Poynton Pool

December 19, 2018.

POYNTON POOL, MIDDLEWOOD WAY, MACCLESFIELD CANAL, THE BOAR'S HEAD AT HIGHER POYNTON, DAVENPORT GOLF COURSE, PRINCES INCLINE AND THE KINGFISHER WETHERSPOONS AT POYNTON

Distance: 4-7 miles.

Difficulty: Easy.

Weather: Dry and mild.

Walkers: Peter Beal, Alastair Cairns, Colin Davison, Lawrie Fairman, Mark Gibby, Alan Hart, Tony Job, John Jones, Terry Jowett, Chris Owen, Jock Rooney with Tip, Ken Sparrow, Geoff Spurrell, George Whaites and Barry Williams.

Apologies: Mickey Barrett, George Dearsley and Hughie Hardiman.

Leaders: Various. Diarist: Hart.

Starting point: 68, London Road North, Poynton.

Starting time: 10am onwards. Finishing time: 2pm onwards.

For the second week of traditional seasonal celebrations we were rewarded with fine weather and a large turn-out. This annual fixture, starting with bacon butties, mince pies and mulled wine from your diarist's house, has always been slightly chaotic and anarchic. This was no exception.

There was a welcome return to the fold by John Jones, who had not developed a noticeable sailor's roll since he opted for the life of a jolly jack tar on his narrowboat.

In contrast there was the end of an era at our first watering hole, The Boar's Head, where Gordon Yoxall had departed after two decades as landlord. Gordon will be sadly missed for the quality of his home-cooked food which saw the pub packed every lunchtime.

On this occasion the vault was packed with Wednesday Wanderers, but the lounge was sparsely populated. We were given a warm welcome but it was ironical, in this technicological age, that neither the barmaid, nor the chef, nor the landlord possessed sufficient expertise to be able to turn off the TV !

After our unusual breakfasts of butties, pies and wine, we formed into separate groups, heading off in different directions at different times with one firm purpose in mind – to reach The Boar's Head shortly after it opened at noon.

Nobody will be surprised to learn that despite setting off last after clearing up, your diarist was first through the pub door a nano-second after it opened. It is to the credit of the new incumbents that the Black Sheep bitter at £3-20 was in fine fettle from the first pint.

Once again we departed in various factions and directions as we headed for the Kingfisher Wetherspoons for our final pints of the afternoon. Nobody could complain about the price (from  £1-99 for Ruddles) or the variety of the cask bitters available.

But was it really necessary to inform Jock he must not leave his gentle collie Tip tied up outside the pub ? There may be good and widely-accepted reasons for barring dogs from inside pubs where the provision of meals is important. So at Wetherspoons in Poynton you cannot bring your pets inside or leave them outside. Your views on a postcard please.

As next Wednesday falls on Boxing Day there will be no organised walk for the Wednesday Wanderers, although individuals may of course make private arrangements with their chums.

There will, however, be the usual walk on Tuesday, New Year's Day, from Poynton Sports Club car park at 10.30am. This is the day when not only the gentle sex but other family members and friends are invited to join us for a return walk to The Miners Arms at Wood Lane Ends, Adlington, and where any spare mince pies, yule logs and tins of dates are shared around.

Happy wandering !

Torkington

December 12, 2018.

TORKINGTON PARK, HAZEL GROVE GOLF COURSE, OAKFIELD FARM, MIDDLEWOOD WAY, MACCLESFIELD CANAL, MARPLE RIDGE, CLOUGH BRIDGE, PEAK FOREST CANAL, BARLOW WOOD, GOYT VALLEY, ROMAN BRIDGE, ROMAN LAKES, MELLOR MILL, BEECHWOOD MANOR, RING O’ BELLS AT MARPLE, MACCLESFIELD CANAL, MARPLE GOLF COURSE, STOCKPORT GOLF COURSE, TORKINGTON MANOR AND THE THREE TUNNES AT HAZEL GROVE

Distance: Eight miles.

Difficulty: Easy.

Weather: Dry with cloud and sunshine.

Walkers: Peter Beal, Alastair Cairns, Tom Cunliffe, Mark Gibby, Alan Hart, Chris Owen, Jock Rooney, Julian Ross, George Whaites.

B walkers: Phil Burslem, Tony Job, Ken Sparrow, Geoff Spurrell, Barry Williams, Terry Jowett.

Recovering invalids: Colin Davison, Lawrie Fairman, Steve Kemp.

Non-walking drinkers: George Dearsley, Hughie Hardiman, Charlie Yates.

Apologies: Mickey Barrett (hols), George Fraser (watching nativity play), Mark Kean (supervising resurfacing of driveway)

Leader: Beal. Diarist: Hart.

Starting point: Free car park at Torkington Park, Hazel Grove.

Starting time: 9.48am. Finishing time: 2.15pm.

Unseasonably mild weather produced a record number of Wednesday Wanderers for our annual Christmas lunch outing. There were also a record number of categories as the fit, the lame, and the mentally retarded joined forces to celebrate Yuletide.

