Alport

January 29, 2020

ALPORT, STANTON ON PEAK, THE FLYING CHILDERS, STANTON MOOR, THE NINE LADIES STONE CIRCLE, BIRCHOVER, ROWTOR ROCKS AND THE HERMIT'S CAVE, ROCKING STONE COTTAGE, THE LIMESTONE WAY, CRATCLIFFE TOR, ROBIN HOOD'S STRIDE, THE GEORGE AT YOULGREAVE

Distance: 9 miles.

Difficulty: Moderate.

Weather: Sunny start, cloudy later but dry with good visibility.

Walkers: Micky Barrett, Mark Gibby, Hughie Hardiman, Alan Hart, Chris Owen, Jock Rooney with Tip.

Alternative walkers: Colin Davison and Lawrie Fairman.

Apologies: Peter Beal (La Palma hols), Andy Blease (father ill), Alastair Cairns (w*^king), Tom Cunliffe (supervising roofer), George Dearsley (in Turkey), Julian Ross (Antipodean hols), Graham Stone (knee injury), Dean Taylor (unavailable), George Whaites (medical appointment)

Leader: Rooney. Diarist: Hart.

Starting point: Lay-by opposite red phone box in Alport, Derbyshire.

Starting time: 10.05am. Finishing time: 3.02pm.

For a variety of diverse reasons there were a number of absentees from this walk on the outskirts of our catchment area and they missed some spectacular scenery and unexpectedly mild weather. After a warm start there was a chilly wind on the hilltops which once caused the mayor of Honolulu to complain about the nasty nip in the air.

Jock led us to an ancient site where fertility rites were once performed, to a hermit's cave and to a viewpoint named after the legendary Robin Hood. He also bought a round of drinks to celebrate his 78^th birthday four days earlier. Cheers and many happy returns !

It is my sad duty to report that one of our regular walkers had great difficulty in squeezing through some of the many gap stiles in the area. Time perhaps for Tip to start fetching sticks again to reduce her middle-aged spread.

After passing the red phone box on our right we turned immediately right downhill and followed a green public footpath sign to cross a footbridge over the River Bradford and head left uphill (3mins).We reached a lane and turned left (5mins) then followed a wooden public footpath sign passing Bank House on our left.

The footpath led us into the left side of a trailer park where we followed signs pointing us right for Stanton (12mins). We crossed a stone step stile to reach a road, which we crossed following a sign for Stanton in Peak (20mins). We climbed uphill and reached The Thornhill Settlement on the Stanton Estate (30mins)

Stanton manor was owned for two centuries by the Bache family but passed to John Thornhill in 1698 by his marriage to heiress Mary Pegge. Descendants of the Thornhill family are still in residence. The medieval manor house was replaced in 1693 and in the 18^th Century that was in turn replaced by a two-storey mansion. In 1800 Bache Thornhill, former High Sheriff of Derbyshire, added an extension in Palladian style with a Doric porch which doubled its size.

We continued uphill pass the village pub, The Flying Childers Inn, on our right (35mins).

The Flying Childers was a famous 18^th Century racehorse bred near Doncaster. The Flying Childers Stakes has since 1967 been a featured race at the St Leger Festival. The race was won five times by Lester Piggott, including a hat-trick of wins from 1972-74, and four times by Frankie Dettori.

Just beyond the pub, also on the right, we passed Holy Trinity Church, which was built by William Pole Thornhill and opened in 1839.

Where the main road swung right we carried straight on following a sign for Stanton Lees (40mins). After passing the Wesleyan Reform Chapel on our left we reached a massive rock on the right side of the road which marked the entrance to Stanton Moor (46mins). We followed the path on to the moor, passing through a wooden gate marked with a yellow arrow and reaching on our right a circle of nine standing stones with a tenth stone 40 feet away (60mins)

A plaque explains this is the Nine Ladies Stone Circle where, according to legend, nine women were turned to stone for dancing on the Sabbath. The other stone was said to be the fiddler, who suffered the same fate. It is believed the stones had pagan significance and were used, among other things, to hold fertility rites. Archaeologists estimate they have been standing there for more than 4,000 years.

We used the stones as seats for Pietime, accompanied by port and some delicious home-made damson gin kindly provided by Chris.

