Old Glossop

October 30, 2019.

THE WHEATSHEAF AT OLD GLOSSOP, BLACKSHAW CLOUGH, CLOUGH EDGE, TORSIDE RESERVOIR, RHODESWOOD RESERVOIR, VALEHOUSE RESERVOIR, BOTTOMS RESERVOIR, THE ANCHOR AT HADFIELD, PADFIELD, BLACKSHAW FARM, SWINESHAW RESERVOIR AND THE QUEENS AT OLD GLOSSOP

Distance: 10 miles.

Difficulty: Moderate with steady climb and tricky descent.

Weather: Dry with blue skies and sunshine.

Walkers: Micky Barrett, Andy Blease, Tom Cunliffe with Daisy, Mark Gibby, Alan Hart, Chris Owen, Jock Rooney with Tip, Julian Ross, Dean Taylor, Graham Stone, George Whaites.

Apologies: Alastair Cairns (in Keswick), George Dearsley (in Turkey), Lawrie Fairman (attending funeral), Hughie Hardiman (filial duties)

Leader: Cunliffe. Diarist: Hart.

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

Starting time: 9.55am. Finishing time: 2.53pm.

A crisp sunny morning greeted a turnout of 11 walkers, including debutant Dean Taylor, for this challenging route. Dean, a former customer of The Lantern Pike Inn at Little Hayfield where our leader Tom was landlord for 10 years, is a regular hiker but he found the going tough as we climbed steadily uphill for the first hour.

He then gained a second wind as we started the long and tricky descent down Clough Edge which afforded magnificent views of the reservoirs in the Longdendale Valley.

En route we passed a farm which keeps a variety of exotic birds including what appeared to be an emu. On the wildlife front we also spotted two amorous pigs who looked as though they were auditioning for a porcine porn movie (see photos)

We also enjoyed a bonus at our first watering hole, The Anchor at Hadfield, where not only was the Tetleys' cask bitter in excellent form, but the landlady provided free food for us.

From the car park we turned right and then headed immediately left up Blackshaw Street, going under an arch in the middle of an apartment block. On the far side we turned left and followed a public footpath sign.

The path took us past a pond on our right to a farm where there were free-ranging peacocks and peahens, turkeys and some flightless birds which may have been emus from Australia or rheas from South America but were definitely not indigenous to Glossop. To the left of this farm was an impressive waterfall.

We proceeded uphill, passing through a distinctive “roundabout” gate (15mins) before turning left through a seven-barred metal gate to enter a field (16mins). This took us to the left of a farm before the path swung right. As we continued to climb we looked down on Swineshaw Reservoir to our right.

We went through a seven-barred metal gate (52mins) to reach the summit. The land then levelled off and the path brought us to a roofless ruined building where we paused for pies and port (65mins). Continuing we started to head downhill until we reached Clough Edge (69mins). From here there were spectacular views of the row of reservoirs below which skirt the A628 as it crosses The Pennines.

The rocky path is not for the faint-hearted with the added frisson of danger knowing that a slip could send you plunging to eternity. It led to a path marked Pennine Way (103mins). As we waited for two careful comrades to catch up, Graham wandered over to a nearby farm to examine a pair of pigs. We do not know what Graham said to them but they started to copulate with the male apparently smiling at the camera as if to say “Ready for my close-up now Mr Attenborough.”

Following the Pennine Way sign (113mins) we reached the B6105 road (121mins) which we crossed and turned left along a trail towards Hadfield which was a disused railway line.

The Longdendale Trail follows the former Woodhead railway line between Manchester and Sheffield which closed east of Hadfield in 1981. The trail opened in 1992 and forms part of the Trans Pennine Trail which runs from Liverpool to Hull from the Irish Sea to the North Sea. This in turn is part of the 2,900 mile European long-distance path from Cork to Istanbul.

