Old Glossop

 May, 26, 2021.

OLD GLOSSOP, SWINESHAW RESERVOIR, BLACKSHAW FARM, PEAK NAZE, OGDEN CLOUGH, DEEPCLOUGH, REAPS FARM, LONGDENDALE TRAIL, THE ANCHOR AT HADFIELD, PADFIELD, GLOSSOP CEMETERY AND THE QUEENS AT OLD GLOSSOP

Distance: 9-10 miles.

Difficulty: Moderate after strenuous start.

Weather: Early drizzle and overcast drying up later.

Walkers: Peter Beal, Andy Blease, Alastair Cairns, Tom Cunliffe with Daisy, Mark Gibby, Hughie Hardiman, Alan Hart, Chris Owen and Paul Sidebotham.

Apologies: George Dearsley (in Turkey), John Jones (having dental treatment), Jock Rooney (walking with B team), Dean Taylor (in Shropshire), Keith Welsh (in Cornwall)

Leader: Cunliffe. Diarist: Hart.

Starting point: Wasteland opposite The Wheatsheaf at Old Glossop.

Starting time: 9.38am. Finishing time: 2.20pm.

 

This was our last walk in the merry month of May and we will be glad to see the back of what has been a disappointing wet and chilly approach to summer. The forecast for the remainder of the week was encouraging as “flaming” June approaches so we look forward to warmer weeks ahead.

Unhappily the early drizzle and lowering clouds spoilt the normally stunning views available after a steady climb had taken us to the top of moors overlooking The Longdendale Valley. Fortunately the rain had ceased by the time we descended to walk along the Longdendale Trail into Hadfield.

By the time some of us had sampled the excellent Tetley's cask bitter in The Anchor, some of the clouds had cleared and we saw some sunshine on our return route.

From the unofficial car park opposite The Wheatsheaf at Old Glossop we walked up Blackshaw Road and through a tunnel under flats. We turned left and then right at a green public footpath sign.

As we approached a farm which has long been the home of exotic creatures, we were treated to a spectacular display by a white peacock. It would be a hard-hearted or frigid peahen which could refuse such a seductive proposal.

 

 

Beyond the farm was an attractive waterfall on our left before we reached an unusual revolving stile and turned left through an open gate to head towards Blackshaw Farm (15mins).  As we approached the farm Swineshaw Reservoir was below to our left.

 

 

To our surprise when we reached the farm a gate (22mins) which we had used before on many occasions had a sign “Private: No Right Of Way.” After some deliberation we proceeded through the gate which seemed to be our only way of exercising our rights to roam on the moors beyond at Peak Naze and Ogden Clough. 

We carried on uphill through two more gates, which had similar signs for those approaching from the opposite direction. When we reached the familiar ruin of a roofless building we paused for Pietime (67mins)

Resuming we continued our ascent, passing grouse butts on our right as we reached a ridge overlooking the Longdendale Valley.

 

This was Deepclough where we started our descent, soon picking up a well-worn path to turn left with a potentially fatal drop down to the valley on our right (74mins). After a lengthy flat walk the path started to descend increasingly steeply to the valley below with Reaps Farm on our right (97mins) 

We turned left to follow a sign indicating The Pennine Way until we reached a main road. We crossed this, turning right for 20 yards before following signs for Hadfield to our left (104mins). This was The Longdendale Trail.

Longdendale, which means long wooded valley, is where the River Etherow flows through six reservoirs – Woodhead, Torside, Rhodeswood, Valehouse, Bottoms and Arnfield. There used to be a seventh at Hollingworth but this was abandoned in 1990 and now forms part of Swallows Wood Nature Reserve.

During the Roman occupation a fort guarded the valley. In the Middle Ages a packhorse route called a saltway was used to export salt from the Cheshire wiches (Nantwich, Northwich and Middlewich) across the Pennines.

The Manchester-Sheffield railway was built here between 1839-45 and the three-mile Woodhead Tunnel was the longest in the country at that time. Passenger services ceased in 1970 and goods in 1981.

The trackbed was used to create the Longdendale Trail, which is now part of the Trans-Pennine Trail which in turn is part of a 2,000 mile walking route from Liverpool to Istanbul.

