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 !