Manchester

December 27, 2019.

PICCADILLY RAILWAY STATION, CANAL STREET, ASHTON CANAL (PORTLAND BASIN), CASTLEFIELD, BRIDGEWATER CANAL, OLD TRAFFORD, MANCHESTER SHIP CANAL, MEDIA CITY, THE IMPERIAL WAR MUSEUM, SALFORD QUAYS, POMONA, ST PETER'S SQUARE, PICCADILLY GARDENS, THE NORTHERN QUARTER AND THE CABANA CAFE

Distance: 5 miles.

Difficulty: Easy.

Weather: Mainly dry and mild.

Walkers: Andy Blease, Tom Cunliffe, Alan Hart, Chris Owen, George Whaites.

Apologies: Alastair Cairns, George Dearsley.

Leader: Owen. Diarist: Hart.

Starting point: Piccadilly Railway Station, Manchester.

Starting time: 10.05am, Finishing time: 3.40pm.

Our last walk of 2019 took place on a Friday because Christmas Day fell on a Wednesday this year – further proof that the Wednesday Wanderers' motto (Firm of Purpose: Flexible in Design) still holds true. The city appeared to be comparatively deserted as we set off with few obvious signs of the bargain-hunting shoppers of yesteryear.

Soon we had descended to the canal towpaths where we observed much of the city from a lower level than usual with most of its citizens and visitors using the streets and pavements above us.

It was a fascinating way to see the many changes which have taken place in recent years as the skyline has been penetrated by ever-larger buildings, whilst other familiar landmarks have disappeared.

Our journey took us past the Manchester Crown Court at Minshull Street and along Canal Street before we turned right to reach the Ashton Canal's Portland Basin and turned left with the canal on our right.

This took us past the rear of the former Hacienda Nightclub where the “Madchester Scene” gained international fame. Although the club no longer exists there is a tribute to its musical influence on the wall with a long plaque giving the names of the original performers such as New Order and The Smiths and world stars such as Madonna who had sung there.

On the far side of Castlefield we joined the Bridgewater Canal and walked along its left bank towpath until the towering structure of the Old Trafford soccer stadium, home to the mighty Manchester United, appeared ahead of us. Just before reaching the ground we left the canal and crossed the road near the swing bridge before returning to the towpath.

Another climb to road level took us to the left bank of The Manchester Ship Canal and the Imperial War Museum (95mins). There is no entrance fee although the guides try hard to seek contributions from visitors. After a brief visit we left the museum and George left us to go home. The rest of us crossed a bridge to the far side of the Manchester Ship Canal where we caught a tram back into the centre of Manchester.

After curries in the Cabana cafe, we adjourned for our first refeshment of the day to The Abel Heywood pub and a selection of cask ales, of which the Hydes' Original was in fine form.

Abel Heywood (1810-1893) was a radical politician, a publisher and twice mayor of Manchester from 1862-63 and 1876-77. After losing his father at the age of two, Abel left school at nine to work in a warehouse for the princely sum of 1s 6d (7pence) a week, but he continued his studies at The Mechanics' Institute.

An active Chartist, his refusal to pay stamp duty on his paper, The Poor Man's Guardian, earned him a four-month prison sentence at the age of 22. But he built up a successful bookselling business in Oldham Street and 30 years later became mayor for the first time.

He played a leading role in the completion of Manchester Town Hall, and its clock bell, weighing more than 8 tons, was named “Great Abel” in his honour. Interestingly his wife was the widow of Thomas Goadsby, his immediate predecessor as mayor.

After an hour in the Abel Heywood we then awarded our custom to The Millstone nearby before heading for our respective trains home.

On Wednesday, January 1, there will be the annual mixed walk starting from the car park of Poynton Sports Club at 10.30am. All family and friends are welcome to join this convivial walk which is held at a leisurely pace. Depending on the weather and the whim of the leader, it will head for either the Miners Arms at Wood Lane Ends, Adlington, or The Boar's Head at Higher Poynton (or possibly both) before returning to the car park around 2.30pm.

The following Friday, January 3, Tom will be leading a walk at 9.45am from Topley Pike, which is on the A6 out of Buxton. There is free car parking at a lay-by next to the entrance to the quarry on the opposite side of the road from the Monsal Trail pay-and-display car park. We anticipate reaching The Church Inn at Chelmorton for a livener around 12.15pm and returning to our cars at about 2.20pm. There will be an option of further refreshment at the Wye Valley House Hotel Wetherspoons in Buxton on the way home.

