Ridgegate

January 24, 2018.

RIDGEGATE RESERVOIR, LANGLEY, MACCLESFIELD FOREST, NESSIT HILL, SHUTLINGSLOE, WILDBOARCLOUGH, CRAG INN, PIGGFORD NATURE RESERVE, THE HANGING GATE, GRITSTONE TRAIL, RYLES ARMS, LANGLEY, THROSTLES NEST FARM, LEATHER’S SMITHY, SUTTON HALL

Distance: 9 miles.

Difficulty: Moderate.

Weather: Rain at first, then dry and cloudy, finally sunny.

Walkers: Peter Beal, Tom Cunliffe, Hughie Hardiman, Alan Hart and Chris Owen.

 Apologies: Mickey Barrett (in Australia), Alastair Cairns (helping builder), George Dearsley (in Turkey), Lawrie Fairman (cruise lecturing), Mark Gibby and Steve Kemp (recovering from jet-lag), Julian Ross (expanding business empire), George Whaites (domestic duties).

Leader: Owen. Diarist: Hart.

Starting point: Lay-by on road next to Ridgegate Reservoir, Langley, Macclesfield.

Starting time: 9.42am. Finishing time: 2.45pm.

According to the weather forecasters, the gale-force winds of Storm Georgina would die out overnight and the rain would desist sometime between 9 and 10am. They were mistaken, dear readers.

When we assembled there were high hopes that the rain might cease before we sallied forth. However we were still being buffeted by the final flourish of Storm Georgina as we began our journey and the rain continued to fall steadily until just before Pietime at 11am.

By then we had already passed the high points of the route at Nessit Hill and Shutlingsloe, where the spectacular views had been spoiled by the precipitation. Happily, as we soldiered on undaunted, the weather improved and by the end of the walk blue skies and sunshine were taking over above us.

We also enjoyed an entertaining interlude when some friendly hens joined us for Pietime and one of them tried to sit on Tom’s lap. The bird was told in no uncertain manner to cluck off. We also heard that Tom’s father had no Dick, but more of that later. At that time we were toasting the birth the day before of a first granddaughter for Chris. Congratulations to all concerned.

Our walk started from the road next to Ridgegate Reservoir, which, along with Trentabank Reservoir, is part of Macclesfield Forest. After the Norman Conquest this was a more extensive hunting reserve owned by the Earls of Chester. Poachers were executed at a gallows which is believed to have been sited near The Hanging Gate pub.

Today the remnants of this mighty forest are owned by United Utilities and provide water for the townsfolk of Macclesfield. Some 47 acres, including all of Trentabank Reservoir, were made into a nature reserve in 1982. This includes a heronry with 22 nests, as well as many woodland and wading birds, and a small herd of 12 red deer.

With Ridgegate Reservoir on our right we headed slightly uphill, turning right at the end of the reservoir at a path which ran parallel to the road as it swung right. After crossing a bridge over Bollin Brook we turned left to enter the forest through a gate (6mins) and immediately followed the wider of two paths on our right.

By turning right at a wooden five-barred gate (14mins) we headed steadily uphill, swinging left just before a wooden gate (23mins) and reached Nessit Hill on our left (28mins). On a clear day this produces a picturesque view over Ridgegate Reservoir but on this occasion the inclement weather provided a rather dull, grey picture.

We continued and turned right at a wooden public footpath sign marked Shutlingsloe  (37mins) which took us along flagstones to a gate (47mins). A path to the right would have led to the summit but because of the poor visibility at that stage we took the other path which skirted the left shoulder of Cheshire’s third largest hill.

This brought us to a wooden gate (55mins) on the far side of this distinctive hill which is known ironically as The Cheshire Matterhorn. We crossed two wooden stiles and a footbridge (64mins) to reach a lane where we turned right downhill over a cattlegrid. When we reached a road near the swollen river at Wildboarclough (73mins) the rain finally stopped.

Our quintet turned right to reach The Crag Inn on our right, which we learned was only open now at weekends. We paused at a bench for Pietime (78mins) at the end of the pub car park, where we were joined by six hungry hens – or should that be half a dozen ?

We began with a ten-second silence to mark the closure of The Hanging Gate, one of our regular Wednesday haunts. As we ate our snacks and imbibed port and damson gin, the hens gathered round us. Tom encouraged them with some titbits but drew the line when one tried to sit on his lap amid much hilarity from his companions.