Returning a few yards to the path we continued across the moor, going straight ahead where the paths crossed (74mins) and crossing a wooden stile to leave the moor (80mins). We turned right along a lane for 50 yards then headed left at a wooden public footpath sign marked with a green arrow to reach Barn Farm (84mins)

Following a footpath signed for Winster we reached the outskirts of Birchover village (92mins) and passed our second Wesleyan Reform Church of the day on our left. We reached The Red Lion pub on our right just before noon (97mins) but discovered it no longer opened on Wednesday lunchtimes.

Further along the road The Druid was also shut as we passed it on our right and began a steep climb up Rowtor Rocks (105mins). Near the top is a cave which was once occupied by an eccentric hermit, and which provides a panoramic view of the countryside for miles. We followed a steep path down which brought us out opposite The Old Vicarage, an impressive building set in a large garden with its own summerhouse and duckpond (114mins)

We followed a sign for Rocking Stone Cottage, crossing a stone step stile (117mins) and passing a field containing five belted Galloway cattle. By following a wooden public footpath sign with a yellow arrow (121mins) we reached a road via a slippery muddy slope (129mins). After briefly heading right in the wrong direction we returned to where we should have gone left (137mins) and took the first lane on the right (138mins) and immediately crossed a cattlegrid to join The Limestone Way.

Where the paths divided we took the left fork (145mins), passing Cratcliffe Tor on our right and spotting a pair of buzzards engaged in an early courting ritual. The male was clearly not prepared to wait for the last waltz in case a better-looking bird turned up.

As the path drew level with a local hill called Robin's Stride (150mins) we stopped for lunch while Chris explored the landmark. Robin Hood's Stride (also known as Mock Beggar's Mansion) is a rock formation close to Elton on The Limestone Way. Its two pinnacles (more than a giant's leap apart) are called Weasel (rated difficult by rock-climbers) and Inaccessible (very difficult). Robin' Hood's Stride featured in an episode of the Return of Sherlock Holmes series and in the 1987 movie The Princess Bride.

Continuing we turned left over a wooden stile and right over a stone step stile (152mins) to walk along the right side of a field. We reached a lane and turned right (155mins). This took us downhill through a wood. Initially we missed the unmarked left turn at an open gateway (158mins), but returned to it (168mins), spotting a yellow arrow for The Limestone Way 20 yards inside the gate pillars.

The path brought us through a wooden kissing gate into a field (176mins). After crossing a wooden stile (178mins) we followed The Limestone way marker to our right instead of one pointing straight ahead. This took us across a wooden footbridge and through a gate into a field (188mins). When we passed through a gap stile (192mins) we could see the distinctive tower of Youlgreave Parish Church uphill on our right.

Following the footpaths to a stone footbridge we crossed the River B radford (198mins) and headed up Stoneyside to pass the chuch on our right and reach The George at Youlgreave (205mins). Here we celebrated Jock's recent birthday with pints of excellent Yorkshire Blonde or Sir Philip at £3-82 a pint.

Suitably refreshed we turned left out of the pub's front door and were soon back with our cars at Alport to de-boot (216mins). Meanwhile the alternative walkers had pioneered a new route from Charlesworth to Broadbottom via Glossop. Like the A team they had been unable to find a hostelry half way, but enjoyed pints of Unicorn at the George and Dragon in Charlesworth for £3-20.

Next week's walk will start at 9.55am from outside The Hartington Arms at Hartington. We will be aiming for a livener at The Pack Horse at Crowdecote before returning to The Hartington Arms for a final drink before 3pm.

Happy wandering !

Pictures by Alan Hart

Whaley Bridge

Pictures by John Jones

 Rare, ornate single gate near Windgather

January 22nd 2020

WHALEY BRIDGE, CROMFORD AND HIGH PEAK RAILWAY LINE (DISUSED), GOYT VALLEY, TAXAL NICK,WINDGATHER ROCKS, PYM CHAIR CAR PARK, 

FERNILEE RESERVOIR, THE SHADY OAK AT FERNILEE, SHALL CROSS, SHALLCROSS INCLINE GREENWAY, THE COCK AT WHALEY BRIDGE

Distance: 7 miles.

Difficulty:  Easy.

Weather: Misty with occasional blue sky at altitude.

Walkers: Mickey Barrett, Andy Blease, Alastair Cairns, Tom Cunliffe with Daisy, John Jones, Chris Owen, Jock Rooney with Tips, Graham Stone, Dean Taylor,.

Apologies: Peter Beal, George Dearsley (in Turkey), Mark Gibby, Hughie Hardiman, Julian Ross (Antipodeanhols) George Whaites

Leader: Cunliffe. Diarist: Cunliffe

Alternative Walkers/Route: Laurie Fairman and Colin Davison

Starting point: Road outside The Cock at Whaley Bridge.