We turned left towards Hadfield, reaching a car park (149mins) at the end of the trail before crossing the road beyond it and passing Malvern Rise on our right. This brought us to a memorial statue which we passed on our right as we walked up Railway Street.

At the crossroads (154mins) we turned right and soon arrived at The Anchor on our left (155mins). Once again we received a warm welcome from the landlady, whose Tetleys cask bitter was in fine fettle.

For the final leg of our journey we turned right out of the pub, retracing our footsteps but carried on when we passed Railway Street on our left. We crossed a railway bridge (158mins), first entering and then leaving the village of Padfield before we reached the entrance to Glossop Cemetery on our left (173mins)

Here we paused on the cemetery wall for lunch, Resuming we followed the road through the graveyard until it swung right at the end. As it did so, a few yards to our left, was a stone step stile by which we exited the cemetery (181mins)

The path went right through a wooden gate and continued through a farmhouse garden which was stacked with stone blocks. This led us to a main road where we turned right for 50 yards and then went left (184mins)

This took us down to Swineshaw Reservoir (188mins) where we turned right along its banks. The path then led us down to the farm where we had seen the peacocks and waterfall earlier. We turned right (195mins) and retraced our footsteps back to our cars (209mins) to deboot.

Next week's walk will start at 9.30am from the entrance to the Park Hall Estate at Little Hayfield. Free parking is available on the left of the main A624 road before it reaches Tom's former hostelry, The Lantern Pike. We intend to climb Mill Hill before heading across to The Little Mill Inn at Rowarth for a bracer at about 12.30pm, returning to arrive at The Lantern Pike for further refreshment around 2.30pm.

Happy wandering !   

 

                                                                            Map by Tom

Buxton

BUXTON COUNTRY PARK, GRIN LOW WOOD, GRIN LOW, HIGH EDGE RACETRACK, HARPUR HILL INDUSTRIAL ESTATE, THE PARK INN AT HARPUR HILL, SOLOMON'S TEMPLE, GRIN LOW, BUXTON

Distance: 8-9 miles.

Difficulty: Moderate.

Weather: Mixture of clouds, a shower, blue skies and sunshine.

Walkers: Andy Blease, Alastair Cairns, Tom Cunliffe with Daisy, Mark Gibby, Hughie Hardiman, Alan Hart, John Jones, Dean Taylor, Dave Willetts.

Apologies: Peter Beal (walking in Yorkshire Dales), George Dearsley (in Turkey), Chris Owen,  Jock Rooney (walking with B team), Paul Sidebotham (having covid jab)

Leader: Jones. Diarist: Hart.

Starting point: Temple Road, Buxton.

Starting time: 9.49am. Finishing time: 2.21pm.

 

Impressive scenery, a welcoming pub, good beer and an innovative route. This walk ticked all the boxes. JJ devised and led the expedition up some serious climbs which were rewarded with spectacular views.

Despite alarming forecasts of thunder and lightning we were subjected to just one shower which was once again dispersed by the donning of your diarist's magic pants. We then enjoyed sunny weather on the last leg of our journey in the afternoon.

During our travels we were welcomed by a friendly horse, an hospitable landlord and inspected an historic landmark. 

After a four-minute delay caused by my tardy arrival due to traffic problems, we set off up Temple Road, turning left where it departed from the road ahead. At the end of Temple Road we headed right and crossed into Poole's Cavern and Buxton Country Park (6mins)

Carrying on we followed a footpath uphill which led us into Grin Low Wood (8mins). Here, JJ informed us, our ancient forebears lived in caves and quarried the limestone. After a stiff climb we crossed a junction passing a sign for Burbage and Grinlow Caravan Site. We exited the wood (20mins) and reached a lane where we turned right (24mins). As we did so the distinctive shape of Solomon's Temple stood in the distance on our left.

 

 

After crossing a bridge over a shallow brook we came to the end of a wall (36mins) and turned right. The path led us to a road where we turned left. To our right, Tom explained, was a blast testing tunnel used by the Health and Safety Executive, who owned the land, to check explosive materials. 

It was at this point that the threat of rain became a reality. However the legendary powers of your diarist's waterproof trousers worked their magic again and the rain soon stopped. As we continued beyond a cattle grid we encountered a beautiful Palomino mare. She approached and nuzzled us in exchange for having her nose stroked.