We followed the path westwards, reaching a car park (171mins) on the outskirts of Hadfield. Turning right we passed Malvern Rise on our right before turning left up Railway Street opposite The Palatine pub (173mins). At crossroads we turned right and reached The Anchor on our left (176mins)

We expected to find Colin waiting there for us, but he had decided to cycle along the trail to intercept us. Somehow, like Baldrick, his cunning plan failed and we never saw him all day. As a born-again non-drinker Colin, like other converts in our company, missed out on the exceptional Tetley's cask bitter for £3-17 a pint. The platter of pork and stuffing barm cakes might have been more enjoyable if we hadn't witnessed the next generation of pigs being conceived at the farm earlier.

We retraced our footsteps back through Hadfield, this time passing the car park on our left and swinging right under a railway bridge and left into Platt Street (183mins). We entered Padfield (184mins) and just before Platt Street became Redgate we turned left (192mins)

We ignored the first public footpath sign on our right and passed some cottages before turning right at a green footpath sign (195mins). We crossed a wooden stile and followed a sign for Swineshaw (201mins). The path went through a farmyard to a road (214mins) where we turned right and after 50 yards turned left at a stone step stile to enter a field.

After another 50 yards we stopped at some convenient posts and rocks for lunch (216mins) where we were joined by a pair of hungry horses which clearly wanted to share our food. We carried on to the reservoir (219mins) and followed the path along its bank before crossing a footbridge and descending a flight of flagged steps. The path then passed the waterfall we had seen earlier and brought us back to the farm of exotic birds (228mins).

We turned right and retraced our footsteps again to walk down Blackshaw Street to reach our cars (236mins) to de-boot and drive to The Queens pub nearby.

Next week's walk will start at 9.50am from the free car park on the road to Upper Booth, near Edale. To reach this you can take the A625 from Chapel-en-le-Frith towards Castleton, turning left at the sign for Barber Booth. Just before reaching Barber Booth on the road to Edale you turn left at a sign for Upper Booth, go under a railway viaduct and the car park is on your left. 

Peter, who is leading the walk and celebrating his birthday, will take us along a route which aims to reach The Olde Nags Head at Edale around 12.30pm, returning to our cars at about 2.15pm. From there we will drive to The Fickle Mermaid on the A6 at Chapel for further refreshment.

Happy wandering !  

Longnor

October 23, 2019.

LONGNOR, CROWDECOTE, BRIDGE END FARM, PARSLEY HAY, DARLEY FARM, HIGH PEAK TRAIL, HURDLOW CAR PARK, THE ROYAL OAK AT SPARKLOW, HURDLOW HALL FARM, ABBOTS GROVE, ALDERLEY CLIFF, CROWDECOTE AND THE CHESHIRE CHEESE AT LONGNOR

Distance: 11 miles.

Difficulty: Easy.

Weather: Dry with early mist giving way to sunshine.

Walkers: Micky Barrett, Andy Blease, Peter Beal, Tom Cunliffe with Daisy, Lawrie Fairman, Mark Gibby, Hughie Hardiman with Coco, Alan Hart, Chris Owen, Jock Rooney with Tip, and Graham Stone.

Apologies: George Dearsley (in Turkey), Alastair Cairns (forgot boots), Julian Ross (w*^king)

Leader: Rooney. Diarist: Hart.

Starting point: Main cobbled square in Longnor, Staffs.

Starting time: 9.57am. Finishing time: 3.15pm.

It is my sad duty to inform you that the day after this walk took place one of our long-suffering comrades lost his brave battle against cancer. Stevie Kemp only joined the Wednesday Wanderers some seven years ago but his cheerful disposition brightened our days and it was a pleasure to have known him.

Although he was unable to join us for walks in recent times, I know he took a keen interest in our perambulations and had fond memories of his times with us. We shall raise a glass to him next week.

On a cheerier note another wanderer, Andy, announced the birth of his first grandchild and we welcomed the return of three long-term absentees - Tom from his prolonged safari through the Iberian peninsula; Micky from his lengthy sailing holiday off the coast of Turkey; and Lawrie from his journey to the other side of the world where he visited relatives in New Zealand.

