Longnor

July 31, 2019.

LONGNOR, ST BARTHOLOMEW'S PRIMARY SCHOOL, MOSS CARR FARM, HOLLINSCLOUGH, GLUTTON BRIDGE, THE PACK HORSE INN AT CROWDECOTE, BRIDGE END FARM, THE CHESHIRE CHEESE AT LONGNOR

Distance: 5-6 miles.

Difficulty: Easy.

Weather: Mainly dry apart from one shower and some light drizzle.

Walkers: Peter Beal, Alastair Cairns, Tom Cunliffe with Daisy, Alan Hart, Chris Owen, Jock Rooney with Tip, Graham Stone.

Apologies: Mickey Barrett (hols), Andy Blease (taking car to garage), George Dearsley (in Turkey), Mark Gibby (monitoring Goodwood Races), Hughie Hardiman (New Orleans hols), John Jones (overslept), Julian Ross (w*^king), George Whaites (medical appointment)

Leader: Rooney. Diarist: Hart.

Starting point: Main cobbled square in Longnor, Staffs.

Starting time:  10.19am. Finishing time: 1.20pm.

Torrential rain in recent days had caused floods in Cheshire. With more rain forecast we could have predicted a low turn-out from this far-flung corner of the Wednesday Wanderers' walking empire. But we had a Magnificent Seven when Tom finally arrived.

Having insisted that we meet at 9.50am rather than the 10am suggested by your diarist, Tom was the only member who failed to arrive on time. It would seem his reliance on navigational aids had led him a merry dance around flood diversions causing him to turn up 25 minutes late. The rest of us used our innate common sense to reach the starting point promptly.

Among those present was Peter Beal, whom we had not seen since late spring, and the speedy return of Chris Owen, who had been in a hospital's coronary care unit a week ago. He declared himself fully recovered from a speedy heartbeat and pneumonia. 

A light shower soon after we started threatened to blight our enjoyment, but it soon stopped and we had nothing worse than light drizzle thereafter. Even the mist which had shrouded the hills earlier seemed to evaporate. How lucky we were because on our return home the Cheshire heavens opened and rain of biblical proportions fell in stair-rods for more than an hour, exacerbating the earlier floods..

From the cobbled square opposite the Crewe and Harpur pub we turned right and then right again at  the road leading into Longnor. The Horseshoe Inn and St Bartholomew's Primary School were on our left as we headed uphill out of the village. 

Longnor in  general and The Horseshoe Inn in particular was one of the locations used to portray the fictional village of Cardale in the TV series “Peak Practice” from 1993-2002. It starred Kevin Whately as Dr Jack Kerruish and Amanda Burton as Dr Beth Glover. Whately went on to find fame in “Morse” and “Lewis.” Burton later starred in “Silent Witness” and “The Commander.”

We turned left at a road signed Hollinsclough (4mins) and followed another sign for that village on our right (13mins). After passing Moss Carr Farm on our right (28mins) we entered the village (35mins) and stopped for pies, port and damson wine kindly provided by Chris on benches opposite Hollinsclough Methodist Chapel outside the chapel hall (39mins)

Continuing we crossed the road  with the chapel on our left and turned left over a cattle-grid marked with a black arrow (44mins). The early mist was now clearing to reveal Chrome Hill and Parkhouse Hill soaring ahead of us. The farm track took us to the right of the hills and we crossed a stile by a wooden public footpath sign (49mins) to head for Glutton Bridge.

We had seen several swollen rivers already and streams running through fields. A dip in the farm track was under two feet of water and we were grateful for the wooden footbridge at its side (54mins). We reached the B5053 (66mins) and turned left. Opposite Glutton Bridge Cottage we turned right (68mins), passing through a series of gates to reach a farmyard (80mins)

After walking through the farmyard, where the lane swung left we carried straight on over a stone step stile marked with a public footpath sign (87mins). This took us through another farmyard (95mins) and we emerged on a side road. This soon brought us to a main road where we turned right with The Pack Horse Inn at Crodecote on our left (99mins) 

As the first customers of the day we were given a warm welcome by the landlord, and had a choice of five real ales, alongside lagers and a rhubarb-flavoured draught cider. The Sporting Times and the aptly-named Waiting For The Sun were both in excellent condition at £3-50 a pint.

Leaving the pub we turned left, passing Bridge End Farm on our left and followed the road as it swung right over the River Dove (101mins). By crossing the river we had ended our excursion in Derbyshire and returned to Staffordshire for the final leg of our journey.

