Rushup Edge

May 30, 2018.

RUSHUP EDGE, LORD’S SEAT, MAM TOR, HOLLINS CROSS, UPPER BOOTH

Distance: Seven miles.

Difficulty: Much climbing.

Weather: Cloudy start followed by heavy rain.

Walkers: Peter Beal, Alastair Cairns with Daisy, Tom Cunliffe, Colin Davison, Mark Gibby, Alan Hart and Chris Owen.

Apologies: Mickey Barrett (Turkish sailing hols), George Dearsley (in Turkey), Lawrie Fairman, Hughie Hardiman (Spanish hols), Steve Kemp, Julian Ross (inoculations) and George Whaites.

Leader: Cunliffe. Diarist: Hart.

Starting point: Lay-by on Chapel-Castleton road next to Rushup Edge, Derbyshire.

Starting time: 9.38am. Finishing time: 1.10pm.

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Ignoring forecasts of heavy rain, we sallied forth with hope in our hearts and a spring in our steps. It must have been the same in 1914 as thousands of young, fresh-faced men eagerly rushed to the recruitment halls to do their bit for king and country. They had the excuse of immaturity and inexperience.

Not by any stretch of the imagination could that account for seven grown men, past the first flush of youth (in some cases by several decades), marching uphill, down dale and back uphill again through driving rain. We looked a sorry sight as our bedraggled ranks trudged back to our cars. Only Daisy displayed any enthusiasm for this wet trek as she skipped along merrily.

Thankfully our leader Tom had the nous to sense our despondent mood at Pietime and announce that the plan to head for Edale was being abandoned: that we would cut our losses and take the shortest route back to the cars without retracing our steps. There was unanimous agreement as we stuck to the Wednesday Wanderers’ motto: firm of purpose but flexible in deed.

Such was the relentlessness of the rain – it was persisting down – that your diarist was unable to take notes after the first hour due to a soggy notebook. Consequently this dispatch will be mercifully brief.

From the lay-by at Rushup Edge we headed towards Castleton for a few yards before turning first left and then immediately right through two gates. We were now walking along a footpath running parallel with the road on our right. The path took us through a series of metal gates and a sign pointing us towards Castleton and Hope (13mins)

En route we passed Lord’s Seat, which stands 1,804 feet above sea level.

We crossed two wooden stiles (37 and 41mins) and exited Rushop Edge to reach a road. By the time we reached this road it had started raining, gently at first but becoming increasingly heavy. We crossed the road and started climbing Mam Tor, The Mother Hill (51mins). A steep ascent up flights of stone flags brought us to the Trig Point at the summit (59mins)

Mam Tor’s alternative name is Shivering Mountain, because of the landslips caused by its fragile shale surface. In 1979 the battle to maintain the A625 road linking Sheffield with Chapel-en-le-Frith on the crumbling eastern side of the hill was finally lost.

The remains of a late Bronze Age fort, from around 1200 BC, and an early Iron Age fort have been identified along with two Bronze Age bowl barrows. There are four show caves at the base of Mam Tor – Blue John, Speedwell, Peak and Treak Cliff Caverns where fluorspar and other minerals were once mined.

From its peak at 1,696 feet we descended in heavy rain which was ruining the magnificent views which should have rewarded our exertions. When we reached Hollins Cross (79mins) Tom decided to cut our losses by turning left away from our original destination in Edale.

Hollins Cross marks the middle of what was once known as The Coffin Road between Edale and Castleton. Before a church was built in Edale, the departed were carried over Hollins Cross  through Castleton to Hope Parish Church for burial. The pall-bearers would stop for refreshment at the Cross, which disappeared mysteriously in 1905 (Merseyside Police were unable to trace the culprits)

After 200 yards we stopped for a wet Pietime by the side of a drystone wall on our right (81mins). In the discussion which followed various options were debated before it was determined we would return to our cars by descending to Upper Booth and then climbing back to Rushup Edge.

We reached our cars (201 mins) and drove to The Shoulder of Mutton at Chapel-en-le-Frith for our first pints of the day. The Robbies was over-priced at £3-60 but in the circumstances it tasted like nectar.

