Eyam

May 29, 2019.

EYAM, STONEY MIDDLETON, ROUGH SIDE, COOMBS DALE, MIDDLETON MOOR, HOUSLEY, THE BULLS HEAD AT FOOLOW, LINNEN DALE, EYAM EDGE AND THE MINER'S ARMS AT EYAM

Distance: 7-8 miles.

Difficulty: Easy apart from one steep climb and descent. 

Weather: Dry but mainly cloudy with chilly wind.

Walkers: Andy Blease, Alastair Cairns, Tom Cunliffe with Daisy, Mark Gibby, Alan Hart, John Jones and Jock Rooney with Tip.

Apologies: Mickey Barrett (sailing in Turkey), Peter Beal, George Dearsley (in Turkey), Lawrie Fairman, (cruise lecturing in Baltic),  Hughie Hardiman (filial duties), Mark Kean (Portugal hols), Chris Owen (child-minding duties) George Whaites (in Lake District)

Leader: Cunliffe. Diarist: Hart.

Starting point: Free car park off Hawkhill Road, Eyam, Derbyshire.

Starting time: 10am. Finishing time: 1.54pm.

The picturesque village of Eyam, with its tragic history, is a magnet for tourists as well as hikers. Its greatest claim to fame came in 1665 when bubonic plague, also known as The Black Death, swept through Europe. For 14 months the villagers voluntarily cut themselves off from their neighbours so they would not pass on the deadly infection which had reached them via the delivery of a batch of cloth from London.

As families were wiped out they resisted the temptation to escape and risked their own lives instead. The story of their sacrifice has been related over the years both in literature and on film. In Eyam itself the history is told in the form of plaques outside cottages where the plague had struck 354 years ago.

It is hard not to be moved as you walk past these homes where death visited families day after day, wiping out husbands, wives and children.

Our route took us beyond Eyam to the spectacular scenery which surrounds it, walking through fields full of dazzling yellow buttercups and dandelions, purple clover and white ladies' lace. It also brought us to a traditional country pub at Foolow and to the local at the heart of Eyam itself. That, plus further grisly stories from the 18th Century, of which more later.

We exited the rear of the car park, passing a children's playground on our right and Mompesson Cottage on our left to reach Church Street, Eyam, where we turned left (6mins). On our right at Lydgate we followed a public footpath sign for Stoney Middleton (8mins)

The route took us past a cottage on our right which had been the home of William Wood (1804-65), a renowned poet and novelist who wrote Genius of the Peak and Murder on the Winnats. Coincidentally the cottage had previously been owned by plague victim John Wood, who died in 1666 but was not related to William.

Reaching The Boundary Stone (20mins), where food and medicines from Stoney Middleton were swapped for disinfected cash from Eyam, we descended into Eyam's neighbouring village, and turned sharp right to pass the Toll Bar fish and chip shop before crossing the main A623 road and following a wooden public footpath sign up a steep hill (31mins)

We turned left at Eaton Fold (32mins) to follow another wooden public footpath sign, then turned right uphill at a similar sign (35mins). After going through a wooden gate we turned left towards Coombs Dale (39mins). This brought us to a steep gully down to a stream which we crossed to reach a path which was once a quarry rail track (55mins). We turned right and stopped for pies and port at a handy bench on our right (59mins)

Continuing our journey, we went through a wooden gate (80mins) and passed Black Harry Lane on our right.

It is named after an 18th Century highwayman who regularly robbed the pack mule trains of merchants transporting goods between Tideswell and Bakewell at pistol-point. Black Harry was caught at Wardlow Cop and subsequently convicted, sentenced and hanged outside Derby Gaol. His body was placed in a gibbet on Wardlow Mires, at the northern end of Cressbrook Dale, where it was feasted on by birds from Ravensdale. Gibbets continued to be used well into the 19thCentury as a terrifying warning to would-be criminals. (In the enlightened 21st Century we have community service orders)

We continued to the end of the lane towards a quarry and turned right at the T-junction (99mins). This took us to a road where we bore right (108mins) and reached the A623 again (120mins). We turned right until we reached a road sign for Foolow to our left (124mins). At this point your diarist, with the scent of beer in his quivering nostrils, followed the sign, passing Brosterfield Farm on the left (128mins), turning left and reaching The Bulls Head (133mins) – another in a  shameful list of pubs which have lost their apostrophes.

