Wednesday Wandering: 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 !