Happy wandering !   

Poynton Pool

December 18, 2019.

POYNTON POOL, WOODFORD ROAD, HAPPY VALLEY, BRAMALL HALL, BRAMHALL, THE LADYBROOK AT BRAMHALL, HAPPY VALLEY NATURE RESERVE, BRAMHALL HIGH SCHOOL, BIRCH HALL HOUSE, PARK LODGE, VICARAGE LANE, POYNTON, AND POYNTON ROYAL BRITISH LEGION CLUB

Distance: 7 miles.

Difficulty: Easy.

Weather: Dry with sunny spells and cloud.

Walkers: Mickey Barrett, Peter Beal, Andy Blease, Alastair Cairns with Daisy, Tom Cunliffe, Colin Davison, George Dearsley, Laurie Fairman, Alan Hart, Jock Rooney with Tip, Dean Taylor, George Whaites.

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

Non-walking drinker: Geoff Spurrell.

Apologies: Mark Gibby (daughter ill), Hughie Hardiman (mother died), Chris Owen (in Manchester plotting a route for Jan 3) Julian Ross (domestic duties), Graham Stone (dental appointment)

Leader and Diarist: Hart.

Starting point: Poynton Pool car park off Anglesey Drive.

Starting time: 10.20am. Finishing time: 2.17pm.

After a “Harty” breakfast enjoyed by 18 walkers we assembled by the side of Poynton Pool for a joint photograph before the A and B teams set off in different directions. This is the account of The Dirty Dozen – 12 A-teamers and two dogs – who encountered occasionally muddy conditions on our journey to Bramall Hall.

In sharp contrast our B team colleagues appeared unsullied when we met them again for a livener or two at The Ladybrook. It was the first official visit of the Wednesday Wanderers to this traditional pub and it brought a broadly favourable reaction.

Among the A team was George Dearsley, our blogger, who recently lost his wife suddenly from a suspected heart attack at their home in Turkey. Although he had made an appearance at our Christmas lunch a week earlier, this was his first walk with us in more than a year and he proved that the delights of Turkey had not impaired his fitness.

It was only when your diarist returned home that he read an email from Hughie Hardiman, sent first thing that morning. He apologised for his absence because his mother had died the previous Saturday and he was suffering from a heavy cold. We send our deepest sympathy to Hughie for the loss of his dear mum and hope he makes a speedy recovery from illness.

Considering Christmas was only a week away the weather was quite pleasant for this new walk which was predominantly flat and inevitably involved some time in suburbia.

From the car park we only ventured 50 yards along the right bank of Poynton Pool before turning right down steps and crossing London Road North to reach a revolving gate on the far side of the road. This took us along a footpath with a nursery horse-jumping school in the farm on our right.

Crossing a footbridge we continued as the path swung right passing a field full of dogs and their owners enjoying a training session.

We went through a metal gate (9mins) and followed a path to the left of a man-made channel under the new by-pass through which Lady Brook flowed. The path swung left away from the water  and uphill until the new by-pass became visible. Then we swung right at a yellow arrow (11mins) to a more rural setting as we passed a lane of houses as it meandered through the countryside.

On reaching Woodford Road we turned right (16mins) in the direction of Hazel Grove and then turned left over a wooden stile by the side of a public footpath sign (17mins). The path, with trees on our right, had become muddier than usual because of recent heavy rain. At the far end of the field we crossed in quick succession a wooden stile, a wooden footbridge and another wooden stile (27mins) to walk along the right bank of Lady Brook in Happy Valley.

Keeping to the right bank we emerged at the end of a road. (47mins). We walked along this to reach the main road at Jacksons Lane and turned left towards Bramhall roundabout, passing the Brookdale Theatre Club on our right (54mins). We then used two pedestrian crossings to reach the far side of Bramhall roundabout and enter the grounds of Bramall Hall (56mins). With Lady Brook now on our right we walked up a gentle slope following signs for lake and parkland (58mins) before climbing steps on our left to reach the hall itself (65mins) for a photo opportunity.

Bramall Hall is a Tudor mansion with its older parts dating back to the 14th Century. Extensions and improvements were added in the 16th and 19th Centuries by the families who owned it.

The manor of Bramall is first described in The Domesday Book of 1086 when it was held by the Massey family, Normans who had accompanied William The Conqueror at the Battle of Hastings. From the late 14th Century it was owned by the Davenports who built the present house and who remained lords of the manor for about 500 years.