Only one absentee allowed religion to creep into the festivities as the rest entered into the true spirit of Christmas with excessive eating and drinking.

There was also a cameo performance from Jose, the Portuguese chef, who did a magnificent reprise of Manuel from Fawlty Towers. When he emerged from the kitchen to apologise for the delays experienced by some diners, he earned a round of applause which would have been even louder if he had concluded: “I know nothing.”

We were delighted to be joined at the final watering hole by George Dearsley, our blogsite founder, who has now made his home in Turkey and was paying a visit to Blighty. It was also great to see Steve Kemp again. He was looking remarkably chirpy after his recent medical problems.

Peter had devised a route to Marple which was basically flat because of the absence of hills between there and Hazel Grove. On these occasions timing is the first priority and we were able to arrive on time for the meal even if the meal was not on time for us. In defence of the catering department it has to be said that some of our group would make Basil Fawlty appear normal.

From the car park we left via a soccer pitch and a series of alleys which led us through suburban streets until we followed a footpath which went through a tunnel beneath the Hope Valley railway line (11mins). We turned left up a lane which led us into Hazel Grove golf course and past its clubhouse (17mins)

We left the grounds (27mins) and turned left towards Oakfield Farm. This path brought us to the Middlewood Way where we turned left (30mins) towards Marple before turning right up steps to cross a wooden stile (37mins). We crossed two wooden stiles (41mins), a main road (47mins) and the Macclesfield Canal (52mins)

After walking through two metal gates and crossing a wooden stile we reached Kitling Ridge, apartments which had until recently been a pub called The Romper at Marple Ridge. We passed the building on our left and as the road swung left we carried on into Hollinwood Lane (70mins). At a drystone wall we stopped for pies and port (74mins)

Resuming we crossed the Peak Forest Canal by Clough Bridge (78mins) and took a path to the right of the towpath which swung away from the waterway on our left. We crossed a main road (82mins) and headed downhill through Barlow Wood to cross Roman Bridge over the River Goyt (87mins)

On the far bank we turned left, passing Roman Lakes to reach the site of a once mighty mill at Bottoms Mill Road (102mins)

Mellor Mill was built between 1790 and 1793 by Samuel Oldknow, a Stockport-based businessman. Constructed in Palladian style it was six storeys high and 400 feet long. The Goyt was diverted to power its looms, providing employment for hundreds of local men, women and children. It was destroyed by fire in 1892. Oldknow (1756-1828) was a principal promoter of the Peak Forest Canal and Tramway which supplied limestone and coal to a battery of limekilns he built in Marple.

We passed the remains of the mill on our right as we carried on past Bottoms Mill Road, passing Beechwood Manor on our right (110mins) and crossing into Oldknow Road (112mins). This brought us to the towpath at the side of the Peak Forest Canal. We walked along it, with the canal on our left to Bridge 1 where it joins the Macclesfield Canal.

We left the canal at this bridge to reach the Ring O’ Bells pub (121mins) on schedule at 12.03pm. The Robbie’s Unicorn cask bitter went down well and, in Jock’s case, often.

Continuing we returned to the Macclesfield Canal, walking along the towpath to its right, and leaving after Bridge 4 to enter Marple Golf Course (134mins). After crossing The Middlewood Way (148mins) we entered Stockport Golf Course, emerging to pass Torkington Manor (183mins).

From there we walked along Torkington Road to reach Torkington Park and de-boot (206mins) before heading along the A6 towards Stockport and reaching The Three Tunnes on our left. Unhappily the late arrival of another group a few minutes ahead of us had the knock-on effect of delaying our meals and creating a measure of panic in the kitchen.

Next week’s walk will start from my house, 68, London Road North, Poynton, after the traditional breakfast of bacon sandwiches, mince pies and mulled wine. This will take place between 9 and 10am. Can I ask drivers to park in Poynton Pool car park at the end of my road to avoid congestion ?

We will be walking on a route aiming to reach The Boar’s Head at Higher Poynton shortly after noon, and finishing at The Kingfisher Wetherspoons around 2.15pm. Unfortunately dogs are not allowed so Tom, Alastair and Jock may wish to leave their bitches at home.

Happy wandering !

Lose Hill

December 5, 2018

LOSE HILL

OLD HALL HOTEL  AT HOPE, EDALE ROAD, LOSE HILL FARM, LOSE HILL, BACK TOR, HOLLINS CROSS, CHESHIRE CHEESE INN AT CASTLETON, PEAKSHOLE WATER, OLD HALL HOTEL

Distance: 7 miles​Ascent/descent: 1,227 ft

Difficulty: Easy

Weather: Persistent rain and thick mist

Walkers: Peter Beal, Chris Owen

Apologies: Alan Hart (weather forecast), Mark Gibby and Hughie Harriman (unspecified but probably same), Laurie Fairman and Steve Kemp (hors de combat), George Dearsley (Turkey)

Leader: Beal​Diarist: Beal

Starting point: Road junction at Old Hall Hotel, Hope

Starting time: 9.47am​Finishing time: 1.30pm

Often the most rewarding days in the hills are those on which the direst of weather forecasts are confounded and the cloud and mists clear to reveal scenic vistas. Sadly, this was not to be one of those.

