Bradwell

June 24, 2020.

BRADWELL, ABNEY MOOR, DERBYSHIRE AND LANCASHIRE GLIDING CLUB AT ABNEY, GREAT HUCKLOW, WINDMILL VILLAGE, HIGH RAKE, NEW FARM, MOSS RAKE, EARL RAKE, JENNINGS DALE AND BRADWELL DALE

Distance: 12-13 miles.

Difficulty: Long initial climb (after route discovered) and excessive miles in hot sun.

Weather: Blue cloudless skies with early gentle breeze.

Walkers: Andy Blease, Tom Cunliffe with Daisy, Alan Hart, Julian Roach, Dean Taylor, Keith Welsh and George Whaites.

Apologies: Mickey Barrett and Alastair Cairns (locked down in Lake District), Peter Beal (foot injury), George Dearsley (in Turkey), Mark Gibby (health risk), John Jones (moving home), Chris Owen (building work), Jock Rooney (locked down with wife Mary)

Leader: Cunliffe. Diarist: Hart.

Starting point: Outside The Shoulder of Mutton, Bradwell.

Starting time: 9.52am. Finishing time: 3.30pm.

Glorious scenery. Fabulous sunny weather. What could possibly go wrong ?

Where can I begin ? Shall we just put it down to a bad day at the office and draw a veil over the whole sorry episode ? I'm afraid not Tom. There are too many sadistic critics in this group who derive untold pleasure from hearing of our woes – and our woes were manifold.

What follows is therefore for the benefit of those who enjoy what the Germans call Schadenfreude – taking joy from the misery of others.

A Magnificent Seven turned up for a maiden route around the picturesque hills and valleys of the Peak District. There was nothing wrong with the weather or the scenery, although the sun proved somewhat relentless as a welcoming breeze in the morning disappeared by the afternoon.

It may also be that JJ's belated cry-off put the spotlight on Tom's limitations as he volunteered to lead us into pastures new with only the sketchiest knowledge of the way and no map to help him out..

Tom's idea of flying by the seat of his pants and hoping for the best has seen him crash and burn in the past but never have his weary followers been as scorched as we were on this lengthy journey which lasted more than five and a half hours. Furthermore, because of the Covid clampdown, there was no opportunity to quench our thirsts at the traditional country pubs we encountered.

The writing was on the wall when Tom took a left fork at a junction after only two minutes. He retreated, went up the right fork and a few minutes later was asking a villager for directions. We retreated again, headed the wrong way and Tom was berated by a farmer for failing to keep Daisy on a lead as required.

Fifty minutes after setting off we were back in Bradwell heading up the left fork of the road we had retreated from only two minutes after our start !

It is not our intention to provide a detailed account of Tom's follies for posterity so we will be sparing in the detail. Suffice to say that after establishing the correct way out of Bradwell we faced a steady climb up Abney Moor which took us past the Derbyshire and Lancashire Gliding Club at Abney on our right.

When we reached a T junction we turned right and entered the pretty village of Great Hucklow and its 17^th Century pub, The Queen Anne. Before we reached the pub our group passed The Great Hucklow Cross.

A plaque informed us that although the plinth on which the cross stood probably dated from the 14^th Century and had until recently been used as a the base for a sundial, the cross was a replica of one which had been broken. The restored cross and ancient plinth had been moved to its present site in 2003 to celebrate the Queen's Golden Jubilee.

Continuing through the village with The Queen Anne on our left we turned right to pass through a hamlet called Windmill before following a path starting from High Rake Mine passing mounds where the spoil left by open-cast lead mining had been grassed over in the bygone centuries.

By now the cooling breeze had disappeared, the country's pubs were all shut and we only had the cry of the curlew to lift our spirits as we reached New Farm and continued our weary way along roads and gravel paths back to Bradwell.

En route we went along Moss Rake, Earl Rake, Jennings Dale and Bradwell Dale. Even at journey's end your dehydrated diarist had one last ignominious moment. The landlord of The Shoulder of Mutton came out of his closed pub, angrily announced that I was trespassing on his almost empty car park and ordered me to leave immediately.