In 1877 they sold 2,000 acres to the Manchester Freeholders' Company for housing development. The hall and its remaining 50 acres were sold by MFC to the Nevill family of industrialists and in 1925 it was bought by John Henry Davies.

Ten years later the hall and land were acquired by the local authority, Hazel Grove and Bramhall Urban District Council, which became part of the current owners, Stockport Metropolitan Council under reorganisation in the 70s.

After pausing to drink coffees in the cafe, admire the outside of the hall and its surrounding lakes, parks and woodlands, we walked along a different path back to the entrance at the roundabout (72mins) and turned right to cross the roundabout by two different zebra crossings to reach the start of Fir Road (74mins). We followed this until we reached The Ladybrook on our right (76mins) and found our chums from the B team already ensconced.

An impressive display of alternative cask bitters was available, although your diarist made the schoolboy error of ordering a pint of Tetleys' without checking whether it was the first out of the overnight pump (it clearly was!)

Suitably refreshed we retraced our footsteps to the end of Fir Road before swinging right at the roundabout and heading uphill to our right to enter a small grassy area with steps leading up to an elevated road with houses on its right (81mins). At the end of this road we crossed (84mins) into the gap stile at the entrance to Happy Valley Nature Reserve.

This time we were on the right bank of Lady Brook until we reached a plaque for the nature reserve describing the flora and fauna on view (89mins). Here we took a path uphill on our right which brought us out on a road to the right of Bramhall High School (94mins). We turned left and followed this road as it swung right beyond the school before turning left into Lytham Drive (98mins)

Within yards on our right was a green public footpath sign which we followed along an overgrown passage between the backs of houses. It brought us to a countryside lane where we turned right (99mins). We passed Birch Hall House on our right (111mins), also passing an enclosure containing goats, some strangely coiffeured ducks or geese with plumes of down on their heads. There were also a pair of turkeys no doubt wondering how they would be spending Christmas.

When we reached Woodford Road above the new by-pass we turned right (116mins) and then sharply left to follow a path running alongside the A555. At a metal kissing gate we turned right (120mins) to go through a field, crossed a wooden stile and reached a lane where we turned left (124mins)

Passing Park Lodge on our right  (125mins) we continued over a bridge and followed a restricted byway sign which ran alongside Glastonbury Drive (134mins). At its end we went diagonally right into Vicarage Lane and followed it back to London Road North by the side of The Bull's Head (142mins).

We turned right, going straight over the double roundabout towards Macclesfield before turning left after The Purple Pakora into Georges Road. Poynton Royal British Legion Club was on our right (149mins) and we once again had a choice of cask ales, some brewed in the cellars below by Poynton Brewery.

Next Wednesday is Christmas Day and no organised walk will take place. However Tom has organised and will lead a walk  at 9.40am on January 3rd from the layby next to the entrance to the quarry at Topley Pike on the A6 out of Buxton opposite the Monsal Trail car park. He intends to arrive at The Church Inn, Chelmorton, shortly after noon and return to the cars at about 2.20pm, from where there will be the option of a drink at Wetherspoons in Buxton.

On Wednesday, January 1, Jock and wife Mary are hoping to lead a mixed walk starting at 10.30am from Poynton Sports Club car park.

On December 27 Chris will be leading a walk at 10.00 from Piccadilly railway station, exploring Manchester's canals, rivers and favourite pubs, pausing for lunch en route at The Cabana curry house. The meeting point is under the station timetables.

Happy wandering !

Team photo

Ducks....or maybe geese?

Bramhall Hall

Another team photo

Bramhall Hall in the distance

Torkington

December 11, 2019.

TORKINGTON PARK CAR PARK, HAZEL GROVE GOLF CLUB, OAKFIELD FARM, MIDDLEWOOD WAY, MACCLESFIELD CANAL, KITLING RIDGE (FORMERLY THE ROMPER), BARLOW WOOD, GOYT VALLEY, ROMAN BRIDGE, THE ROMAN LAKES, PEAK FOREST CANAL, THE RING O' BELLS AT MARPLE, MACCLESFIELD CANAL, GOYT MILL, MARPLE GOLF CLUB, STOCKPORT GOLF CLUB AND THE WILFRED WOOD WETHERSPOONS AT HAZEL GROVE

Distance: 7-8 miles.

