Wednesday Wandering: August 2020

26/08/2020

Macclesfield

August 26, 2020.

SUTTON HALL, MACCLESFIELD CANAL, MACCLESFIELD GOLF COURSE, LANGLEY, BOTTOM RESERVOIR, TEGG'S NOSE COUNTRY PARK, MACCLESFIELD FOREST, LEATHER'S SMITHY, RIDGEGATE RESERVOIR, LANGLEY CRICKET CLUB, SUTTON HALL

Distance: 8-9 miles.

Difficulty: Mainly easy with one strenuous climb.

Weather: Cloudy with two brief showers.

Walkers: Steve Courtney with Luna, Tom Cunliffe with Daisy, Alan Hart, Jonathan Hart, Howard Jones, John Jones, Chris Owen, Dean Taylor, George Whaites and Dave Willetts.

Alternative walkers: Colin Davison, Laurie Fairman and Jock Rooney.

Apologies: Peter Beal, Andy Blease (British hols), George Dearsley (in London heading home to Turkey), Mark Gibby (self-isolating), Hughie Hardiman (hols abroad), Julian Ross.

Leader: Owen. Diarist: Alan Hart.

Starting point: Car park of Sutton Hall, Sutton, Macclesfield.

Starting time: 9.37am. Finishing time: 2.09pm.

It was raining heavily as we assembled but it stopped abruptly as we were about to depart. Could it be that you diarist's magic waterproof trousers had worked their sorcery again ? Alas not. The rain returned at Pietime just as we were congratulating ourselves on having avoided the early threat forecast by the Met Office. The rain made a second appearance at lunchtime and wet weather gear was donned again. Happily it had ceased by the time we finished and we were able to drink our final pints on the garden terrace of historic Sutton Hall in bright sunshine.

We welcomed two newcomers, Howard Jones and Dave Willetts, to our group, along with the return of one of our prodigal sons, Steve Courtney, for his first outing of 2020, and an actual son in Jonathan Hart.

We were led expertly by Chris on familiar territory surrounding his home. Highlights were the breath-taking (in every sense) views from the summit of Tegg's Nose. We also heard the call of a buzzard as we walked through Macclesfield Forest.

Our route took us to Leather's Smithy, near Ridgegate Reservoir, Langley, where we were joined in a giant marquee outside the pub by alternative walkers Colin, Laurie and Jock. This created a total of 13 Wednesday Wanderers, which proved lucky for a landlord charging more than £4 a pint for his beer.

From the car park we headed back along the drive to the road which we crossed and joined the towpath by Bridge 44 of the Macclesfield Canal (5mins). The waterway was initially on our right but at Bridge 43 (12mins) we used the cobbled pathway to switch sides with the canal now on our left.

At Bridge 40 (23mins) we exited the canal, crossing the bridge over it and turning left into Black Street with a park on our right. We turned left again to head up Richmond Hill before turning right at the top to enter Macclesfield Golf Course and follow a sign for the 18^th tee (32mins)

Where the path forked we headed right under a canopy of trees (38mins) to go through a metal kissing gate (50mins) and across a footbridge over the River Bollin (55mins). The path continued to a road (58mins) where we turned left.

After passing Langley Methodist Church on our right and the St Dunstans Inn on our left we turned left up Holehouse Lane (64mins) to reach the dam wall at Bottom Reservoir (68mins). Turning left we entered Tegg's Nose Country Park (69mins) for a steep climb to the summit.

Originally called Tegge's Naze, the meaning behind the name is obscure. Some historians suggest it was named after Tegge, an early Norse settler while others believe that “teg” was a local name for a sheep. In any event 500 years of quarrying has changed the appearance of Tegg's Nose beyond recognition.

On our journey to the top of the hill we passed a memorial bench to Fiona McWilliam (87mins) and turned right. We began our descent by a bookcase called Library on the Landscape (90mins). After passing through a wooden gate (103mins) we stopped for pies and port by a drystone wall on our right (104mins)

Continuing we went straight ahead, crossing a swollen stream until we reached a stone step stile on our left (115mins). The path here took us through a field which we exited by another stone step stile to reach a road and turn left (119mins) then right at a path into Macclesfield Forest (121mins)

A metal gate brought us to a lane (140mins) where we turned right along the Forest Bridleway. At the end of the lane on our right was Leather's Smithy (146mins). Only under pressure did the landlord concede that we would be able to buy drinks and consume them at one of a dozen empty trestle tables at the rear of the pub. We were joined by the trio of alternative walkers but by the time we left 15 minutes later they were still waiting and wondering when they might be offered refreshment.