Starting time: 9.30am. Finishing time: 1.45pm.

A great walk spoilt somewhat by thick mist but our amusement was assured when, at 9:30 outside the Cock, Laurie took a call from Colin asking where he was as he was expected at Colin’s house? Mmmmmmm, Colin arrived at the Cock much later leaving no time for their planned bus ride to Buxton returning on foot to Whaley. Instead we discovered that they’d just enough time to “inspect” the Toddbrook Reservoir repair, give it their approval and reach the Shady Oak in time for a piss-take by the mainstream walkers, as the late Brian Rix would have penned – The Cock Up at the Cock Inn. We’ll say no more about it!

We passed The Cock on our left and 20 yards beyond it turned left at a yellow arrow which pointed us uphill across a stream. This brought us to the former track of the Cromford and High Peak Railway Line, where we turned right. The site of the line’s former goods yard is now a retirement home called Cromford Court which we passed on our left.

Just before the start of the Shallcross Incline Greenway we turned right at a wooden public footpath sign which led us through a children’s playground and down Mevril road back to the main road. We crossed said road and followed a gravel track until we reached a wooden footbridge across the River Goyt 

On the far bank we started a sharp climb up to St James Church at Taxal on our right. We turned left and crossed the wooden stile on our right which led us up up hill to Taxal Nick, passing between the hills we turned left through an ornamental gate and with the stone wall on our right proceeded towards Windgather Rocks where the normallysplendid view across Dunge Valley was completely obliterated by the low mist/cloud. 

Due to the cracking speed Chris was setting we arrived at our usual Pie Time venue (the sheltered sheepfold) at 10:38, far too early for our elevenses, it was agreed to take our break near to Pym Chair and so we carried on.

Continuing, we followed the path reaching a drystone wall. Here we split in to two groups as your leader indicated the safe and dry Gay Gordon Route by crossing the stile and turning left along the tarmac road where its followers could dance their way to T junction at the foot of Pym Chair, or they could take the more rustic SAS Routenegotiating the mud, water and uneven ground; in keeping with the WW intended objective of country walking. Sadly, only your diarist and Mikey B chose the latter route.

On reaching the T junction we turned left and headed down hill taking our Pie Time at 11:00am. Proceeding down hill, we turned left through a wooden 5 bar gate and followed the track for around 40 mins before emerging at the crossing for the Fernilee Reservoir. Continuing, we crossed said water eventually emerging on to Long Hill, the original road between Whaley and Buxton before the bypass was built some 30 years ago.

Ferniless Reservoir was the first of two built in the Goyt Valley, the other being Errwood Reservoir, which lies next to it separated by a dam. It was built by Stockport Water Corporation for £480,000 and finished in 1938. It is owned and operated by United Utilities and holds up to 4,940 million litres of water.

We arrived at the Shady Oak around 12:20 where a sign outside heralded “Under New Management”. Inside we met Laurie and Colin where they recounted their amusing cock up……….oh dear!

The Wainwrights bitter was an eye watering £4 and to add insult to injury the beer was cloudy and stank of vinegar, it was exchanged without any quibble for a pint of Pedigree and a £1 refund as it was onoffer at £3 pint.

Continuing after refreshment, we turned right out of the pub and immediately right uphill. This brought us to Elnor Lane where we turned left. This took us past Shall Cross on our right where we paused for 5 minutes whilst we had lunch. We turned left into Shallcross Road, at the end on the right we turned on to Shallcross Greenway Incline, which brought us back to Cromford Court. We then retraced our footsteps back to the cars where everybody seemd to disappear in all directions and only Mikey B entered the pub after debooting to find it had reminded him of the Marie Celeste.

Many thanks to Alan Hart for allowing me to plagiarise one of his past diaries for the same walk  

Next week’s walk will start from the grass verge in the village of Alport, near Youlgreave at 9:50am taking in - Stanton in the Peak, Flying Childers, Birchover, Hermits Cave Robin Hood’s Stride, Youlgreave and Alport. We will take our mid walk refreshment at the Red Lion in the village of Birchover at 12:00. It is anticipated the walkers will return to their vehicles at 2:00pm, deboot then make their way along the road to The George at Youlegreave

Happy wandering !