Should we return to Bradwell, as I hope we will one day, can I recommend The White Hart around the corner for post-walk drinks ?

Next week's walk will start at 9.45am from the higher car park overlooking the public toilets in Eyam, the historic plague village. Like a surviving Spitfire pilot Tom has clambered from the wreckage of the Bradwell crash and offered to lead a ten-mile circular route.

Happy wandering !

Pictures by Alan Hart

Chinley

CHINLEY WAR MEMORIAL, WHITEHOUGH, PEAK FOREST TRAMWAY, CHAPEL MILTON, SHIRE OAKS FARM, SOUTH HEAD, THE LAMB INN AT CHINLEY, MONKS MEADOW

Distance: 7-8 miles.

Difficulty: Moderate.

Weather: Sunny with blue skies and some cloud.

Walkers: Andy Blease, Tom Cunliffe, John Jones, Julian Ross, Dean Taylor and Keith Welsh.

Alternative walkers: Colin Davison and Laurie Fairman.

Apologies: Peter Beal, Alastair Cairns, George Dearsley, Mark Gibby, Hughie Hardiman, Alan Hart, Chris Owen, Jock Rooney and George Whaites.

Leader and Diarist: Jones.

Starting point: The War Memorial at Chinley, Derbyshire.

Starting time: 9.30am.

There were six of us again this week.. Tom,Andy, Julian, Keith,Dean and myself. This is a walk I have been trying to do as a regular wanderer's walk, so nearly there in essence, Our walk started at Chinley war memorial. walking south and after 1/2 mile we met the tram way taking a left,East tarmaced road to the permitted end,, The rest of it due East was used by Ferodo's to test car braking on..N.east to Bridgeholme Green a few yards only and taking aright turn past mill into fields easterly,under superb Double viaducts coming out onto busy road at Chapel Milton. straight across with care and up first alleyway back oh houses to rear of defunct X keys pub,, yet another bit the dust,, N.East and North through field past Ferodo toxic waste dump on right to breckhead . a little jink left and a right and over the M/cr Sheffield railway line providing the third side of the railway triangle,, North on tarmaced road after 300 yards taking aright at hamlet N.easterly then east over a kilometre to shire oaks Farm Where the busy farmer asked us to take a short detour as sheep had escaped.. When I asked why his sheep were Yorkshire incomers and not locals. (Derbyshire Gritstone ) he replied sadly that you couldn't sell 'em!.. They are now a rare breed ,pity.. Anyway into open again and due north over 400 yards to the unnamed lane which runs 6 miles between A625 (Rushop edge ) and Highgate road,, Left there and feeling the heat we moved upto our much-looked froward to summit of theday. South Head,, Tom was looking forward to this as he had commented about it on the way so I am glad he managed to drag himself up it, We took "Pie time " at the top enjoying stunning views (Towering cumulus )and well worth the effort,, After the break I borrowed Dean's magnifying glass and found this so useful I promptly tried to get us lost.. Soon realised and we retraced steps back to summit and West along lane 300 yards and over first stile of the day (take note George).. SSwest taking a right at FYM heap (farm Yard Manure . see how I educate you people?),, and into serene stream valley skirting hillside roughly  West past small quarry an down to lamb inn,at 12.10 pm.After having no alcohol, And where was Alan and Chris when we needed them! we drily crossed main road with care,, Down opposite land to Monk's meadow 200 yards, an old lady tried to chat us up but we valiantly resisted her entreaties, Tom now deciding that South was best and for a quiet life I agreed and we crossed meadows and cunningly took a post lunch stop by a barn attended by cows, calves and a bull.Soon after  which we took a SWest down to stream .up other side and left along Maynestone Road(where all posh people live , soon back to cars,, This route is only 7'5 miles so in future will Start at The old Hall and alterations may be made to second leg.. Please find attached Tom's bit;-

Next week we’ll meet in Bradwell outside the Valley Lodge pub (post code S33 9HJ or OS SK174812).