We arrived in Longnor with The Cheshire Cheese on our right (119mins). Here, too, the Robbies' Unicorn (£3-30) and Dizzy Blonde (£3-40) were in top form.

Next week's walk will start at 10am from the road outside The Bulls Head at Monyash for a walk to The George at Youlgreave for a bracer around 12.30pm, returning to The Bulls Head at about 2.40pm.

Happy wandering !

Whaley Bridge

July 24, 2019.

WHALEY BRIDGE, CROMFORD AND HIGH PEAK RAILWAY LINE (DISUSED), TAXAL, TAXAL NICK, WINDGATHER ROCKS, PYM CHAIR FARM, DUNGE VALLEY, CLOUGH FARM, THE SWAN INN AT KETTLESHULME, HARDY GREEN, TODD BROOK RESERVOIR, THE COCK AT WHALEY

Distance: 10 miles.

Difficulty: Moderate.

Weather: Warm, dry and sunny.

Walkers: Andy Blease, Tom Cunliffe with Daisy, Laurie Fairman, Mark Gibby, Alan Hart, Jock Rooney with Tip, Graham Stone.

Apologies: Mickey Barrett (holiday preparations), Peter Beal (narrow-boating), Alastair Cairns, Hughie Hardiman and Julian Ross (domestic duties), George Dearsley (lecturing in Liverpool)), Chris Owen (in hospital), George Whaites (medical appointment)

Leader: Fairman. Diarist: Hart.

Starting point: Road outside The Cock at Whaley Bridge.

Starting time: 9.40am. Finishing time: 2.40pm.

It is perhaps a sign of the times that at our assembly point the first items on the agenda were a series of medical bulletins. Most disturbing was the news that Chris Owen had been rushed to hospital with a racing heartbeat, been diagnosed with pneumonia and was being treated in the coronary care unit. We also heard that George Whaites would not be joining us this week or next because of medical appointments. Furthermore Colin Davison had spent a night in hospital after an angina attack. We wish them all well,

On a cheerier note we learned that Mickey Barrett, who had endured a complication after the removal of a growth on his head, had recovered sufficiently to go on holiday. Meanwhile Steve Kemp continues to receive outpatient treatment for his blood problems.

Laurie appears to have now completed his convalescence following knee replacement surgery and led us on this scenic walk made more challenging by the hot weather. It involved a steady climb soon after the start and there is a photograph to accompany this report which is not suitable for those of a nervous disposition. It was also good to see that Colin had recovered from his recent health scare to join us at The Swan Inn at Kettleshulme on his electric-powered bicycle looking like an extra from Brideshead Revisited.

With The Cock on our left we walked 20 yards past it towards Buxton and turned left up a path which brought us to the disused Cromford and High Peak Railway Line and turned right.

Designed by Josias Jessop this tramway and railway line was opened in sections between 1830-32, covering 33 miles between the Peak Forest Canal basin at Whaley Bridge and the village of Cromford. It was quite a feat of engineering so soon after the first locomotives had been successfully trialled by George Stephenson with his Rocket. Powered by horses and static steam engines it climbed 1,266 feet to Ladmanlow hauling limestone from local quarries.

The final cost of the enterprise was £25,000 higher than Jessop's estimate of £155,000 – an interesting comparison with estimates for modern projects and their eventual costs.

The first section of the track was closed in 1963 and the rest in 1967. In 1971 it was bought by Derbyshire County Council and became part of the High Peak Trail for walkers, cyclists and horse riders.

Just before it reached the start of the Shallcross Greenway we turned right at a wooden public footpath sign (10mins) which led up to a children's playground. We crossed this and went down Mevril Road to cross the main road and head up a track opposite. This took us by a footbridge over the River Goyt to St James' Church at Taxal (25mins)

We turned left and almost immediately right over a stile opposite Glebe Farm. We went through two fields to reach a lane via a ladder stile (38mins). After turning left for 200 yards we followed a footpath sign leading right uphill (40mins). Passing a plaque for hillwalker Terry Lardner (45mins) we reached a drystone wall at Taxal Nick (50mins). We turned left with the wall on our right, going to the right of a wood to reach Windgather Rocks (70mins) where several groups of rock-climbers were acquiring or sharpening their skills.

We admired the view then turned left to reach our usual sheltered spot for pies and port (74mins). Such was the heat that some of us opted to sit above the shelter and enjoy the breeze. Continuing we reached the country road and passed the car park for Pym Chair (92mins)  

According to legend Pym was either a highwayman who used to lay in wait to ambush passing pack-horse trains or he was a preacher who used the rocks at Pym Chair as his al fresco pulpit.