 

 

We followed a path into a wood through a metal kissing gate (53mins), exited the wood and reached a road where we turned first left along a lane and then right at a public footpath sign (57mins). The path went through a wooden gate on our left (67mins) and took us to a wooden stile which we crossed on our right (70mins)

Two wooden stiles enabled us to cross a road and after crossing a third wooden stile we paused by a handy cluster of rocks for Pietime (77mins)

JJ then led us down a steep descent to a wide track near the valley bottom, where we turned left (81mins). We crossed a stream by a wooden footbridge (87mins) , crossed a wooden stile and went over a stone step stile to head through fields to the left of a farmhouse. 

Two more stiles enabled us to cross two more fields to reach a lane where we turned left (98mins). As we continued we passed Chrome Hill on our right and then the High Edge stock car racetrack on our left. 

 

 

We crossed a wooden stile marked with a yellow arrow (109mins) to enter a field which we exited by another wooden stile (116mins) and turned left along a lane for 40 yards. Then we turned right at a wooden public footpath sign, crossing a wooden stile (119mins) to enter the grounds of HSE (Health and Safety Executive)

Reaching a lane we turned right (124mins) then turned right again along a well-trodden grass path (127mins) which brought us out in the Harpur Hill Industrial Estate (137mins). We turned right, passing Annie's Cafe on our left before descending a flight of steps to reach a footpath which ran parallel to a track on our left (140mins)

Where the paths forked we turned left downhill (142mins). The path became tarmacked and we reached The Park Inn at Harpur Hill on our right (149mins)

We were given a warm welcome by the landlord and his staff. The draught Bass at £3-50p a pint was deemed excellent and was preferred to the Yorkshire Blonde bitter at £3-60.

As we left the pub, vowing to return soon, we turned left down Grinlow Road before turning right at a wooden public footpath sign (159mins). In the field beyond we stopped for lunch (160mins). Proceeding we went through a wooden gate marked with a yellow arrow, crossed a wooden stile and turned left (162mins)

Where the paths forked we carried straight ahead (167mins) and went through a wooden gate (169mins). At a gap stile we turned right and reached Solomon's Temple standing at 1,440 feet on the top of Grinlow Hill (171mins)

 

 

Solomon's Temple, also known as Grinlow Tower, is a Victorian folly bought by public subscription and a donation from The Duke of Devonshire. It is on the site of a Bronze Age barrow and replaced a landmark tower built by Solomon Mycock, owner of The Cheshire Cheese Hotel, in the early 19th Century. It had been reduced to rubble over the decades but the new building was completed in 1896 and restored again by public subscription in 1988.

 

 

After climbing the 20-feet high tower, posing for photos and admiring the panoramic views (174mins) we began our descent towards Buxton. 

We went through a gap stile (176mins) and then through a wooden gate marked with a yellow arrow to enter a wood (182mins). Ignoring a path on the left we carried straight on, leaving the wood and walking through a sports field before turning left at Buxton Junior School (188mins)

This took us along College Road until we reached Temple Road on our left and returned to our cars to de-boot (194mins).

Next week's walk will start at 9.40am from the unofficial car park on wasteland opposite The Wheatsheaf in Old Glossop. We will aim to reach The Anchor at Hadfield around 12.20pm for a bracer before returning at about 2.30pm for a final tincture at The Queens in Old Glossop.

Happy wandering !   

 

 

 

Map by Tom

Pictures by John Jones

Pie Time

Old age creeping up.

health and safety  security ?.

At long last ! A real PUB!  

An Insect eye view

 Solomen's temple.

111111

 

Marple Bridge

 

MARPLE BRIDGE

May 12, 2021

BRABYNS PARK IN MARPLE BRIDGE, LOW LEA ROAD, MELLOR MILL, ROMAN LAKES, STRINES STATION, FOX INN AT BROOKBOTTOM, SHAW FARM, CASTLE EDGE, HILLTOP FARM, MELLOR CHURCH, DEVONSHIRE ARMS, MELLOR GOLF COURSE, BOTTOM’S HALL, NORFOLK ARMS