The rain persisted for the duration and the thick mist refused to shift, leaving views non-existent.

Nevertheless, your dynamic duo - who were both rather surprised to find they were not the sole Wanderer to have turned out - enjoyed a convivial excursion.

We walked up the minor road to Edale with the Old Hall on our right and shortly after Hope School took a signed footpath on the left. This threaded its way through the fields via a succession of stiles and gates, across a railway line, and finally reached Lose Hill Farm.

We skirted the farm buildings on the right and began the stiffish climb to the 1,562ft summit of Lose Hill.

My trusty Peak District Companion tells me that local legend has it that Lose Hill and neighbouring Win Hill were named after a series of battles between rival kings Edwin of Northumbria and Penda of Mercia in 632. Another version puts Edwin in the ring with King Cuicholm of Wessex. Anyway the winning army (Penda beat Edwin but Edwin beat Cuicholm) camped on Win Hill and the losers camped across the way.

Historians think this is probably total rubbish and that Win means wind and Lose (pronounced loose) means either free land or pigsties.

Reaching the summit, we were able to inspect the stone-mounted viewfinder, indicating 73 features, that was the first of its kind in the Peak District when positioned in 1948.

Views being nil, we pressed on west along what is known as the Great Ridge, having Lose Hill at one end and Mam Tor at the other. We crossed the rocky promontory of Back Tor, followed by a short,sharp descent and reached the depression in the ridge at Hollins Cross.

This marks the point at which the ancient coffin trail crosses the ridge - used by villagers in Edale to take their dead to Castleton churchyard for burial until the time their own chapel was consecrated in 1634.

We decided against continuing along the ridge to the mist-shrouded Mam Tor and turned left to descend the steep trrack towards Castleton. Much of this has now been covered with flagstones to combat severe erosion.  

We reached Castleton village two hours and 13 minutes after starting, and gained the welcome shelter, and hot wood-burner, of the Cheshire Cheese, where Moonshine bitter, from Sheffield's Abbeydale Brewery, was £3-65.

Leaving the pub, we turned right and soon took a path on the right, taking us along the banks of Peakshole Water, the stream that emerges from Castleton's Peak Cavern, known locally and even in official Victorian guidebooks as the Devil's Arse. On the same theme, posters in the village were spotted advertising the headline act at a local fundraiser in the village hall as the marvellously-named The Fabulous Thunderbottom Brothers.

The path took us over a succession of fields, crossing the railway line leading to the Hope Valley cement works, and soon after to a minor road, where we turned left to reach Hope village. at an early 1.30pm - largely due to skipping pietime and a lunch stop in the continuing rain.

Chris had to depart for a medical appointment, leaving your diarist to enjoy a pint of Wainwright's (£3-60) in front of a roaring log fire in the Old Hall, where he partially dried out.

Next week's walk will incorporate our Christmas lunch at The Three Tunnes in Hazel Grove.The start will be at 9.45am at the (free) car park at Torkington Park, Hazel Grove, near the Rising Sun junction on the A6. We will aim to reach the Ring o' Bells at Marple at noon, returning to Torkington by 2pm. The pub is less than a ten-minute walk from the car park. Alan will be contacting us soon about menu preferences.

Happy wandering!

Bollington

November 28, 2018.

BOLLINGTON RECREATION GROUND, MACCLESFIELD CANAL, ADELPHI MILL, REDWAY WOOD, WHITE NANCY, KERRIDGE RIDGE, RAINOW, NEW BUILDINGS FARM, THORNSETT FARM, PEDLEY FOLD, THE ROBIN HOOD AT RAINOW, THE VIRGINS’ PATH, INGERSLEY VALE WATERFALL AND THE VALE AT BOLLINGTON

Distance: Seven miles.

Difficulty: Moderate.

Weather: Cloudy, mainly dry with occasional light drizzle.

Walkers: Peter Beal, Alastair Cairns, Tom Cunliffe with Daisy, Mark Gibby, Alan Hart, Chris Owen, Julian Ross.

Apologies: Micky Barrett (building supervision), George Dearsley (in Turkey), Hughie Hardiman (filial duties), Mark Kean (Tenerife hols), Steve Kemp (recovering from bone marrow transplant), George Whaites (packing for Denmark hols)

Non-walking drinkers: Colin Davison and Lawrie Fairman.

Leaders: Beal and Hart. Diarist: Hart.

Starting point: Free public car park overlooking Bollington Recreation Ground, Macclesfield.

Starting time: 9.38am. Finishing time: 2pm.

Our plans to venture as far as Lamaload Reservoir and reach our first watering hole by 12.20pm were deemed to be unduly optimistic by our erstwhile leader and revered advisor Lawrie. So it proved after our start was delayed by two latecomers. However we revealed our flexibility once again as we amended the route, thereby arriving 20 minutes early for our livener.