We soon reached a T-junction where we turned right for Salterford (93mins), passing Pym Chair Farm on our right (99mins). We turned right at a green public footpath sign (100mins) and crossed a ladder stile to enter a field at the start of Dunge Valley. We headed to the right of a farm (107mins) and crossed two wooden stiles marked with yellow arrows to reach a derelict barn which we passed on our right.

By heading slightly right we crossed a large field and went through a metal kissing gate (114mins), soon followed on our right by another (115mins). The path then led us through a garden to a lane where a yellow arrow pointed us left (118mins). We exited the former garden centre (126mins) and reached a crossroads where we went directly ahead.

At the entrance to Clough Farm (142mins) we crossed a stile on our right and went left downhill, through a copse, then a field which we exited through a metal gate with a yellow arrow (149mins). After crossing a stone step stile (150mins) we reached a track and swung right to the left of a farmhouse, ignoring two wooden stiles marked with yellow arrows.

We reached a crossroads and went forward, passing Stocks Bank on our right (158mins) and turned left at a flight of stone steps (159mins) to arrive at The Swan Inn at Kettleshulme. Marstons' bitter at £3-25 was in excellent form and enjoyed at the tables outside the pub under their giant parasols.

While we were starting our second pints, Colin cycled up to join us, having inexplicably gone to meet us at The Shady Oak in Fernilee despite all the contrary information at his disposal. He may be improving physically but one has to worry about his failing mental capacity.

Suitably refreshed we sallied forth opposite the pub through a market garden to reach Kettleshulme Methodist Church and turn right (161mins). We exited Paddock Lane and swung left into Kishfield Lane (163mins), passing the cottages at Hardy Green on our left (167mins)

Lunch was taken on the wall of a bridge over Todd Brook (177mins). At this point Colin bade us farewell and cycled off into the distance. We retraced our steps for 30 yards and turned left to climb up a path, taking the left fork which brought us to Todd Brook (190mins) which had been swollen by overnight thunderstorms accompanied by heavy rain.  We were obliged to paddle quickly across 10 yards of ankle-deep water to reach an iron ladder and climb out of the water.

Turning right we reached the start of the reservoir on our right with a sluice canal running on our left. When we reached the end of the reservoir (207mins) we headed right through Whaley Bridge Memorial Park and emerged on the main road diagonally opposite The Cock (217mins). Here we once again sat outside to enjoy pints of Robbies' Dizzy Blonde at £3-30.

Next week's walk will start at 9.55am from the cobbled area outside The Grapes pub in the centre of Longnor. We aim to reach The Staffordshire Knot at Sheen around 12.15pm and back at The Cheshire Cheese, Longnor, by 2.15pm.

Happy wandering !

Disley

July 17th  2019.

WHITE HORSE PUB DISLEY,  BLACK ROCK, BYRON HOUSE, SEVEN SPRINGS CAMP, GREENSHALL FARM, A6 AT DISLEY, WATERSIDE, HAGUE BRIDGE, HAGUE BAR, BROOK BOTTOM, FOX INN, MIDSHIRES WAY, STRINES STATION, PEAK FOREST CANAL, DANDY COCK PUB, WHITE HORSE PUB

Distance: 8 miles.

Difficulty: Two stiffish climbs with a few undulations qualified this walk as a Moderate 

Weather: Sunshine all the way with some cloud and a welcome gentle breeze.

Walkers: Alastair Cairns, Tom Cunliffe with Daisy, Laurie Fairman, Mark Gibby, Graham Stone. George Whaites

Apologies:) Peter Beal (canal cruising), George Dearsley (in Turkey), Mike Barratt and Hughie Hardiman (collecting their sons from various airport), Julian Ross (Devon Hols), Chris Owen (guarding his grandson), Alan Hart (assignment at Czech music festival)

Leader: Fairman. 

Diarist: Daisy.

Starting point: White Horse pub in Disley.

Starting time: 9.40am. Finishing time: 2.15pm.

Having had the job as diarist thrust up on me as we approached Black Rock which I though was a bit ruff, ruff. Sadly, this account will be defined by its brevity.

We left the White Horse pub car park turning right heading uphill and following road until we reached a path. Passing Higher Disley to our right followed by Lane Ends we eventually turned right and followed the path to the main road whereupon we crossed and took the path to the right hand side of Byron House. 