Distance: 9 miles Ascent/descent: 1.457 ft

Difiiculty: Easy

Weather: Mainly sunny

Walkers: Peter Beal, Andy Blease,  Alastair Cairns with Daisy, Tom Cunliffe with Daisy, Mark Gibby, Hughie Hardiman, John Jones, Chris Owen, Jock Rooney, Julian Ross, Dean Taylor

Non-walking drinker: Howard Jones

Apologies:  Alan Hart (entertaining workmen), George Dearsley (in Turkey), Micky Barrett (unspecified) 

Leader: Beal Diarist: Beal

Starting point: Brabyns Park in Marple Bridge

Starting time: 9.35am Finishing time: 2.20pm

Today’s route was I believe a new one for the Wanderers, taking in a stroll along the River Goyt and a climb to higher ground above Mellor with fine views as far as Manchester and the Cheshire Plain. A fine day saw a good turnout of 11 walkers and two of our canine friends.

We visited two pubs who had really got their act together in coping with the outdoor drinking restrictions without raising their beer prices to stratospheric levels, as some others have.

We left Brabyns Park for the centre of Marple Bridge and at the end of Town Street bore right up the unmade Low Lea Road. This soon dipped down to bring us to the site of the former Mellor Mill.

This cotton mill was built by industrialist Samuel Oldknow in 1790. It was six storeys high and 400-feet long and in its heyday employed 500 people. Fire destroyed the building in 1892 and the ruins have recently been developed as a heritage site by local volunteers.

We continued along the track with the fast-flowing River Goyt on our right and soon reached the two Roman Lakes and a closed tearoom (27 minutes). The lakes were the former ponds for Oldknow’s mill and owe nothing to the Romans but were so named by a local entrepreneur in Victorian times to enhance their value as a tourist attraction.

We continued along the track, passing the similarly-named Roman Bridge, in fact a 17th century packhorse bridge which crosses the Goyt. We bore left along a newly-resurfaced footpath and went under a viaduct beneath the Manchester to Sheffield railway line.

Soon after recrossing the line on a bridge we emerged on Station Road, Strines, a short distance below the station (59 min). We turned left uphill along cobbles and passed the station on our right.

Passing under the railway again we came to a junction where we bore right uphill on a rough track with a stream below us on the left. This climbed steadily to finally emerge at the familiar sight of the whitewashed Fox Inn at Brookbottom, a regular stopping point for the Wanderers (75 min). It was too early for the pub to be serving, but it has reopened daily for outside table service under the soon to be lifted Covid restrictions. 

We crossed Brookbottom Road and entered what appeared to be a private driveway. At a house at the top we took a narrow footpath up a flight of steps. A short distance further on we bore left down a path through woods to cross a small stream. The path rose to join a track which brought us in to the yard at Shaw Farm, one of the oldest in the area and mentioned in documents of the 12th century.

Crossing the farmyard we climbed a stile leading to fields. Climbing a short distance to a small copse of trees pietime was declared at 11.05am.

We crossed a stile and turned left at a green Peak and Northern Footpaths sign directing us towards New Mills. Two more fields brought us to Castle Edge Farm (105 min), where we bore right to emerge on a lane overlooking New Mills Golf course.

We turned left here and at a junction of tracks carried straight on with Broadhurstedge plantation and a covered reservoir on our right. This brought us to a road junction known locally as Five Ways (129 min). We crossed straight over in to Shiloh Road and a short distance further on, soon after passing How Green Farm on our right, climbed a stile to take a narrow path between a wall and a fence. 

A series of stiles in quick succession brought us to Rush Lane where we turned left for a few yards before branching right along a track in front of Hilltop Farm. With another farm on our right we carried straight on along a bridleway across a large field that soon brought us to a lane with Mellor Church ahead of us.

The church has a long history dating from the 15th century, but there is thought to have been an earlier church on the site long before that. It has a pulpit – reputed to be the oldest in England – carved from the trunk of an oak tree in the mid 1300s. The churchyard contains the site of 17th century Mellor Grammar School.

We turned left downhill on reaching the church (158 min) and at a bend in the road took a track marked Church Road on the left that soon emerged on Longhurst Lane at the Devonshire Arms (165 min).

Pints of Robinson’s Unicorn (£3-75) and Dizzy Blonde (£3-80) were enjoyed in their pleasant and expansive beer garden where we were joined briefly by sometime Wanderer Howard Jones.