Forecasts of occasional rain showers also proved unfounded and our septet was rewarded for its fortitude by a largely dry day. However, our ranks were reduced soon after Pietime when one of our number pronounced himself tired and unwilling to continue with the main party. I will not name and shame him here, but I would wish to exonerate Daisy from any guilt by association.

A better example was set by 83-year-old Lawrie, who, six weeks after a replacement knee operation, has been building up his muscles with exercise and can now walk for two miles. We confidently look forward to him competing in the London Marathon next year.

The walk had the added bonus of a free drink from Tom in advance of his 66^th birthday this weekend. We wish him many happy returns.

From the car park we crossed Bollington Rec and reached the main road where we took a right fork up to the Macclesfield Canal (4mins). We turned right with the canal on our left. After walking under Bridge 27 we passed the Adelphi Mill on the right at Bollington Wharf Marina (13mins)

The mill, which was started in 1851, took its name from the Greek word meaning brothers because its founders were siblings Martin and George Swindells. It opened in 1856, by which time the canal had been built and they were able to bring raw cotton from Liverpool to their doorstep and to despatch its finished goods.

Steam-powered with a huge octagonal stone chimney which dominated the landscape, the business was amalgamated with other Bollington mills in 1898 and became The Fine Spinners and Doublers Association. In 1948 it converted to become a silk-throwing and winding mill. Later the FSDA became part of Courtaulds Group and processed man-made fibres.

This was unsuccessful and the mill closed in 1970. The distinctive chimney was demolished in the following decade when an attempt was made to convert the boiler house and nearby rooms into an hotel and pub. Nowadays the mill is rented out to various local businesses.

At Bridge 28 we left the canal, crossing to the far side, turning left and walking through Bollington’s suburbs before swinging right and passing The Bull’s Head at the end of Jackson Lane (31mins). We turned left and past the once-popular Redway Tavern, now converted into homes, on our left before turning right at a public bridleway (33mins)

This took us through Redway Wood to reach White Nancy (42mins), a folly and well-known countryside landmark, which was built two centuries ago to celebrate our victory over Napoleon at the Battle of Waterloo.

We turned right and followed Kerridge Ridge, passing the Trig Point (59mins) before dropping down to the main road at Rainow and turning left. We stopped at a form inside a bus shelter for pies, port and slices of chocolate orange kindly provided by Chris (74mins)

Resuming we went up the road behind the shelter and followed a wooden public footpath sign into a field. This brought us to the Gritstone Trail which we followed for a few hundred yards before reaching a lane. By this stage we had lost one of our number and his dog.

At the lane (95mins) we turned left to reach New Buildings Farm and a decision was made that to proceed towards Lamaload Reservoir would endanger our chances of returning to Rainow much before 1pm. Consequently we retraced our footsteps to a stile on our right, which we crossed and followed a series of stiles which took us downhill, across a lane and into a valley.

We headed uphill through a field, which we exited by a stone step stile (117mins) and turned left, passing Thornsett Farm on our right and passing Pedley Fold Farm on our way down to the main road through Rainow. When we reached it we turned right (121mins), passing Holy Trinity Church on our right before taking a slight left turn into Stocks Lane which brought us to The Robin Hood (130mins)

Here an ageing photo with the name Allsopp’s dominating the pub’s name over the door showed how floodwater had engulfed the village in 1930 after the river at Gin Clough had burst its banks.

A newspaper front page from more recent times revealed how serial killer and rapist Billy Hughes had been shot dead by police in 1977after he had been cornered in Rainow and tried to kill his female hostage with an axe. Hughes had systematically slaughtered four members of the same family at what became known as The Pottery Cottage Massacre.

After escaping from a prison van taking him to stand trial for rape, Hughes forced his way into the home of Gill Moran and her family, holding them hostage for several days at the cottage on Beeley Moor near Chesterfield as police hunted him. Hughes killed her parents, husband and ten-year-old daughter before trying to flee with hostage Gill along snow-covered roads.

When Lawrie and Colin arrived at precisely 12.20pm, which was our unlikely arrival time, they were astonished to find we were finishing our first pints. They were more pleasantly surprised to discover birthday boy Tom was in the chair.

From the rear of the pub we retraced our footsteps along Stocks Lane, passing the village stocks on our left, and taking the first road on our right downhill. This brought us to Sugar Lane where we turned right and after 200 yards followed a wooden public footpath sign which directed us to the flag-stoned rear of a row of cottages.

This was the start of what is still known as The Virgins’ Path or The Brides’ Path linking Rainow with Bollington. The name dates from the 18^th Century when Rainow had no church and its maidens had to walk to Bollington to marry. Farmers laid a path of flags across their fields so Rainow’s  brides-to-be did not muddy their white dresses on the way to church and avoided sullying their reputations.

After following the path we reached Ingersley Vale Waterfall opposite Waukmill Farm Cottage and paused for lunch (160mins). Resuming we went past the derelict mill on our right, the mill pond on our left and turned right at The Crown. This took us past the derelict church on our left to a mini-roundabout where we turned left along the main road through Bollington.