Continuing our journey we turned immediately right after leaving the car park at a wooden public footpath sign marked with a yellow arrow. The path took us steadily uphill through several fields by a series of gates and stiles until a stone step stile led us to a road with Piggford Nature Reserve on its far side (101mins)

We turned left and began a gradual descent until we reached a metal kissing gate on our right (113mins). This took us uphill again through a wooden gate and over a wooden footbridge (118mins).

 The former home of ex-Chancellor George Osborne, now known as “Six Jobs Osborne” because of his prolific work ethic, was on our right.

The path continued through a metal gate (121mins), a wooden gate (129mins) and over a wooden stile (136mins) until we went through a metal gate opposite The Hanging Gate (141mins)

A For Sale sign by Fleurets indicated this ancient pub with magnificent views across the valley could be bought freehold. Further inquiries revealed the asking price was £375,00 for the pub which also had two double bedrooms, bathroom, kitchen and living room on its first floor. The site comes with 2.5 acres of land. It is currently under offer.

Our group passed the front door of the pub on our left to reach its rear where we turned right at the end of the beer garden to head downhill through two metal gates. A flight of steps took us to a road where we turned left (145mins). We headed left again at a wooden public footpath sign marked with a yellow arrow indicating we were now on the Gritstone Trail (147mins)

A series of metal gates brought us to a stream which we crossed and walked uphill to the welcoming sight of The Ryles Arms at Langley (163mins). The Black Sheep and a selection of cask ales from the nearby Wincle Brewery were on sale at £3-40 a pint. Most of us opted for the Timothy Taylor Boltmaker, which Chris kindly bought to wet the head of his first granddaughter Erin Amelia.

As we toasted her health the subject changed to modern names compared to those popular in our youth. Tom then revealed that his father, Thomas, had called his sons Tom and Harry. At this point your diarist unwittingly remarked: “So your dad had a Tom and a Harry but he had no Dick.” A passing barmaid was seen to blush.

Resuming our walk we retraced our footsteps out of the pub along the Gritstone Trail until reaching the road where we had picked up the trail. We turned right for 20 yards then went left over a wooden stile marked with a yellow arrow and the GT logo (182mins). More clear trail signs showed us the way.

We paused for lunch (193mins) and continued past Overhill Cottage on our right to reach Throstles Nest Farm, the former home of Sale and England rugby international Fran Cotton. Beyond the farm we left the Gritstone Trail to turn right at a yellow arrow leading us into Bluebell Wood (197mins). The path brought us back to Ridgegate Reservoir (202mins)

By turning left at the end of the reservoir we were able to pass Leather’s Smithy on our left and turn right with the reservoir on our right to return to our cars to de-boot (212mins). From there we drove to Sutton Hall for further refreshment.

Next week’s walk will start at 9.45am from a plot of waste land which forms a car park opposite the Wheatsheaf pub in Old Glossop. The route will be over the moor and to the Anchor at Hadfield for a bracer around 12.15pm, finishing for a last drink at The Queens in Old Glossop at about 2.30pm.

Happy wandering !

  

Rudyard

Rudyard

Jaunary 17, 2016

CAR PARK AT MINIATURE RAILWAY AT RUDYARD, STAFFORDSHIRE WAY, LADDEREDGE COUNTRY PARK, CALDON CANAL, HOLLY BUSH INN, STONELOWE HALL, DUNWOOD, BRADSHAW, DEVIL'S LANE, RUDYARD

Distance: 10miles

Difficulty: Easy except for MUD

Weather: Cold windyish but mainly sunny

Walkers: Tom Cunliffe,  Laurie Fairman, Chris Owen, Jock Rooney with Tip

Apologies: Alan Hart (wimped out), George Dearsley (still living in Turkey), George Waites (domestic duties),Peter Beal (walking along Yorkshire coast), Alastair Cairns, Mark Gibby (in US), Hughie Harriman (man flu) .

Leader: Fairman Diarist: Fairman

S.O.B. Walkers: Tony Job, Terry Jowett, Ken Sparrow

Starting point: Miniature railway car park at Rudyard

Starting time: 10.02am Finishing time: 3.24pm

Rudyard Lake marks probably the most southerly starting point of all Wednesday Wanderers expeditions,which may have been a reason for the poor turnout. A journey of mixed character with some difficulties. The weather despite the BBC dire forecast turned out to be good for walking, fresh and clear.

The main problem came from the leader who, trying for a way to avoid mud at the start of the walk, tried a new route.