We set off in misty conditions and were unable to fully enjoy the spectacular scenery of the hills and dales in the Dove Valley where we criss-crossed the Staffordshire-Derbyshire border. When the sun finally forced its way through after lunch we saw some of what we had missed because of mist !

From the main cobbled square in Longnor we turned left, passing our ultimate destination, The Cheshire Cheese, on our left as we exited the village. By crossing the River Dove (16mins) we left Staffordshire for Derbyshire and entered Crowdecote. Just before we reached The Pack Horse Inn we turned right at a green public footpath sign and turned right again at Bridge End Farm (19mins)

Our journey then took us through a series of metal and wooden gates through fields until we reached a wooden public footpath sign towards Hartington and Parsley Hay (60mins). Here we stopped for pies, port and humbugs from Chris.

Continuing, we crossed a stile to follow the signpost, crossing a series of stone step stiles until we reached a road (89mins). We crossed this to enter a farmyard and carried on following a sign for Parsley Hay. The well-trodden paths over fields took us through gates and over stiles to another road (101mins) which we crossed and followed a wooden public footpath sign through Darley Farm. After crossing more fields we went up a flight of steps to reach a lane where we turned left (109mins).

This was a section of the High Peak Trail, a 17-mile stretch of the former Cromford and High Peak railway line, completed in 1831, which was once used to carry minerals and goods from the Cromford Canal Wharf to the start of the Peak Forest Canal at Whaley Bridge Basin. The line closed between 1963-7 under the Beeching Axe. 

In 1971 the Peak Park Planning Board and Derbyshire County Council bough most of the trackbed. In partnership with The Countryside Commission they adapted it for leisure use by hikers, cyclists and horse riders. At nearby Parsley Hay it is joined by the 13-mile Tissington Trail, which was formerly the branch line to Ashbourne. The High Peak Trail and part of the Tissington Trail are designated as a section of the 130-mile Pennine Bridleway.

We followed the trail, passing a wooden public footpath sign for Hurdlow (133mins) and reached Hurdlow car park (140mins). By taking a left fork we reached a main road with the Royal Oak at Sparklow on the opposite side (143mins)

Here Andy kindly bought a round of drinks to celebrate the birth of his granddaughter and we toasted six-day-old Juliana Blease with a mixture of pints of excellent Doombar, limes and soda and tea. We wish her a long and happy life and send our congratulations to proud parents John and Jenny.

Suitably refreshed we exited the pub, turning right and right again downhill, eventually passing Hurdlow Hall Farm on our right (160mins). We stopped at a sign for a Public Bridleway on our right for lunch (171mins). We followed the bridleway for a short distance before going left over a stone step stile (173mins) into a field. We then used three wooden kissing gates to enter and leave fields before wading through ankle-deep mud to reach and leave a copse of trees (181mins)

After going through a wooden kissing gate we turned right along a well-trodden path through a field  where we were charged repeatedly by an angry cow. We turned her away but she somehow summoned reinforcements from the sisterhood's bovine branch. By the time we left the field by a wooden kissing gate seven or eight other cows had joined the ringleader in a show of solidarity.

As we walked through the next field the mist-shrouded but distinctive shapes of Parkhouse Hill, Chrome Hill and Axe Edge could be seen in the distance ahead.

We reached a lane via a wooden gate, crossed it to go over a stone step stile marked with a yellow arrow (194mins) and reached another lane where we turned left (199mins). This took us past Abbots Grove on our left and Alderley Cliff on our right. The lane brought us back into Crowdecote (216mins), passing The Pack Horse Inn on our left (218mins) before swinging right across the Dove back into Staffordshire (219mins). A steady climb brought us to Longnor and The Cheshire Cheese on our right for pints of  Robbies' Unicorn bitter (234mins)

Next week's walk will start at 9.50am from the car park on waste land opposite The Wheatsheaf pub in Old Glossop. Tom will lead us to The Anchor in Hadfield for a bracer around 12.15pm and we aim to return and de-boot at about 2.20pm before further refreshment round the corner at The Queens.

Happy wandering !  

