Old Glossop

 

September 30, 2020.

OLD GLOSSOP, BLACKSHAW FARM, PEAK NAZE, OGDEN CLOUGH, NELL'S PIKE, BRAMAH EDGE, DEEPCLOUGH, LONGDENDALE TRAIL, HADFIELD, THE ANCHOR AT PADFIELD, GLOSSOP CEMETERY, ALLMAN'S HEATH, SWINESHAW RESERVOIR, THE QUEENS AT OLD GLOSSOP

Distance: 9 miles.

Difficulty: Moderate.

Weather: Cloudy with some light drizzle but mainly dry.

Walkers: Tom Cunliffe with Daisy, Alan Hart, Howard Jones, Chris Owen, Jock Rooney, Julian Ross, Dean Taylor, Keith Welsh, George Whaites, Dave Willetts.

Alternative walkers: Colin Davison and Laurie Fairman.

Apologies: Mickey Barrett (sailing off Turkey), Peter Beal, Alastair Cairns and Mark Gibby (self-isolating), George Dearsley (in Turkey), John Jones (in Osmotherley near the end of his Coast-to-Coast marathon)

Leader: Cunliffe. Diarist: Hart.

Starting point: Spare land opposite The Wheatsheaf at Old Glossop.

Starting time: 9.42am. Finishing time: 2.13pm.

Once again the forecasts of wet and windy conditions failed to dampen our enthusiasm as ten wanderers assembled for this walk over Glossop Low and the spectacular descent towards the reservoirs of Bottoms, Valehouse, Rhodeswood, Torside and Woodhead. Happily the serious rain fell either whilst we were inside The Anchor at Padfield or The Queens at Old Glossop when the walk was over. Apart from that we endured some brief light drizzle and a bit of buffeting in our Pietime shelter.

En route we saw some exotic birds and a multi-cultural herd of cattle. We also walked for three miles along a footpath leading from Cork to Istanbul.

Because of pain to ageing ankles and knees during the steep descent of Deepclough, it was suggested this walk might be more easily accomplished in reverse – an idea which leader Tom has promised to consider.

From the makeshift car park opposite The Wheatsheaf we headed to the right of the pub up Blackshaw Road and through an archway separating a block of flats. On the other side we turned left along a footpath and then followed a green public footpath sign pointing right (2mins)

This brought us to a farm where we often see free-range turkeys roaming. Perhaps they are still eggs at this time of year. We did however see two pairs of peacocks and peahens, and a pair of emus of indeterminate sex.

Beyond a waterfall cascading to our left we went through an unusual metal roundabout-style gate (15mins) and then turned left over a wooden stile to head uphill towards a farm, passing Swineshaw Reservoir on our left below. After passing the farm we swung right (23mins) along a gravel track which we were to follow for the next 42 minutes.

This led us steadily uphill. At one stage we were scrutinised with great suspicion by a herd of cattle which included Belted Gallaways from the Scottish Lowlands, their Highland cousins, Friesians from Holland and what appeared to be Herefords from south-west England.

By the time we arrived at our usual Pietime stop, a ruined roofless building near the summit, a strong wind was blowing through the glass-less window frames (65mins). Continuing we soon passed a tiny tower of stone on our left and grouse butts to our right as we made our way to Bramah Edge for a spectacular view over Deepclough to the reservoirs below.

Following a moderately well-trodden path through the moorland we tip-toed down to a recognised path which was part of The Pennine Way (75mins). Turning left with an unsurvivable drop on our right we carefully made our way down to a flat track with a farm on our right (105mins). We turned left, forming two groups as we followed the sign marked Pennine Way.

As the main path aimed for a main road we took a minor path to our right, through a gate and turning left to reach the main road sooner. We crossed it, turned right for a few yards then headed sharp left along The Longdendale Trail.

This follows the former Woodhead rail line between Manchester and Sheffield which closed east of Hadfield in 1981. The trail, which opened in 1992, is part of the Trans Pennine Trail from Liverpool to Hull. It is also part of the E8 European Path running for 2,900 miles from Cork in Ireland to Istanbul in Turkey. We had less ambitious plans.