Next week’s walk will start at 9.30am from the car park overlooking Bollington Recreation Ground near The Vale pub. We hope our route will take us past Smith’s orgasmic pie shop. We intend to reach The Robin Hood at Rainow around 12.15pm to knock the froth off a couple and then return to The Vale at about 2.15pm.  

Happy wandering !

Sutton Hall

SUTTON HALL,  LANGLEY, TEGG’S NOSE, LEATHER’S SMITHY, SUTTON HALL

Distance: Eight miles, alternatively 19500 steps

Difficulty: Mostly easy but with one stiff climb.

Weather: Warm and sunny.

Walkers: Tom Cunliffe, Steve Courtney with Lunar, Colin Davison, Lawrie Fairman, Mark Gibby, Chris Owen (Lime-Boy) and George Whaites.

Apologies: George Dearsley (in Turkey), Alan Hart, Julian Ross, Mike Barrett, Alastair Cairns, Hugh Hardiman, Steve Kemp et al

Leaders: Fairman (official) and Owen (unofficial). Diarist: Cunliffe

Starting point: Sutton Hall Macclesfield.

Starting time: 9:35am. Finishing time: 2.10pm.

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Following on from last weeks superb tour of the Istrian Peninsula, ably orchestrated by TWAT Tours, this walk was ostensibly led by Chris under the watchful eyes of Lawrie and Colin in another attempt to impress the WW elders, however, losing five wanderers for 15 minutes and then expecting the men to smile whilst paying a world record price for a pint of bitter, it was thought that Chris still had much to learn about our men.

 Nevertheless, a splendid walk through the Macc countryside mostly in the Tegg’s Nose Country Park in a figure of eight(ish) in absolutely brilliant weather with half time refreshments at the Leather’s Smithy. 

Not what was originally planned, however, as local diversions were in place around Macclesfield Forest, fortunately our quick witted trainee leader (Lime-Boy) was able to amend our original plan to suit the current circumstances proving once again the age old adage that the WWs are firm in principle but flexible in approach.

Anyway, apologies now for the absence of detail in this account. Your diarist was only made aware of his blogging responsibility whilst quaffing our half time beers. 

It appears that Mr Fairman is not walking next week and Mr Davison is as defiant as ever regarding his obligation as one of only two fully commissioned leaders within the A Team to act as stand-in blogger in the absence of our journo specialists. 

Mark volunteered at one stage but the group said no no please,  we don’t want a blog commencing with opening line…. As I proceeded down said valley accompanied by my colleagues (you get the picture).

Given these extraordinary set of conditions: we magnificent seven departed Sutton Hall on time setting of in an easterly direction passing the Church House and St Dunstan pubs along the way. 

We had pie time on a footpath with tremendous views over Macc Forest and surrounding countryside. Whilst enjoying our break, a couple of spritely old gentlemen ambled by and informed our Acting Leader that a diversion was in place around the Macc Forest area. 

Well, this scuppered Mr O's plan and no mistake. Thinking on his feet he quickly formulated an alternative route which prevented us attending our designated half time pub ie Ryles Arms, instead he opted for a shorter course with half time drinks at the Leather’s Smithy. 

At £3.95 a pint the WW should have stuck their original plan and gone to the Ryles Arms (was this another black mark for our YTS leader?). As it happens, we sat in the beer garden and thoroughly enjoyed the sunshine.

Our group departed from the pub turning left and after a period of 40 minutes mostly through a housing estate (another black mark??) we eventually entered the grounds of Sutton Hall by a rear entrance at around 2.10pm, debooted and finished off with a pint of Lord Lucan bitter…. Marvellous!

Next week’s wander will start from the first lay-by you come across (almost opposite Rushup Lane) on the A623 after heading east from the A6 (Chapel en le Frith) heading towards Castleton

This is a new WW walk and takes us up Rushup Edge to Arthurs Seat then Mam Tor, dropping slightly to Hollins Cross before descending steeply to Edale for refreshments at either the Ramblers or the Nag’s head (dependant on time). We will return in a circular route passing through Barber Booth . Meet at 9.35am.

Happy wandering !