They had walked eight wet miles from Ridgegate through Macclesfield Forest to Forest Chapel, returning via Bottom Reservoir.

We crossed a stile opposite the front door of the pub (147mins) and turned right with Ridgegate Reservoir on our left. As the stony track headed left we went right to follow a well-trodden path with a drystone wall on the right and a wood on the left (149mins). We crossed a wooden footbridge (153mins) and turned right through a wooden gate. At a metal kissing gate (156mins) we turned left into a field, then passed through two other metal kissing gates to emerge on the right of Moss Lea Farm (163mins) and turned right along the road. On our right was Langley Cricket Club, where the presence of handy trestle tables persuaded us to stop for lunch (167mins)

Resuming we walked to the end of Cock Hall Lane (174mins) and turned left along Langley Lane, passing The Church House pub at Langley (187mins) on our left. We turned left into Trinity Lane, right into Fitzwilliam Avenue, left into Peter House Road (190mins), right at a T-junction and left into Selwyn Drive, then right at the T-junction as Chris led us into and out of a modern housing estate (193mins)

We turned left just before the road bent left (195mins) and went through a wooden door on our right (196mins) to enter the car park of Sutton Hall and de-boot.

In the 12^th Century the conquering Normans granted the manor of Sutton to individual families to look after the Forest of Macclesfield where hunting was popular. In 1399 Richard 11 granted the monastery of Chester a royal license to fortify the manor house, which had a convent attached. This building did not survive. The current hall dates in part from the 16^th Century with numerous later additions.

Ralph Holinshead, a 16^th Century scholar was born in Sutton Hall. In 1577 he published The Chronicles of England, Scotland and Wales, which Shakespeare used as historical background for many of his plays.

In the 19^th Century the hall became part of the estate of the Earls of Lucan, including the 3^rd Earl, George Charles Bingham (1800-1888) who had overall command of the cavalry at the infamous Charge of the Light Brigade during The Crimean War.

A century later the 7^th Earl, a compulsive gambler known as “Lucky Lucan,” disappeared in 1974 after his wife's nanny was bludgeoned to death at their London home. An inquest named him as the murderer but he was never seen again. Lucky Lucan was declared dead in 1999 and his son successfully applied to inherit the title of 8^th Earl in 2016.

Next week's walk will start at 9.40am from Danebridge, near The Ship Inn at Wincle, Macclesfield. To reach the starting point pass The Ship on your left and park tightly by the side of the road on your left wherever you can before reaching the bridge itself. It is intended to stop for a livener at either the Knot Inn or the Royal Oak at Rushton Spencer before returning to Danebridge for a final drink at Wincle Brewery or The Ship Inn.

Happy wandering !

map by Tom Cunliffe

pictures by Alan Hart

A view of Macclesfield Canal

A memorial stone near the summit of Tegg’s Nose

The descent from Tegg’s Nose

A view from Macclesfield Forest.

pictures by John Jones

1/ Stile crossing..2/ (On lea side of old barn wall). 3/

Memorial to soldier in Macc forest,

Owl box on dead tree with Tegg's Nose

Luna steals the foreground

Langley library.

"No-pissing" signs of our times.

19/08/2020

New Mills

August 19, 2020
LOW LEIGHTON, NEW MILLS, BIG STONE, PEEP-A-DAY, COLDWELL CLOUGH, KINDERLOW END, TUNSTEAD HOUSE, BOWDEN BRIDGE, THE SPORTSMAN INN ON KINDER ROAD, HAYFIELD, THE SETT VALLEY TRAIL, OLLERSETT MOOR, LOW LEIGHTON
Distance: 10 miles.
Difficulty: Moderate.
Weather: Bright start then intermittent light showers.
Walkers: Peter Beal, Andy Blease, Tom Cunliffe with Daisy, George Dearsley, Laurie Fairman, Alan Hart, John Jones, Chris Owen, Jock Rooney and George Whaites.
Apologies: Mickey Barrett, Alastair Cairns, Colin Davison, Mark Gibby and Hughie Hardiman (self-isolating), Julian Ross, Dean Taylor and Keith Welsh (hols)
Leader: Jones. Diarist: Hart.
Starting point: Far end of Laneside Road, Low Leighton, New Mills.
Starting time: 9.37am. Finishing time: 2.55pm.