The route: Bradwell, Abney Moor, Great Hucklow, Tideswell, Bradwell

1/towering cumulus.2/ way down,,3/hard work..

                                                                     Picture by Tom

Pie Time

Pictures by John Jones

Towering Cumulus

Hard work

                                                                    Descent

Creeping buttercup..

Ascent of South Head

Brabyns Park

June 10, 2020

BRABYNS PARK, COMPSTALL, ETHEROW VALLEY, REDBROW WOOD, PEAK FOREST CANAL, HYDE BANK TUNNEL, ST CHAD'S WELL, CHADKIRK CHAPEL, OTTERSPOOL WEIR, OLD MANOR FARM, MIDDLEWOOD WAY, MARPLE GOLF CLUB, MACLESFIELD CANAL, RING O' BELLS, MARPLE, PEAK FOREST CANAL

Distance: 8+ miles.

Difficulty: Easy.

Weather: Cloudy but mainly dry with light drizzle at the end.

Walkers: Tom Cunliffe with Daisy, Alan Hart, John Jones, Julian Ross, Keith Welsh, George Whaites.

Leader and Diarist: Hart.

Apologies: Peter Beal (awaiting medical approval), Andy Blease (sore heel), Alastair Cairns (self-isolating in Lake District), George Dearsley (in Turkey), Mark Gibby (self-isolating for health reasons), Chris Owen (digging footings for house extension), Jock Rooney (self-isolating with vulnerable wife Mary), Graham Stone (awaiting response to application to join alternative walkers)

Alternative walkers: Colin Davison and Laurie Fairman.

Starting point: Car park at Brabyns Park, Marple Bridge.

Starting time: 9.41am. Finishing time: 1.17pm.

For the second successive week the wet weather which had been forecast dried up moments before the start of our journey. Unlike last week we did endure some light drizzle towards the end but conditions were better than expected and there was little mud to avoid.

The absence of haircuts during the Corvid 19 lockdown was apparent with several walkers looking like ageing rock stars with their collar-length locks. Tom sported a bouffant style reminiscent of the late 70s and early 80s when Roxy Music, Duran Duran and Spandau Ballet were in their heyday.

We also welcomed a debutant, Keith Welsh, who is a neighbour of Julian. We hope Tom's bickering over the route taken does not preclude future appearances.

From the car park we followed the path to the left of the fields which swung gradually right until we exited the park by a footbridge over the River Goyt (10mins). We carried on along a lane to reach the main road (17mins) and turned left into Compstall. After passing a former pub called The George on our left we crossed a road bridge over the River Etherow and turned immediately left to walk along its right bank towards Redbrow Wood (19mins)

Ignoring paths on our right we carried on until the footpath led us away from the river (31mins). It took us over a wooden stile to the left of a farm. After climbing steadily we turned left over a wooden stile (38mins) and crossed fields heading towards two viaducts. The first carried a railway line which we passed under. The second was an aqueduct which we climbed up steps to reach (45mins)

The Peak Forest Canal, engineered by Benjamin Outram, is 15 miles long and was built between 1794 and 1805. After commercial barges stopped using it, the canal became impassable in the 1960s but was dredged and renovated for leisure purposes.

Instead of going right across the aqueduct we turned left with the waterway on our right to reach Hyde Bank Tunnel (54mins).

The tunnel is 308 yards long, 16 feet wide, and has a height above water of 6ft 8ins. When commercial barges used it, the shire horse would leave the towpath and walk unaided to the end of the tunnel where it waited to be reconnected. Meanwhile the bargees would “leg”through the tunnel by lying on their backs and walking along the roof to propel the boat forward.

On the far side of the tunnel, on the left of the canal, is Hyde Bank Farm on Oakwood Road, Romiley, which was once the home of a future queen of England.

