beal (narrow-boating), Colin Davison and Jock Rooney (in the Isle of Man), George Dearsley (in Turkey), Lawrie Fairman (hols), George Whaites (recovering from successful hip operation)

Leader: Owen. Diarist: Hart.

Starting point: Car park of The Robin Hood pub at Buglawton, Congleton.

Starting time: 9.40am. Finishing time: 3.06pm.

Uneasy lies the head that wears the leader’s crown. Chris introduced us to a new walk around the Congleton area on what was forecast to be a wet day. It was an enjoyable route, despite being slightly longer than usual.

A steady climb from the Macc Canal to the summit of Bosley Cloud at 1,126 feet would have normally rewarded our efforts with magnificent panoramic views. Sadly the early morning mist prevented us from seeing the distant mountains which are sometimes visible.

This came after an inauspicious beginning when a prompt start left latecomer Steve to chase after the peloton. This was a reminder to discuss absentees before setting off. Apart from a minor hiccup when an overshoot added four minutes to the journey, this hike will be a valuable addition to the Wednesday Wanderers’ repertoire.

It also enhanced Chris’s reputation as a leader and he will soon be ready to apply for his full badge – unlike your diarist who has a limited probationer certificate following a catalogue of blunders over many years.

There was a further problem when our first watering hole revealed that dogs were banned both inside and outside the premises. This was soon resolved when we took our custom en bloc to the pub next door in act of solidarity with Daisy.

We turned right out of the pub car park and crossed the road bridge over the Macclesfield Canal before turning right down steps to reach the towpath (7mins) and continue with the canal on our right. Steve caught us up and we carried on under bridges 59 and 58, leaving at 57 by mounting steps on our left (28mins)

Our group went through a metal gate to reach a road and turned right (39mins). We reached a lane on our left (51mins) and turned left. We crossed a wooden stile marked with a yellow arrow on our right (54mins), crossed another wooden stile into the next field (58mins) and continued to climb.

After crossing another wooden stile (60mins) we followed a path between a drystone wall on our left and a wire fence on our right. We crossed a wooden stile to reach a lane (62mins) and turned left uphill. We turned right at a wooden public footpath sign next to a house called Avona (68mins) and turned right up a flight of steps (70mins)

After passing through a gap stile at the top of the steps (71mins) we continued on a more gradual ascent to reach the Trig Point at Bosley Cloud  (77mins). On a clear day we would have had 360 degree views of Croker Hill, Jodrell Bank, the Berwyn Mountains of North Wales, Liverpool Cathedral and Winter Hill.

Whether we would have been able to see, as suggested, Charing Cross, London, 143 miles away is highly debateable. After two minutes of sightseeing and breath-catching, we proceeded (79mins)

We followed a yellow arrow with the shoe symbol of the Gritstone Trail down from the summit, pausing for pies, port and damson gin kindly provided by Chris by the side of the footpath (88mins). Resuming we carried on following the signs for the Gritstone Trail.

Heading left down a flight of steps (101mins) we reached a road and turned left downhill. We turned right at a yellow arrow containing the Gritstone Trail sign before turning right again at a yellow arrow which included the GT symbol (106mins). Another yellow arrow and Gritstone Trail sign took us down a flight of steps to the Timbersbrook Picnic Area (108mins)

On reaching a road beyond the picnic area we turned right, passing Weathercock Farm on our right. We then turned left to follow a footpath sign including the GT symbol (112mins). This took us through a series of metal kissing gates (113, 118 and 120mins). After the last of these we went through a wooden gate, over a wooden stile and into a copse (124mins)

Crossing a stone step stile (125mins), we reached a road and turned right, shortly turning left (126mins) into Hoofridge Farmhouse. We exited the premises via two long metal gates and a stone step stile (127mins). We turned right over a wooden stile (130mins) and crossed two more (133 and 135) before going through a metal kissing gate (137mins) and rejoin the Macclesfield Canal.