Tom led the other members of the group past the road to Foolow and turned left to reach the pub by a footpath a few minutes later. Here we enjoyed pints of Barnsley cask bitter at an eye-watering   £3-80 a pint.

Continuing for the return leg to Eyam, we turned left out of the pub's front door along a road and then turned right at a wooden public footpath sign over a stone step stile (136mins). We had a lunch stop shortly after going through a kissing gate in Linnen Dale (145mins). Otherwise the route was a straight line along well-trodden paths through fields using gates and stiles. 

Back in Eyam we reached the end of New Close (170mins)and turned left, passing the Post Office on our right. We turned right up Hawkshill Road (172mins) to reach our cars (174mins) to de-boot before driving to The Miner's Arms for pints of excellent Tetley's cask bitter at £3-60.

Next week's walk will start at 9.30am from the main road outside The Soldier Dick pub in Furnesss Vale. We intend to walk past Ringstones Caravan Park towards Lyme Park, diverting for half a mile to view The Murder Stone, before reaching The Dandy Cock in Disley around 12.30pm. We will then return along the banks of The Peak Forest Canal to The Soldier Dick at about 2.30pm.

Happy wandering !  

Pictures by Alan Hart

Heading into Rough Side from Stoney Middleton.

The descent from Eyam into Stoney Middleton

The Bull’s Head, Foolow

Pictures by John Jones

Hayfield

May 22, 2019.

HAYFIELD, SETT VALLEY TRAIL, BIRCH VALE, MORLANDS ROAD, OLLERSETT MOOR, BIG STONE, CRACKEN EDGE, OTTERBECK HALL, VALLEY VIEW FARM, THE LAMB AT CHINLEY, CHINLEY HEAD, HIGHGATE HEAD, THE SPORTSMAN AT HAYFIELD

Distance: 9-10 miles.

Difficulty: Moderate.

Weather: Dry, mainly cloudy with sunny spells.

Walkers: Peter Beal, Andy Blease, Alastair Cairns, Tom Cunliffe with Daisy, Lawrie Fairman, Mark Gibby, Alan Hart, John Jones, Chris Owen, Jock Rooney with Tip.

Apologies: Mickey Barrett (sailing off Turkey), Colin Davison (sailing), George Dearsley (in Turkey), Alan Duckworth (fishing), Hughie Hardiman, Julian Ross and George Whaites (domestic duties)

Leader: Beal. Diarist: Hart.

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

Starting time: 9.40am. Finishing time: 2.32pm.

The road to hell is paved with good intentions. Caring for his flock like a good shepherd, our leader Peter waited patiently for two stragglers to appear only to find that the missing persons had taken a short-cut and by-passed him.

Thus he and Jock, who accompanied him in his solicitous behaviour, arrived at the finishing post ten minutes after his followers, four of whom had already departed. Such are the vicissitudes of trying to lead the Wednesday Wanderers: rather like herding cats.

No harm was done, however, and we enjoyed some splendid scenery in perfect walking conditions. We passed clusters of dazzling bluebells and hawthorn bushes in full spectacular bloom. Skylarks soared above us and we spotted a sheep wearing a red bucket. I am reliably informed that this is the must-have fashion accessory for trendy young ewes in 2019 so remember you read it here first.

From outside the front door of The Sportsman we crossed the road and followed a wooden public footpath sign to descend a flight of steps and cross the River Sett, turning right at the far bank. At the end of the lane we turned right then left just before St George's Church to cross the main A524 road linking Glossop with Chapel-en-le-Frith (15mins). On the far side we joined the Sett Valley Trail.

