Hayfield

 

November 25, 2020.

HAYFIELD, ROWARTH, NEW MILLS, THORNSETT, BIRCH VALE, HAYFIELD

Distance: 9 miles.

Difficulty: Easy.

Weather: Black Hill weather atrocious, Hayfield weather, cloudy, bright and dry

Walkers: Tom Cunliffe with Daisey, Dean taylor, Dave Willets

Apologies: everybody else

Leader: Taylor. Diarist: Cunliffe

Starting point: Lantern Pike Hayfield

Starting time: 10.20am. Finishing time: 1.30pm.

With just 3 attendees today and the weather of biblical proportions, we three amigos decided to save the Black Hill wander for another day an so we retreated to the weather norms of Hayfield .

This was Deans maiden lead and Im sure one day will count towards his WW leaders badge.

The walk proved to be a white handbag walk but under the circumstances was considered acceptable as dean had no time to prepare properly.

We left the Lantern Pike and headed down Slack Lane past Clough Mill and took the footpath towards the giggle gaggle, taking the right fork we emerged on the New Mills road, climbing uphill on the tarmac we turned right at the first farm track and stayed with it until we reached the Old Mill at Rowarth where the landlord, who was outside water blasting the stone flags gave us permission to use his tables whilst we had pie time

We headed out of Rowarth taking the tarmac all the up to the main road, we turned left for another mile or so. With a welcome footpath on our left we turned down the farm track and staying with it for half a mile we sadly emerged on the road once again , this lead us to Thornsett, then the Sett Valley trail. We turned left on to the trail emerging at the Hayfield bus station.

Dean then lead us over to the corner shop where he acquired cans of cider. We retired to the front of the Royal Hotel downed our drink before walking back to Little Hayfield…along the road, Dave was able to peel off as we were passing his home. Back at the cars we de-booted.

Next week's walk, 2nd Dec, will start at 9.30am from Disley Rail Station car park (Turn off the A6 near The Ram's Head traffic lights). Mr Hart will attempt to lead himself and one volunteer up to Bollinhurst Reservoir, through Millenium Wood to Higher Disley, up Black Rocks, down and across the A6 to the Peak Forest Canal, through Hague Bar to The Fox at Brook Bottom and back via Strines Station and Disley Golf Course.

NB: This is the route where he famously lost 9 of his 11 followers in 2004 and was banned from leading for five years.

Happy wandering !