After turning left (112mins) we passed Bottoms Reservoir on our right and reached a car park (155mins). We went through this, turning right to pass Malvern Rise on our right until we reached a junction with The Palatine pub on our right and a memorial in front. We went to the left of the memorial up Railway Street (157mins). This brought us to a main road where we turned right and soon reached The Anchor on our left (160mins) for pints of Tetleys' cask bitter or mild.

Resuming we turned right out of the pub and went back along the main road, passing Railway Street on our left and continuing until we crossed a railway bridge (166mins) on our left.

This led to Glossop Cemetery on our left (179mins) where we paused for lunch, leaning against a wall outside the entrance. We then walked through the graveyard, emerging at the far side via a stone step stile which took us into a field (184mins). We turned right then went through a wooden gate on our left and continued through another field with a drystone wall on our left.

The route took us through a farmhouse garden which was piled high with masonry and assorted stonework of every description. We reached a main road, turned right for 50 yards and then, opposite Allman's Heath holiday cottages, went left over a stone step stile (186mins) at a wooden footpath sign.

This brought us into a field leading downhill to Swineshaw Reservoir. On reaching the drystone wall surrounding the water, we turned right and followed a path down beyond the waterfall we had passed earlier to reach the farm for exotic animals. Turning right (197mins) we retraced our footsteps past Broomside on our right a reached our cars to de-boot (207mins)

Meanwhile the alternative walkers had also dodged most of the rain as they walked from Poynton Pool to Lyme Park.

Next week's walk will start at 9.35am on the road near The Lantern Pike at Little Hayfield. Julian promises to lead us through Park Hall and Middle Moor up to the Kinder Downfall before escorting us back to The Sportsman Inn for a bracer around 1pm. We expect to be back at The Lantern Pike at about 2.30pm for a final drink.

Happy wandering !

                                                              pictures by Alan Hart

                                                                           A pair of emu

A waterfall near the farm for exotic birds

Belted Galloway cattle

Swineshaw Reservoir

Bottoms Reservoir.

Monyash

September 23, 2020

MONYASH, LATHKILLDALE NATURE RESERVE, LATHKILL HEAD CAVE, CALES DALE, RIVER LATHKILL, TUFA DAM WATERFALL, MANDALE ENGINE HOUSE RUINS, OVER HADDON, CONKSBURY BRIDGE, ALPORT, RIVER BRADFORD, THE BULL'S HEAD AT YOULGREAVE, LIMESTONE WAY, MOOR LANE CAR PARK, LOW MOOR WOOD, ONE ASH GRANGE, THE BULL'S HEAD AT MONYASH

Distance: 12miles.

Difficulty: Moderate.

Weather: Dull start, becoming wet then sunny.

Walkers: Andy Blease, Alan Hart, Howard Jones, Jock Rooney, Julian Ross, Dean Taylor, Keith Welsh, Dave Willetts.

Alternative walkers: Colin Davison and Laurie Fairman.

Apologies: Mickey Barrett (yachting in Turkey), Peter Beal (self-isolating), Alastair Cairns, Tom Cunliffe, George Dearsley (living in Turkey), Mark Gibby (self-isolating), Hughie Hardiman, John Jones (Coast-to-Coast walk), Chris Owen (self-isolating after French holiday), George Whaites (medical appointment)

Leader: Rooney. Diarist: Hart.

Starting point: Outside Bull's Head, Monyash, Derbyshire.

Starting time: 10am. Finishing time: 3.35pm.

Despite dire forecasts of heavy persistent rain, eight wanderers assembled for one of our most attractive walks in Derbyshire's White Peak District. We were rewarded for our optimism by predominantly dry weather. Some light drizzle got progressively worse for an hour but the threatened downpour of biblical proportions never materialised.

Consequently we were able to enjoy the views along the riverbank as we followed the Lathkill on its journey towards Youlgreave, then followed the Bradford into the village and out again.

Because of the latest Covid19 restrictions we were obliged to split into two groups of four with your diarist leading the Hayfield massive while Jock took charge of the Bramhall Three. By an amazing coincidence and without any forward planning both groups arrived at the first watering hole at ten-minute intervals.

JJ, heading east on his Coast-to-Coast marathon, had covered more than 70 miles to reach Orton by Tuesday. Meanwhile the alternative walkers walked round Monks Dale, Millers Dale and Chee Dale where they saw three dippers.