Windgather Rocks

Road to Errwood

Outlet Tower at Fernilee Reservoir

 Incline information board of Cromford and High Peak Railway

Close up detail of schematic diagram

Bollington

BOLLINGTON, CHURCH STREET, THE CROWN, INGERSLEY VALE, WHITE NANCY, KERRIDGE RIDGE, RAINOW, BULL HILL LANE, BRINK BARN, WALKER BARN, HORDERN FARM, PEDLEY HILL, HOLY TRINITY CHURCH, RAINOW, STOCKS LANE, THE ROBIN HOOD AT RAINOW, THE VIRGINS' PATH, INGERSLEY VALE WATERFALL AND THE VALE AT BOLLINGTON

Distance: Eight miles.

Difficulty: Steep early climb then easy.

Weather: Mild, dry and mostly sunny.

Walkers: Mickey Barrett, Peter Beal, Andy Blease, Alastair Cairns with Daisy, Tom Cunliffe with Daisy, Mark Gibby, Hughie Hardiman, Alan Hart, John Jones, Chris Owen, Graham Stone, Dean Taylor, George Whaites.

Alternative walkers: Colin Davison and Lawrie Fairman.

B walkers: Phil Burslem, Tony Job, Ken Sparrow and Barry Williams.

Apologies: George Dearsley (in Turkey), Julian Ross (Antipodean hols)

Leaders: Various. Diarist: Hart.

Starting point: Bollington Recreation Ground Car Park.

Starting time: 9.40am. Finishing time: 2.20pm.

For the second successive week we had a large turn-out and unseasonably mild weather for this ever-popular walk around the prettiest hills and valleys of East Cheshire. For some wanderers this was a maiden voyage and the feedback was encouraging. We were also happy to discover that one of our regular watering holes, The Robin Hood at Rainow, was now open again on Wednesday lunchtimes.

There was some confusion as to who was actually leading the walk with various members of our group in front at different times. It didn't really matter but if you enjoyed the walk I blush to tell you I was the leader: if you didn't it was Tom.

At one point this misunderstanding resulted in two separate groups taking two different routes back from Rainow to Bollington. The following diary records the journey of those who were following your diarist (who was at different stages in front, middle and rear).

From the car park overlooking Bollington Recreation Ground we walked to the right of the field and crossed a bridge over the River Dean, turned left and climbed up to the main road, where we turned left again. At this stage JJ was still searching for the car park and we must make allowances as motoring is a relatively new experience for him.

After passing The Spinners' Arms on our right we reached Smith's orgasmic pie shop, where some bought supplies as we awaited JJ's belated arrival. Appropriately this brought the numbers of our main group up to a baker's dozen.

As we left the pie shop (20mins) we turned right and continued uphill to a mini-roundabout where we turned right up Church Street, passing a derelict church on our right. On reaching The Crown pub we turned left along Ingersley Vale, passing the old mill pond on our right (25mins). About 100 yards after passing an impressive display of birds boxes dangling from a tree we turned right at a public footpath sign and started our steep ascent of White Nancy.

This summer house or folly was built in 1817 to commemorate the British victory at The Battle of Waterloo two years earlier. It was constructed under the orders of John Gaskell Junior, whose family lived at Ingersley Hall. At first it had a semi-circular seat and window overlooking Andrew's Nob across the valley. For the best part of a century it has been sealed and painted white to create a local landmark.

Various stories explain its name. One suggests it was named after one of Gaskell's daughters. Another claims it was given its title in tribute to a white horse called Nancy which hauled building materials to the 250 metre summit. Most likely is that an early map showed the location as Northern Nancy.

On reaching the summit, we paused for breath and photographs as we reassembled (48mins) for the walk along Kerridge Ridge. This took us past the Trig Point at 313 metres (69mins) before we began our descent to Lidgetts Lane on the outskirts of Rainow village for pies, port and delicious damson gin provided by Chris (84mins)

Continuing to our right along Lidgetts Lane we walked for 100 yards and then crossed the road left opposite Brae Cottage (85mins) to climb a flight of steps and enter a field. We crossed this to reach Bull Hill Lane and turn right uphill (90mins). At the T-junction at the top we turned left and after 30 yards crossed the main road to follow a public footpath sign and head uphill into a field (98mins). As we did so we met Colin and Lawrie coming downhill.