Our starting point was the car park of the miniature steam railway that runs alongside Rudyard Lake. It should more properly be called a reservoir, as it was built in 1797 to supply the Caldon Canal, which we were to walk along later. At 168 acres and over 2.5 miles long, it was probably at the time the largest of its kind in Britain.

It also gave its name to one of our most famous storytellers. Stoke-on-Trent architect and illustrator Lockwood Kipling got engaged to his girlfriend Alice MacDonald there in 1863 and when their son was born in Bombay two years later they named him after the spot. Who has not heard of Reservoir Kipling?

We left the car park to the south and headed along the course of the disused North Staffordshire Railway, which in its 19th century heyday used to bring thousands of trippers to the Lake, earning it the title of the 'Blackpool of the Potteries'.

We reached a concrete bridge (7 minutes)but the path was deep in mud which promised to get worse from the cattle further down the walk so we continued down the railway track for a further period until stopped by the fact that the tunnels were closed(25minutes). Not wanting to retrace our steps we turned right over a bridge and walked for some distance through the suburbs of Leek, eventually reaching the main A53 near the golf course. After a small error caused by a fold in the map we found the footpath to the Ladderedge park.

(40 mins)

It was just before this that Jock declared he had enough and left us to return home.

However despite his misgivings we were now back on track – with dry clean boots at least for a few miles.

We  walked through the bottom fields of the park and came across a bridge that marked the end of the Leek branch of the Caldon Canal and a large stone sign proclaiming 'Welcome to Leek'. We were truly in the Midlands.

The Caldon Canal, which leaves the Trent and Mersey in Etruria, Stoke, was opened in 1779 to carry limestone from Cauldon Low quarries near Froghall to the Potteries. The Leek branch opened 18 years later. It was restored to leisure use in 1974.

We turned right along the well-surfaced towpath, with the canal on our right, and followed this tranquil stretch of canal to a low tunnel, at which pie time was declare for the 3 of us.

We sat on the bollards and enjoyed the flavourful damson gin courtesy of Chris.(90mins)

We finally reached a bridge (104 min), where we turned left down a lane to reach the welcoming Hollybush Inn on the nearby main branch of the Caldon Canal at 12.05 (12.05 min).

We sat inside the attractive pub, once a flour mill, with narrowboats moored alongside.

The barmaid informed me that they opened at11 am and it looked like men’s walking day out judging from the clientel

Wainwright's bitter was on offer at a reasonable £3.40. Notice that Peter records that in Oct 2016 it was £3 a pint

We restarted at 12.55pm and turned right along the canal, under an aqueduct carrying the Leek branch, and reached a flight of three locks and a white former lock-keeper's cottage at the point where the two branches of the canal divide.

We located the well-hidden footpath next to the house and turned right on a footpath (138 min).

We crossed an open railway line and crossed two stiles across marshy gound to join a stony path uphill. We unfortunately missed the stoney footpath put plodded up the hill to the A53soon reaching a footpath fingerpost. We turned left at this point,passing through three fields and up a track to reach Stonelowe Hall, a converted 17th century farmhouse, now a Grade Two listed building with an appalling blue gate

We took a grassy footpath at the side of a pond at the left of the hall and followed a high hedge across a series of fields before going right over a stile to reachy a minor road (215 min).

We turned right and at the crest of the hill (228 min) taking a track on the right signed Summerhill Farm.Here we had a brief pause for lunch of chocolate oranges At a right-hand bend we carried straight on along a footpath (232 min) and continued over stiles through fields to emerge on the drive of a large private house whose front gate brought us out on the road called Devil's Lane (243 min)..

We turned left and at the crest of the hill turned right through a gap in the stone wall (250 min). A pleasant walk through field with stiles too numerous to detail followed with excellent views from the high ground we were now on.

Bosley Cloud and Croker Hill could be seen to the left and front of us and on the skyline to the right the distinctive outline of the Roaches and Hen Cloud.

We followed a diabolic footpath to drop steeply downhill to reach the railway track .It was a minor miracle no-one fell the sticky slidy was awful.

We turned left along the track and shortly afterwards reached the car park (324 min).

Next week your diarist is off to South Africa but Chris if he feels up to it will lead a walk from Ridgegate Reservoir where you will drink remains to be decided

My thanks to Peter Beal for the “research”

Happy wandering!

Brabyns Park

January 10, 2018.