Difficulty: Easy.

Weather: Dry with blue skies for first two hours; steady rain for last hour.

Walkers: Mickey Barrett, Peter Beal, Andy Blease, Tom Cunliffe, Alan Hart, Chris Owen, Jock Rooney and Dean Taylor.

Leader: Beal. Diarist: Hart.  

Alternative walkers: Colin Davison and Laurie Fairman.

B walkers: Tony Job and Barry Williams.

Non-walking drinkers: George Dearsley, Ken Sparrow, Geoff Spurrell and George Whaites.

Apologies: Mark Gibby (caring for sick daughter), Hughie Hardiman (filial duties), Graham Stone (dental problems)

Starting point: Torkington Park Car Park.

Starting time: 9.47am. Finishing time: 2.10pm.

This was our annual pre-Christmas walk which ends with a festive lunch. There was an encouraging turnout in the face of adverse weather forecasts and we were pleased to be joined at the end by four non-drinking walkers. Three of them had dragged themselves from sickbeds to attend and it was especially good to see our Turkey-based blogger George Dearsley following the recent tragic death of his wife Carolyn.

A predominantly flat route nevertheless gave us excellent views from Marple Ridge at Pietime, although some of our group were seen to shed manly tears as we passed a much-loved pub nearby called The Romper which has been converted into a des-res.

Rain had just started to fall as we reached the shelter of the Ring O' Bells at Marple, but it was still persisting down when we left and continued to do so for the rest of the day and night. 

From the car park we headed across a soccer pitch, crossed a bridge over a stream and walked over another soccer pitch to reach an alley on our right (5mins). This led us into a housing estate where we turned right and then left down another alley. At the end of this we turned right and then left into Sandown Road (7mins)

At a footpath (9mins) we turned right following the route through two tunnels and then forked left where the path divided. We reached a lane and turned left (13mins). This brought us through Hazel Grove Golf Course to its clubhouse on the right (19mins). We followed a series of yellow arrows across the fairways and crossed a wooden stile to exit the course (27mins)

We dog-legged left and right towards Oakfield Farm (28mins) and then turned left on to The Middlewood Way (30mins). At steps on our right (37mins) we turned right and went through a wooden gate to cross a field. A succession of three wooden stiles took us to a metal gate (47mins) which brought us to a main road.

Crossing it we followed a wooden public footpath sign for the Macclesfield Canal (49mins) which we walked down towards and crossed by a bridge (53mins). We swung right and then as we turned left we passed a house on our right with an impressive wooden sculpture of Gandalf, the wizard from Lord of the Rings, in its front garden.

As the road swung right, we went straight ahead through a metal gate (56mins). After going through a wooden gate we entered a field which had been churned into a quagmire with mud and worse coming up to our ankles. On the far side of the field we followed a farm-track past Beeston Park Lodge on our left (72mins)

At the end of Ridge End Fold on our left, where once stood The Romper, was Kitling Ridge. We swung left past it into Hollinwood Lane (74mins) where we paused in glorious sunshine for pies and port (78mins)

Continuing we walked downhill and crossed a bridge over the Macclesfield Canal (82mins) and swung right downhill. We reached and crossed a main road (86mins) to enter Barlow Wood and head down to the bank of the River Goyt (88mins). Turning left with the river on our right we soon reached Roman Bridge, crossed the river and turned left to reach a viaduct (96mins).

This handsome structure was completed in 1865 and supports the Hope Valley railway line which runs between Manchester and Sheffield. Next to it is a sluice built by Samuel Oldknow to power the water wheel at Mellor Mill, which was destroyed by fire.

By the viaduct we turned left following a sign for the site of Mellor Mill, following the lane as it swung left and right over the Goyt (109mins). We emerged on Lakes Road (114mins) and crossed into Oldknow Road (116mins) and followed the road over the Lower Peak Forest Canal (119mins)

Turning left into Lockside we passed a flight of locks on our left and turned right at Bridge 1 to walk along the left bank at the finish of the Macclesfield Canal (124mins). We exited the canal at Bridge 2 and joined Colin and Lawrie in The Ring O' Bells (126mins) for pints of excellent Robbies' Unicorn or Dizzy Blonde.  

