Whaley Bridge

Words by John Jones

Wednesday's wander on 4th November;  meeting was at the first large layby on A5004 ,1/4 of a mile south of Whaley Bridge traffic lights. ,..This is a "new " wander which Dean and I initially reccied but being too short Boater John and I reccied two days before in the pouring rain, Now that is dedication ! .

 

 

There were twelve of us or a "baker's Dozen" if you were to include our guest female; Daisy.. diarist;- John Jones. Snapper / camera;- Ditto.  Leader;- ditto.........Also present were Alastair,Andy,dean,Dave,Cris, Cliff,Keith,Julian,Jock,Mike,Tom and priveleged female; Daisy,,..........apologies for absenteeism were Alan and Mark......... . .

 

At 09.40 we set off from said layby down immediate f/path west over footbridge and River Goyt, around which this walk centered. up past Taxal graveyard and church , any observant ones would and maybe should! have noticed the absence of fingers on the tower clock. I believe looking at the fresh gold paint that it is being restored.

 

A quick left onto tarmaced road soon turning off it and through gate west making a panting wheezing way across two fields and eventually onto Taxal Moor Road. After catching breath we took a left making along a level stretch which was gratefully welcomed by the more unfit of us.

 

At a cattle grid and turn on our left we followed a farm road to join the Midshires' Way at Overton Hall farm admiring the store barns full of cattle eating the silage, plenty of which was waiting for their digestion in the nearby yard. Downhill now and following road round a zigzag course to Mill Clough.. At which point I noticed a single storey building which on closer inspection revealed a Ram Pump. See picture for Wikipaedia details of....... .. . . . . . .crossing a narrow footbridge and walking along the track through a gate and a delightfully secluded house we again retained a straight and level path soon arriving at the head of Fernilee Reservoir, (which is French for  "To reserve",, Didn't you know that?.. )..

 

A brief respite and taking a right uphill and a soon to be seen gate on our left taking us South yet again,Up through the forestry commission woods which only this spring had been cleared thus affording us excellent views and indeed a vista of our main high-level walk to come. .... .Uphill yet again inducing more "cheerful groaning" and onto the main forest track. We waited mercifully for the stragglers and soon were on our way South on an easy level with good underfoot going and onto the tarmaced road which leads down from Pym Chair Car park near Windgather, across which we continued East and down to the head of Errwood reservoir.. where we had Pie Time , some of us sitting on a concrete plinth which until recently had a large  brass plaque giving the history of the water supply and the Family who inhabited this magnificent valley and whose grave yard we have indeed visited, (The plaque there too also being nicked by some or maybe the same low-life scum.. )...... ..

 

Errwood Reservoir is a drinking-water reservoir in the Peak District National Park, within the county of Derbyshire and very close to the boundary with Cheshire. The reservoir was the second of two reservoirs built in the Goyt Valley, the other one being Fernilee Reservoir. It was constructed by the Stockport Water Corporation at a cost of £1.5 million, with work being completed in 1967; it is currently owned and operated by United Utilities. The reservoir provides drinking water for the town of Stockport and its surrounding areas, and it holds 4,215 million litres.

 

Replenished and "where may I ask was the usual port and gin ?!"   (our standards are indeed slipping) we crossed the dam wall wall easterly and Dean led the way then through a stile into a seldom walked woodland, over a rickety wooden footbridge and up the other muddy hillside.More complaints,, well it is a hill we are walking on.. . Onto and across the A5004 and waited courteously for the stragglers. Up to our walk high point and another few minutes to take in the view of where we had walked so far,, Soon past White Hall outdoor Pursuits centre nad a sharp left North on the old Whaley Bridge road.. A more leisurely feel now as the hard work was done and I had been assured on Monday last that a good pint of ale was awaiting our entrance at the Shadey Oak.. Alas it was not to be.... Soon we reached a lonely outpost of Wythen Lathe.

 

Early Origins of the Wythen family

The surname Wythen was first found in various shires throughout ancient Britain. The name Whitton literally means "white farmstead," or "farmstead of a man called Hwita," from the Old English words "hwit," + "tun. 

Wythen Name Meaning, Family History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms Learn about the Wythen Family Crest, its Origin and History. Where did the Wythen surname come from? Where did ...

Over  a stone walled stile. our first and last  and a couple of fields or so saw us onto a farm road which we eagerly took downhill onto the Long Hill and onto fernille hamlet complete with scrap cars and pub...Dean at this point and due to personal reasons left us there and walked of aiming for home..The 11 of us entered pub, Eagerly we ordered and duly paid for the ale and 3 pots of tea.  All of which were crap. both ales at that! plus tea bags tasted old and cheap.. (Well they were I bought that tea round ).. Returned ale was met by more rubbish ale until in desperation some of us drank the cans and bottles instead, The only highlight of this dis appointing refreshment stop was the Stocky, scotch lasses banter with Tom and his toy poodle sitting on a grinning Julian's lap, Soon out of there, Across road and down and through Folds Lane farm, Westerly onto the Goyt river and north through holly bushed woodland hiding it's secrets of coal mines of bygone days . Of which I was reliably informed by Jock was a poor coal fit for stationary engines only.. Soon up to cars and a dam

good day where it just then started to lightly rain,, Well today the good weather was for the righteous ! 

Next week, commencing at Sutton Hall 09.40hrs, canal, over the Hollins to Langley, Teggs Nose, Macc forest, leather smithy to imbibe (12.30ish) blue bell wood, ridge hill, Judy lane, back entrance to Sutton Hall (14.30). 

pictures by John Jones