Following the paths, lanes and roads we climbed our first stiffish climb to Black Rock where the cool breeze was most welcome up on our perspiring bodies. We crossed the A6 at the Disley Masalla Curry shop and picked up the path opposite. This took us down to the Peak Forest canal, which we followed before departing for Hague Bar. Upon reaching Hague Bar we crossed the road to be met by our second stiffish climb up to the Fox Inn arriving at a commendable time of 12:15.

Whilst the Robinsons Unicorn was in fine fettle at £3.35 a pint I saw Graham leaving the bar wide-eyed and open mouthed at the cost of his 50mls of lime cordial topped up with fizzy water at a headline-grabbing price of £2.20. I think this is punishment from the beer gods who love to make an example of people whose choice of drink is that of a big girls blouse…..we’ll say no more about it!

We departed from the Fox Inn turning right and headed down hill. Eventually we reached the peak Forest canal, we followed said canal until reaching the mini swing bridge (or is it a draw bridge?) we crossed the bridge and followed the lane until it eventually emerged at the back of the Dandy Cock. Crossing the road we reached the White Horse at around 2:15. We met up with our B team chums and felt compelled to try another pint of Unicorn, sadly the beer had to be sent back. It was replaced right away.

Next week's walk will start at 9.40am from the Cock at Whalley Bridge where Laurie will lead us over the tops to the Swan at Kettleshulme for a good slaking for 12:10, returning to the Cock at Whalley for a top-up for about 2.15pm.

Happy wandering ! 

Knutsford

July 10, 2019.

KNUTSFORD, TOFT, ULLARD HALL FARM, HUCKNALL FARM, PLUMLEY MOOR, SMITHY GREEN, THE IMAGINATION TREE, THE BELLS OF PEOVER AT LOWER PEOVER, ST OSWALD'S CHURCHYARD AND STEVE KEMP'S HOME IN KNUTSFORD

Distance: 7-8 miles.

Difficulty: Easy.

Weather: Dry and warm, mainly cloudy with some sunshine.

Walkers: Andy Blease, Alastair Cairns, Tom Cunliffe, Colin Davison, Laurie Fairman, Mark Gibby, Alan Hart, Chris Owen, Graham Stone and George Whaites.

Apologies: Mickey Barrett (attending hospital), Peter Beal (narrow-boating), Alan Duckworth (fishing), Hughie Hardiman (Irish hols), Julian Ross (Cornish hols)

Leader: Fairman. Diarist: Hart.

Starting point: Road outside Steve's house at 3, Parkfield Road, Knutsford.

Starting time: 9.49am. Finishing time: 2.17pm.

The joy of seeing our wounded comrade Steve Kemp was somewhat marred by the misfortunes which befell two other Wednesday Wanderers. At the start of the walk we received a late apology from Mickey, who had to attend hospital after a delayed reaction to surgery. Then Mark received a message that his 21-year-old niece had been attacked and injured by a knife-wielding intruder at her student digs in Fallowfield.

These incidents cast a shadow over proceedings but failed to detract from the affection which we felt towards Steve as he awaits further hospitalisation. Our sincere thanks to him and his charming wife for their hospitality.

Laurie devised a new walk for the occasion and we are indebted to him for finding a route past some of the area's loveliest homes in an attractive rural area.

Knutsford is mentioned in the 1086 Domesday Book as Cunetsford (Canute's Ford) following a visit from Canute, who reigned as king of England from 1016-35 and later as king of Denmark, Norway and part of Sweden. According to local tradition he blessed a wedding and forded the River Lily or Birkin Brook. 

From Steve's house at the Macclesfield Road end of Parkfield Road we walked to the other end of the road, crossing a main road to follow a green public footpath sign (2mins). 

To the left of the path was a blue plaque dedicated to Richard Harding Watt (1842-1913) glove merchant and builder who lived here from 1895. His series of unique buildings transformed the townscape of Knutsford.

Incidentally in 2005 Knutsford was named as the most expensive town in northern England to buy a house.