This is a path for hikers, cyclists and horse riders along the former railway line which once linked Hayfield with New Mills nearly three miles away. Between Birch Vale and Hayfield it forms part of the Pennine Bridleway National Trail.

We turned left at a wooden public footpath sign for Chinley via Morland Road and emerged opposite The Grouse (31mins). We crossed the main road between Hayfield and New Mills to the left of the pub and began a steady ascent up Morland Road, going through a gate at its end (45mins). We went through another wooden gate (67mins) and had now entered Ollersett Moor. Instead of following the bridleway ahead we turned left through the moorland, crossing a wooden stile (81mins) and reaching a rocky outcrop known as Big Stone (83mins)

After pausing for breath and photos we turned right and reached a stone step stile. To the left was an ancient shelter where we rested for pies and port (88mins). Resuming we crossed the stile and turned left, descending to Cracken Edge (90mins) where we turned right.

When we encountered a group of walkers from Stockport heading in the opposite direction, Mark engaged them in conversation, while John and Jock waited. In the confusion which followed they became temporarily detached from the main pelaton.

After we had swung sharply left downhill (100mins) and realised they were not following us, attempts were made to contact the missing trio, with Andy going back uphill in a vain effort to spot them. When phone contact was made we continued our descent, heading through a wooden gate and down steep steps to reach a lane (126mins)

We turned left passing Clappersgate, Otterbeck Hall and Newstead on our right before turning right at a wooden public footpath sign (138mins). The footpath went to the left of Valley View Farm, then right to reach a cattlegrid near its entrance. Here we turned left up the farm track (145mins) to once again reach and cross the A524. Turning left we soon reached The Lamb on our right (149mins).

Chris was first to the bar, deciding to opt for the Jennings' cask bitter, and earning a stifled giggle from the landlady when he announced she had offered to pull him one off before he sampled it.

By now the sun had broken through and we were able to bask in it on the wooden tables outside, soon joined by our three tardy chums. Jock's collie Tip seemed the most delighted to see us again, although Chris's popularity was further boosted when he shared his fried cheese dips.

Continuing, we returned to the A524, turning left and after 20 yards turning left again over a stile made from stone and wood (151mins). This was the start of a steep climb through a wooden gate up Chinley Head. After passing through another wooden gate (160mins) our group became separated when three stopped for lunch on some handy rocks (165mins). Others without lunches carried on while Peter, Jock and Tip waited ahead in a dip out of the sight of Mark, John and your diarist.

Having finished lunch first I took a short cut across a field in order to catch up the main group, as did John who was third to finish. But Mark chose the longer route, found Peter, Jock and Tip waiting, and told them John would be along soon.

One wonders whether similar confusion and misinterpretation led to The Charge of the Light Brigade.

After going to the right of a farmhouse (170mins) and passing it on our left, the main group then crossed a cattlegrid and emerged at a road opposite The Firs (191mins).En route we spotted a sheep which had managed to force its head through a bottomless red bucket and was now wearing it as a fashion statement.

We passed Highgate Head Farm on our right (198mins) before reaching Hayfield village centre and turning right up Bank Street (210mins). This took us into Kinder Road and back to our cars outside The Sportsman (217mins)

Tom, Alastair, Chris and Lawrie eschewed the chance to sample the Wainwrights' cask bitter at    £3-70, but Peter and Jock soon joined us in the pub with tales of how they had waited in vain for John to reach them while he had been unwittingly taking the by-pass route.

Next week's walk will start at 9.45am from the free car park at Eyam, Derbyshire's legendary plague village. To reach it turn left off the A623 and take the first left passing the church on your right and then turning right, passing the public toilets on your right before turning right into what is known as the high car park. We aim to reach The Bull's Head at Foolow around 12.30pm for a livener before returning to The Miners' Arms at Eyam for further refreshment.

Pictures below.

Happy wandering !