Poynton

October 16, 2019.

POYNTON SPORTS CLUB, PRINCES INCLINE, MACCLESFIELD CANAL, BOLLINHURST BROOK, LYME PARK, PLATTWOOD FARM, HILLTOP BUNGALOW, VICTORIA PIT MOORINGS, THE BOAR'S HEAD AT HIGHER POYNTON, ANSON ROAD, DAVENPORT GOLF COURSE, HOCKLEY, LADY'S INCLINE

Distance: 8miles

Difficulty: Easy.

Weather: Early brief drizzle and cloud followed by blue skies and sunshine.

Walkers: Andy Blease, Alastair Cairns with Daisy, Mark Gibby, Alan Hart, Chris Owen, Jock Rooney with Tip, Graham Stone, George Whaites and Barry Williams.

Non-walking drinkers: Tony Job, Ken Sparrow and Geoff Spurrell

Apologies: Mickey Barrett (unhappy with weather forecast), Peter Beal (prior engagement), Tom Cunliffe (returning from Portugal), George Dearsley (in Turkey), Lawrie Fairman (New Zealand hols), Hughie Hardiman  (filial duties),L Julian Ross (w*^king)

Leader: Hart. Diarist: Hart.

Starting point: Poynton Sports Club car park.

Starting time: 9.52am. Finishing time: 1.55pm.

A damp, cloudy start soon gave way to dry weather which grew increasingly brighter as we and the day progressed. We finished the walk in blue skies and sunshine and then proceeded to celebrate your diarist's forthcoming birthday with a meal at Poynton Sport Club. The ranks of A teamers were swollen by the inclusion of Barry, making his debut after discovering that none of his usual B team chums would be able to accompany him.

Barry is clearly more than capable of matching our pace and distance but has intimated that he prefers a more sedate stroll with his less energetic pals. He also complained that we had ignored a road and taken a route through a soggy field. (That is why we wear boots, Barry)

Macclesfield canal

Pie time

From the club we turned right along the main road and right again into Woodside Close, where we chose the left fork to head up Princes Incline (6mins). The light drizzle at the start of the walk now disappeared for the day. We crossed Towers Road (14mins) and continued along the path which took us across a lane (22mins)

With Davenport Golf Course on our right we continued and crossed Middlewood Road (31mins), passing Prince Studio, the home of late Wednesday Wanderer and noted landscape artist Ian Price, on our left before crossing a bridge over The Middlewood Way.

The Middlewood Way is an 11-mile “linear park” between Macclesfield and Rose Hill, Marple, which was opened in 1985 by Dr David Bellamy, the environmentalist and TV personality. It follows the route of the former Macclesfield, Bollington and Marple railway which operated between 1869 and 1970.

The path straight ahead brought us to the Macclesfield Canal, where we turned left (41mins). On reaching Bridge 13 (47mins) we turned left, then swung left over the bridge and immediately left again to reach the right bank of the canal with the waterway now on our left. As we did we passed a World War 2 pillbox which has been systematically decorated over the years to create a colourful display (see photo).

We soon turned right at a green public footpath sign for Lyme Park via Bollinhurst Brook (50mins). The path brought us down to a footbridge over the brook and across a wooden stile marked with a yellow arrow to enter a field (55mins). We crossed another wooden footbridge (58mins), and passed a derelict cottage (see photo) before crossing a  ladder stile, a lane and a wooden stile to cross the Manchester to Buxton railway line (62mins)

Another wooden footbridge and two metal kissing gates took the route under the railway line and we followed a yellow arrow left through a field (75mins). After crossing a ladder stile on our right (78mins) we followed a path for 100 yards until we reached a cottage on our right where some rocks afforded us seats for Pietime (83mins)

Fortified by port (see photo) we turned sharp right round the cottage, crossing a bridge over the brook and a cattle-grid to exit Lyme Park and turn left (90mins), leaving the road to cross a large meadow of wet grass described by Barry as a “paddy field.” What sheltered, pampered lives the B-teamers must lead !