Leaving the pub we took Gibb Lane on the opposite side of the road, which brought us to the hamlet of smartly-restored homes at Tarden. where we bore left to take a metalled road downhill that took us past Melllor and Townscliffe Golf Club and then the Linnet Clough scout camp. We paused here for lunch.

En route we encountered a car coming in the opposite direction which proved to be driven by erstwhile Wanderer Phil Welsh, whom none of us had seen for some time. He has been working as a volunteer at the golf club after retiring and he was entreated to join us on future walks.

From there a narrow track took us downhill once more to the large building of Bottom’s Hall (195 min). In Samuel Oldknow’s time this housed 100 children who were used as cheap labour at the nearby mill. The kind-hearted Mr Oldknow preferred them to be known as ‘orphaned apprentices’ and no doubt accommodated them in well-fed comfort. Or perhaps not.

Below the hall we rejoined, between the two Roman Lakes, our outward route for the 20-minute walk past the mill site and in to Marple Bridge and the Norfolk Arms, where your diarist, Dean and Chris enjoyed pints of the excellent hoppy Mosaic Ale outside.

At the time of writing it is hoped that an easing of the Covid restrictions will mean this is the  last Wednesday when we will have been banned from the inside of a pub.

Next week’s walk, led by John Jones, will start from the bottom of Temple Road in Buxton at 9.45am. Refreshment on the way will be at The Park in Harpur Hill.

Happy wandering!

Map by Tom

Gurnet

 May 5, 2021.

SUTTON HALL, BISHOP'S CLOUGH, SUTTON RESERVOIR, MACCLESFIELD CANAL, BOSLEY LOCKS, NORTH RODE LAKE, RODE GREEN, THE HARRINGTON ARMS AT GAWSWORTH, GAWSWORTH HALL, DANE MOSS NATURE RESERVE, MACCLESFIELD CANAL, SUTTON HALL

Distance: 10-11 miles.

Difficulty: Easy.

Weather: Mixture of sunny blue skies, cold wind, rain and hail.

Walkers: Peter Beal, Andy Blease, Tom Cunliffe with Daisy, Mark Gibby, Alan Hart, Chris Owen, Paul Sidebotham.

Non-walking drinkers: Colin Davison and Laurie Fairman.

Apologies: Alastair Cairns (in Devon), George Dearsley (in Turkey), John Jones (dental treatment), Jock Rooney (walking elsewhere), Hughie Hardiman, Dean Taylor and Dave Willetts,

Leader: Owen. Diarist: Hart.

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

Starting time: 9.30am. Finishing time: 2.18pm.

Treacherous weather forecasts of a continuous supply of sunshine and little chance of rain proved to be woefully wrong. Fortunately, being cynical northerners, we were ready for anything the elements could throw at us. This included not only two prolonged showers and a cold wind but also hailstones.

These conditions were in sharp contrast to the blue skies and sunshine which we enjoyed for half of our journey. As we huddled around the heaters in the beer garden of the Harrington Arms it was a pleasure to meet our wounded comrade Laurie, who had been driven there by Colin. It was the first time many of us had seen him for more than a year as he battled against an impressive array of medical conditions which would have provided material for several episodes of “Casualty.” It was gratifying to see that not only did he look well but his period of convalescence did not proscribe beer.

From the car park we walked away from the entrance, passing Sutton Hall on our right as we left the grounds by a wooden gate. We turned left here along a road with the River Bollin flowing on our right.

The Bollin is a tributary of the River Mersey, rising in Macclesfield Forest and then descending for ten miles through Macclesfield to The Carrs Park at Wilmslow where it is in confluence with the River Dean near Styal Prison.

For the following ten miles it defines the south-west portion of the border between Greater Manchester and Cheshire before merging with the Mersey north of Lymm.

It used to power Quarry Bank Mill at Styal and is now culverted under the southern runway of Manchester Airport. Back in 1850 it was still common for the town of Macclesfield to dispose of its sewage in the Bollin.

After 50 yards we reached a main road and turned right, crossing the Bollin and turning right immediately after we had passed Sutton Servicemen's Club on our right (9mins). At the end of the cul de sac we followed a green public footpath sign for Bishop's Clough (12mins) along a path which took us through two metal kissing gates to reach a bridge across a stream.