It was still raining when we left the pub and rejoined the Macclesfield Canal at Bridge 2, this time walking with the waterway on our left in the direction of Macclesfield. We passed Goyt Mill on our left by the side of Bridge 3 (137mins). After another 100 yards we turned right (139mins) to enter Marple Golf Course, crossing the fairways and exiting to cross The Middlewood Way (151mins) 

Crossing a wooden stile and a wooden footbridge (158mins) we entered the grounds of Stockport Golf Club – our third course of the day !

We went straight across the fairway and headed to the left where a yellow arrow indicated the route to the exit which we reached by a wooden stile (168mins). Reaching a road we turned right (180mins). This brought us to the junction with Torkington Road, where we turned left (187mins).

While some turned left at the traffic lights to de-boot in the car park, others turned right for 300 yards and reached the Wilfred Wood Wetherspoons on the left of the A6 at Hazel Grove.

Here we joined the B walkers and non-walking drinkers for a wide range of food and drink.

Next week all our walkers are invited to your diarist's home from 9am onwards for the pre-Christmas breakfast of bacon butties and mince pies accompanied by mulled wine.

We expect to leave at 10am for a walk along The Happy Valley into the grounds of Bramhall Hall.

A livener will be available around 12.15pm at The Ladybrook pub in Bramhall. At the time of writing your diarist is still seeking a dog-friendly licensed establishment in Poynton where we can have a final drink around 2.20pm.

Happy wandering !   

A sculpture of Gandalf in a garden

the former Romper pub at Marple Ridge

the view from Marple Ridge

Some seasoned horse riders who passed us at Pietime.

Kinder

KINDER SCOUT

December 4, 2019

ROAD OUTSIDE THE SPORTSMAN INN IN KINDER ROAD IN HAYFIELD, RIVER SETT, HAYFIELD CAMP SITE, TUNSTEAD CLOUGH, HARRY MOOR, KINDER LOW END, KINDER LOW, RED BROOK, KINDER DOWNFALL, SANDY HEYS, BOTTOM OF WILLIAM CLOUGH, KINDER RESERVOIR, WHITE BROW, FARLANDS BOOTH, SPORTSMAN INN

Distance: 7.5 miles Ascent/descent: 1.960 ft

Difiiculty: Hard

Weather: Unbroken sunshine, chilly

 Walkers: Micky Barrett, Peter Beal, Paul Bebbington, Andy Blease, Alastair Cairns,Tom Cunliffe, Mark Gibby, Hughie Hardiman, Chris Owen, Dean Taylor, George Whaites

Alternate walkers: Colin Davison, Laurie Fairman, Jock Rooney with Tip

Apologies: Alan Hart (Buenos Aires tango duties), Julian Ross (domestic duties)

Leader: Beal Diarist: Beal

Starting point: Road outside the Sportsman Inn, Kinder Road, Hayfield 

Starting time: 9.39am  Finishing time: 2pm

What today's route lacked in distance it more than made up for in the height climbed and the ruggedness of the terrain on the Kinder Scout plateau.

It started with a 1,400-foot, 90-minute, climb of the steepest route to the trig point on Kinder Low, and then traversed almost the entire length of the escarpment before a steep drop down to Kinder reservoir.

We were pleased to welcome a debutant Wanderer, Paul Bebbington, introduced by Alastair, who could not have chosen a tougher walk for his first outing with us.

We were rewarded however with cloudless skies and magnificent views for the whole of our route.

We took a stepped footpath through a gap in the wall opposite the Sportsman, which took us down to a footbridge over the River Sett. Here we turned left along the bank, past Hayfield camp site, closed for the winter, and to a junction of lanes at Bowden Bridge.

We took the right fork and at the next junction took a track uphill, slightly to the left, signed Kinderstones and Tunstead House. The owner of Kinderstones must be one of the Peak District's more optimistic residents, having installed an outdoor swimming pool heated by solar panels.

The track swung right and at the gates of Tunstead Barn , formerly part of Tunstead Clough Farm, we took a track to the right. This brought us to the front of Tunstead House, where we climbed a stile in to a field. The path climbed steeply through three fields before reaching open moorland with the imposing bulk of Kinder Low looming in front of us (40 minutes). Shortly before here George, not having walked for many weeks, chose to retreat but promised to return undaunted next week.

We went through a gate, then another nearby one diagonally to the left, which brought us to the foot of the rocky, 500-foot climb of Kinder Low End. Thankfully, a series of steps have been fashioned in to the slope to aid the zig-zag ascent.