With the Bull's Head on our left we walked up Church Street until we reached public toilets on our right (10mins). Just beyond them was a kissing gate through which we entered Lathkilldale Nature Reserve via a wooden gate. This was Cales Dale and the Lathkill Head Cave from which springs later emerge above ground to form the River Lathkill. This is believed to be the only English river where rainbow trout breed naturally.

Because of earlier rain the limestone rocks on the trail were in a slippery state but we managed to negotiate them without incident. After the river appeared we ignored one wooden bridge which crossed it. At another stone bridge (70mins) we stopped for pies and Jock led us across the bridge to see the surviving artefacts at the ruins of Mandale Mine.

Lead-mining in Derbyshire may have started in the late Bronze Age and there is written evidence of such activity during the Roman occupation. In medieval times one-thirteenth of all ore mined (called a “lot”) was allotted to the Crown and a tenth (“tithe”) to the Church.

The Peak District was a free mining area where diggers had access everywhere except churchyards, gardens, orchards and highways. Mineral courts were set up to resolve disputes and mining laws were formalised in 1852.

In the Middle Ages open-cast mining descended from the surface to a maximum of 40 feet. By the beginning of the 18^th Century shafts and workings had gone down to 700 feet. By the end of that century the deepest mines were in excess of 900 feet. They became unviable by the start of the 20^th Century.

Continuing we passed a sinkhole on our left containing tufa (74mins)

(Tufa is a variety of limestone formed when carbonate minerals precipitate out of ambient temperature water, in case you were wondering)

We then left the Nature Reserve by a wooden gate (83mins), turned right past a derelict building at Over Haddon and then left passing Lathkill Cottage on our left to continue walking along the left bank of the river.

When we reached a road bridge (100mins), Conksbury Bridge, we turned right and swung left with the road marked as a Quiet Lane before turning left at a wooden public footpath sign (102mins). This path took us through fields with gates and stiles until we reached a main road at Alport (120mins)

Crossing this we followed a wooden public footpath sign along the left bank of the River Bradford, passing towering cliffs on our left and a flock of black sheep on our right.

At a hump-backed stone bridge we turned right (128mins) and headed uphill into Youlgreave, passing All Saints Parish Church on our right. This brought us to The George, which should have opened according to its listed hours at noon. But on our arrival at 12.26pm it was closed (133mins)

Observing the Wednesday Wanderers' sacred motto – firm of purpose but flexible in design – we turned left and arrived at The Bull's Head (134mins) for pints of Marstons' Pedigree or pale ale. We were joined unexpectedly ten minutes later by the other quartet, who showed scant respect for Britain's new anti-mingling laws.

On leaving we turned left and then left again at Holywell Lane passing Youlgrave Wesleyan Reform Chapel on our left. (Interestingly the village is variously called Youlgrave and Youlgreave on maps, road signs and buildings)

The path led to a bridge across the Bradford River which we used and turned right (142mins) with the river now on our right. After a lunch break (154mins) we crossed a bridge on our right over the Bradford to reach a road (162mins). We turned right then left to follow a wooden public footpath sign for The Limestone Way (166mins)

When we reached a road we turned left (168mins) and at a wooden public footpath sign we went right (169mins). After passing through a wooden gate marked with a yellow arrow (176mins) we reached a lane (179mins) and turned left. This took us past Moor Lane car park on our left before heading right into a field by a wooden public footpath sign. The path brought us to Low Moor Wood (194mins) and through two more small woods until we reached a steep descent into a valley (214mins)

At the bottom we headed left uphill following a signpost for One Ash Grange.

The farmyard looked unchanged for a century or more with ancient buildings and water troughs. We turned right towards Monyash (223mins)

At the next signpost, instead of going straight ahead towards Monyash, Dave and I turned right following a sign for Lathkill (229mins). Crossing two fields we then turned left through a gate and followed the well-trodden path downhill (239mins)

A gate on our right led to the path into Lathkilldale we had taken at the start of our journey. We turned left and reached the road by the side of the public toilets and turned left (250mins). Turning left again we reached The Bull's Head at Monyash on our right (259mins)

Next week's walk will start at 9.40am from spare land opposite The Wheatsheaf pub in Old Glossop. It is intended to reach The Pear Tree at Padfield for a livener around 12.30pm and return for a final drink in Old Glossop at about 2.20pm.