Youlgreave

YOULGREAVE, LATHKILL DALE VALLEY, DERBYSHIRE DALES NATIONAL NATURE RESERVE, PSALM POOL, BULL’S HEAD  AT MONYASH, LIMESTONE WAY, FERN DALE, ONE ASH GRANGE, CALES DALE, CALLING LOW, LOW MOOR WOOD, MOOR LANE AND THE GEORGE AT YOULGREAVE

Distance: Ten miles.

Difficulty: Mostly easy but with one stiff descent and climb.

Weather: Warm and sunny.

Walkers: Peter Beal, Tom Cunliffe, Lawrie Fairman, Mark Gibby, Alan Hart, Chris Owen, Julian Ross and George Whaites.

Non-walking drinkers: Colin Davison and Jock Rooney with Tip.

Apologies: George Dearsley (in Turkey), Hughie Hardiman, Steve Kemp.

Leaders: Fairman (official) and Owen (unofficial). Diarist: Hart.

Starting point: Outside The George pub in Youlgreave, Derbyshire.

Starting time: 10.04am. Finishing time: 3.10pm.

Why do the Wednesday Wanderers go on this trip to Lathkill Dale ? It involves a long drive, latterly along narrow winding lanes where the threat of a head-on collision lies round every corner. The answer is that this outskirt of the White Peak District provides some of the prettiest scenery en route and spectacular natural beauty during the walk. 

On a sunny day like the one we enjoyed it is hard to imagine anywhere better.

As spring turns into summer there is also an opportunity to admire the kaleidoscope of colour provided by wild flowers growing in bounteous profusion along the banks of the River Lathkill. 

The delicate pale blues of forget-me-nots contrast with the darker hues of bluebells, the pink of ragged Robin and the white of ladies’ lace. Even the gardeners’ enemy, dandelions, provide a splash of gold in the hedgerows and meadows. We were a little early to find the rare Jacob’s ladder, with its blue flower-heads, which appear in June and July.

On the wildlife front we saw buzzards and herons and a cob guarding the nest of his pen. We also spotted a number of dippers who breed on the riverbank at this time of year. Although we observed horses, donkeys, ewes with lambs and cows with calves, the only wild animal we saw was a dead rat, buzzing with flies, when we stopped for Pietime. Perhaps our leader should be more flexible with his itinerary.  

From outside The George we headed uphill away from All Saints Church turning right along a path just in front of Easter Cottage (2mins). We turned at an unmarked path on our left (10mins), crossing a wooden stile (14mins) and right when we reached a lane (16mins). The lane crossed a road bridge over the Lathkill where we looked in vain for a rainbow trout which Chris had spotted (17mins)

On the far side of the bridge we turned left following a sign for Over Hatton (18mins) and began our delightful journey along the right bank of the Lathkill.

The valley was once the home of a Viking settler who called it Hlatha-gyll. (I need hardly tell those of you fluent in Old Norse that this means “barn in a narrow valley”)

After passing the male swan guarding his mate who was incubating her eggs, we continued through this limestone valley which is one of five comprising the Derbyshire Dales National Nature Reserve in the White Peak. In times gone by it has been the home of millers, lead-miners, quarrymen and foresters.

When we reached a modest waterfall on our left (62mins) we paused for pies, port and damson gin kindly provided by Chris, accompanied by the body of a dead rat nearby. It gave new meaning to the term “to smell a rat” – although the putrid stench did not put off a swarm of bluebottles or Tom and Lawrie, who seemed oblivious.

Continuing our journey through this otherwise picturesque landscape we crossed a stone step stile (68mins) and went through a wooden kissing gate (72mins) . En route we passed Psalm Pool where the waters of the Lathkill bubble up to the surface from underground. We reached the Monyash-Bakewell road (109mins) and turned left to enter the village of Monyash (114mins)

It appears in the Domesday Book as Manais, which linguists will recognise as meaning “many waters” in Celtic. Monyash gained a charter to hold markets on Tuesdays in 1340, but in recent times they have only been held on Spring Bank Holidays. They still perform the rite of well-dressing annually in thanks for their water supply.

