Topley Pike

June 26, 2019.

TOPLEY PIKE, MONSAL TRAIL, WYE VALLEY, BLACKWELL HALL FARM, THE SPINNEYS, BANK PIT SPRING, THE CHURCH INN AT CHELMORTON, SHEPLEY FARM, TOPLEY PIKE QUARRY

Distance: 8 miles.

Difficulty: Moderate with one steep climb and one steep descent.

Weather: Cloudy with fine mist becoming dry later.

Walkers: Andy Blease, Alastair Cairns, Mark Gibby, Alan Hart, Jock Rooney with Tip and Graham Stone.

Apologies: Mickey Barrett (recently returned from yachting in Turkey), Peter Beal, Tom Cunliffe (trip to Germany), George Dearsley (in Turkey), Lawrie Fairman (Baltic Cruise lecturing), Hughie Hardiman (Irish hols), John Jones (leg injury), Chris Owen (Brittany hols), Julian Ross, and George Whaites (Croatian hols)

Leader: Hart (with assistance from Cairns and Rooney). Diarist: Hart.

Starting point: Free car park outside entrance to Topley Pike Quarry on A6 four miles south-east of Buxton.

Starting time: 9.59am. Finishing time: 2.43pm.

Forecasts of heatwave conditions proved premature and those of us wearing shorts in anticipation suffered the double whammy of cold wet legs and nettle rash. Alastair's chum Graham Stone was making his debut with the Wednesday Wanderers and marked the occasion by taking an impromptu dip in the River Wye. This kind of behaviour is always guaranteed to cause amusement and reminded us of how much we missed our accident-prone pal Colin.

The route along the Wye Valley is slippery in damp conditions but the views are rewarding. In places the cliffs soar above you and it is hard to believe you are so close to modern civilisation.

From the car park opposite the quarry entrance we crossed the main road to enter the pay-and-display car park on the Monsal Trail with the River Wye on our left..

The Monsal Trail is a section of the former Midland railway line which linked Buxton with Bakewell. An 8.5 mile trail for walkers, cyclists and horse-riders between Blackwell Mill in Chee Dale and Bakewell was opened in 1981. Four tunnels – Headstone, Cressbrook, Litton and Chee Tor – were made safe and opened in 2011.

Just after passing the Blackwell Mill cycle hire shop we crossed the left bank of the Wye via a wooden footbridge and turned right (16mins). The undergrowth was high as we picked our way through it with the river now on our right. It was at this stage that Graham became a rolling Stone as he missed his way and slid up to his fetlocks into the Wye.

You diarist,a trained observer, was blissfully unaware of this drama until it was relayed with great hilarity at Pietime. Meanwhile we reached the row of stepping stones created in the river to allow progress (33mins) and crossed wooden footbridges taking us to the right bank and back (41 and 44mins)

When we reached another footbridge on our right (71mins) we paused for pies and port and the story of Graham's downfall unfolded.

After crossing the bridge we headed diagonally right uphill, keeping to the left of a fenced wood until we reached a drystone wall. Historians found evidence from artefacts of a Bronze Age settlement in this area which overlooks a valley below.

We turned left at the wall and then right at an open gate marked with a yellow arrow (84mins). The path brought us to a wooden gate with a yellow arrow (87mins) where we turned right and followed the edges of the field until we reached a metal gate and turned right (92mins). We swung left along a track which brought us to a farmyard. Just after passing a shippon on our right we turned left and passed a caravan park on our left as we exited Blackwell Hall Farm (99mins)

Turning left downhill we reached the B5049 (104mins) which we crossed and headed towards Priestcliffe and Taddington. We went right over a wooden stile (106mins) and then emerged at the A6 (113mins) which we crossed to enter woodland called The Spinneys by a stone step stile.

We left the trees by another stone step stile (115mins) and entered a field of grazing cows. We kept away from them to the left and exited the field by another stone step stile (120mins). The stony track swung right then left and on our right was a wooden public footpath sign with a yellow arrow (124mins)

After crossing a stile to enter a field our route should have taken us through a field which was occupied by a herd of cows with their newly-born calves. They became agitated by our presence so we decided to retrace our steps back to the stony track and turned right along it (136mins)

On reaching a wooden footpath sign pointing in the direction we wanted, it was decided to ignore a sign saying Beware of the Bull (142mins)

It was felt we might be able to negotiate or compromise with a male of the species whereas any confrontation with hormone-affected females would be likely to end badly.