Happy wandering !

Pictures: Alan Hart

 

Longnor

 

LONGNOR, HOLLINSCLOUGH, FOUGH, CHROME HILL, GLUTTON BRIDGE, THE PACK HORSE INN AT CROWDECOTE, RIVER DOVE, YE OLDE CHESHIRE CHEESE AT LONGNOR

Distance: 7-8 miles.

Difficulty: Easy apart from one steep climb.

Weather: Misty start and mainly cloudy but always dry.

Walkers: Andy Blease, Tom Cunliffe with Daisy, Alan Hart, Howard Jones, Jock Rooney, Dean Taylor, Keith Welsh, George Whaites, Dave Willets.

Apologies: Mickey Barrett (sailing in Turkey), Peter Beal (walking with wife), George Dearsley (in Turkey), Laurie Fairman (in Wales), Mark Gibby (self-isolating), Hughie Hardiman (unavailable for two weeks), John Jones (attempting the Coast-to-Coast Walk), Chris Owen (French hols), Alastair Cairns and Julian Ross.

Leader: Rooney. Diarist: Hart.

Starting point: Cobbled main square opposite the Crewe and Harpur, Longnor, Staffs.

Starting time: 9.55am. Finishing time: 2.13pm.

Early morning mist never quite disappeared during this walk which criss-crossed the borders of Derbyshire and Staffordshire on several occasions. It shrouded some of the distinctive hills and reduced the panoramic views from the summit of one known locally as The Dragon's Back.

This did little to curb the enthusiasm for those who were conquering Chrome Hill for the first time as Jock led the older hands round the shoulder of this impressive knoll.

We made a prompt start and finished earlier than usual despite calling en route at a 16^th Century inn on a former packhorse trail where we enjoyed pints of strange-sounding beers from a bizarrely-named brewery based in the unlikely Leicestershire town of Ashby de la Zouch.

Meanwhile we wish the best of luck and weather to JJ, who had been planning to start his long-distance walk from the Irish Sea to the North Sea on Tuesday.

From the cobbled square facing the Crewe and Harpur pub we turned right, passing The Horseshoe on our right and taking a side road forking off (if you'll pardon the expression) to the right between Hillcrest and The Bakehouse (3mins). This took us past a field where two kids were acting the goat, balancing on a small set of steps.

Beyond this field we turned left at a wooden public footpath sign just before a farm (7mins) following a path through two gap stiles and over a stone step stile on our right (13mins)

After turning left we then went right (15mins) following a sign for Hollinsclough. As we walked along the road we saw a string of palamino horses in a field on the right. With their golden tanned bodies and contrasting blonde manes and tails they looked as if they had been to an equine beauty parlour. As we entered Hollinsclough (39mins) the shapes of Parkhouse Hill and Chrome Hill had already appeared on our right.

Hard to imagine that these limestone knolls were the remains of coral reefs in a shallow lagoon when sea covered what became the Upper Dove Valley during the Carboniferous era 340 million years ago. The reefs had originally been formed by the skeletons of the sea creatures which died and left the limestone base for the hills which followed when the tide went out.

After passing the methodist church we exited the village and turned right past a new barn at a wooden public footpath sign (43mins). This path took over a stone footbridge (49mins) which we crossed and turned left to reach a lane and turn left again (52mins)

By now we were in an area on the map called Fough for which nobody knew the correct pronunciation. The least likely suggestion was eff off.

After going through a metal gate (53mins) we stopped for Pietime (65mins) at a convenient bank overlooking the valley to our left. Continuing we crossed a cattle grid (71mins), went over a wooden stile on our right (72mins) and through a wooden gate (75mins)

After walking through an open gateway (80mins) we reached a junction of pathways and followed the one marked Glutton Bridge via Chrome Hill (82mins). This took us through a kissing gate (84mins), a wooden gate (86mins) and left through a wooden kissing gate (88mins).