Anne Hyde (1637-71) was the daughter of courtier Edward Hyde (later created Earl of Clarendon) and was born in Windsor. But she spent some childhood days in Romiley before her family went into exile in Holland after the execution of Charles 1, whom her father had supported.

In the Netherlands she met James, younger brother of Charles 11. They married in 1660 and two months later she gave birth to the first of their eight children. Even more shocking, according to my fellow diarist Samuel Pepys, was that she and her husband, who became King James 11, were seen kissing and showing affection in public !! Although six of their children died young, the surviving daughters, Mary 11 and Anne, became monarchs.

After rejoining the canal at the far side of the tunnel (59mins) we continued along the towpath before turning left down a flight of steps (68mins) and turned left passing the eccentrically-named Burymewick Cottage on our right. The road swung right and on our right was St Chad's Well, believed to have been named after a medieval bishop (71mins)

The road then swung left and on the left was Chadkirk Chapel where we were able to stop for Pietime at a row of benches (72mins). Due to an aberration brought on by his advancing years, your diarist forgot to produce the customary snifters of port.

Continuing we proceeded in the same direction, reaching a road where we turned right (77mins) and reached the main Otterspool Road, where we turned left (83mins). We took time out to examine the community-owned hydro-electric plant at Otterspool Weir.

The weir was built by a 19th Century Stockport millowner but his planned cotton mill was never erected. The electricity-generating machinery, including two massive Archimedes screws named Thunder and Lightning, was opened in 2012.

We proceeded past the boarded up Hare and Hounds, which has a letting sign, on our right and reached a T-junction at traffic lights. We carried straight on up a track leading to Old Manor Farm (101mins). The path took us to the left of the farm and we crossed a field through a wooden gate marked with a yellow arrow (116mins)

On reaching The Middlewood Way access was achieved by turning left before the bridge over it and following a path (123mins) which brought us to it on our right. We then turned sharp right to walk back under the bridge in the direction of Macclesfield (126mins). This brought us to a footpath sign pointing left to the Macclesfield Canal (133mins)

The path took us along a public right of way through Marple Golf Course where poor Daisy was the victim of one of the worst sliced tee shots you are likely to see. The golfer – and I use the term loosely – took an iron off the tee for a short Par 3 hole. Unfortunately it went like a full-blooded square cut and hit Daisy on her left front leg. As she squealed in pain both Tom and the culprit rushed to her assistance. Happily she was able to limp on and was soon walking normally again.

When we reached the canal we turned left (148mins) passing Goyt Mill on our right before reaching Bridge 2 next to The Ring O' Bells at Marple before exiting (162mins). As the pub beer garden was locked we continued along the Macclesfield Canal to the point where it joins the Peak Forest Canal and stopped at a row of benches for lunch (168mins)

Proceeding past Marple Locks on our right we crossed Station Road, dog-legging right then left to continue along the right bank of the canal (178mins). After passing the final lock we turned right at a gap in the fence (181mins) opposite a tennis court and turned left along a path. This brought us back to the car park at Brabyns Park (192mins)

Meanwhile the alternative walkers had started from Jenkin Chapel to walk up Shining Tor and back via Lamaload Reservoir.

Next week's walk will start at 9.30am from Chinley War Memorial in Stubbins Lane (SK23 6AE).

The route will take you to Whitehough, along the Tramway to Chapel Milton, passing Breckead, Shire Oaks, South Head, The Lamb Inn (sadly closed) and returning via Monk's Meadow to the memorial in Chinley.

Happy wandering !


photos taken by John Jones 

 Pietime on the benches next to Chadkirk Chapel. L to R: Jones, Whaites, Welsh, Hart, Ross, Cunliffe.

Otterspool hydro electric scheme.

Weeping Willows at Hawk Green

Poynton

June 3, 2020.