BRABYNS PARK, MARPLE BRIDGE, LOW LEA ROAD, MELLOR MILL, ROMAN LAKES, BOTTOMS HALL, MELLOR SPORTS CLUB, KNOWLE FARM, ST THOMAS’S CHURCH, MELLOR, HOLLYWOOD, HAMBLETON FOLD, PODNOR FARM, THE ODDFELLOWS ARMS, THE DEVONSHIRE ARMS AT MELLOR, MELLOR AND THORNCLIFFE GOLF COURSE, LINNET CLOUGH SCOUT CAMP, OLD HALL FARM, THE NORFOLK ARMS AT MARPLE BRIDGE

Distance: 8+ miles.

Difficulty: Easy but muddy.

Weather: Dry buy cloudy and misty.

Walkers: Peter Beal, Alastair Cairns, Tom Cunliffe, Lawrie Fairman, Alan Hart, Jock Rooney with Tip.

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

Apologies: Colin Davison (having ECG), George Dearsley (in Turkey), Mark Gibby (packing for US trip), Hughie Harriman (Gran Canaria hols), Steve Kemp (Hong Kong and Thailand hols), Chris Owen (recovering from blood clot), George Whaites.

Leader: Fairman. Diarist: Hart.

Starting point: Brabyns Park car park, Marple Bridge.

Starting time: 9.35am. Finishing time: 2.09pm.

Unhappily the most memorable feature of this walk was the mud we encountered near a farm at Hambleton Fold. Not since The Battle of Passchendaele more than 100 years ago have brave Brits had to endure such ankle-deep slime.

But just like our forefathers on the fields of Flanders we kept our heads and our stiff upper lips to conquer the elements and smile in the face of adversity.

Some mud was to be expected after recent rain and snow, but the odious ooze we encountered had clearly been exacerbated by the efforts of the farmer, either by accident or design. Our visibility from the heights of Mellor Church was also impeded by the misty conditions. Nevertheless our Fuhrer, ably assisted on occasions by Peter, led us successfully to our targets.

From the car park we walked down to Brabyns Brow, turned left for a few yards then went right to cross the main road and enter Town Street. We proceeded past the Royal Scot and local shops to reach Low Lea Road, where we turned right (7mins). This had a cobbled section as we climbed steadily, then going downhill and passing Goyt House on our right (16mins). The track descended further and became Bottoms Mill Road (17mins)

This was the site of the massive Mellor Mill, also known as Bottom’s Mill, built by Samuel Oldknow between 1790-92. It was six storeys high, 400 feet long and employed 500 people. Of these 100 were orphans, obtained as cheap labour, who were housed at Old Hall, or Bottom’s Hall, on the site of a 12^th Century building. The mill, which was the biggest in the world, was destroyed by fire in 1892. In 2009 local archaeologists obtained Lottery funding to excavate the remains, but the money appears to have dried up and the work ceased.

We turned left into Lakes Road (19mins) and followed a sign for Prescott Old Hall Road (22mins). After passing the former orphanage at Bottoms Hall on our right we turned immediately left uphill (23mins). At the end of Old Hall Lane (30mins) we went straight on. This brought us to a road where we headed uphill and turned left into Knowle Road (34mins)

This took us past Mellor Sports Club on our right and Mellor Primary School on the left, passing Slackwood House on our right (40mins) before turning right at Knowle Farm through a gap stile (47mins). From here you can normally see Mellor Church at the top of the hill, but on this occasion it was swathed in mist. We went over a wooden stile across a field and climbed a set of stone steps to reach St Thomas’s Church (53mins).  

A church has been on this site since the 15^th Century although the present edifice was rebuilt in the 18^th and 19^th Centuries. The pulpit inside is carved from the trunk of an oak tree which was felled in the 13^th Century. Artefacts found nearby indicate there was a Roman influence here and further evidence of an Iron Age settlement. In a field nearby is a replica of a roundhouse from that era. Completely demolished is Mellor Grammar School, which had been a seat of learning here from 1639-1881.

We exited the graveyard and went left over a wooden stile marked with a yellow arrow (59mins), passing the replica roundhouse on our left, leaving the field by a wooden hurdle marked with a yellow arrow which we followed left (61mins). Turning right into a field at a sign for Hollywood (62mins) we crossed a wooden stile with a yellow arrow which indicated we were on the Cown Edge Way (70mins)

We emerged from the footpath at a road opposite Bridge House (79mins) and stopped on a bridge next to Hollywood End Farm for pies, port and sloe gin kindly provided by Alastair. Resuming, we walked between Bridge House and Hollywood End Farm and passed through a metal gate (81mins). At a wooden gate we followed a sign for Cown Edge via Ludworth Moor (88mins)

Passing Hollywood Cottage on our left, we went through a gap stile after ignoring a yellow arrow pointing left. After going through a metal gate we turned right uphill (90mins), reached a road and turned left uphill (93mins). We went straight on, avoiding a public bridleway, and then the path turned into deceptive, cloying mud.