After crossing a wooden stile (102mins) we turned left, crossing more stiles as we headed in a straight line to Brink Barn Farm (108mins). We followed the footpath through the farmyard and rejoined the main road at Walker Barn (113mins). We crossed the road, turned right and swung left with the road as it passed a house which was once a pub called The Setter Dog. Beyond it we turned left down a lane (115mins). This brought us to a metal kissing gate where we turned left (123mins)

The path then took us through the yard at Hordern Farm (133mins). We ignored a footpath sign for the Gritstone Trail and continued for another 50 yards before turning left over a stile (137mins)

The path then took us over a ladder stile (141mins) followed by a series of gates and stiles leading downhill to a road (147mins)

After crossing the road we entered a field where two molecatchers were at work setting traps. We went through a white gate and turned left uphill for 30 yards before crossing a wooden stile on our right and following the track over a wooden footbridge and a ladder stile (153mins). The path took us up to a stone step stile which we crossed (156mins) to reach a lane and turn left.

When we reached a road at Pedley Cottage (159mins) we turned right, passing Holy Trinity Church on our right. After crossing the road we entered Stocks Lane (163mins), passing the original village stocks on our right before reaching The Robin Hood (166mins). Here we joined the alternative walkers and the B team for a choice of Wainwrights, Timothy Taylor's Landlord, or Marstons' Pedigree cask ales at £3-40 a pint.

As we were leaving one group turned right whilst another group went instinctively left down Stocks Lane before turning right into Chapel Lane (168mins). We then turned right into Sugar Lane (171mins) and headed right again at a wooden public footpath sign sending us to the rear of Flagg Cottage (173mins).

This was the start of The Virgins' Path, a footpath created by stone flags which crossed the farmers' fields and was laid three centuries ago when there was no church in Rainow. Young brides-to-be had to walk to Bollington to marry and the flagstones prevented their arrival with mudstains on the hems of their white dresses.

When we arrived at Ingersley Vale Waterfall (187mins) we paused for lunch. Continuing we walked towards Bollington and after 100 yards reached the other group who had just stopped for their lunch. We were soon retracing our footsteps past the birdbox tree, the millpond, The Crown, the pie shop and The Spinners' Arms as we returned to our cars to de-boot (210mins). Some of us then reassembled in The Vale, a pub owned by the Bollington Brewery opposite, where its variety of cask ales were available at £3-40 a pint.

Next week's walk will start at 9.30am from the road outside The Cock at Whaley Bridge. The route will be up through Taxal to Windgather Rocks, down to Fernilee Reservoir and a livener at The Shady Oak around 12.15pm before returning to The Cock at about 2.20pm.

Happy wandering !

Pictures by Alan Hart

Pictures by John Jones

Last leg downhill 

Waymarker. Trig' Point

Any ideas?

White Nancy silhouette

Hebridean, two-horned  tup

Furness Vale

January 8, 2020.

THE SOLDIER DICK AT FURNESS VALE, RINGSTONES CARAVAN PARK, THE DIPPING STONES, WHALEY MOOR, COCK KNOLL, LYME PARK, RED LANE, ST MARY'S CHURCHYARD, DISLEY, THE DANDY COCK, HAGG BANK, PEAK FOREST CANAL, SWIZZELS MATLOW SWEET FACTORY, NEW MILLS, FURNESS VALE MARINA AND THE SOLDIER DICK

Distance: 8-9 miles.

Difficulty: Easy.

Weather: Dry and mild, mainly cloudy with outbreaks of sunshine.

Walkers: Peter Beal, Andy Blease, Alastair Cairns, Tom Cunliffe with Daisy, Mark Gibby, Hughie Hardiman, Alan Hart, John Jones, Chris Owen, Jock Rooney with Tip, Graham Stone, Dean Taylor, George Whaites.

Alternative walkers: Colin Davison and Lawrie Fairman.

Apologies: Mickey Barrett, Daisy Cairns, George Dearsley (in Turkey), Julian Ross.

Leader: Cunliffe. Diarist: Hart.

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

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

The Phallic Walk, which takes its name after the two pubs visited, reached new heights of popularity when 13 A walkers joined forces with the two alternative walkers for the middle section of this route. We were not only rewarded by fine weather and some attractive views, but also by Mark buying a monster round of drinks to celebrate the forthcoming 59^th anniversary of his birth. We wish him many happy returns and his bank balance the hope of a speedy recovery.

Our journey took us into Lyme Park where we heard the distinctive call of a curlew, which is normally a harbinger of spring. The park is renowned for its herd of red deer, but we failed so spot any, finding a pair of Highland cattle instead. We were also joined for lunch by a donkey.