                                                               Pictures by Alan Hart

Some bluebells and a hawthorn bush in bloom

A sheep wearing a bucket

The journey home towards Mount Famine and South Head

Enjoying the sunshine outside The Lamb At Chinley 

The view from Big Stone

Pictures by John Jones

Ridgegate

May 8, 2019

RIDGEGATE RESERVOIR, MACCLESFIELD FOREST, SHUTLINGSLOE FOOT, WILBOARCLOUGH, OAKENCLOUGH, FORMER HANGING GATE PUB, GREENBARN, RIDGEGATE

Distance: 7 miles

Difficulty: Easy

Weather: Rain and strong winds at first, easing slightly

Walkers: Peter Beal, Alastair Cairns, Tom Cunliffe, Alan Duckworth, Chris Owen, Jock Rooney with Tip

Alternative walkers: Colin Davison, Laurie Fairman

Apologies: Julian Ross and Mark Gibby (family duties), Alan Hart (rain allergy), George Dearsley (sunny Turkey). Hughie Hardiman and George Whaites (rain allergy).Others unspecified.

Leader: Owen Diarist: Beal

Starting point: Lay-by at Ridgegate reservoir, Macclesfield Forest.

Start time: 9.41am Finishing time: 12.36pm

Given the dire weather forecast of continued heavy rain the respectable total turn-out of eight walkers came as a welcome surprise and a tribute to their fortitude.

In the early part of the walk the promised rain indeed materialised and a very strong headwind made the climb across the open moor below Shutlingsloe unpleasant.

Our decision to omit the climb to Shutlingsloe and later to avoid the planned diversion to the Ryles Arms in view of the weather was later to appear wimpish when our allegedly 'Knacard' colleagues Colin and Laurie arrived at the finishing pub to announce they had walked 10 miles - three miles further than the main party. Perhaps they should be compulsorily drafted back in to the so-called A-walkers.

We left the lay-by at Ridgegate and headed along the road to the top of the reservoir, where we took a path at the side of the road on the right. We soon turned left to cross the road, headed up a track opposite and immediately took a footpath on the left in to the trees of Macclesfield Forest.

The land to the west of Shutlingsloe is all part of the Forest, which used to stretch 15 miles as the crow flies from Marple in the north to Bosley in the south. The medieval forest was not exclusively woodland. The word referred to land reserved for royal hunting parties, as distinct from the privately-owned equivalent - the chase.  

We turned right on another footpath (10 minutes) and at a broad track turned left (14min), still climbing steadily.

At another junction we carried straight on (22min) and shortly after took a path on the left near a bench. This brought us, on the right, to a kissing gate leading on to open moorland and a Northern Footpaths Society sign reading "Wildboarclough via Shutlingsloe" (28min).

We continued along a flagged path over the moor, reaching a gate in a wall at the bottom of the steep climb to the 1,659 ft summit on our right (41min). In view of the wind and the wet we decided to forego the summit and head left across the shoulder of the hill and the descent to Wildboarclough.

A feature of the descent was the number of new metal kissing gates, apparently supplied by Cheshire East Council. We reached a farm track and turned left to soon reach the road  in the isolated valley of Wilboarclough (76min), where we turned right. This brought us to the Crag Inn, on whose car park wall we declared pietime.

We resumed by continuing a short distance down the road to take a gate in the wall on the right on a path slanting diagonally right and climbing uphill. The route here through the fields, going through a series of five small gates, not easily spotted in the lines of drystone walls, has been marked by a helpful farmer with green discs marking each of them.

At the crest of the hill we climbed a railed stile over a drystone wall to reach a lane where we turned left (100 min).

We continued down the lane and past a small gate on the right where a sign told us that the moorland rising above us was part of the Piggford Moor Nature Reserve. We descended slightly and just before a bridge over a stream, went through a gate on the right (113min).

We climbed steadily up a narrow path with the stream on our left. At a gate and a bridge on our left we crossed to the opposite bank and slanted uphill to the right (126min).