To escape it we turned right, with a drystone wall on our left, but could find no exit from this field so we performed a quadrille to return to the mud where we had started (118mins). We then tried a left turn but soon passed a sign indicating that Mellor could be reached by going back and turning left. We did so and went through a gap stile (124mins) and a path leading past a derelict farm building on our left.

We crossed a stone step stile (126mins), then another and went straight across a field (129mins). By crossing another stile on our right (131mins) we reached Podnor Farm (134mins) and turned left down the track. This brought us to the rear of The Oddfellows Arms at Mellor. We skirted left around it and passed the open front door (137mins), walking downhill to the end of Moor End Road and reaching The Devonshire Arms on our right (143mins).

This popular Robinsons’ pub has been extensively extended and refurbished. Despite our muddy appearance we were welcomed warmly by the landlord and the Robbies’ Unicorn cask bitter was in excellent form at a cost of £3-40 a pint. We were soon joined by our B team colleagues, whom we left behind to start the final leg of our journey.

We went up Gibb Lane opposite the pub and turned right at Whetmorhurst Lane (147mins), passing Primrose Cottage and Rose Cottage on our right (152mins) to enter Mellor and Thorncliffe Golf Course (154mins). We headed for the main car park, passed Linnet Clough Scout Camp  and followed a public bridleway towards Marple Bridge (159mins)

After passing Old Hall Farm on our left (170mins) we spotted goosander ducks in the lake on our right. We are indebted to our twitcher expert Lawrie for informing us that these are the only variety of duck which eat fish.

 We swung left instead of retracing our earlier footsteps along Bottoms Hall Road (176mins) and stopped for a brief lunch at a bridge over the River Goyt. Continuing, we went up Lakes Road and emerged back in suburbia. At the end of Fayward Drive (188mins) we turned right into Arkwright Road.

At the bottom of Arkwright Road we turned right, crossing over the railway bridge at Brabyn Brow and turning left opposite The Midland to return to our cars (200mins). After de-booting we walked to the Norfolk Arms, where a selection of cask ales was available from £3-10 a pint. We were again joined by our B team comrades.

Next week’s walk will start at 10am from the car park at the miniature railway station to the south of Rudyard Lake, on the Leek road out of Macclesfield. It is anticipated that our walk will take us to The Holly Bush,  (at Denford) by the side of the Caldon Canal, for a livener around 12.15pm. The walk should finish about 2.30pm and we will then choose a pub for a final pint.

Happy wandering !

Hayfield

January 3, 2018.

HAYFIELD, SETT VALLEY TRAIL, BIRCH VALE, MOOR LODGE, OLLERSETT MOOR, BIG STONE, CHINLEY CHURN, CLAPPERSGATE, OTTERBANK HALL, MONK’S MEADOWS, THE LAMB AT CHINLEY HEAD, HIGHER HEYS FARM, STUBBS FARM AND THE SPORTSMAN NEAR BOWDEN BRIDGE

Distance: Nine miles.

Difficulty: Moderate.

Weather: Mild, cloudy and mostly dry with strong winds.

Walkers: Peter Beal, Tom Cunliffe, Lawrie Fairman and Alan Hart.

Apologies: Mickey Barrett (Italian hols), Alastair Cairns (worried about road conditions), Colin Davison (having scan), George Dearsley (in Turkey), Mark Gibby (recovering from man-flu), Hugh Harriman (Gran Canaria hols), Steve Kemp (domestic duties), Chris Owen (blood clot on leg), Julian Ross (w^*king) and George Whaites (domestic duties)

Leader: Beal. Diarist: Hart.

Starting point: Road outside The Sportsman, Kinder Road, Hayfield.

Starting time: 9.35am. Finishing time: 2.25pm.

Dire forecasts of foul weather earlier in the week were diluted to predict a dry morning and gale force winds from Storm Eleanor. The threat of turbulence failed to put off four intrepid wanderers – especially when that threat came from a storm with a girly name.