The path took us over several stiles through unoccupied fields until we exited one and turned right for 30 yards along a lane before turning left at a lane with a wooden public footpath sign for Chelmorton (152mins)

The path led us down to the village, passing Bank Pit Spring on our right (160mins). A plaque informed us that this had been known by the limestone miners who worked the rakes here 200 years ago as The Illy Willy Water.

We resisted temptation and continued to The Church Inn on our right (161mins). Several cask bitters were on offer and your diarist asked for a Saddle Tank. The pretty barmaid was happy to pull me one off.

Resuming we turned right out of the pub passing St John The Baptist Church on our left and turning right at a sign for Shepley Farm (162mins). We passed the farm on our right (167mins) and followed the paths through a series of stiles, crossing a main road (168mins) and stopping for lunch just short of a row of trees (192mins)

Continuing we went into the trees and a steep descent down to the valley floor. The path continued to the right of Topley Pike Quarry until we emerged at the car park (211mins)

Next week's walk will start at 9.45am from Dane Bridge, Wincle. It is hoped Chris will lead us to The Harrington Arms at Gawsworth for a bracer around 12.20pm before returning to The Ship at Wincle at about 2.30pm.

Happy wandering ! 

Hayfield

June 19, 2019.

HAYFIELD, TWENTY TREES, SNAKE PASS, MIDDLE MOOR, HUNTING LODGE, HOLLINGWORTH CLOUGH, THE INTAKES, PLAINSTEADS, KNARRS NOOK, MATLEY MOOR, KINGS CLOUGH HEAD FARM, THE LITTLE MILL INN AT ROWARTH, LANESIDE FARM, WETHERCOTES, THE CALICO TRAIL, THE SPORTSMAN AT HAYFIELD

Distance: 9-10miles.

Difficulty: Easy.

Weather: Dry with cloud giving way to sunshine.

Walkers: Andy Blease, Alastair Cairns, Hughie Hardiman, Alan Hart and Julian Ross.

Alternative walkers: Colin Davison and Jock Rooney with Tip.

Apologies: Mickey Barrett (sailing off Turkey), Peter Beal, George Dearsley (in Turkey), Lawrie Fairman (cruise lecturing),Mark Gibby (monitoring Royal Ascot), Chris Owen (Brittany hols) and George Whaites (Croatia hols)

Leader: Cairns. Diarist: Hart.

Starting point: Kinder Road outside The Sportsman, Hayfield.

Starting time: 9.45am. Finishing time: 2.31pm.

Holidays severely depleted our numbers for this walk and we were obliged to rely on quality rather than quantity. Recent poor weather dispersed and we were able to enjoy a rain-free day. We were also entertained by first a pair of lapwings and then a pair of curlews who dived and cried warnings as the public footpath took us near their nesting sites. For several minutes they flew low over our heads to shoo us away from their offspring.

In the absence of any recognised leaders, Alastair accepted the poisoned chalice and, armed with a shiny new OS map, led us to our main targets – The Little Mill and The Sportsman – with impeccable timing. In the former we were joined by Colin, Jock and Tip. It was a pleasure to see them but our canine friend Tip gave us the most enthusiastic welcome.

From The Sportsman we headed back towards Hayfield, turning right at a green public bridleway. After we crossed a wooden stile to enter the moorland we were treated to a classic aerial display by the lapwings and curlews.