POYNTON, LADYBROOK VALLEY, PARKGATE FARM, MIDDLEWOOD CROSSING, NORBURY HOLLOW, MIDDLEWOOD STATION, MIDDLE WOOD, MACCLESFIELD CANAL, JACKSONS' BRICKWORKS NATURE RESERVE, MIDDLEWOOD WAY, COPPICE CAR PARK, MINERS ARMS, WOOD LANE ENDS, COPPICE ALLOTMENTS, PRINCES INCLINE, POYNTON POOL

Distance: 10 miles.

Difficulty: Easy.

Weather: Overcast but dry.

Walkers: Alan Hart, Chris Owen, Julian Ross and George Whaites.

Alternative walkers: Colin Davison and Lawrie Fairman.

Apologies: Peter Beal (arthritis tablets may affect lockdown rules), Andy Blease (plantar fasciitis in right heel),Tom Cunliffe (poorly), George Dearsley (in Turkey), Mark Gibby (grounded by Covid rules),John Jones (flat-moving problems), Jock Rooney (grounded with Mary by Covid rules)

Leader and Diarist: Hart.

Starting point: Car park next to Poynton Pool.

Starting time: 9.45am. Finishing time: 2.06pm.

The relaxation of the UK's lockdown rules which followed the Covid 19 pandemic enabled the Wednesday Wanderers to resume walking again in larger numbers. 

After 10 weeks of wall-to-wall sunshine it seemed a cruel blow when rain was forecast for our return to action.

However the weather gods smiled down upon us again as morning drizzle stopped moments before our walk started and we experienced no further rain throughout our journey.

Alternative walkers Colin and Lawrie, who chose to walk for six miles along The Roaches, were not so lucky. They were soaked by heavy rain but had the fitting consolation of spotting a pair of cuckoos.

Having spent the curfew weeks exploring new paths, hidden woodland and nature trails, your diarist was able to lead a ten-mile route which never took us further than three miles from our starting point. Coincidentally we encountered Julian's wife Dee and two friends towards the end of our walk.

Meanwhile Tom, who had rung your diarist a week ago to stress the importance of resuming our weekly wanders, cried off at the last minute because he didn't feel well !

From Poynton Pool car park off Anglesey Drive we walked away from the pool along a pathway between trees which ran parallel to the main road. This took us into Towers Road where we turned right (2mins). After 250 yards we turned left over a wooden stile by the side of a metal gate and headed towards farm buildings.

After passing cattle sheds on our left we reached a footpath sign and turned left towards Hazel Grove (17mins), going through two metal gates to enter and exit and field, then turning right. Before reaching a bridge across the new by-pass we turned right through a gate to the right of the path (19mins) and entered woods on the left bank of Lady Brook.

The well-trodden path reached a clearing where a sign indicated a right turn towards Poynton which we followed over a footbridge and wooden stile (25mins). The path then led us uphill into Park Gate Farm, where we turned left, with a showjumping practice ring on our left. Beyond the farm we reached Middlewood Road (31mins) with the level crossing to our left.

We turned right and after 30 yards followed a path on our right which climbed away from the road and then ran parallel to it before we took a left fork along a concessionary path to rejoin the road.

This brought us to Norbury Hollow on our left (43mins). We entered the grounds and followed the track as it swung right. To our left was a flight of steps leading us over the Manchester-Buxton railway line (45mins). The path on the far side took us through a wood to The Middlewood Way (49mins)

Opened in 1985 by celebrated environmentalist Dr David Bellamy, The Middlewood Way is an 11-mile linear park between Macclesfield and Rose Hill, Marple, for hikers, cyclists and horse riders. It follows the route of the Macclesfield, Bollington and Marple Railway which opened in 1869 and closed in 1970.

We turned right, soon reaching Middlewood Station for passengers using the Manchester-Buxton railway line on our right (50mins). Here we turned left uphill to reach the Macclesfield Canal (60mins) and turned right with the waterway on our left. At the first bridge we encountered our quartet turned right (66mins) and followed a path which swung left, took us through a gate and emerged at the private entrance to a farm.