The village was once famous for its candle-makers and rope-makers in its lead-mining heyday from 1700-1850. The parish church of St Leonard’s was founded in 1198. Its north chancel was built in 1348 and its font dates from the 1200s. A rocky ridge outside the village is named Parson’s Tor after the Reverend Lomas, their 19^th Century vicar, who fell to his death there in a riding accident. His body is buried in the churchyard. (Animal lovers amongst you will be relieved to learn the horse survived)

Soon after passing a plaque setting out these facts we reached The Bulls Head on our right (118mins). Once again we have to report the distressing absence of an apostrophe from this pub’s name. Perhaps the sign-writer was the same man who committed a similar grammatical abomination at The Bulls Head in Youlgreave.   

We were able to enjoy pints of excellent Timothy Taylor’s Landlord cask bitter for £3-50 as we sat outside on trestle tables in the sunshine. We were soon joined by Jock and Tip, who had driven over (Jock drove: Tip was his passenger) and Colin, who roared up on his motor-bike.  Jock has been unable to walk because of back pain and Colin had sent his apologies because of a dental appointment. His macho image in leathers was somewhat diminished by a lisp as a result of his missing front teeth, making him sound disturbingly like the cartoon character Tweety Pie.

The dental disaster for our all-action hero was occasioned when he fell from his electric-powered pedal bike. This follows previous injuries caused by caving, ski-ing, boating, ice-skating, hiking and motor-cycling.

After bidding a fond adieu to our hors-de-combat comrades we turned right away from the pub and crossed the road to turn left at a sign marked Newhaven and Youlgreave. 

Where the road bore right (121mins) we carried straight ahead along The Limestone Way into Milkings Lane. We paused for lunch (132mins) at a wooden gate before exiting Fern Dale by another wooden gate on our right (133mins)

The path took us through One Ash Grange Farm at Cales Dale where we followed a sign for Calling Low (155mins). After a precipitous descent we climbed a series of steep steps to get out of a gorge, passing wild purple orchids at the side of the path. We went through a wooden gate (167mins) and a copse of trees (173mins) before crossing a field full of cows and calves, heading diagonally right.

A stone step stile took us into Low Moor Wood (188mins). By this stage Lawrie had led Mark into the wrong field and Chris had seized the opportunity to march on ahead followed by Tom. There was a large gap back to your diarist with the others trailing behind. We crossed two stone step stiles to head through fields and emerge on a road next to Moor Lane car park (198mins)

Where the road forked, we headed right and walked steadily downhill back to Youlgreave. The path emerged at The Bulls Head, a 17^th Century coaching inn, where we turned left to reach The George. Chris and Tom were already ensconced at a table outside drinking beer and eating giant sausage rolls. 

When Tom recommended them to your diarist it was obvious from the glint in his eye that they had just eaten the last two – a fact confirmed moments later by the landlord. We enjoyed pints of Theakstons at £3-49.

There will be no A team walk next week as most of our usual participants will be enjoying TWAT (Tom’s Worldwide Adventure Travel). Our Dirty Dozen are off this year to Pula in Croatia.

The following week, May 23, we will be meeting at Sutton Hall, Macclesfield, at 9.35am and aiming to reach the Ryles Arms at Sutton around 12.30pm for a stiffener. We aim to return to the Sutton Arms at 2.20pm and hope our wounded comrade Steve might join us at one or both hostelries for a drink.

Happy wandering !

Whaley Bridge

 May 2, 2018

Whaley Bridge

COCK INN AT WHALEY BRIDGE, CROMFORD AND HIGH PEAK RAILWAY TRACK, TAXAL CHURCH, TAXAL NICK, WINDGATHER ROCKS, PYM CHAIR, ERRWOOD RESERVOIR DAM, FERNILEE RESERVOIR, SHADY OAK PUB, SHALLCROSS INCLINE

Distance: 9 miles

Difficulty: Easy

Weather: Rain at first, then dry with some sun

Walkers: Peter Beal, Alastair Cairns,Tom Cunliffe, Laurie Fairman, Dave Waite

 Apologies: Micky Barrett (apparently wallpapering), Alan Hart (weather wimp), Mark Gibby, Julian Ross, Hughie Harriman (all reportedly stuck in traffic), Steve Kemp, George Dearsley (Turkey)

Leader: Fairman Diarist: Beal

Starting point: Cock Inn, Whaley Bridge

Starting time: 9.36am Finishing time: 1.58pm

The weather forecast for this familiar circuit of the Goyt Forest above Fernilee reservoir was admittedly daunting, with heavy rain predicted for much of the day. In fact it ceased within just over an hour of us starting and we were rewarded with some bursts of sunshine and a pleasant day.