After walking under the aqueduct (175mins) we turned right to enter Bollington Rec and retraced our footsteps back to the cars (182mins). After de-booting we enjoyed pints of Bollington’s Best and Long Hop from the Bollington Brewery which owns The Vale pub.

Next week’s walk will start at 9.45am from the road next to The Old Hall at Hope, Derbyshire. We intend to climb Lose Hill and Mam Tor before descending into Castleton and a bracer in The Cheshire Cheese around 12.30pm. We hope to return to The Old Hall for further refreshment at about 2.30pm.

Happy wandering !

  

Crowden Tower

November 21, 2018.

UPPER BOOTH, CROWDEN BROOK, CROWDEN CLOUGH, CROWDEN TOWER, GRINDSHAW KNOLL. GRINDSBROOK, THE OLD NAGS HEAD AT EDALE, HOPE VALLEY RAILWAY, BARBER BOOTH AND THE FICKLE MERMAID AT CHAPEL-EN-LE-FRITH

Distance: 6-7 miles.

Difficulty: Moderate with strenuous climb at start.

Weather: Dry and bright at start but misty with snow underfoot on hilltops.

Walkers: Micky Barrett, Peter Beal, Tom Cunliffe, Mark Gibby, Hughie Hardiman, Alan Hart, Chris Owen and Julian Ross.

Apologies: George Dearsley (in Turkey), Lawrie Fairman (recovering from knee refurbishment op), Mark Kean (Spanish hols), Steve Kemp (recovering from bone marrow transplant) and George Whaites (in Anglesey)

Leader: Beal. Diarist: Hart.

Starting point: Free car park beyond viaduct on road to Upper Booth, Edale.

Starting time: 9.50am. Finishing time:  1.58pm.

The Alpine branch of the Wednesday Wanderers set off in mild weather from the outskirts of Edale to mount an assault on Crowden Tower. This rocky outcrop on the Kinder Scout plateau, stands 2,032 feet above sea level. It provided a sharp contrast to last week’s flat walk through Cheshire fields and canal towpaths.

Overnight snow was reached as we approached the summit and it was six inches deep at some points along the route. Happily we were suitably clad for the conditions when we reached the “tower” itself where we were greeted by icy winds. Unfortunately the swirling mists obscured the views from the peak but on our downward journey we came out of the clouds and enjoyed splendid views across the picturesque Hope Valley.

We would hope to repeat the exercise next summer when we might expect to enjoy more fully the fruits of our labours. Nonetheless there was a macho feel to our group as we marched into The Hikers Bar at The Old Nags Head in Edale with snow on our boots.

As we left our cars to walk away from the railway viaduct a plaque informed us there were six “booths” in the Edale area. They were originally botheys, or shelters where shepherds could seek refuge in harsh conditions, but they had gradually evolved into more substantial dwellings and transformed into hamlets.

We followed the road into Upper Booth (10mins), crossed a bridge and turned immediately right through a wooden gate. This brought us to the left bank of Crowden Brook, which we crossed by a wooden footbridge (22mins). As the path weaved its way upwards we reached the overnight snowfall and were indebted to Peter’s local knowledge to keep us on the right route.

After reaching Crowden Tower (75mins), which is a natural rocky outcrop and has no fortifications, we followed the path on its right and began a slow descent from the ridge on Kinder Scout. As we did so a cold wind buffeted us but we soldiered on to reach the shelter of a cluster of huge rocks for pies and port (86mins)

In 1941 four airmen were killed when their Bristol Blenheim crashed into the hillside near Crowden Tower in the sort of thick cloud we were experiencing. The plane was flying from Lincolnshire to Ringway. Three airmen who were passengers in the plane were going on home leave.

Resuming we reached a cairn which indicated we were at Grindslow Knoll  (102mins), from where our descent became gradually steeper. As we walked down towards the village of Edale in the distance, we passed Grindsbrook in the valley on our left. The well-trodden path brought us to a copse of trees on our right and when we emerged we were opposite The Old Nags Head (138mins). Neither the pub sign nor that for Hikers Bar could be bothered with apostrophes.

There was a warm welcome, however, even if the Farmers Blonde (no apostrophe here either) came at an eye-watering £3-85 a pint.

We turned left as we left the pub and immediately right towards Cooper’s Cafe. In front of it we swung left down a lane and turned left at a wooden public footpath sign just before it reached a farm (143mins). The well-worn path led us through a series of fields. At the far side of a cluster of trees we paused for lunch (148mins)

Continuing we went through a wooden gate (161mins) and turned left over a bridge across The Hope Valley railway line. This road now led us through the hamlet of Barber Booth (163mins) to a bridge and a sign pointing right for Upper Booth (166mins). We followed this under the railway viaduct and reached our cars (173mins). After de-booting we drove to The Fickle Mermaid next to the A6 on the outskirts of Chapel-en-le-Frith.

The pub, which used to be called The Fallow Deer, is either named after a fairy story of that name penned 200 years ago by the Brothers Grimm or by a woman from Dorset called Paula Brackston who wrote her version a decade ago.