As Tom, Jock, George and Keith took the left shoulder, Andy, Dave, Howard and Dean sprinted to the summit (105mins) for a photo opportunity. The descent involved following the ridge which gave Chrome Hill its nickname of The Dragon's Back before crossing a wooden stile to reach a lane (123mins). Once reunited with the others (129mins) we turned right passing a sign for Hollinsclough.

On reaching a main road (141mins) we turned left and then right (143mins) opposite Glutton Bridge Garage. Our route now was straight ahead along paths and lanes which took us past fields and through farmyards. Where the road bent left we went straight on over a stone step stile (165mins)

Another stone step stile (170mins) took us through a farmyard to emerge on a lane opposite Smithy Farm (175mins). We turned right to reach a main road where we turned right again to find The Pack Horse Inn at Crowdecote immediately on our left (177mins)

This traditional village pub dates back to the 16^th Century when it served those using a packhorse trail from Newcastle-under-Lyme to Hassop, near Bakewell.

Its new landlord is Kris, an east European, and his wife Hannah. A free house it serves products from The Leatherbritches Brewery in Ashby de la Zouch, which was once famous for ribbons rather than beer. Among its products was Hairy Helmet, which nobody fancied, and a pale ale called Milkshake. The Hop Tropic cask bitter was in good form at £3-80 a pint.

Suitably refreshed we turned left away from the pub and walked round a sharp bend to cross the River Dove, thereby returning once more from Derbyshire into Staffordshire (178mins). We followed the road all the way into Longnor, passing Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese on our right (193mins) before reaching our cars to de-boot (195mins). Returning to the pub three of us enjoyed pints of Dizzy Blonde at £3-70.

Next week's walk will start at 9.55am from the road outside The Bulls Head at Monyash, walking through Lathkilldale to have a snifter in The George at Youlgrave about 12.30pm, hoping to return for a final drink in The Bulls Head around 2.30pm.

Happy wandering !

pictures by Alan Hart

                                                                                 Kids playing

Well-groomed horses with blonde manes.

The Chrome Hill Virgins - l to r - Dave Willets, Howard Jones, Dean Taylor and Andy Blease.

View from the summit of Chrome Hill.

View of Park House Hill and Chrome Hill from Crowdecote.

Disley

 

September 10, 2020.

DISLEY, RING O' BELLS LANE, ST MARY'S CHURCHYARD, RED LANE, LYME PARK, LYME CAGE, KNIGHTSLOW WOOD, BOWSTONES, WHALEY MOOR, RINGSTONES CARAVAN PARK, YEARDSLEY LANE, THE SOLDIER DICK AT FURNESS VALE, THE PEAK FOREST CANAL, THE WHITE HORSE AT DISLEY

Distance: 9 miles.

Difficulty: Moderate.

Weather: Always dry, cloudy start, sunny later.

Walkers: Andy Blease, Tom Cunliffe with Daisy, Hughie Hardiman, Alan Hart, Howard Jones, John Jones, Chris Owen, Jock Rooney, Dean Taylor, Keith Welsh, George Whaites, Dave Willets.

Alternative walkers: Colin Davison and Laurie Fairman.

Apologies: Peter Beal (in Lakes), Mickey Barrett, Alastair Cairns and Julian Ross (hols), George Dearsley (in Turkey)

Leader: John Jones. Diarist: Hart.

Starting point: Car park of The White Horse at Disley.

Starting time: 9.35am. Finishing time: 2.30pm.

Map by Tom

A lovely warm, dry and eventually sunny day produced a good turnout of 12 walkers, one of whom had not been seen before the Covid19 lockdown. We were delighted to welcome back Hughie to the fold for the first time in six months.

Tom and Dave were obviously delighted to see each other after a long separation and greeted each other with a warm hug. May I remind all Wednesday Wanderers that hugging and kissing are actually banned under the social distancing regulations. Even when these restrictions are lifted we still have a strict no tongues policy within the group.

Our leader JJ had included a minor deviation to the traditional route, known as The Phallic Walk, from The Soldier Dick at Furness Vale to The Dandy Cock at Disley and back. Because of parking shortages the reverse route has to start from the car park of The White Horse at Disley, with the approval of landlady Amy. On this occasion we had the car park swept clear of leaves as we arrived. Both The White Horse and The Soldier Dick, though labouring under frustrating limits brought about by our government's response to the pandemic, provided good service and beer.