Our international blogspotter George Dearsley made a rare outing with the Wednesday Wanderers, whose exploits he has covered from his home in Turkey for the past six years. It was great to see him in the flesh again and to note that treatment for a knee problem had considerably improved his fitness since his last visit to Blighty.
Once again JJ, in training for his Coast-to-Coast walk, had plotted a new route for us to follow around some novel and some familiar territory in the foothills of the impressive Kinder Range. We were also joined by Laurie, whose alternative walking companion Colin, has been forced into isolation because his girlfriend's daughter has been diagnosed with Covid19.
Despite the poor weather forecast there was an encouraging turn-out of 10, although Laurie and George left us after an hour to tak' the low road into Hayfield and were never seen again. For the first 90 minutes we were blessed with dry sunny weather until the first of several light showers arrived on cue.
From our parking spots at the side of the road we headed uphill following a green public footpath sign, walking through a wooden gate until we reached a four-way junction of paths (22mins). We carried straight on across open moorland until we reached a drystone wall on our right.
Keeping this on our right we crossed a wooden stile (29mins) and reached Big Stone (31mins), which is a rocky outcrop on Cracken Edge with a splendid view across the valley below. After pausing for a photo opportunity we walked a few yards to the left of Big Stone before starting our descent which became easier the lower we progressed, bringing us out at Peep-A-Day, a farmstead with an interesting history (58mins)
Its name comes from a tiny window which offers a glimpse of the morning sun as it rises. The window has an inscription indicating that John and Mary Goddard lived here in 1844.
More recently the building featured in a seven-part TV series called GBH, written by Alan Bleasdale and transmitted in 1991. It was used as the home of Jim Nelson, headmaster of a special school, played by Monty Python favourite Michael Palin. His adversary in the series was Michael Murray, left-wing leader of a north of England council, played by Robert Lindsay of “Citizen Smith” fame. Critics speculated about whether Bleasdale had based the Murray character on Liverpool City Council radical Derek Hatton.
Passing Peep-A-Day on our left we reached the main A624 road linking Glossop with Chapel-en-le-Frith and turned left for 100 yards before crossing by the side of Hayfield View Camping Barn on our left and heading uphill (102mins). When we reached a junction and dog-legged right and left to carry on uphill, Laurie and George left us (107mins)
We went through a metal gate and a wooden gate before stopping for pies and port on a grassy bank (115mins). Resuming we reached a T junction in the paths and turned right (125mins), by which time the first of the showers had started in earnest.
On our left we passed Coldwell Clough Farm, built in 1804 but which had replaced a previous construction and been occupied by the Bradley family for more than 300 years. On the roof was a carved monkey, which, according to JJ, was put there to indicate the “monkey on the back” of the Bradley member who took out a mortgage on the then new building.
We continued in the direction of a sign for Edale and Jacob's Ladder (145mins). After passing through a gate (155mins) we turned immediately left over a wooden stile. This brought us to the foot of Kinderlow End on our right ahead (161mins) . Here we turned left and started our descent through a series of fields until we passed Tunstead House on our right (176mins)
At crossroads we carried straight on and with the River Kinder now on our right we swung left with the lane until we reached Bowden Bridge on our right (186mins). Turning left along Kinder Road we reached The Sportsman Inn (195mins) on our right for pints of excellent Thwaites' Original at £3-60. We were hoping to be reunited here with our chums but they were by now on their homeward leg from Hayfield. They missed out on a drink to celebrate JJ's birthday. Many happy returns to him.
The rain had ceased temporarily as we resumed our journey, crossing the road opposite the pub, heading down a flight of steps and crossing the erstwhile River Kinder which had now become The River Sett. We turned right on the far side of the bridge and walked into Hayfield, crossing the A624 (207mins), and briefly following the A6015 towards New Mills.
After 100 yards we turned right into Station Road which led to the Information Centre, car park, toilets and picnic area which were once Hayfield Station. We stopped at the trestle tables for lunch (209mins). We were now at the start of The Sett Valley Trail.
This is a 4-kilometre cycle and bridleway linking Hayfield with New Mills along the low valley of the River Sett following the former trackbed of the branch railway which opened in 1868 and closed in 1970. The line was bought from British Rail by Derbyshire County Council in 1973 and the station building demolished two years later.
We proceeded along the trail, passing Slack's Crossing (217mins) before exiting at Birch Vale by following a sign for Chinley (226mins). Here we bade farewell to Peter, who walked 20 yards to his home.
The seven remaining stalwarts crossed the A6015 and started a long climb up Morland Road (228mins) before going through a wooden gate and turning right (240mins). We passed an electricity pylon on our right and crossed a wooden stile (244mins), through a wooden gate (253mins) and over a ladder stile (257mins) and reaching a lane via a stone step stile (259mins). We turned left and reached our cars (269mins)
Next week's walk will start at 9.35am from the car park of Sutton Hall, Sutton, Macclesfield. We aim to stop for a livener in The Leathers' Smithy by Ridgegate Reservoir around 12.30pm and take a final drink at Sutton Hall at about 2.30pm.
Happy wandering !

