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 !