We turned right at a gate between parked horse boxes and entered the Jacksons' Brickworks Nature Reserve (72mins). As we passed several shallow ponds which are the home to great crested newts, dragon flies and visiting birds Julian stopped at a hide and revealed that in ten seconds he had spotted two kingfishers and an otter. If he had lingered another few seconds he would have seen a rare courtship ritual between a kangaroo and a unicorn.

We returned to The Middlewood Way and turned left (80mins). This took us, choosing the higher paths, to the former Higher Poynton Station platform outside The Boar's Head (97mins) where we stopped at a picnic bench for pies, port and delicious home-made damson wine provided by Chris.

Continuing we soon turned left up steps and entered a sports ground (98mins) where soccer matches are normally played. 

Heading towards the left corner we reached steps which took us to the bank of the Macclesfield Canal (103mins). A right turn along the towpath took us along the right bank of the canal until we reached a gap in the hedge (111mins) where an easily-missed footpath led downhill.

This took us past a house on our left and a sign on our right for Higher Poynton (113mins) which led us down into a wooded valley and back up again to Coppice Road (119mins)

We turned left and then right into Coppice car park. A pair of carved wooden birds on the top of posts marked the entrance to another hidden woodland valley. We kept to the higher right fork, exited by a wooden gate and turned immediately right (122mins) past The Coppice Boarding Kennels and Cattery. At a T junction we turned left (124mins).

The lane took us past houses on our right to a green footpath sign on our left (134mins) where we turned to cross a wooden footbridge. At the far side of a stream we turned right with the trickle of water on our right, then headed left up a flight of steps. This brought us to a T-junction where we turned right for 15 yards before going left over a stile (139mins)

The series of enclosed footpaths was easy to follow providing you take the left fork at the only option. We emerged over a wooden stile at a road by the side of The Miners Arms on our right (151mins). Here we rested before starting the homeward journey (161mins)

We walked back with the pub on our left behind us and continued to the end of the road and public footpath signs. We turned left with Woodlane End Old Farm on our right (168mins) and followed a path with another hidden wooded valley on our right. The path took us back to the footbridge (179mins) we had crossed earlier and we retraced our footsteps back over it.

On the lane at the far side of the bridge a green sign diagonally to our right indicated a path into a field. We aimed for a lightning tree and went past it to the right of a pond before crossing a wooden stile on our left (183mins). A scarcely discernible path across a field led us to another wooden stile which we crossed and walked through a field with a row of trees on our right.

This took us over a stile between houses to Coppice Road (189mins) which we crossed and followed a footpath to Coppice Allotments on our right. We turned right at a path passing more allotments until we reached a wooden gate and turned left (190mins). One our right, almost obscured by threatening nettles, was a wooden stile (191mins) which we crossed to enter the left of a field.

Within 80 yards we had crossed three more wooden stiles – two forward and one to the left – which brought us into a field and a well-trodden path. We exited by a wooden stile and then went through a metal kissing gate to enter another field with stables on its right (198mins). Two more kissing gates enabled us to exit the field and we emerged at the junction of Anson Road and Middlewood Road.

Crossing Middlewood Road we headed uphill to reach the golf course as the track levelled off (204mins). After taking a left fork we turned left (209mins) along Princes Incline. 

Just before reaching Towers Road we were approached from the opposite direction by Dee Roach and two of her friends. They had just started their walk as we were coming to the end of ours. The meeting and chat (212mins) was put down to coincidence although Julian was advised to check his clothes and equipment for any electronic devices.

After crossing Towers Road we carried on down Princes Incline (214mins) until we reached the main road (226mins) and turned right. A brief right turn into South Park Drive (227mins) and a left turn took us on to the footpath leading alongside Poynton Pool. With the water on our right we passed a pair of coots and six of their young (cootlets ?) receiving swimming, diving and begging lessons. At the end of the lake we reached the cars (240mins)

Next week's walk will start at 9.40am from the car park at Brabyns Park, Marple Bridge. Please bring your own refreshments as required and resist the temptation to hug or kiss.

Happy wandering !

a tree-filled valley

Julian, George and Chris

a new family of coots.