picture by George Dearsley

Strange face in the window

The route, courtesy of Tom Cunliffe

Pictures by Alan Hart

Your blogmaster

The view at Pietime

Approaching Kinder Low End

Lantern Pike from The Sett Valley Trail

pictures by John Jones

Big Stone group photo

"Pie-Time" below Mount Famine

Private room in The Sportsman "Cheers!".

12/08/2020

Bollington

August 12, 2020.

BOLLINGTON RECREATION GROUND, MACCLESFIELD CANAL, ENDON HOUSE, KERRIDGE RIDGE, RAINOW, BULL HILL LANE, TEGGS NOSE COUNTRY PARK, SADDLERS WAY, BOTTOM RESERVOIR, LANGLEY, SUTTON, YE OLDE KINGS HEAD AT GURNETT, MACCLESFIELD CANAL, MIDDLEWOOD WAY, THE COCK AND PHEASANT, BOLLINGTON

Distance: 12 miles.

Difficulty: Moderate but some stiff climbs in sweltering conditions.

Weather: Hot and sunny throughout.

Walkers: Peter Beal, Andy Blease, Alastair Cairns, Tom Cunliffe with Daisy, Alan Hart, John Jones, Chris Owen and Julian Ross.

Alternative walkers: Colin Davison and Lawrie Fairman.

Apologies: George Dearsley (in Turkey), Mark Gibby and Hughie Hardiman (self-isolating), Jock Rooney (planning to walk with Tony Job), Dean Taylor and George Whaites (hols)

Leader: Owen. Diarist: Hart.

Starting points: Alternative car parks next to Bollington Recreation Ground.

Starting time: 9.48am. Finishing time: 3.08pm.

On the hottest day of the summer it seemed the fates had conspired against us when roadworks were erected minutes before our intended start time outside the car park where we had arranged to meet. Those arriving before 9.25am were able to enter the car park. Those arriving after 9.27am had to find a way to enter the alternative car park on the opposite side of the road.

When that confusion had been resolved and just as we were setting off, JJ arrived with a screech of tyres in a cloud of dust. He then entertained us for five minutes with the worst attempt at parking ever demonstrated by a male motorist.

From that inauspicious beginning it was sunshine all the way – literally – as Chris led us on a new route combining paths familiar from other walks in the area. We made a welcome return to a pub which had once been a favourite haunt and may become one again. We also welcomed Alastair back to the fold for the first time since the covid lockdown disrupted our activities. And Chris celebrated a series of family landmarks – birthdays, a silver wedding anniversary and the birth of a fifth grandchild – by buying a round of drinks. We offer him our warm congratulations.