We crossed a track leading to the comverted farmstead of Oakenclough - the former Tatton constituency home of Chancellor George Osborne - and continued through a gate to climb steeply uphill with a wall on our right.

This soon brought us to a gate leading on to open moorland (131min), which we crossed slightly to our right, reaching at the crest of a hill, a wall. We turned right, reached a gate on our left and passed through it to join a sunken muddy path to emerge at the former Hanging Gate pub(151min).

This was once one of the Wanderers' favourite watering holes run by a mad Estonian lady but now stands barren, its pub signs still outside, despite the intention to turn iit in to a private residence.

We left the building via a gate in its back garden and continued down a footpath, through three kissing gates, to reach a road where we turned left. Soon after we took a stile on the right to carry on along the Gritstone Trail down through fields.

We passed behind a wooden stable building, took a path to the right behind two modren houses and then across a track leading in to fields, reaching a lane which we crossed down and up steep steps on either side (171min). Three more stiles brought us to a farmhouse that was once  the home of Rugby legend Fran Cotton.

We skirted this on the left and reaching a driveway, then slanted right down to a bridge over a stream. This marked our departure from the route of the Gritstone Trail, which we had followed from the pub.

A steep climb up steps through what Chris informed us was known locally as Bluebell Wood - and indeed there was a profusion of them - brought us in to a field and then to the Ridgegate reservoir dam. A short stroll brought us to the Leather's Smithy pub (176 min),  where we enjoyed the Robinson's Dizzy Blonde at £3-95 a pint (this was Cheshire).

Colin and Laurie arrived later to announce they had completed an impressive 10-mile circuit including the Rossendale and Rossen Clough valleys, hitherto unknown to us.

A large group of the Wanderers are off to Poland next week to the town of Bielsko Biaka on a walking and drinking extravaganza. Those of the group who make it back might like to join the walk on Wednesday, May 22, which will start at 9.40am at the Sportsman Inn in Kinder Road, Hayfield, climbing Ollersett Moor and descending to the Lamb Inn before concluding at the Sportsman.

Happy wandering!

Old Glossop

May 1, 2019.

OLD GLOSSOP, BLAKE MOOR, COCK HILL, CLOUGH EDGE, PENNINE WAY, LONGDENDALE TRAIL, HADFIELD RAILWAY STATION, THE ANCHOR AT HADFIELD, PADFIELD, BLACKSHAW FARM, SWINESHAW RESERVOIR AND THE QUEENS AT OLD GLOSSOP

Distance: 10 miles.

Difficulty: Moderate.

Weather: Dry but cloudy with some mist.

Walkers: Tom Cunliffe with Daisy, Mark Gibby, Alan Hart, Chris Owen and George Whaites.

Alternative walkers: Colin Davison and Lawrie Fairman.

Apologies: Mickey Barrett (unpacking), Peter Beal (walking in Lakes), Andy Blease (hols), Alastair Cairns (Hartington hols), George Dearsley (in Turkey), Alan Duckworth (gout), Hughie Hardiman (filial duties), John Jones (unable to reach start), Julian Ross (w*^king)

Leader: Cunliffe. Diarist: Hart.

Starting point: Car park opposite The Wheatsheaf at Old Glossop.

Starting time: 9.55am. Finishing time: 2.42pm.

It has been a long time since we last visited Old Glossop and followed this route over Glossop Low. After an entertaining start when we passed a farm full of exotic birds, the steady climb through the moorland was rather bleak and featureless. But when we reached Clough Edge overlooking the valley with Torside  and Rhodeswood Reservoirs below we were rewarded with spectacular views.

The walk began with a long, steady climb, followed by a lengthy, steady descent, followed by a flat walk along the Longdendale Trail into Hadfield. Our return journey involved a gentler rise and fall and we passed a total of five reservoirs.

The start had been delayed by 15 minutes because Chris had been held up at home. He arrived in the car park with a screech of tyres and a cloud of dust like some stunt driver from The Dukes of Hazard.