Earlier in the week there had been a series of cry-offs because of medical conditions and holidays so we will take a charitable view of those who chose not to attend. They missed a new route down from Big Stone to The Lamb devised by our enterprising leader Peter.

Although the winds were howling across Ollersett Moor, they were largely at our backs and the route protected us from their full effect. Only when we reached Big Stone did we feel the power they engendered and struggle to avoid being blown over the edge of Chinley Churn.

...when the blast of war blows in our ears then imitate the action of the tiger: stiffen the sinews, summon up the blood ...(Henry V, Act 3)

...gentlemen abed in England shall think themselves accursed they were not here...(Act 4)

From outside The Sportsman we crossed the road and descended a flight of steps to reach a bridge over the River Sett. We crossed it and turned right, soon reaching Hayfield town centre via Church Street and turning left at The George car park to go through the underpass and reach the far side of the main road (12mins). We turned right and entered the bus station at the start of the Sett Valley Trail (15mins)

The trail, which is 4km long, is provided for hikers, cyclists and horse-riders along the former track of the branch line which linked New Mills Central railway station with Hayfield. Although New Mills Central still exists Hayfield Station, which opened in 1868, closed in 1970.

It was bought from British Rail by Derbyshire County Council in 1973. The station was demolished and replaced with an information centre, picnic area, car park and toilets. There are plans to create a section in the centre celebrating the Kinder Mass Trespass of 1932 by 400 ramblers which led seven decades later to the Right To Roam laws.

We turned left to leave the trail (31mins) at a public footpath sign indicating Chinley and headed uphill to emerge moments later at a main road opposite The Grouse at Birch Vale. We crossed the road, passing the pub on our left as we turned right towards New Mills. After 200 yards we turned left up a side road (34mins), which my learned friend Mr Beal informed us was actually called Oven Hill Road despite being labelled Over Hill Road on the area’s maps.

This was the start of a steady ascent, but we were on the leeward side of a hill which protected us from the howling winds. We turned left when we reached a public bridleway (60mins). The route continued uphill through a series of four wooden gates ((64, 69, 75 and 83mins) followed by a wooden stile (93mins) which brought us to Big Stone (95mins)

Now without protection, it was here we felt the fully fury of the winds generated by Storm Eleanor. It virtually blew Lawrie over a stile. Tom fell twice and your diarist once as we started the descent by turning right along Chinley Churn. After crossing a ladder stile (99mins) we turned left to follow the path downhill which swung further left through a wooden gate (101mins)

We reached a spot in the rocks sheltered from the wind, with a convenient bench, where we paused belatedly for pies and port (104mins). We retraced our footsteps through the wooden gate (107mins) to continue our descent along Chinley Churn, choosing the higher, safer route where the paths forked. We crossed a stone step stile (126mins) and a wooden stile (131mins) before heading through a wooden gate and down a flight of steps on our left to reach a road (133mins)

Turning left we passed Clappersgate Farm on our right (137mins), then Otterbank Hall and Newstead, which we passed and turned right at a wooden public footpath sign (146mins). The path took us through three wooden gates (152, 153 and 155mins) before we turned right and went through two metal gates and reached a farm track (156mins)

We turned left uphill and reached the main road (159mins), turning left again and reaching The Lamb Inn on our right (161mins). There was a warm welcome from the landlady, a warm fire and excellent pints of Wainwrights’ cask bitter for £3-50.

On leaving the pub we turned right, passing Lamb Quarry Ecological and Conservation Site on our right (165mins) before turning right uphill along a track just before Hayfield View Camping Barn  (174mins). We dog-legged right and left to follow a public bridleway sign (178mins). This took us through two five-barred wooden gates (181 and 182mins)

Some 20 yards before we reached a free-standing rock known as The White Lady, we turned left (196mins). After passing through a wooden gate (199mins) we took the right fork to head downhill. After a brief lunch break (209mins) we turned right at a wooden public footpath sign (211mins) and went through two wooden gates to reach a wooden footbridge over the Sett (213mins). We headed left uphill to reach a road (215mins) where we turned left and reached our cars outside The Sportsman (216mins)

Next week’s walk will start at 9.30am from Brabyns Car Park at Marple Bridge, aiming to reach The Devonshire Arms at Mellor around 12.15am. We expect to be back at our cars to de-boot around 2.20pm before heading for further refreshment at The Norfolk Arms, Marple Bridge. It is Mark’s birthday and he hopes to have recovered sufficiently to celebrate the occasion in the usual style.

Happy wandering !