From the car parks we walked across the sports fields to the right hand corner of Bollington Recreation Ground, crossing the River Dean and mounting steps to reach the main road. We crossed it, turned left and after 25 yards turned right up a steep flight of stone steps which brought us out on the right bank of The Macclesfield Canal (7mins)

We walked with the canal on our left, passing The Adelphi Mill on our right (14mins) before reaching Bridge 28 and crossing it to leave the waterway (20mins). Following a track we reached a T junction where we dog-legged right and left to head up Higher Lane (26mins). This took us to the left of Endon House, a distinctive building with a large clock on its front wall (31mins)

After passing the house we turned left (32mins) up a steep flight of steps to reach a road where we turned left (34mins). After 50 yards we turned left at a green public footpath sign and began another steep climb past Endon Quarry as we puffed and panted our way on to Kerridge Ridge (41mins). This gave us a lovely view of the village of Rainow on our left and a less than lovely view of the Hurdsfield Industrial Estate to our right.

We turned right along the ridge, going through a metal kissing gate to continue uphill (44mins), passing the Trig Point (50mins) before starting our gentle descent into Rainow. On reaching the main road through the village we turned right (64mins). After 80 yards we crossed the road to ascend a flight of stone steps (66mins) on our left to enter a field.

The climb continued through the field and on reaching a road through a metal gate (74mins) it carried on as we turned right along Bull Hill Lane.

At the T-junction with the A537 (80mins) we turned left for 30 yards before crossing to follow a wooden public footpath sign into a field. At a stile we followed another sign for The Gritstone Trail which brought us to the unlikely sight of two overgrown trestle tables with benches in the middle of a field. Here we paused for pies and port (87mins)

The route took us through a series of four metal kissing gates (89, 92, 95 and 97mins) to a stone step stile which brought us on to a road. We turned right (98mins) and then left (100mins) to walk to the right of a cafe at Teggs Nose Country Park. Without pause we plunged down the bridle path at Saddlers Way (101mins), reaching a lane and turning right (108mins)

At a three-way junction we went right along the Teggs Nose Trail, through a wooden gate and across stepping stones over a brook (117mins). We started passing Bottom Reservoir on our right and then a pond on our left before reaching Main Road, Langley, where we turned right (132mins).

This road took us past St Dunstan's pub on our right and The Church House on our left before reaching Ye Olde King's Head at Gurnett on our right (160mins) where Chris treated us to pints of Wincle Waller. We were reunited with Lawrie and Colin, who had met us at the start in Bollington before driving to Sutton Hall for a five-mile walk around Sutton Reservoir and the former Fools Nook pub at Oakgrove before returning along the shoulder of Croker Hill. We were also joined briefly by Chris's wife Vanessa during her lunch break.

For the final leg of our journey we walked back past the pub on our left and then turned immediately up a flight of steps leading to the Macclesfield Canal (162mins). We turned left with the waterway on our right until Bridge 43 where we switched to the opposite towpath, pausing for a brief lunch. This would normally have been the route all the way back to Bollington but the canal bank was being repaired and we we diverted away from the canal through Macclesfield's streets before returning at Bridge 37 (186mins) where we were able to return to the towpath and walk with the canal on our left.

We finally left the canal at Bridge 30 in Bollington (232mins), turning right on to The Middlewood Way (234mins).

The Middlewood Way is an 11-mile linear nature trail which follows the course of the Macclesfield, Bollington and Marple Railway. It was closed under The Beeching Axe in 1970 and remained derelict until 1986. Macclesfield Borough Council acquired the land and paid £1 for the viaduct across Dean Valley at Bollington which had been threatened with demolition.

As we joined the route for hikers, cyclists and horse-riders, we passed on our right the Bollington Labyrinth. This was built in 2009 by sculptors based on an ancient Greek unicursal maze of 78 standing stones. The intended spiritual effect was somewhat marred by the fact that it had been allowed to become overgrown with grass.

We crossed the rescued viaduct over the main road (259mins) before turning right and swinging back down hill to the car parks to de-boot (263mins). As all the nearby pubs were shut, your leader and his diarist adjourned to The Cock and Pheasant, Bollington, where a traditional country pub has been sanitized to within an inch of its life. After being thoroughly scrutinised by a martinet at the pub's new reception desk we were able to drink pints of Wainwrights' cask bitter in the unremitting sunshine and to contemplate a bygone era of five months ago.

Next week's walk will start at 9.30am at the top of Laneside Road, New Mills (SK22 4QN). Heading towards Hayfield turn right at The Hare and Hounds. Grid ref: SK020847. JJ will be leading us via Chinley Churn, Mount Famine, White Lady, Bottom Kinder Low, to The Sportsman Inn, Kinder Road, Hayfield, (eta 1215) before returning along The Sett Valley Trail: a total of 9 miles.