Here we dog-legged left and right to take a path on the left of the stream and reached a metal kissing gate leading to a road. We crossed this and took a path on the left of Sutton Reservoir (26mins). At the end of the reservoir we turned right and then descended sharply downhill on our left to follow another path which brought us to a metal kissing gate leading to the A523 Macclesfield-Leek road.

Crossing this (35mins) we went over Bridge 48a to reach the far bank of the Macclesfield Canal and turned left with the waterway on our left. We proceeded along the canal until reaching Bosley Locks (78mins) where we exited and turned right along a road. This took us over a railway line and where the road then swung right we carried on straight ahead into Park Road (85mins)

When we reached North Rode Lake on our right with the hall on the opposite bank in the distance we paused for Pietime next to an impressive circular sluice feeding a stream below (93mins). Continuing we turned left through a gate just before a cattle-grid to follow a path through trees which took us around the perimeter of a field where cattle grazed.

As we reach a concrete farm lane (100mins) and turned right the first of the day's rain started to fall, becoming heavier as we donned our waterproofs. Where the lane forked we followed a yellow arrow left and went through a farmyard (110mins). Yellow arrows marked a succession of three stiles to enter fields until we reached a road and turned right (116mins), passing Rode Green Cottage on our left.

At a T-junction we crossed the main road and went through a metal gate (119mins). Our route then took us through gates and over stiles marked with yellow arrows until we reached a series of lakes (134mins). We turned left and proceeded uphill through a metal kissing gate. Ahead was the distinctive tower of Gawsworth's 15^th Century parish church, St James's.

The path led us through fields, finally reaching a lane just to the left of the Grade 1 listed church. We turned left (144mins) and walked downhill for 200 yards to reach The Harrington Arms at Gawsworth on our right (146mins). After the covid signing-in ritual and purification process we were led to our reserved tables in the beer garden to greet Laurie and Colin.

Not only did we enjoy pints of Unicorn and Dizzy Blonde cask ales, but some of us were also tempted by the barmaid to try her pork or beef pies.

As we left we retraced our earlier footsteps uphill, passing the historic church on our right and passing a large lake in a clockwise direction. The road then swung left, passing Gawsworth Hall on the right and a statue of Sir Robert Peel.

Sir Robert (1788-1850) was born in Bury, Lancs, the son of a wealthy textile manufacturer. He earned a double first in classics and maths at Oxford University before becoming an MP at the tender age of 21. He was elected in the “rotten borough” of Cashel in Tipperary, Ireland, where there were only 24 electors who traditionally voted for the highest bidder.

Peel went on to become Prime Minster twice and created the forerunners of our modern police force, who were nicknamed “bobbies” or “peelers.” He died from his injuries four days after falling off his horse.

Sir Robert's statue was bought from Peel Park, Salford, by Raymond Richards, an antiquarian, who owned Gawsworth Hall.

We turned right at a green public footpath sign (153mins) and made our way through fields via two kissing gates until we reached a road. As we were crossing the fields the heavens opened once again and this time we were lashed by hailstones for 40 minutes.

Turning left at the road we arrived at a wooden public footpath sign on our right (175mins) pointing towards Danes Moss Nature Reserve. We followed the path through the conservation area and crossed a footbridge over the Manchester to London railway line (188mins) to reach the Macclesfield Canal (192mins)

From Bridge 47 we turned left with the canal on our right until we exited at Bridge 44 (208mins) by turning left. This brought us out opposite the entrance to Sutton Hall and we walked back to our cars to de-boot (213mins) before sampling pints of Lord Lucan cask ale in the beer garden.

Next week's walk will start at 9.30am from the higher car park in Brabyns Park, Marple Bridge (entrance opposite The Midland pub). We are hoping to visit The Devonshire Arms at Mellor for a stiffener around 12.20pm before returning to Brabyns Park to de-boot prior to a final tincture in The Norfolk Arms.

Happy wandering !

                                                                       Map by Tom

Pictures by Alan Hart

Seven Canada goslings with their proud protective parents.

A statue of Sir Robert Peel.

Lamb triplets.

Return of the Wanderer - Laurie Fairman.

Approach to Gawsworth.

Pie time at North Rode Lake.

A display of wild bluebells.