It seems to be a fact that the worse the weather forecast, the more the number of excuses increases. Your temporary diarist however has refused to yield to the urgings of his fellow walkers to record certain allegations made against the fortitude, and indeed manliness, of some of the absentees - whose reasons for non-attendance could well have been true.

Our route took us largely along lanes and gravel forest tracks, avoiding footpaths because of the heavy amounts of overnight rain.

We headed towards Buxton from outside the Cock Inn and almost immediately took a narrow footpath on the left to soon emerge on the pedestrianised former Cromford and High Peak railway line, which once linked the Whaley Bridge canal basin with Cromford 30 miles away.

We turned right, walked through a tunnel under the Chapel Road, and came to a housing development where we took a footpath uphill to the right, crossed a footbridge, and soon came to the main Whaley to Buxton road (13 minutes).

Crossing this, we bore left, through a gate, across a bridge and climbed steeply up a metalled footpath to emerge at Taxal church (21 min). We turned left here but at the first metal gate on our right began to climb through two fields to emerge on a lane, where we turned left and immediately right on a path leading up the moor.

We emerged at the distinctive notch in the skyline known as Taxal Nick (45 min) and turned left through a small gate to follow a path just below the ridge. This brought us to a gate near a muddy farm (55 min), which we negotiated to climb the grassy hillside to the right, bringing us to the ridgeline of Windgather Rocks (60 min), a popular training ground for novice rock climbers.

We followed the ridge before declaring pietime at a spot well known to us, a sheltered hollow in the rockface probably once used as a sheepfold (68 min). It was here the rain eased and stopped.

Resuming, we chose to follow the road rather than the parallel footpath in view of the amount of surface water swirling about. This brought us to the knoll on the ridge known as Pym Chair, named after either a preacher or a highwayman - no-one really knows (89 mins).

Here we turned left at a road junction and began to drop downhill towards the Errwood reservoir. In sight of the Errwood dam we came to a track on the left (110 min), where we went through a gate and took the broad track through the Goyt Forest above Fernilee reservoir, the first of the two drinking-water reservoirs constructed in the Goyt Valley.

The track brought us to a farm (138 min), where we took a hairpin right down the track to bring us out at the Fernilee Dam (143 min). We crossed this and turned left up a tarmac lane lead us to the Whaley to Buxton road (152 min).

We turned left and soon reached the Shady Oak pub (160 min), where the staff proved more welcoming than on a previous visit when a trio of Wanderers, dripping wet, were grudgingly served.

Wainwright's Bitter, despite its quality being questioned by our resident expert Tom, was £3-55 a pint.

The return journey from here was simnplicity itself. We turned right out of the pub, immediately right again, and reached Elnor Lane, where we turned left towards Whaley.

We paused for lunch (170 min) at a bench opposite a small wall enclosure containing what appeared to be a Celtic cross.

Research reveals this is the Shall Cross, which gives this part of Whaley Bridge its name. The attractive cross, only the top part of which remains intact, is traditionally dated to 832, when St Paulinius was said to have visited the area. It is named after the Old Norse 'shakal', which means tapering pole.

It was once removed and later discovered being used as a pedestal for a sundial in the garden of a local home, but recovered and restored to its present location.

We descended the hill and took the second turn on the left, bringing us to the top of the recently reopened Shallcross Incline, the railway slope on which rail cars were pulled up by a steam engine positioned at the top before the line was abandoned in 1892.

At the bottom of the incline we retraced out steps along the old railway line to reach the Cock Inn (191 min), to enjoy the Unicorn Bitter (£3-40).

Next week's walk, led by Laurie, will take us on a longish route up Lathkill Dale in the White Peak. Starting point will be outside the George in Youlgreave at 9.50am. The enroute watering hole will be the Bull's Head in Monyash around 12.30pm. The finishing time at the George is unlikely to be much before 3pm.

Happy wandering!

 Whaley