Happy wandering !

pictures by Alan Hart

Roadworks delayed our start

Wanderers on the bank of The Macclesfield Canal

A heron

The Bollington Labrynth.

05/08/2020

Baslow

BASLOW, PLANTATION COTTAGE, CANNON KISSING GATE, STAND WOOD, HUNTING TOWER, EMPEROR LAKE, SOWTER STONE, DEVONSHIRE ARMS AT BEELEY, JASMINE COTTAGE, CHATSWORTH PARK, SURPRISE VIEW, EDENSOR, QUEEN MARY'S BOWER, THE PRINCE OF WALES AT BASLOW

Distance: Ten miles.

Difficulty: Moderate.

Weather: Dry with cloud and sunshine

Walkers: Alan Hart, John Jones, Chris Owen, Jock Rooney, Dean Taylor and George Whaites.

Alternative walkers: Colin Davison and Laurie Fairman.

Apologies: Mickey Barrett (returning from Turkey), Alastair Cairns, Mark Gibby and Hughie Hardiman (self-isolating), Peter Beal (heavy cold), Andy Blease (post holiday duties), Tom Cunliffe (in Southport)

Leader: Rooney. Diarist: Hart.

Starting point: Outside St Anne's Church, Baslow, Derbyshire.

Starting time: 10.02am. Finishing time: 3.35pm.

Starting from Baslow to explore the Chatsworth Estate involves one of the longest car journeys undertaken by The Wednesday Wanderers. Is it worth the effort ? The answer was a resounding Yes as six of us enjoyed spectacular scenery in the rolling acres surrounding a national treasure, Chatsworth Hall, ancestral home of the 12^th Duke of Devonshire.

Both Baslow and Beeley, where we paused for refreshment, are picture postcard villages in the Derbyshire Dales but looking down on Chatsworth Hall from the aptly-named Surprise View was undoubtedly the jewel in the crown.

Apart from a few spots of rain lasting seconds we were spared the occasional showers which had been forecast and found ourselves basking in sunshine in the garden terrace at The Devonshire Arms.

It was here that Jock announced the sad news that his faithful companion and our friend Tip was no longer with us. However, in the spirit of the wanderers, our lovable border collie had left enough money for a round of drinks for his Wednesday chums.

We were also treated to a second round by 54^th birthday boy Dean. We raised a glass to both of them.

Assembling outside St Anne's Church, Baslow, we walked along the main road with the church on our right, passing The Prince of Wales pub on our right, negotiating a large roundabout before going straight on and turning right down stone steps at a wooden public footpath sign (6mins)

The path emerged at Plantation Cottage (12mins) where we turned right and went through Cannon Kissing Gate (13mins), a circular metal device leading to the 35,000 acres of grounds surrounding Chatsworth Hall. Turning immediately left we headed through the grass across a lane and aimed uphill towards a wood.

On reaching the treeline we turned right until we turned left up stone steps (30mins) to follow a path through the wood. At a T-junction we turned right (34mins) and carried straight on where the paths crossed (38mins). This brought us to Hunting Tower on our right, which commanded a splendid view of the valley below and was guarded by two ornamental cannon.

After admiring the vista and taking photos we retraced our footsteps to the junction of paths and turned right (42mins). At the end of a line of trees was a path leading to the shore of Emperor Lake (47mins). We turned right to circle it anti-clockwise. At the far end of the lake we turned right down a gravel track (53mins)

At a T-junction we turned left (55mins) and on our right (58mins) was Sowter Stone, which resembles a giant bird bath and is the start of a cascade which pours water down a sculpted waterfall to the valley below.

Continuing we crossed a tarmac road (69mins) and carried on until we saw a sign for Swiss Cottage on our left (77mins) where we turned right instead. We left Stand Wood via a stone step stile (80mins) and followed the path until we reached a cluster of rocks on our right with a path downhill (86mins). Here we stopped for pies and port.