In the Grimm version the youngest mermaid daughter of a sea king rescues a captain who is shipwrecked in a storm. She falls in love with him but he marries someone else. Heartbroken, the mermaid throws herself into the sea where she believes she will die because of a witch’s curse. But she is saved and joins the fairies of the air, where she no doubt lives happily ever after.

In the Brackston version a woman called Gretel is working as a private investigator in Bavaria. She is called to Schleswig-Holstein where sailors keep disappearing and mermaids are suspected. I won’t spoil your enjoyment by revealing any more.

Next week’s walk will start at 9.30am from the free Middlewood Way car park overlooking   Bollington Recreation Ground. We will be heading up White Nancy and going through Rainow to Lamaload Reservoir before returning to Rainow for a bracer at The Robin Hood around 12.20pm. From there we will return to Bollington for further refreshment at The Vale, which we hope to reach before 2.30pm.

Happy wandering !

Sutton

November 14, 2018.

SUTTON HALL, PARVEY LANE, LEE FARM, SUTTON RESERVOIR, MACCLESFIELD CANAL, BOSLEY LOCKS, NORTH RODE MANOR, YEW TREE FARM, RODE GREEN, GAWSWORTH PARISH CHURCH, THE HARRINGTON ARMS AT GAWSWORTH, GAWSWORTH HALL, DANES MOSS NATURE RESERVE, MACCLESFIELD CANAL AND SUTTON HALL

Distance: 10 miles.

Difficulty: Easy.

Weather: Dry, mainly cloudy with some sunshine.

Walkers: Peter Beal, Alastair Cairns with Daisy, Tom Cunliffe, Alan Hart, Chris Owen, Julian Ross and George Whaites.

B Walkers: Phil Burslem, George Fraser, Tony Job, Terry Jowett, Ken Sparrow and Geoff Spurrell.

Non-walking drinkers: Colin Davison and Lawrie Fairman.

Apologies: Mickey Barrett (supervising house improvements), George Dearsley (in Turkey), Mark Gibby and Hughie Hardiman (filial duties), Mark Kean (Spanish hols), Steve Kemp (recovering from bone marrow transplant),  Jock Rooney (Cyprus hols) and Barry Williams (Sri Lanka hols)

Leader: Owen. Diarist: Hart.

Starting point: Car park at Sutton Hall, Sutton, Macclesfield.

Starting time: 9.35am. Finishing time: 2.15pm.

Unseasonably warm weather and a dry day rewarded The Magnificent Seven who took part in this hike led by Chris along a route spotted by your diarist in the summer issue of Ramblers’ magazine “Walk”. The journey was predominantly flat which enabled us to proceed at a brisk pace. Consequently we had covered almost half the distance by Pietime.

This gave us the opportunity to spend 50 minutes in the first watering hole with our wounded soldier Lawrie and his ailing comrade Colin. The former gave a graphic description of the operation to provide him with a reconditioned left knee which left some of his listeners feeling decidedly queasy. After hearing the gory details I suspect there are few who would opt for a local anaesthetic like Lawrie did if such surgery became necessary.

With the aid of morphine, Lawrie has already broken through the pain barrier to start his recovery programme and promises to join us for Christmas lunch. He hopes to rejoin our weekly wanderings in the New Year. We wish him and Colin a speedy return to our ranks.

During our walk we skirted through several centuries of history from The Charge of The Light Brigade; the construction of a 27-mile canal which took five years to build within 10% of its original budget; and an aristocratic duel for the land we crossed which ended with both combatants lying dead in Hyde Park. Read on for more detail.

Our walk began from the car park of Sutton Hall, once the ancestral home of Lord Lucan, who was involved in a glorious tragedy during the Crimean War when he passed on an ambiguous order sent by Lord Raglan which led to 600 cavalrymen riding into The Valley of Death.

In fact a letter discovered a few years ago sheds new light on the disaster with a more junior officer Capt Nolan (played by David Hemmings in the famous 1968 film)  now apparently being mainly blamed for the calamity.

There is a link   here (click on the word here)

Or cut and past the following URL into your browser.

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/12/10/letter-sheds-light-blame-blunder-light-brigade-valley-death/

Returning to the main road we turned left until we reached a green public footpath sign on our left and crossed a wooden stile to enter a field. Another wooden stile led us out of the field and along Parvey Lane. At the drive leading to Lee Farm we turned left until we reached a bridge across a stream. Immediately after the bridge we turned right, keeping the stream on our right and walked to the left of Sutton Reservoir.

At the end of the reservoir we swung sharp left (31mins) and soon crossed the A523 Macclesfield-Leek road before going over a footbridge to the far side of the Macclesfield Canal at Bridge 48A. We followed the towpath with the canal on our left until we reached the start of Bosley Locks (75mins)

The 12 locks raise the waterway by 118 feet in one mile, at the end of which an aqueduct 45 feet high carries the canal over the River Dane. The Macclesfield Canal was designed by civil engineer Thomas Telford, whose plans to build it at a cost of £295,000 were approved by Parliament in 1826. The 27-mile long canal linking Marple with Kidsgrove opened in 1831 and had cost £320,000.