After crossing a wooden stile marked with a yellow arrow we reached the right corner of the next field, turning right and crossing a cattle-grid (108mins). We carried straight on through Plattwood Farm (111mins) passing a wood on our right and then swinging left to go along the right of way through a house garden, exiting by a wooden stile marked with a yellow arrow. We turned left and then right after crossing the next wooden stile (119mins) and heading uphill.

After going through two metal kissing gates we passed Hilltop Bungalow on our left (123mins) and crossed a cattle-grid (127mins), turning right to pass Victoria Pit Moorings on our right (128mins). The lane now took us over a bridge to the far side of the Macclesfield Canal where we swung right past Vernon Mount  then left down the road. Passing The Nelson Pit Museum on our right we crossed the road bridge over The Middlewood Way to arrive at The Boar's Head in Higher Poynton (132mins). Here we enjoyed pints of Wainwright for £3-80 and an assortment of soft drinks before leaving by turning left out of the pub and immediately left down Anson Road. This took us past the entrance to The Anson Engine Museum on our right and down to Middlewood Road (144mins)

After crossing the road we headed uphill along a lane dividing Davenport Golf Course. We turned left at a public footpath across the fairway. On the far side we exited the course by a metal kissing gate and climbed uphill, turning right at the top. The path took us down through a metal gate to the Hockley end of Towers Road.(151mins) We crossed to start our descent to Poynton down Lady's Incline, reaching Woodside Close (165mins) where we turned left and retraced our footsteps back to the club to de-boot (179mins)

Here we were soon joined by three non-walking drinkers who had declared themselves hors de combat because of a variety of ailments. Their stoicism in managing to drink Wainwright's cask bitter at £2-95 a pint despite infirmity was an example to us all.

Next week's walk will start at 9.55am from the main cobbled square area in Longnor, on the Derbyshire-Staffordshire border south-east of Buxton. Under the leadership of Jock, aided by Tip, we will aim to reach The Pack Horse at Crowdecote around 12.30pm for a tincture before returning to The Cheshire Cheese at Longnor around 2.15pm for further refreshment.

Happy wandering ! 

Whaley Bridge

October 9, 2019.

WHALEY BRIDGE CANAL BASIN, TODD BROOK RESERVOIR, TAXAL BEECHES, TAXAL NICK, WINDGATHER ROCKS, ERRWOOD RESERVOIR, FERNILEE RESERVOIR, THE SHADY OAK AT FERNILEE, FOLDS LANE FARM, GOYT VALLEY, MEVRIL ROAD, CROMFORD AND HIGH PEAK RAILWAY (DISUSED)

Distance: 10+ miles.

Difficulty: Moderate.

Weather: Blue skies, sunshine, cloud and one brief shower.

Walkers: Andy Blease, Alastair Cairns, Mark Gibby, Hughie Hardiman, Alan Hart, John Jones, Chris Owen, Julian Ross, Graham Stone and George Whaites.

Apologies: Mickey Barrett (yachting in Turkey), Peter Beal (Greek island hopping), Tom Cunliffe (Portuguese hols), George Dearsley (in Turkey), Lawrie Fairman (New Zealand hols)

Leader: Hart. Diarist: Hart.

Starting point: Tom Brad's Croft free car park next to Whaley Bridge Canal Basin.

Starting time: 9.40am. Finishing time: 3.02pm.

Sadly this walk will be remembered as the day when Alastair received a call telling him his mother had passed away. Although she was 98 years old and enjoyed a happy life, it was clearly a blow to our dear pal Alastair and our sympathy and condolences go out to him and his family.

We had been blessed with unexpectedly good weather, despite forecasts of prolonged showers, and our early climb to Windgather Rocks was rewarded with excellent views of the picturesque countryside which surrounded us. We also had an opportunity to examine the damage to the dam at Todd Brook Reservoir which had dominated the national news headlines in August.

At the first watering hole we were awaited by John Jones, who has been missing for several weeks as he has been suffering from what appear to be pancreatic problems. He joined us for the last leg of our journey and we wish him a speedy recovery.