From the car park we went up Blackshaw Road opposite and turned right to walk under a block of flats before turning left to follow a green public footpath sign at a path on our right (2mins). This brought us to a farm which has always stocked exotic birds and poultry.

I am advised by our ornithological expert, Professor Lawrie Fairman, that the bird who joined us for lunch at Chinley last week was an emu and not an ostrich. This week he identified the birds we photographed as rheas, who are natives of South America.

There was also a peacock, but despite my best efforts he refused to put on a full display of his exotic feathers even though we were at the height of the mating season. Perhaps I wasn’t his type.

 Another rhea was trying to hide by putting his head in a bush. This comical avian version of peek-a-boo did not show the bird off to its best advantage as my picture shows.

We continued past the farm, going through an unusual roundabout-style iron gate (19mins) before crossing a wooden stile on our left (21mins) to follow a farm track. Passing Blackshaw Farm on our right (26mins), we turned right uphill. This took us past Swineshaw Reservoir below on our right. The path continued to climb through a six-barred metal gate and two more metal gates to reach the summit at Cock Hill (57mins).

We continued to a derelict building (72mins) where we paused for pies, port and home-made damson wine kindly provided by Chris. Resuming we passed a cairn and a row of grouse butts before we reached a path overlooking the valley below (80mins). Here we turned left along a path which had a sheer drop to its right.

We reached a track by a sign pointing back to Bleaklow Head (107mins). We turned left along the Pennine Way (140mins). When we reached a road we turned left (146 mins). We then crossed the main road and turned first right and then left to follow a footpath sign for Hadfield along a disused railway line. We reached the end of the Longdendale Trail (192mins) after passing Valehouse and Bottoms Reservoirs on our right.

After crossing the main road we turned left passing Hadfield Station on our left and the town’s war memorial on our right. We headed up Railway Street and at the top turned right to reach The Anchor on our left (199mins)

Colin and Lawrie, who had met us earlier in the car park, were already ensconced and we joined them for excellent Tetley’s cask bitter at a modern-times bargain price of £3-07 a pint. A warm welcome from the landlady increased our favourable impression of this village pub.

For the return route we retraced our steps back to where we had left the Longdendale Trail and turned right under a railway bridge (206mins) which brought us into Platt Street and past a sign for neighbouring Padfield. When Platt Street changed its name to Redgate (214mins) we turned left at a wooden public footpath sign.

After a false right turn at a green public footpath sign (217mins) we retreated and passed Padfield Brook Cottage before turning right (220mins) at a second green public footpath sign. We crossed a stone step stile and paused for lunch (223mins)

Continuing we followed a sign for Allman’s Heath and Swineshaw over a wooden stile (225mins) passing a cemetery on our right. At posts creating a gap stile we turned left (229mins) and went through a junkyard to reach a main road. We turned right and swiftly left over a stone step stile opposite Allman’s Heath Holiday Cottage (231mins)

When we reached a drystone wall we went through an iron gate and turned right with Swineshaw Reservoir a few feet away on our left. We crossed a stone footbridge on our left and walked down a flight of stone steps (238mins). We turned right with a stream on our right and emerged on a lane (240mins).

Here we turned right and retraced our earlier footsteps back to the cars to deboot (252mins) before walking downhill to The Queens, where pints of Wainwright’s cask bitter cost £3-60.

Next week’s walk will start at 9.40am from the lay-by next to Ridgegate Reservoir 400 yards beyond The Leathers’ Smithy in Langley, Macclesfield. We shall be aiming to reach the Ryles Arms, Sutton, around 12.30pm for a tincture or two before returning to The Leathers’ Smithy for our final refreshment at about 2.30pm.

Happy wandering !

                                                             Pictures by Alan Hart

                                                                       A young rhea

A peacock

A rhea trying to hide

Cattle

Wanderers in front of the view from Glossop Low Moor

The view from Glossop Low Moor

Six wanderers in The Anchor at Hadfield

Hadfield War Memorial