We turned right along a road which brought us to the entrance to North Rode Manor, stopping for pies and port alongside a lake (91mins). Resuming we went through a wooden five-barred gate and turned right at Yew Tree Farm, through Keepers Cottage and through two metal gates. A wooden stile brought us to a road where we turned right, passing Rode Green Cottage on our left (113mins)

After crossing a road and heading through the metal kissing gate opposite we entered a field by a green public footpath sign, heading through a similar gate and a wooden stile to reach a path with an electrified fence on our right. We crossed a wooden stile and headed towards the distinctive tower of Gawsworth Parish Church in the distance.

Another wooden stile was crossed and we walked to the left of a pond. This brought us to a metal kissing gate which we went though. With the church on our right we turned left down Church Lane to reach the Harrington Arms on our right (144mins)

This is one of two pubs called the Harrington Arms owned by the Robinsons’ Brewery of Stockport. They are two miles apart, the other being in Bosley, and the landlord of the Gawsworth hostelry confirmed this was a constant source of confusion for unfamiliar drinkers over the decades who had waited in vain for their chums in the wrong Harrington Arms.

The Robbies’ Unicorn cask bitter at £3-30 was given the ultimate accolade by Tom of being “not bad” as we listened to Lawrie’s eye-watering story of his operation and the subsequent infection which delayed his recovery.

Continuing our journey we went back up Church Lane passing the 15^th Century St James Church on our right and swinging left away from the entrance to Gawsworth Hall.

Gawsworth Old Hall, a Grade 1 listed country house, was built between 1480 and 1600 replacing an earlier Norman structure. It was originally owned by the Fitton family, later by the Gerards and Stanhopes. Since 1930 it has been in possession of the Richards’ family.

Notable residents included Mary Fitton, a maid of honour to Queen Elizabeth 1, who was rumoured to be the “dark lady” mentioned in Shakespeare’s sonnets. Another was Samuel “Maggoty” Johnson, a playwright described as the last jester in England, whose grave lies nearby in Maggoty Wood.

In 1712 a dispute about ownership of the Gawsworth estate led to a duel in Hyde Park, London, in which Baron Charles Mohun, 37, from the Gerard branch of the family, fought the Duke of Hamilton,  54, from the Fitton side. Both swordsmen died. Baron Mohun had won two previous duels and twice been charged with murder, for which he was twice acquitted. So for him it was third time unlucky.

Just beyond the hall entrance was a large statue of Sir Robert Peel, the founder of Britain’s police force, who gave them their nicknames “Bobbies.”

We went through a metal kissing gate and reached a road where we turned left. Where this road swung left we carried straight ahead along a footpath (174mins).

 We turned right at a sign for Danes Moss Nature Reserve where we learned that 72 different species of birds had been spotted. We were also informed that no healthy bog was complete without a super plant called sphagnum which can hold 20 times its own weight in water.

After pausing briefly for lunch (176mins) we continued and crossed the main railway line between Manchester and London via a footbridge. The path led on to Bridge 41 of the Macclesfield Canal, where we followed the towpath until we exited at Bridge 44 (210mins). From here we crossed the road to enter the car park of Sutton Hall to de-boot (213mins)

As mentioned earlier, this was the ancestral home of the Bingham family who were the Earls of Lucan. The 3rd Earl, Field Marshal George Charles Bingham (1800-1888) was at the Battle of Balaclava in 1854 when he sent an order via Captain Louis Nolan to his brother-in-law Lord Cardigan, who commanded the Light Brigade. As a result of a misunderstanding Cardigan ordered his cavalry to charge the Russian guns and many of them were mown down in what poet Alfred Lord Tennyson described as “The Valley of Death.”

In more recent times Richard John Bingham, the 7th Earl of Lucan (1934-?) , disappeared in 1974 after the family nanny had been murdered. It was believed Lord Lucan had mistaken Sandra Rivett for his wife Veronica, with whom he was involved in acrimonious divorce proceedings, and had battered her to death in the dark. In 2016 he was pronounced dead by a judge and his son, George Charles Bingham, became the 8th Earl of Lucan.

Inside Sutton Hall we enjoyed pints of Lord Lucan cask bitter for £3-50.

Next week’s walk will start at 9.45am from the car park beyond the viaduct on the way to Upper Booth near Barber Booth, Edale. To reach it take the A625 from Chapel-en-le-Frith towards Castleton and after three milesfollow the sign on the left for Barber Booth. At a bridge there is a sign for Upper Booth which leads under a railway viaduct to a car park on the left.

 Peter intends to lead us up a fairly stiff ascent to Crowden Tower on Kinder Scout before descending to Edale for a livener in The Nag’s Head around 12.30pm. After returning to our cars at 2.15pm to de-boot we will drive back towards Chapel, stopping for further refreshment at The Fickle Mermaid (formerly The Fallow Deer) at the side of the A6 on the outskirts of Chapel at about 2.30pm.