From the back of the car park we headed uphill to cross the main road opposite The Jodrell Arms, then turned left and right to go up Reservoir Road. After walking under a railway bridge which serves the Manchester-Buxton line we took the second public footpath sign on our left to enter Whaley Bridge Memorial Park.

Ahead of us was the damaged dam which had caused much of Whaley Bridge to be evacuated for three weeks while RAF helicopters dropped reinforcing rocks and pipes drained the overfull reservoir into the nearby River Goyt. The best way to describe these repairs would be unsophisticated.

We turned left to pass the dam on our right and entered the memorial park itself before taking a path on our right which brought us to the far side of the dam wall. Here there was a huge fenced-off section of land, with machinery, huts, tools and everything apart from a workforce. We skirted the area of inactivity by going to the right of a football pitch and behind some tennis courts to find the footpath and turn left (19mins)

At the end of the path we turned left past a row of cottages and then went left through a wooden gate marked with a yellow arrow (20mins) to enter an estate of mock Tudor houses. We went along Reddish Avenue (22mins) and entered a cul de sac. Just before it ended we eventually found a path on our left which brought us to a road (28mins)

We crossed it, turned right and then headed left up a rough road next to a bend warning sign (29mins). This brought us to a wooden stile and a sign marked Taxal Beeches (30mins). After crossing a stone step stile (36mins) we turned sharp right uphill along an undefined path. This took us to a wooden public footpath sign (38mins) where we turned left and then swung right past an electricity sub-station to reach the ridge above Taxal (41mins)

From here we had a largely flat walk with a commanding view of Whaley Bridge back to our left. We reached a depression known as Taxal Nick (57mins). Just beyond it was a wrought iron gate which we went through and reached two metal gates in quick succession through which we dog-legged left and right to continue with woods on our left (65mins)

We climbed uphill through a field to reach Windgather Rocks (75mins) to pause for breath and photographs. A left turn brought us to a natural sheep pen on our right (83mins) where we stopped for pies and port. 

Our nine-strong party split into different groups at this stage as first two of our number immediately joined the road and turned left. Your leader and diarist continued along the path from Windgather and followed the footpath which ran parallel with the road while others chose the road route.

Before reaching Pym Chair car park we took a footpath which forked left (104mins) and cut off a corner to join the road going downhill to the reservoirs (110mins). Here again some wanderers chose the footpath and some the road which ran parallel to it.

The main party reached the bridge separating Errwood Reservoir on the right with Fernilee Reservoir on the left (141mins).

The former was completed in 1967 and the latter in 1938 to provide water for the growing population of Stockport. The Corporation had bought the Grimshawe Estate, including Errwood Hall, which fell into ruin. During the building of the reservoirs, hundreds of navvies flocked to the area, living in “tin towns”. These were built temporarily out of corrugated iron and usually included a licensed canteen to to stop the workforce from visiting nearby pubs. The navvies were known as heavy-drinking, foul-mouthed, uncouth womanisers, or “guys” as they are called today. 

We crossed the bridge and turned left to walk with Fernilee on our left (144mins). We later discovered that Chris and George had turned left  before the bridge to take a path on the left bank

When the missing duo failed to appear, three of us walked back up to the bridge to seek them. Meanwhile Alastair heard the sad news about his mother.

At the far end of the reservoir the nine of us were reunited (181mins) and swung right along a road leading to the main road (191mins). Turning left we reached The Shady Oak on the right (196mins), where JJ had arrived by bus from his new home in Buxton.

Alastair departed immediately taking his passengers Andy and Julian with him. Those of us who remained were not impressed with the pint-pulling prowess of the new barmaid, nor the disappearance of the Marston's bitter in favour of Jennings. The disappointment was mitigated by the unexpected arrival of two large bowls of chunky chips provided by the landlord.