Resuming we walked down the stony path through waist-high ferns through a series of three kissing gates and a stone step stile (96mins). After crossing the stile we turned right and then left at a yellow arrow to go through two gap stiles leading into a farmyard. By following more yellow arrows we swung right to exit the farm by crossing wooden steps between an electrified fence (103mins)

We crossed a wooden stile marked with a yellow arrow (107mins) and a gap stile before turning right downhill with a hedge on our right (109mins). After passing through a gap stile (112mins) we turned left into the village of Beeley, heading downhill until we saw The Devonshire Arms on our left (117mins)

There was an amusing example of our brave new technological world when Dean ordered a round of drinks to celebrate his birthday and attempted to pay in cash. He was informed the bar no longer accepted common currency and Chris had to come to his rescue with a credit card.

Suitably refreshed we turned left to leave the pub, reaching the main road and turning right (122mins). Turning left opposite the parish church (123mins) we followed a footpath and exited the field by a kissing gate to reach the main road (137mins), crossing the River Derwent, then turning left and immediately right (138mins)

We went through a wood taking the right fork and emerging at the rear entrance to Chatsworth Garden Centre (141mins) where we paused for lunch. Resuming we walked along a lane marked “No parking beyond this point”, passing Jasmine Cottage on our right (145mins)

After passing Pringle and Ryecroft Cottages on our right (164mins) we went through a wooden gate and turned right (168mins). Another wooden gate (171mins) led us into and through a field along a well-trodden path. A third wooden gate enabled us to join a track (175mins) which brought us into Chatsworth Park (177mins) with the Surprise View looking down on the valley with Chatsworth Hall at its heart.

After walking through a metal gate (182mins) we went down a flight of stone steps and turned right to pass St Peter's Church, Edensor, on our right (186mins). We continued to the main road and crossed it to follow a stony path (192mins)

This took us to a road bridge over the Derwent (201mins) which we crossed and turned immediately left at a wooden public footpath sign. The path took us past Queen Mary's Bower on our right (203mins). There follows a brief history which you can skip if so desired.

Chatsworth, known as Chetesuorde at the time of The Norman Conquest, was assigned to William de Peverel (of Peveril Castle fame). In the 15^th Century it was acquired by the Leche family who sold it in 1549 to Sir William Cavendish, treasurer of the king's chamber and husband of Bess of Hardwick.

He sold his property in Suffolk and settled in her native county. Work on building the new house began in 1553. Sir William died in 1557 but Bess completed the hall in the 1560s and lived there with her fourth husband, George Talbot, the sixth Earl of Shrewsbury.

He had custody of Mary Queen of Scots who was under a form of house arrest which enabled her to move around the country under the earl's supervision. She and Bess were both keen needlewomen and became friends but as we know it all ended in tears for Mary, who was beheaded.

After a spell in exile during the Cromwell era, the 3^rd Earl of Devonshire returned to England following the Restoration of the Monarchy and his son the 4^th Earl became the 1^st Duke of Devonshire in 1694 for helping to put William of Orange on the throne of England.

All went well for the successive dukes until the 20^th Century when a series of punitive death duties resulted in the trustees of the Chatsworth Settlement agreeing a deal whereby the dukes of Devonshire were allowed to use their former premises as tenants.

During World War 11 Chatsworth was occupied by 300 girls from Penrhos College, Colwyn Bay. In 1944 Kathleen Kennedy, sister of JFK, married William Cavendish, elder son of the 10^th Duke. But he was killed in action in Belgium four months later and in 1948 his widow Kathleen died in a plane crash.

The 12^th Duke of Devonshire is Peregrine Cavendish who lives in Chatsworth Hall.

We continued along the lane passing on our left a plaque for Sir Joseph Paxton (1803-65), who was head gardener at Chatsworth and who designed London's Crystal Palace.

As Chris and Dean inspected the caravan site on our left the remaining four of us went back through The Cannon Kissing Gate (228mins) and retraced our footsteps via Plantation Cottage back to The Prince of Wales (241mins) where pints of excellent Barnsley bitter cost £3-95.

Meanwhile the alternative walkers started from Chinley on a seven-mile walk which involved climbing Cracken Edge and enjoying a pint in The Lamb at Chinley Head.

Next week's walk will start at 9.35am from the free car park overlooking Bollington Recreation Ground. After climbing to Kerridge Ridge, Chris intends to lead us via Teggs Nose to Gurnett, Sutton, the Macclesfield Canal and Middlewood Way back to our cars. Refreshment stops still to be decided have been promised.

Happy wandering !