On reaching a copse known as Twenty Trees on our left  (13mins) Hughie confirmed that there were only 19 of them. We passed a sign for Snake Pass (29mins) and entered Middle Moor. Some 200 yards before the distinctive white shooting lodge, we turned left following a sign for Car Meadow (36mins)

We crossed a wooden footbridge at Hollingworth Clough and turned right uphill to stop at a pile of rocks for pies and port (70mins). Continuing we reached the main A624 Glossop-Chapel road and crossed it to head towards Charlesworth (76mins). Instead of turning left at a path opposite Near Plainsteads Farm on our right we continued along the road..After a minor diversion left to and from Knarrs Nook Farm (95mins), we quickly realised the error of our ways and continued along the road towards Charlesworth until we turned left at a sign for Back Rowarth on a road to our left (100mins)

Our quintet turned left at a public bridleway towards Lantern Pike and Hayfield, passing Butchers Piece Farm on our right (104mins). Soon after passing Kings Clough Head Farm on our right (117mins) the road swung left but we continued straight ahead along a footpath (120mins)

After crossing a brook we turned left (123mins), crossed a wooden stile and ignored the first wooden footbridge on our left but crossed a second one and turned right (130mins). We went left over a wooden stile (131mins) and emerged by a red phone box (133mins). After turning left we headed right along a footpath by the side of a Sunday school memorial stone (134mins)

The path brought us out at The Little Mill Inn at Rowarth (139mins), where we enjoyed different pints of cask bitter at tables outside in the sunshine. We were well into our second pints when Colin, Jock and Tip arrived from Thornsett.

Suitably refreshed we bade them farewell and turned right, passing the giant water wheel at the side of the pub. We forked right (149mins) and climbed a steep rocky path which swung right near its summit. As it levelled out we paused for lunch (156mins)

Resuming we reached a T-junction (176mins) and turned left, passing Hext Farm on our left (179mins). As we passed Lower Cliffe Farm  (182mins)on our right, a sign proudly proclaimed that the farmhouse was built there in 1713.

After passing Hayfield Water Treatment Works on our right (189mins) we turned right through the May Queens Park (194mins) and walked along The Calico Trail with the River Sett on our right. We emerged opposite The Pack Horse (198mins) and turned right.

A left turn into Bank Street took us to the Kinder Road (199mins) and reached The Sportsman on our left (208mins) for a choice of cask bitters. 

En route we passed a row of terraced cottages on our left containing a blue plaque in commemoration of one of Hayfield's most famous inhabitants. Actor Arthur Lowe was best known for his role as Captain Mainwaring in the sitcom Dad's Army from 1968-77.

But Lowe (1915-1982) had an impressive catalogue of stage and film credits before he earned fame as draper and lay preacher Leonard Swindley in Coronation Street from its inception in 1960 until he left the show in 1965.

He worked alongside acting superstars such as Olivier, Gielgud, O'Toole and Burton, winning a BAFTA as Best Supporting Actor in Lindsay Anderson's “O Lucky Man!” He also employed a wide range of voices on the BBC's Mr Men series for children. In Thetford, Norfolk, where Dad's Army was filmed on location, there is a statue of him dressed as Captain Mainwaring.

Next week's walk will start at 9.50pm from free parking space next to the quarry entrance at Topley Pike opposite the pay-and-display car park at the start of The Monsal Trail three miles south-east of Buxton. We intend to walk east along the Wye Valley before heading south for a livener in The Church Inn at Chelmorton at about 12.30pm . There will be the option of a final pint around 2.30pm at the Wye Valley House Hotel (Wetherspoons) in Buxton on the way home.

Happy wandering !  

Ashford-in-the-Water

Ashford-in-the-Water 

ROUTE:   ASHFORD IN THE WATER, PENNYUNK LANE, MONSAL HEAD, LITTLE LONGSTONE, GREAT LONGSTONE, HARDRAKE LANE, LONGSTONE EDGE, BLACK PLANTAION, MOOR LANE, DALE FARM, THE PACKHORSE AT LITTLE LONGSTON, MONSAL TRAIL, THE BULL'S HEAD ASHFORD IN THE WATER.

June 12, 2019

DISTANCE:  8 miles.