Happy wandering !

Adlington

November 7, 2018.

WOOD LANE ENDS, ADLINGTON, LYME MARINA, BIRCHENCLIFF, DALE TOP, SPONDS HILL, CHARLES HEAD, GRITSTONE TRAIL, CHESHIRE HUNT COTTAGES, THE HOLLY BUSH AT BOLLINGTON, CLARENCE MILL, THE MACCLESFIELD CANAL AND THE MINERS ARMS AT WOOD LANE ENDS

Distance: Eight miles.

Difficulty: Easy.

Weather: Dry start and finish: prolonged showers in between.

Walkers: Peter Beal, Hughie Hardiman, Alan Hart, Mark Kean, Chris Owen and Julian Ross.

Apologies: Mickey Barrett (touring Cotswolds), Alastair Cairns (supervising building),Tom Cunliffe (poorly), George Dearsley (in Turkey), Lawrie Fairman (infection to new knee), Mark Gibby and Steve Kemp (recuperating from hospital treatment)), Colin Haine (Tenerife hols), George Whaites (saw weather forecast)

Non-walking drinker: Colin Davison.

Leader: Beal. Diarist: Hart.

Starting point: Car park of The Miners Arms at Wood Lane Ends, Adlington, Cheshire.

Starting time: 9.30am. Finishing time: 2.10pm.

The dire weather forecast may have played its part in reducing our numbers to a modest six. George was the only one to admit that the predicted rain had influenced his decision. Other late cry-offs and absentees must examine their consciences.

It was certainly a day which sorted the men from the boys, or the wise from the foolish. The route was suggested by Tom, and those familiar with his previous behaviour will not be surprised to learn that he cried off “poorly” at the 11th hour.

We made a bright start and for a while wondered whether “those abed...holding their manhoods...” would regret their decision not to join us. But after less than an hour the first of the anticipated rain showers started to fall. 

When Keano donned your diarist’s magic waterproof pants, the precipitation vanished momentarily.

However, as we ascended Sponds Hill it came back with a vengeance and was accompanied by a strong wind in our faces. The rain stopped at Pietime, but resumed soon afterwards, abating as we approached Bollington. After refreshment there were a few spots but our return journey was basically dry.

According to the legendary hiker Alfred Wainwright, there is no such thing as bad weather: only unsuitable clothing. I can only say he must have bought his waterproofs from outfitters unknown to our group.

From the car park we went right to pass the pub and turned immediately left uphill towards the Macclesfield Canal. We crossed Bridge 18 at Lyme Marina and went over a wooden stile at Skellorn Stud Farm. We reached the road linking Higher Poynton with Pott Shrigley and turned right, passing the Coffee Tavern on our left (20mins)

Our group turned left at Birchencliffe and began the steady ascent via Dale Top to Sponds Hill, turning right at the Gritstone Trail path and passing the Trig Point on our right. At this apex on the ridge the wind was blowing rain into our faces and your diarist for one wondered what he was doing outdoors.

A gradual descent took us to Charles Head and a road where we turned right passing a sign for Pott Shrigley. After passing Breck House on our left we turned immediately left over a wooden stile at a public footpath sign. The rain had stopped temporarily and we paused for pies and port (90mins)

Resuming we continued along the Gritstone Trail and spotted White Nancy in the distance to indicate we were approaching Bollington. We passed the former Cheshire Hunt pub on our right and then turned left along the road linking Pott Shrigley with Bollington, finally reaching our first destination (150mins), The Holly Bush at Bollington, where pints of Robbies’ cask bitter were £3-40.

At the pub we were met by Colin, who had cycled there. He gave us an update on Lawrie, whose knee replacement operation and recovery had received a setback because of infection. We spoke by mobile phone to our Geordie chum just before he underwent further treatment to repair the wound. We all wish him the best of luck and a speedy return.

Continuing our walk we turned right from the pub and right again to head uphill towards The Clarence Mill.

Built in 1831 on the banks of the River Dean, this cotton spinning mill was rebuilt in its present structure in 1877. During World War 11 it was used as a billet by US marines preparing for the D-Day landings. It closed as a textile mill in 1970 and is now occupied by several small businesses.

Opposite the mill was a footbridge opened in 2009 which took us to the far bank of the Macclesfield Canal where we turned right with the waterway on our right.

The canal, 26 miles long linking Marple with Kidsgrove, was opened in 1831 and was one of the last canals built in Britain before railways replaced them as the major form of transportation of goods around the country.

After a brief stop for lunch (170mins) we continued to Bridge 18, where we turned left to retrace our footsteps back to the car park of The Miners Arms (208mins) for further refreshment.

Next week’s walk will start at 9.35am from Sutton Hall, Sutton, Macclesfield, led by Chris, who expects us to reach the Harrington Arms, Gawsworth, around 12.30pm for a bracer. We aim to be back at Sutton Hall for a final tincture at about 2.30pm.

Happy wandering !