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.