Of course the cask ale was a minor diversion as we studied the flora and fauna en route and learned something of our local history.

Dividing into two groups of six we headed up Ring O' Bells Lane, reaching the former pub of that name which still bears the inn sign on its wall. It is now a Friendly Society Meeting House for the Quakers Movement.

We turned right at the sign, crossing a footbridge over a stream and turned right again at the far side to follow a path through the churchyard of St Mary's, Disley's parish church. This brought us to Red Lane (5mins) where we turned left and passed a series of expensive mansions on our way to the entrance to Lyme Park (13mins)

We turned left at the green wooden entrance hut and walked for 50 yards along the tarmac lane before turning left along a well-trodden grass track which led to Lyme Cage (28mins).

With the approach of the rutting season next month, a stag party had already formed nearby. These red deer are the descendants of the original herd which was enclosed within Lyme Park by Piers Legh in the 14^th century.

After a photo opportunity (31mins) we headed in the direction of Lyme Hall but took a path to the right which brought us to the original carriage route to the hall before the invention of the horseless carriage (or motor cars as you youngsters call them these days). We followed this path until we came within 200 yards of the hall, then branched off through the public car park and followed the sign for Knightslow Wood (46mins) to the left.

We walked to the right of a wall by the side of the wood until we reached its entrance gate (54mins). Following the path through the wood we exited by another gate (60mins) and started the climb towards Bowstones. At a ladder stile we stopped for pies, port and damson gin kindly provided by Chris (77mins)

Continuing we crossed the stile and another one to reach Bowstones' Farm on our left and The Bowstones themselves round the corner (80mins). We began our descent with the ancient relics on our left reaching a wooden public footpath sign and a short ladder stile on our right (93mins) which we crossed.

Talking of ancient relics, the alternative walkers were at this time on a seven-mile journey round The Peak Forest area examining old mining sites.

But I digress. This stile led us to through a field, two kissing gates on either side of a lane, and a footbridge over a stream (98mins). After crossing this we climbed a path leading over a stony track by a cattle grid and followed a green public footpath sign towards Furness Vale via Whaley Moor (104mins). We crossed a ladder stile (111mins) and a stone step stile (115mins).

With the Dipping Stones downhill on our right, we turned left and crossed another stone step stile to reach a road (131mins). We turned left and then right over a wooden stile marked with a wooden public footpath sign (133mins). This took us through a field, over a wooden stile (139mins) and through a wooden gate with a farmhouse on our right (148mins). A gravel track swung right and when we reached the entrance to Ringstones Caravan Park on our right we turned left down a lane (151mins)

At the end of Yeardsley Lane (158mins) we turned left along the A6 and within 50 yards we had reached The Soldier Dick (159mins) on our left. Here we enjoyed pints of Atlantic Pale, Doombar or Reverend James' cask bitter for £3-50 in an exclusive room booked earlier by our leader JJ.

Suitably refreshed we continued by crossing the main road opposite the front door of The Soldier Dick and turning left for a few yards before turning right down Old Road. At the end we swung right and then left to go through a tunnel under the railway line and right at the far side. This brought us to a road and, with the level crossing on our right, we turned left over a road bridge, and left again to join the towpath to the right of the Peak Forest Canal (163mins)

The Peak Forest Canal covers a total of 23.8 kilometres consisting of two level pounds separated by a flight of 16 locks at Marple dividing the Lower Peak Forest Canal from the Upper Peak Forest Canal which we were walking alongside.

Our section travels for seven miles from Whaley Bridge through Bridgemont, Furness Vale, New Mills, Disley and Strines to Marple, where it joins The Macclesfield Canal. The PFC was fully opened in 1800 and was linked with The Peak Forest Tramway to transport limestone quarried in Derbyshire throughout the country by its canal system.

It declined as railways spread. In the 1920s the Tramway and Bugsworth Basin closed. The lower canal fell into disuse and became impassable. But in the early 1970s the Peak Forest Canal Society and the Inland Waterways Association campaigned successfully to have the canal reopened as a leisure facility in 1974. Bugsworth Basin reopened in 2003 after restoration work by British Waterways.