We turned right and went through a wooden kissing gate before swinging left along a gravel track, Bridge 72, which crossed the canal. We joined the towpath with the canal on our left, going under Bridges 74 and 75 and passing The Queens Head next to Congleton railway station on our right. After going under Bridge 76 (151mins)

Leaving the canal briefly, we used the bridge to reach the far towpath and continued with the waterway now on our right. When we reached an aqueduct over the main road (155mins) our leader realised it was a bridge too far. We retreated to a missed opening, now on our right, and turned right to reach a minor road leading to the main road, where we turned right again and went under the aqueduct (159mins). We were now in Congleton.

It has been inhabited since the Neolithic Age, because Stone and Bronze Age artefacts have been found. It is thought to have been a Roman settlement at one time and became a market town after Vikings destroyed nearby Davenport. Godwin, earl of Wessex, held the town during the Saxon period and it is listed in the Domesday Book as Cogletone.

After the Norman conquest it belonged to the de Lacy family, who granted its first charter in 1272, enabling it to hold fairs and markets. In 1457 the River Dane flooded, destroying many buildings, and the town was rebuilt on higher ground.

Congleton achieved dubious fame in the 1620s when it used funds being saved to buy a Bible to buy a bear instead. It was felt that an aggressive bear suitable for bear-baiting would enhance the town’s reputation on fair days in addition to cock-fighting. This caused Congleton to be nicknamed Beartown. A folk song entitled “Congleton Bear” had the catchy chorus of: “Congleton rare, Congleton rare – sold its Bible to buy a bear.”  It was never heard on Top of the Pops.

Famous inhabitants have included John Bradshaw, mayor from 1637-8, the Attorney General whose name appeared first on Charles 1’s death warrant; “Professor” Stanley Unwin, a comic orator; painter William Ralph Turner; and actress Louise Plowright.

After the aqueduct we passed the Wharf Inn on our left and Congleton War Memorial Hospital on our right before reaching the end of Canal Street and turning left (165mins). Our walk took us the T-junction with The Counting House, a former bank converted into a JD Wetherspoons pub, opposite (173mins). However, after discovering that dogs were unwelcome in both the pub and its beer garden, we decamped to the beer garden of The Bull’s Head next door, enjoying pints of Robbies’ Unicorn for £2-50.

Leaving the pub we turned left, reached a huge roundabout bedecked with flowers and followed a sign for Meadowside Medical Centre (179mins). We reached the Dane on our left and crossed it by a bridge (182mins). This took us into Congleton Park where we paused for lunch (184mins)

Resuming, we exited the park on the left (186mins) and crossed the Dane on our right by a footbridge, reached a road and turned left (192mins). Opposite Barber the butcher’s we turned left through a metal gate into a wood (194mins). We forked right to reach a soccer pitch and a playground beyond it. We left it by heading uphill to the right of the play area (199mins) to enter a modern housing estate.

We turned right at the end of Littondale Close into Malhamdale Road (201mins), turned right uphill to Harvey Road where we turned left and ended our brief visit to suburbia by turning left up a public bridleway (205mins) which brought us for the third time to The Macc Canal. We turned left (208mins), going under Bridges 65-61 where we exited (231mins) and reached a road.

Here we turned left, retracing our footsteps and passing Lighthey Farm on our right before reaching The Robin Hood on our left (238mins). In warm sunshine we enjoyed pints of different cask beers after a warm welcome by the barman, who told us the pub was open all day.

Next week’s walk will start at 9.45am from Bottoms Reservoir at the end of Holehouse Lane, Langley, near Macclesfield. We intend to climb Shutlingsloe and reach the Leathers’ Smithy around 12.20pm for a bracer before returning to our cars at about 2.20pm. We shall then deboot and drive to Sutton Hall, Sutton, Macclesfield, for further refreshment ten minutes later.

Happy wandering !