The path brought us to a T-junction where we turned left and had to wait five minutes while a lorry tried to manoeuvre backwards up a narrow drive. We swung right and reached a road at the the end of Croft Lane (13mins) where we turned right to reach a main road. We crossed this and turned left, passing Beggarman Lane on the right before turning right at a green public footpath sign (19mins)

The path took us through two metal kissing gates and an old Dutch barn on our right (27mins). We crossed a farm lane by two more metal kissing gates and went over two wooden stiles (33 and 35mins). Another gate took us through Ullard Hall Farm (39mins) after which we swung left (47mins) and passed Hucknall Farm on our right (51mins)

On reaching a wooden crate on the right of the path, Laurie declared Pietime (65mins) where we also enjoyed port and damson gin distilled and kindly distributed by Chris. We continued along Plumley Moor Lane before turning right at a green public footpath sign (66mins) to enter a field and keep a hedge on our right. Two metal kissing gates enabled us to reach Middlewich Road and turn right (69mins)

At Smithy Green we turned left along Broome Lane (72mins) and found The Imagination Tree on our right, a cleverly-sculpted trunk with doors, windows and a cannon. Beyond it was a wooden carved eagle. At the sign for Free Green Lane on our left we turned right (82mins) and continued ahead where Foxcovert Lane became Mill Lane (88mins)

We turned right into a field at a path marked with a yellow arrow (93mins) and crossed a wooden stile before turning right (98mins). After passing a primary school on our right we reached a crossroads and followed a sign for the Bells of Peover some 50 yards away. Due to the speed of our front-runners we had arrived at the pub at 1150am (108mins) and were obliged to wait outside at trestle tables until we heard the welcome sounds of the door being unbolted at noon. Pints of Dizzy Blonde were enjoyed in the sunshine at £3-85 a pint.

The Bells of Peover was opened as the Warren de Tabley Arms in 1839 and takes its current name from the adjacent Church of St Oswald (where Laurie is a bell-ringer). The church was built in 1269 and has a Norman sandstone tower. 

In the early months of 1944 Generals Eisenhower and Patton made plans for the Normandy Invasion (Operation Overlord) during lunch at The Bells of Peover.

We left the pub and walked through the churchyard and then headed to the right of a row of cottages along Church Walk. A bridge took us over a river called Peover Eye. We exited Barrons Brow and turned left (113mins). At the end of Free Green Lane we turned right (116mins) passing Smithy Green on our left. To the right a farm fence had been used as an artistic display for models of humans and animals.

After passing a house called Glengarry on our left we turned left through a metal kissing gate (122mins) into a field. We exited by another metal kissing gate and a wooden stile (126mins) before dog-legging left and right into another field. The path brought us to a wooden footbridge(133mins), where Laurie's pole got caught in a hole and brought him to his knees (not for the first time in his life !) Happily he avoided injury.

After the bridge we turned right into a field, keeping a row of trees on our right. We crossed two wooden stiles (142 and 145mins) following a green public footpath sign and finding ourselves retracing our footsteps of the morning. After passing through a wooden gate by the side of a wooden stile (150mins) we stopped for lunch.

Resuming the walk we followed a Footpath sign and a pair of metal kissing gates to return to the main road and turn left (165mins). We turned right into Leycester Road and left into Croft Lane (170mins) before turning right up an enclosed path (174mins) which emerged opposite Parkfield Road. We reached the cars (178mins), de-booted and enjoyed the food and drink kindly laid on by Steve and his wife.

Next week's walk will start at 9.40am from the car park of The White Horse at Disley, where we have the permission to park from landlady Amy. The walk will head up to Bollinhurst Reservoir, through Millenium Wood, up to Black Rock, down to cross the A6 and reach The Peak Forest Canal, before heading up Hague Bar to The Fox at Brook Bottom around 12.10pm. We intend to return via Strines Station and the canal to return to The White Horse for further refreshment at about 2.15pm.

Happy wandering !

 (l to r): Chris Owen, Laurie Fairman, Tom Cunliffe, Colin Davison, Steve Kemp, Alastair Cairns, Graham Stone.

Imagination Tree

Danebridge

DANEBRIDGE, WINCLE GRANGE, HAWKSLEE, LOWER MINNEND, CHURNET VALLEY RAILWAY LINE (DISUSED), RUSHTON SPENCER, THE ROYAL OAK AT RYECROFT GATE, HEATON, HEATON LOW, DANE VALLEY, BEARDA  AND WINCLE BREWERY

Distance: 8miles

Difficulty: Easy

Weather: Warm and sunny

Walkers: Andy Blease, Tom Cunliffe with Daisy, Colin Davison, Lawrie Fairman, Mark Gibby, Alan Hart, Chris Owen, Graham Stone and George Whaites.

Apologies: Peter Beal (narrow-boating), Alastair Cairns (celebrating his mother's 98th birthday), George Dearsley (in Turkey), Hughie Hardiman (Irish hols), Jock Rooney (Isle of Man), Julian Ross (Cornish hols)

Leader: Owen. Diarist: Hart.