After 400 yards we stopped for lunch (169mins). Resuming we passed the Swizzels-Matlow factory at New Mills on our right (189mins) before leaving the canal at Bridge 26 (211mins). This involves going under the bridge and continuing for some 50 yards before turning sharp right to head back up to the bridge, crossing over it and turning right at the footpath on the far side.

With the canal now on our right we followed the path with gardens and houses on our left until, after passing a house called Waters Edge, we turned left to follow a yellow arrow (216mins). At the end of Sherbrooke Road we turned right (217mins) and followed a road which swung left to reach the A6 by the side of The Dandy Cock (222mins).

We turned right, then left at the traffic lights to reach The White Horse on our right (224mins). After de-booting we were able to enjoy pints of Robbies' Unicorn for £3-35.

Next week's walk will start at 9.55am from the main cobbled square at Longnor, Derbyshire. We hope to reach the popular Pack Horse at Crowdecote around 1.30pm for a bracer before finishing at The Cheshire Cheese, Longnor, at about 2.45pm.

Happy wandering !

pictures by John Jones

                                             red deer stags ready for rutting

                                                                     group photo

A Dog's perspective..

Danebridge

 September 2, 2020.

DANEBRIDGE, NETTLEBEDS FARM, HAWKSLEE FARM, MINN END LANE, RUSHTON SPENCER, DANE VALLEY, WINCLE BREWERY AND DANEBRIDGE TROUT FARM

Distance: 8 miles.

Difficulty: Easy.

Weather: Cloudy but dry.

Walkers: Howard Jones, John Jones, Chris Owen, Jock Rooney, Dean Taylor, Dave Willetts.

Alternative walkers: Colin Davison and Laurie Fairman.

Apologies: Mickey Barrett, Peter Beal, Andy Blease, George Dearsley, Mark Gibby, Hughie Hardiman, Alan Hart, Julian Ross, George Whaites.

Leader: Owen. Diarist: Jones.

Starting point: Danebridge, Wincle, Macclesfield.

Starting time: 9.40am. Finishing time: Unspecified.

There were six of us arrived at Danebridge and by 09.40 we were off!Up past The Ship and left into a field bearing Westwards,, along track to Nettlebeds Farm where green wooden camp huts and ewes with chickens roosting on them were the norm.

Through a more secluded green lane and deer-fenced area onto fields with cattle , fenced way up to Hawkslee Farm where wood carver was showing us his expertise carving owls etc, Chris enquiring as to his making a woodpecker, "Yes " replied the man. "When I get the right wood"

Obviously a perfectionist.. Down Minn End Lane S.West through shaded area and up to Minn End Farm where the pie time lunch stop was had along with women arguing and two friendly donkeys and scrounging B/Collie dog.. across fields where a huge bull wandered contentedly  with about sixty or so girl friends,, across stile immediately onto an A523 with no verge or pavement, a lethal place to cross at any time, 

A sobering memorial wrapped around an opposite post showed one casualty here already...!,,, south along said road and onto an old disused r/way track into Rushton where both pubs were dead as chips... Lunch stop in car park, 6 miles... Then NNE up lane past posh cars and houses into fields and along what appeared to be a disused canal, (No proof on map however) soon onto Dane Valley way and along the river Dane to winkle trout farm and brewery,Four walkers tried a taster there while Jock and I suffered a poor John Lee's "Best" bitter, The "gold ".at £3'60. was a better drink once warm , This enjoyed with the arrival of rest of company, making six at our roomy table..weather was dry until last 1/2 mile so we were lucky. 

Next week's walk, led by JJ, will start at 9.40am from the car park of The White Horse at Disley, where we have permission from landlady Amy to park as long as we have a drink in the pub later. We shall be having a livener at The Soldier Dick in Furness Vale around 12.30pm before returning to Disley along the Peak Forest Canal for a final flourish at The White Horse.

Happy wandering ! 

Pictures by John Jones

                                                       Ewe with chickens at Nettlebeds Farm,

Hawkslee farm bird carver's owls and phone number

 lethal road crossing with memorial on A523..

Unusual hooped and double gated field access point at Rushton.