We sheltered from the chilly breeze in a collection of rocks near the top of the steep climb, next to a mound which is a Bronze Age (2,000 to 1,500BC) barrow. This is a protected monument and has been fenced off to prevent erosion damage. Here a slightly early pietime was declared (75 min) while we admired the splendid views all round.

From here a flagged path took us slightly uphill, with the outcrop of Edale Rocks on our right, towards a large cairn, and soon afterwards the trig point marking the Kinder Low summit at 2,077 feet (85 min).

This is in fact not the highest point of the Kinder Scout plateau - that lies on an unmarked spot half-a-mile to the north-east which is 11 feet higher and is the highest southernmost spot in England before Dartmoor is reached.

Remarkably, the Kinder Low trig point is atop a large rock some eight feet from the surrounding earth, but within living memory was actually at ground level - testimony to the extent of the erosion of the peat that once covered the surrounding land to a depth of several feet.

The National Park and the landowners, the National Trust, have embarked on a fifty-year project to restore the plateau to its former natural state and repair the damage caused by years of industrial acid rain and chronic over-grazing by sheep. It was good to see the

action, involving the spreading of seed by helicopter, is proving successful and the trig point, once in a sea of black peat, is now surrounded by vegetation.

Navigation on this vast plateau can sometimes be tricky, but there were no such problems in today's sunshine as we headed along the edge of the escarpment. We crossed the rocky stream bed of Red Brook (105 min) and continued to Kinder Downfall (125 min), the massive cleft in the rock where the River Kinder - sometimes little more than a trickle - disappears over the edge.

It is this feature that gives its name to the Kinder Scout plateau - thought to be from the old English Kyndwr Scut, meaning 'water over the edge'.

There was little water in the river bed and we crossed without difficulty and continued along an improving path round the escarpment. Below us was the Mermaid's Pool, where legend has it anyone spotting the mermaid on Easter Eve will be granted immortality.

At the rocky outcrop of Sandy Heys (150 min) we took a path to the left, heading for the Kinder Reservoir below us. This at times steep descent of 1,000 feet in less than a mile brought us to the foot of William Clough, a welcome lunchbreak and a rest for the knees (180 min).

We crossed a small bridge and took a path along the side of the reservoir. The path rose slightly, crossed a muddy area, and brought us to a point overlooking the large earth dam wall, completed in 1927.

We descended a narrow, rock-paved path to reach the reservoir access road, where we crossed a stream and coninued along the far bank. This brought us past Farlands Booth to a minor road, which we followed to reach our outward route at Bowden Bridge. A short walk brought us back to the Sportsman (225 min) and welcome pints of Thwaites Original and Gold (£3-60), kindly provided by Tom to mark his birthday. Already there were Laurie, Colin, Jock and Tip, who had completed a route of six miles from New Mills over Chinley Head.

Next week will mark the Wanderers' Christmas lunch at the Wilfred Wood Wetherspoons in Hazel Grove. We originally fixed a time of 2.30pm for this, but as they don't take bookings feel free to arrive earlier.

The walk beforehand will depart the car park (free) at Torkington Park, around 10 minutes walk from the pub, at 9.40am, calling at the Ring o' Bells in Marple around noon. We should leave here no later than 12.45pm, bringing us back to Torkington by 2pm.

Happy wandering!

Rowarth

ROWARTH

November 27, 2019

CAR PARK OF THE LITTLE MILL INN AT ROWARTH, MATLEY MOOR, KNARRS FARM, HOLLINWORTH HEAD, CARR MEADOW, MIDDLE MOOR, SHOOTING BOX, TWENTY TREES, ROYAL HOTEL AT HAYFIELD, SLACKS MILL, LITTLE HAYFIELD, LANESIDE FARM, LITTLE MILL INN

Distance: 8.5 miles​

Difiiculty: Moderate.

Weather: Largely dry, slight rain later

Walkers: Micky Barrett, Peter Beal, Andy Blease, Alastair Cairns,Tom Cunliffe, Mark Gibby, Chris Owen, Jock Rooney and Tip, Graham Stone 

Non-walking drinker: Colin Davison

Apologies: Alan Hart (cruising), Laurie Fairman (Switzerland), George Whaites (domestics), Julian Ross (de*or>*ing), Hughie Hardiman (family duties)

Leader: Cairns​​Diarist: Beal

Starting point: Car park of the Little Mill Inn, Rowarth

Starting time: 9.45am ​Finishing time: 2.40pm

As I was writing this report I was told through Alan the sad news that Carolyn, wife of our friend and official blogger George Dearsley, had died suddenly following a fall at their home in Turkey on Monday of this week. I know all the Wanderers will want to join in sending their heartfelt sympathy to George at this terrible time for him. Carolyn's funeral was due to take place in Turkey on Friday and his two married daughters and their husbands are there with him.