With our backs to The Soldier Dick we turned right along the A6 and right again into Yeardsley Lane and headed uphill. At the end of the lane, and the entrance to Ringstones Caravan Park, we turned right (10mins) along a lane. This eventually swung left towards a farmhouse, where we went through a gate by the side of stables (15mins)

After climbing uphill for 30 yards we turned right into a field and walked with a drystone wall on our right. We crossed a wooden stile (23 mins), reached a road (29mins) and turned left for 50 yards. Then we turned right at a public footpath sign and headed uphill along a well-trodden path (30mins). After reaching a wooden stile which we later crossed, your diarist took Dean downhill to The Dipping Stones (which he had never seen before). These are reputed to be the rocks with indentations where money in vinegar and food were exchanged several centuries ago by neighbours afraid of contracting bubonic plague (The Black Death)

We returned to the stile, now on our left and crossed it (41mins) to follow the path on Whaley Moor over a ladder stile until we reached a lane and turned right (56mins). This took us past the former Moorside Hotel, which a few decades ago had hosted celebrity parties. It is now called High Peak School, a boarding establishment for wayward youngsters.

The footpath emerged on a main road at the school entrance (62mins) which we crossed and headed uphill towards Hill View House. We passed the large well-appointed house on our right and then turned right at a green public footpath sign (66mins). This led us up Cock Knoll to a new stone step stile and an adjacent ladder stile which took us into the grounds of Lyme Park (79mins). We sheltered from a chilly wind in the woods, where Chris generously gave us samples of his newly-brewed damson wine during Pietime.

Continuing we went downhill through the woods and exited by a ladder stile (84mins). We turned left and continued to head downhill towards Lyme Cage in the distance.

The tower known as Lyme Cage was originally built around 1580 as a hunting lodge where aristocratic ladies could admire the prowess of their menfolk as they hunted stag on the slopes below. It would become a banqueting hall to celebrate their successes.

In later years the tower was used by the park gamekeeper as his residence, with one room strengthened to hold poachers. The original tower lasted until 1734 when it was dismantled and rebuilt in 1737.

It is now a Grade 11 listed building. It has three sundials on its walls. One is inscribed “Remember now the creator in the days of thy youth.” Two others have the same Latin inscription “Vive hodie. Cras minus aptus erit.” Latin scholars among you will realise this means “Live today. Tomorrow will be less seasonable.” I think we can all agree that Horace put it more succinctly when he said “Carpe diem, quam minimum credula postero,” which, as every schoolboy knows, means “Seize today and put as little trust as you can on the morrow.”

We reached Lyme Cage (100mins) and after pausing to admire the view and have our photograph taken we turned right to head downhill to the entrance hut (120mins). Turning right we exited the park (121mins) and walked uphill along Red Lane. This brought us to the churchyard of St Mary's, Disley (133mins), where many of the Legh family, who were the owners of the Lyme Hall estate, are buried.

We exited the churchyard to reach the main traffic lights in Disley and turned right along the A6 towards Buxton before crossing it and entering The Dandy Cock (140mins). It was here that Mark treated us to excellent pints of Robbie's Unicorn along with some soft drinks.

On leaving we turned right out of the pub door and right again to head downhill, passing Hagg Bank Allotments on our left. We turned left into Sherbrooke Road (146mins) and reached the bank of the Peak Forest Canal. We turned right (148mins) with the waterway on our left until we soon reached Bridge 26. We left the canalside, turned left over the bridge and left again to reach the opposite bank. With the canal now on our right we walked under the bridge and stopped at a bench for lunch (153mins). Our presence attracted a donkey which was grazing in the field behind us. It came over to investigate and to share an apple.

Resuming our walk we continued with the canal on our right, passing fragrantly-scented Swizzels Matlow sweet factory in New Mills (171mins). After passing Furness Vale Marina we reached Bridge 31 (195mins) and left the canal. We turned right to cross the bridge and headed back to the A6. We reached The Soldier Dick on the far side of the road (200mins) where some of our group departed and some de-booted to enjoy a choice of two cask ales.

Next week's walk will start at 9.40am from the free Bollington Recreation Ground car park.  I have confirmed that The Robin Hood in Rainow will be open on Wednesday lunchtime so we would expect to be there by 12.30pm. Regardless we will return to Bollington Recreation Ground Car Park in time to be in The Vale nearby at 2.30pm.

George Whaites has offered to drive us to Bollington for the 0930am start. Andy and I have booked return tickets from  my house at 0900 so there is one spare seat. First to respond secures a place.

Happy wandering !

Pictures by John Jones

Narrowboat

Magnificent radial sky phenomenon

Pie time

Tip wall dancing

Picking Stones?

Pictures by Alan Hart