DIFFICULTY:  Easy 

WEATHER:  Light rain, drizzle and dry with heavy cloud

WANDERERS:  Jock with Tip, Andy Blease, John Jones, Alastair Cairns

APPOLOGIES: Tom Cunliffe (post-operative state) Julian Ross (filial duties) Mike Barrett (sailing in Turkey) Alan Hart (hunkering down) George Dearsley (Turkey)

LEADER Jock

DIARIST: Alastair Cairns

START TIME: 10:00

FINISH TIME: 14:30

Having found Jock wandering around the village our intrepid quartet set off up Vicarage lane turning left up the short steep footpath leading up to then over the fields to Pennycunk Lane which eventually brought us to Monsal Head. Following the minor road to Little Longston we passed the Packhorse (11:35). On reaching the gate after the last dwelling on the right we took the left of the two footpaths leading from the stiles on either side where we took shelter for a combined pie and lunch time. The path took us to the metropolis of Great Longston, where Jock led us through the children’s playground and on to the Church, followed this strange diversion we followed the road sharp right to a walled lane leading us to a path which zig zagged over fields full of cattleto join Hardrake Lane. Following a multi pointing signpost we turned left and up onto Longston edge, from there it was an easy downhill stroll down Moor Lane turning left at Black Plantation and eventually right for Dale Farm and over the fields back to Little Longston reaching the Packhorse at 12:45, where the Black Sheep bitter proved to be in excellent condition albeit at £3.80 a pint. While taking our refreshment and in addition to discussing topics of the day (tory leadership, brexit and Victoria Derbyshire’s Freudian slip about Jeremy Hunt), Jock regaled us with stories of his youthful encounters with the mill girls of Gorsey Bank around the red rocks and in the Bee Hive Public House. Leaving thepub Andy mentioned that a not so young chap sat oppositeclearly had a problem in resisting the ample charms off his lady friend, he observed they seemed to enjoy their luncheon but wondered what they would be having for afters….     

From the Packhorse, we returned to the gate with the two stiles and took the right hand Monsal Trail path to where it turned left onto the disused railway and crossing this descended the steps to the field below. From then on it was an easy stroll over the fields crossing Longston Lane and Ashford Lane to emerge onto Vicarage Lane back down to the cars to de-boot and return home.

Next weeks walk will depart from the Sportsman Inn Hayfield at 0945 to the Little Mill and Rowarth for lunchtime refreshment before returning to Hayfield 

Furness Vale

June 5, 2019.

FURNESS VALE, RINGSTONES CARAVAN PARK, THE MURDER STONE, WHALEY MOOR, LYME PARK, COCK KNOLL, LYME CAGE, RED LANE, THE DANDY COCK AT DISLEY, HAGG BANK, PEAK FOREST CANAL, NEW MILLS MARINA, FURNESS VALE MARINA AND THE SOLDIER DICK AT FURNESS VALE

Distance: 9 miles.

Difficulty: Moderate.

Weather: Cloudy with early drizzle dying out and ending in sunshine.

Walkers: Mark Gibby, Hughie Hardiman, Alan Hart, John Jones, Jock Rooney with Tip, Julian Ross and George Whaites.

Apologies: Mickey Barrett (sailing off Turkey), Andy Blease, Peter Beal, Alastair Cairns (Lake District), Tom Cunliffe (recovering from wrist operation), George Dearsley (in Turkey), Lawrie Fairman (cruise lecturing in Baltic) and Chris Owen (Britanny hols))

B Walkers: Tony Job, Ken Sparrow, Geoff Spurrell and Barry Williams.

Starting point: Outside The Soldier Dick at Furness Vale on A6.

Starting time: 9.33am. Finishing time: 2.20pm.

For reasons which escape me this is known as The Phallic Walk, starting with a steady climb, followed by a steady descent and ending with three flat miles along the canal towpath. Although it remained cloudy until the last half hour, there was only a spot of light drizzle at the start and we enjoyed good visibility. From the vantage point of Lyme Cage we were able to see beyond Beeston Castle to the Clwydian hills in the distance.

We visited The Murder Stone, which was erected in memory of an Eyam merchant who was battered to death by three men on his way home from market.

We also called at two of our favourite watering holes, The Dandy Cock and The Soldier Dick, where we were joined at the latter pub by our chums from the B team. Their walk had started from Chapel-en-le-Frith but there was a suspicion that bus rides had played a part in their journey via The Old Hall at Whitehough.