Starting point: Road next to Danebridge, Wincle, near Macclesfield.

Starting time: 9.50am. Finishing time: 2.12pm.

Shorts, shades and suntan lotion were the order of the day as we basked in warm summer sunshine on a beautiful walk through the area's most picturesque countryside. We were happy to welcome Colin and Lawrie back to the fold as they finished their enforced convalescence. Tom also returned after a lengthy absence due to an operation on his thumb which prevented him from walking (He couldn't manage a firm grip on his pole, since you ask).

We were also joined for a second walk by Graham, who had clearly recovered from the trauma of last week's plunge into the River Wye. We appointed Mark as his carer when we reached the River Dane for the last leg of our journey.

Chris curbed his natural speed to enable us to keep his fluorescent lime green jersey in view as he led us impeccably and on time. His leader's badge must soon be on its way.

From Danebridge we headed uphill passing The Ship Inn on our right before turning left over a wooden stile by a footpath sign (3mins). We walked diagonally right through a field before exiting by a wooden stile and heading left up a lane (6mins)

This took us through a farmyard (22mins), over a wooden stile (27mins) and through a tall gate (32mins) which made us wonder about the size of the sheep. We turned right along a path and left at a sign for The Gritstone Trail (35mins). Another high kissing gate (45mins) was followed by a metal kissing gate (56mins) before we paused for Pietime at Hawkslee Farm (65mins) by the side of a sign offering “owls for sale.” Before any RSPB members spring into action I should point out that these were of the carved wooden variety.

Continuing we left the Gritstone Trail and turned left and through a farmyard (66mins) before turning left at a green footpath sign (72mins). This took us through a field of knee-high grass to the main A523 Macclesfield-Leek road, which we crossed and turned left (78mins)

We passed Highbridge Farm on our left (80mins) and crossed a bridge to enter Staffordshire (83mins). It was at this stage that Colin decided he could no longer continue and took his own route back to Danebridge. Whether he was afraid to leave Cheshire is unclear.

The remaining eight continued to a wooden public footpath sign on our right (85mins) which we followed along a path under a railway bridge. On the farsiide of the bridge we turned left over a wooden stile and up a flight of steps to reach the disused Churnet Valley Railway Line (87mins)

This was opened in 1846 after the merging of The Staffordshire Potteries Railway, The Churnet Valley Railway and The Trent Valley Railway to form the North Staffordshire Railway a year earlier. It linked Macclesfield with Norton Bridge, near Stafford, and provided a vital rail link from The Potteries to Birmingham and London. It was known affectionately as “The Knotty.” The line closed in stages between 1964 and 1988, although the North Staffordshire Railway Society has reopened part of the line and four stations at Cheddleton, Corsall, Kingsly and Froghall to run steam trains for enthusiasts.

We turned right along the disused line, reaching The Knot Inn at 12 o'clock sharp (100mins) only to find the Knot Inn was not open. A sign informed us it was scheduled to reopen on July 12. Chris had anticipated this potential disappointment so we followed a path to the right of the pub along what was once the railway line to Rudyard Lake. After walking under a bridge (104mins) we turned left up the bank following a sign for The Royal Oak.

We crossed a wooden stile to rejoin the A523 and diagonally to the right was the pub (111mins) selling Black Sheep cask bitter. We drank in the sunny beer garden at the rear of The Royal Oak under the welcome shelter of giant parasols. 

Suitably refreshed we followed a lane to the right of the pub heading uphill through Heaton. We forked left (120mins) off the road downhill before pausing for lunch (129mins). Continuing we reached a footbridge overlooking a waterfall on the River Dane (131mins).

With Mark now keeping a careful watch on Graham we went through a metal kissing gate with the river on our right (167mins). We emerged at a trout farm (169mins) where Tom and Chris bought their dinner. Most of us continued to The Wincle Brewery, which had been holding a beer festival, and three of us enjoyed the last three pints of cask bitter available, Sir Philip, at £3-20.

Next week's walk will start at 9.30am from the car park of The White Horse at Disley, where we have been given permission to park. We will head towards, but not into, Lyme Park, heading through Millenium Wood to Black Rocks before descending to cross the A6 and reach the Peak Forest Canal. From there we plan to head up through Hague Bar to The Fox at Brook Bottom for a livener around 12.15pm before returning via Strines to The White Horse for further refreshment at about 2.15pm. We are hopeful that our colleagues from the B team will join us at some stage.

Happy wandering !