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 !