In the circumstances it seems trivial to log our ramblings around Derbyshire but I can record that an impressive turnout of nine Wanderers ignored the gloomy weather predictions, which as so often proved unduly pessimistic. There was a little rain towards the end but largely we completed our route in the dry.

We turned right out of the car park of the Little MIll Inn and immediately right again up a track past some cottages. This soon narrowed to a rocky path whch led us in to Rowarth village. We bore left and at the now disused red telephoine box turned right down a path.

We turned right on a metalled lane, forded a stream and crossed a footbridge on the left taking us in to a wooded,boggy area, where we followed the course of the stream before reaching a track. We recrossed the stream and after a short section of track came to a metal gate leading us on to a narrow road.

This climbed steadily and swung right before reaching a gate at a ramshackle barn, where we turned in to a muddy field (30 mniutes). We climbed across two fields and crossed a wall stile to skirt Knarrs Farm, where extensive building work is going on.

We descended on a track which brought us to the Monks Road, once used by the friars of Basingwerk Abbey on their tax-collecting journeys. We turned right and soon reached the precarious crossing of the main Hayfield to Glossop road on a blind summit (45 min).

Unscathed, we crossed a stile at the far side and swung right down a path through the heather. This is a concessionary path and thus not marked on the OS maps. It brought us down to the stream at Carr Meadow, where pietime was declared six minutes early (69 min).

Resuming we crossed a footbridge, with its nearby memorial stone dedicated to Thomas Boulger 'who served the Peak District and Northern Counties Footpath Preservation Society from 1921 to 1963'. We climbed steadily from here on a quite badly eroded footpath through the heather moorland.

We dropped down to ford a stream and climbed slightly again before reaching a footbridge across a bog near the white-painted shooting box that can be spotted from large parts of Kinder Scout, which was largely swathed in mist in front of us (94 min).

We turned right here on a track, putting us on the Snake Path linking Hayfield and the Snake Inn. We reached a metal kissing gate marking the end of the moorland and descended through a series of rough pastures, past the landmark copse of Twenty Trees.

This emerged on Kinder Road, Hayfield, where we turned right to soon reach the Royal Hotel (136 min), where a selection of real ales were on offer (average £3-60).

After a pleasant break in the pub's ramblers' bar, adorned with a collection of antique walking and climbing gear, we resumed, turning right through the village, and immediately opposite the Pack Horse pub, took a track on the left, taking us under the relief road. Tom split from us at this point, to take the Sett Valley Trail to New Mills and an appointment with his dentist.

We crossed the village May Queen field to reach Swallow House Lane, turned left and then right at the former paper mill, now imposing apartments. This brought us to a group of cottages where a collapsed gate on the right gave access to the path to Little Hayfield.

On reaching the small village we descended left to skirt the renovated Clough Mill, now apartments, and made a sharp climb up a field. This brought us to a cottage, where after slanting right in to a narrow path, we took a short lunch break (172 min).

We climbed up the rocky path, emerging on a large pasture below the summit of Lantern Pike. We reached a decaying stone wall ahead and bore right along the ridge before reaching a gate, where a left turn took us along a substantial track. This joined another track, where we turned sharp right and after a rocky descent reached Laneside Farm and the start of a short stretch of road taking us to the Little Mill (312 min).

This old building was a working mill producing candle wick in the 1780s, and still has a water wheel - but one that was a replacement for the original, ruined in a flood in 1930 known as the 'great Rowarth cloudburst'. In the ground is an old pullman rail coach - once part of the Derbyshire Belle , which operated on the London-Brighton line. It once served as a restaurant but has now been converted in to three guest rooms.

Seven of us enjoyed Jenning's Cumberland bitter and the pub's own-branded ale, the price of which remains a mystery as the round was most generously provided by Graham - and it wasn't even his birthday.

Next week's quite challenging walk will involve the ascent of Kinder Low and a visit to Kinder Downfall, starting at The Sportsman in Kinder Road, Hayfield (ample road parking) at 9.40am, hopefully returning there by 2.15pm. Note: this route may be changed at the last minute in the event of bad weather.

Happy wandering!