The Magnificent Seven headed for 20 yards in the direction of Buxton before turning right past The Imperial Chinese restaurant into Yeardsley Lane. At the entrance to The Ringstones Caravan Park we turned right  (10mins)before swinging left to pass a farm on our left with stables on the right (13mins)

After passing a drystone wall through an open gateway we turned right and headed uphill, crossing a wooden stile ((21mins) to reach Disley Old Road, Higher Disley, and turn right (25mins). Just short of half a mile away, in an area called Longside, The Murder Stone is on the right of the road.

It marks the spot where, on July 22, 1823, a merchant from Eyam called William Wood was battered to death by three sailors. One of them was caught in Macclesfield and hanged himself in a police cell. One of them was never caught. The third member of the group of killers, Joseph Dale, 17,  was tried on August 16, 1823. The jury took two minutes to find him guilty of murder. The defence appealed against his conviction but it was upheld and on April 24 he was sentenced to death by hanging the following Wednesday.

It is interesting to note the swiftness with which justice was carried out in those days. In contrast it took 57 years before a public subscription was raised to pay for The Murder Stone to mark the spot in 1874.

Although we were privileged to be in the presence of three retired police officers, it is sad to report that none of them could offer suggestions as to how the missing fugitive might be found and brought to account.

We retraced our footsteps to a point 50 yards beyond where we had entered the road via a stile and turned right at a green public footpath sign for Bowstonegate and Lyme Park (44mins). We followed the path on to Whaley Moor where we could see Coombs Reservoir, Coombs Edge and the Iron Age hill fort of Castle Naze on our left.

After crossing a wooden stile and a wooden footbridge we crossed a ladder stile (62mins) and the building which was once The Moorside Hotel came into view on our right. It is now a residential centre for children with behavioural problems.

We turned left at a gravel path for 20 yards until we reached a cattlegrid. Before it we turned right keeping a barbed wire fence on our left. This led us down to a footbridge across a stream which we crossed to reach a road through a metal kissing gate (72mins)

On the other side of the road  we followed a green public footpath sign which led us to another lane (78mins) which we crossed and again followed a green public footpath sign. This took us past an impressive mansion on our right which had been erected in recent years on Green Belt Land as a barn conversion.

After crossing three wooden stiles we reached a stone step stile which we crossed (87mins). To its right was a ladder stile which we used to enter Lyme Park and pause for pies and port (88mins)

Continuing we walked along a path with a wall on our right which went down through a wood to a ladder stile (94mins). We crossed this and turned left towards Lyme Cage in the near distance. We crossed a wooden stile  (105mins) and headed up to the right side of Lyme Cage for panoramic views (113mins)

We turned right away from the cage, descending with Bollinhurst Reservoir on our right. We reached the hut at the park entrance and turned right to exit the park and enter Red Lane (131mins). We forked left downhill, briefly joining The Gritstone Trail before swinging right to emerge on the road with The Ram's Head on our left. Crossing the A6 we turned right and reached The Dandy Cock on our left (146mins), where we enjoyed pints of Robbies' Unicorn at £3-30.

Resuming we turned right out of the front door of the pub and right again to go under a railway bridge and past Hagg Bank Allotments on our left. We turned left into Sherbrooke Road (151mins) and this brought us to the bank of the Peak Forest Canal  (153mins). Here we turned right with the waterway on our left.

When we reached Bridge 26 we exited to our right and turned left to cross the bridge, turn left again on the far side and swing down to the left bank. Beyond the bridge, with the canal now on our right, we stopped at a bench for lunch (158mins)

Afterwards we headed along the towpath, passing Swizzels' sweet factory in New Mills (176mins) on our left and the narrowboat belonging to our absent walking chum Peter Beal in Furness Vale Marina on our right. We left the canal at bridge 31 (202mins) and turned right to cross the railway line back to the A6. We crossed this, reached the cars, de-booted and called in The Soldier Dick.

Here pints of Wainwrights' cask bitter were in fine form at a bargain price of £3-10. We were soon joined by our pals from the B team who had arrived from Chapel via Chinley.

Next week's walk will start at 10am from Ashford-in-the-Water, off the A6 south-east of Buxton.

We expect to reach The Pack Horse at Little Longstone for a livener around 12.45pm before returning to The Bulls Head at Ashford at about 2.30pm.

Happy wandering !