Resuming our journey we crossed the main road immediately opposite the front door and headed downhill towards Fold Lane Farm, passing the stables on our right and crossing a field to reached a wooden stile which we crossed and paused for lunch (208mins)

We continued downhill to the River Goyt, turning right (213mins) and going through two wooden gates along a path which brought us back to the main road (237mins). We crossed it into Mevril Road and headed uphill to a children's playground, on the far side of which was a footpath (240mins). This took us to the disused Cromford and High Peak railway line (245mins), where we turned left. When the path ended we turned left across a stream to reach the main road and turned right, passing The Cock on our left (250mins).

After going under a rail bridge we turned right to return to the disused railway line and turned left,

going back over The Goyt to reach our cars (257mins)

Next week's walk will end with  lunch and a pint at Poynton Sports Club to celebrate your diarist's 74th birthday. We will start from the club at 9.30am and head over the Macclesfield Canal into Lyme Park before calling for a livener at The Boar's Head, Higher Poynton, at about 12.30pm. We expect to be back at the club for chilli, chips and rice around 2.30pm, where we hope our chums from the B team will join us.

Happy wandering !   

 . 

Repair work on the dam at Todd Brook Reservoir 

View from Windgathers Rocks

Errwood reservoir 

Fernilee reservoir

Sutton

October 2, 2019.

SUTTON HALL, COP MEADOW, BISHOP'S CLOUGH, SUTTON RESERVOIR, MACCLESFIELD CANAL, BOSLEY LOCKS, RODE HALL, RODE GREEN, HARRINGTON ARMS AT GAWSWORTH, GAWSWORTH PARISH CHURCH, DANES MOSS NATURE RESERVE, MACCLESFIELD CANAL AND SUTTON HALL

Distance: 10-11 miles.

Difficulty: Easy.

Weather: Blue skies and sunshine.

Walkers: Andy Blease, Mark Gibby, Alan Hart, Chris Owen, Julian Ross and Graham Stone.

Apologies: Mickey Barrett (Turkish hols), Peter Beal (Greek islands), Alastair Cairns (late return from London), Tom Cunliffe (Portugal hols), George Dearsley (in Turkey), Laurie Fairman (New Zealand hols), Hughie Hardiman (filial duties), John Jones (medical tests), Jock Rooney (hols)

Leader: Owen. Diarist: Hart.

Starting point: Car park at Sutton Hall, Macclesfield.

Starting time: 9.35am. Finishing time: 2.32pm.

Although the weather was beautiful after several days of heavy rain with the promise of more to come, it was pointed out that two of our wanderers were wearing gloves, This harbinger of winter does not normally occur until late November at the earliest and I won't embarrass the culprits by naming them. No doubt Andy and Mark had good reasons for their attire.

Chris set a brisk pace on the outward journey of this predominantly flat walk so we were able to cover a greater distance than normal in the same timespan. We also had the added bonus of being able to sit outside enjoying the sunshine at both watering holes.

From our cars we returned up the drive to the entrance to Sutton Hall's grounds and turned left along the road before going left over a wooden stile marked with a green footpath sign (7mins) to enter a field. We crossed the field, exiting by a wooden stile (13mins) and turned left along a road. Just beyond a bus stop we turned right (16mins) into a road called Cop Meadow.

At the end of the road we entered a field by a green footpath sign indicating Bishop's Clough (18mins). We went through a kissing gate marked with a yellow arrow (23mins) then dog-legged left and right to cross a bridge and walk with a stream on our right (25mins). After passing through a metal kissing gate (27mins) we crossed a road and followed a path to the left of Sutton Reservoir, known locally as Turks Head Ressie. At its end we turned right then swung sharp left down an embankment (39mins)

This brought us through a metal kissing gate to cross a main road (42mins) and go over a wooden footbridge, numbered 48a, to the far side of the Macclesfield Canal (44mins). With the waterway on our left we then proceeded under five more bridges until we reached the start of Bosley Locks at Bridge 54 (84mins) where we paused for pies and port.

Macclesfield Canal was designed by Thomas Telford and opened in 1831. It is 26 miles long running from its junction with The Peak Forest Canal at Marple in the north through Macclesfield and Congleton to its junction with the Hall Green branch of The Trent and Mersey Canal in the south. Commercial barges continued until 1954, after which the North Cheshire Cruising Club successfully lobbied for it to remain open for pleasure boats. The canal became part of the Cheshire Ring in 1965. Bosley is the site of a single flight of 12 locks which alter the water level by 118 feet.

After Pietime we left the canal, but not before Julian had posed a pertinent question about the need for a lock on a bin provided for dog poop. Answers on a postcard please.

Next to the lock was a road where we turned right and crossed a bridge over the main railway line from Manchester to London and into Park Road before continuing straight ahead on to a lane (90mins). This took us past a lake on our right with Rode Hall behind it in the distance (99mins)

Rode Hall was bought from the Rode family in 1669 by the Baker Wilbrahams. The medieval manor house was replaced between 1700 and 1708 by a brick building. A second building was added in 1752 and the two were joined in 1800 to form the present Rode Hall. Its current owners are Sir Richard Baker Wilbraham, the eighth baronet, and his wife Lady Anne. The hall and gardens are open to the public from April till September.

We crossed a cattlegrid and turned immediately left (101mins) through trees in a field where several placid bulls gazed at our group. We had to trudge through mud to reach a concrete lane where we turned right (105mins) with bulls on either side of us showing little interest in our presence. The lane took us through a farmyard (112mins) and over a series of three wooden stiles.

When we reached a road we turned right (118mins), passing Rode Green Cottage on our left. At a T-junction we crossed the major road and went through a metal gate (121mins). Our route then took us through gates and over stiles until we reached a lake surrounded by anglers. Here we turned left (136mins)

Proceeding uphill away from the fishermen we went through a metal kissing gate and aimed for the distinctive tower of Gawsworth's magnificent parish church. The path took us to a lane some 50 yards to the left of the church (146mins). We turned left and reached The Harrington Arms on our right (148mins).

By now the sun was shining brightly and we sat around trestle tables outside the front door, drinking everything from pints of Dizzy Blonde at £3-50 to cups of tea and glasses of lime and soda. It being the first Wednesday of the month, the pub was crowded with cyclists. Suitably refreshed in different ways we retraced our footsteps up the lane and passed the church on our right.

St James' Church, Gawsworth, is a Grade 1 listed building. There has been a chapel on the site since the 13th Century. The present building dates from the 15th Century with its nave built in 1430 and the tower and chancel 40 years later. Nearby Gawsworth Hall was the home of the Fitton family, and there are four tombs inside the church containing the bodies of Fittons who died between 1608 and 1643.

Beyond the church on our left was a statue of Sir Robert Peel, the MP who created the forerunners to our modern police force. Their nicknames of “bobbies” and “peelers” survive to this day.

We turned right at a green public footpath sign (155mins) and went through two metal kissing gates (158 and 165mins) to reach a road. Turning left we arrived at a wooden public footpath sign on our right with a sign towards Danes Moss Nature Reserve (177mins). At another sign for the reserve we paused for lunch (181mins)

Continuing our journey we reached the Manchester to London  railway line and crossed it by a footbridge (190mins). The path then led us to the left bank of The Macclesfield Canal at Bridge 47 where we turned left with the canal on our right (194mins). We left the canal at Bridge 44 (210mins) and crossed the bridge before turning left into the grounds of Sutton Hall to reach our cars (214mins). After-de-booting we enjoyed further refreshment in the hall's sunny garden.

Next week's walk of just over eight miles will start at 9.35am from the free car park at Tom Brad's Croft next to Whaley Bridge Basin. We intend to inspect the recent damage to the dam at Todd Brook Reservoir before a steady ascent to the ridge above Taxal, heading past Taxal Nick to Windgather Rocks. We will then descend to Fernilee Reservoir and call at The Shady Oak, Fernilee, for a bracer about 12.20pm before walking along The Goyt Valley back to Whaley Bridge. If it is open we will have our final libation at The Navigation at around 2.20pm having considered other alternatives on the way back to our cars.

Happy wandering !