Eyam

 April 27, 2022.

EYAM, WILLIAM HILL, NETHER PADLEY, ABNEY, THE BARREL INN AT BRETTON, GRINDLOW, FOOLOW AND EYAM

Distance: 8miles.

Difficulty: Moderately strenuous.

Weather: Dry but cloudy with a chilly breeze.

Walkers: Andy Blease, Mark Enright, Mark Gibby, Alan Hart, Chris Owen, Jock Rooney, Dean Taylor, Keith Welsh, Dave Willetts.

Apologies: Micky Barrett (routine blood test), Peter Beal (in Wensleydale), Alastair Cairns (dental appointment), Tom Cunliffe (chest infection), George Dearsley (in Turkey), Martin Evans (in India)

Leaders: Rooney and Owen. Diarist: Hart.

Starting point: Free car park behind public toilets in Eyam, Derbyshire.

Starting time: 9.55am. Finishing time: 2.37pm.

Jock came up with an ingenious idea for supervising this splendid route from the pretty village of Eyam in the Derbyshire Dales. Knowing he would be outpaced by the younger members of the group, he gave Chris verbal directions for the journey ahead.

Chris, with his combination of cheerful enthusiasm and absence of any sense of direction, strode onwards while Jock followed like a sheepdog herding us from the rear. As Chris and his followers hared off unerringly on a series of false trails they returned as Jock was thus in time to catch up. Consequently we were able to complete our circular route to the highest pub in Derbyshire without any casualties.

After a challenging uphill start we could see for miles in every direction because there was clear visibility despite wall-to-wall cloud above.

On the nature front we walked through many fields containing ewes with their spring-born lambs and at one point spotted a pair of buzzards which grew bigger as they approached overhead and proved to be gliders from a nearby flying school.

From the car park we walked back to its entrance and swung right uphill until we reached a wooden public footpath sign on our left leading into woods (7mins). The path took us upwards through a series of wooden gates before we went right over a stone step stile and headed towards the communications mast on William Hill. Beyond it was a locked gate which we were obliged to climb to reach a lane and turn right to join Jock and Keith who were following the correct route and crossing the lane to go straight on at a wooden public footpath sign (28mins) whilst we joined them and turned left,

View from William Hill

As we started our descent (36mins) we crossed two stone step stiles (45 and 55mins) to reach a T-junction where we turned right down to a wooden footbridge over a stream. On the far side we stopped for pies and port (65mins)

Continuing we crossed another footbridge and followed a sign for Abney through a wooden gate. At a second wooden gate (79mins) we turned left.

On the way to Abney

The path took us through a seven-barred metal gate (85mins) and we reached a lane where we turned left (89mins). We turned left again at a wooden public footpath sign for Nether Bretton (93mins) and crossed a wooden footbridge (95mins) before beginning a climb along a path through the trees.

Our route took us through a wooden gate marked with a white arrow (98mins), over another gate followed by stone steps (100mins), and yet another wooden gate where we turned left at a wooden public footpath sign (102mins). We swung right at a large white public footpath sign (104mins) and immediately left at a wooden public footpath sign leading us over a stone step stile (105mins)

The path led us up stone steps on our left to cross a wooden stile (109mins) and follow the route across moorland to a wooden footbridge (114mins) followed in quick succession by a wooden gate and another footbridge. At a fork in the path we went right uphill (117mins)

En route we passed this pony

We then began our second arduous climb of the day through wooden gates and stone step stiles until we emerged on a minor road on the left of a house called Shangri La Cottage (134mins)

Here we turned right to reach a main road with The Barrel Inn at Bretton on our left (141mins) where Andy bought a round of drinks to celebrate his 59^th birthday. We wished him many happy returns as we sat outside for a brief glimpse of sunshine before a chilly wind drove us back inside the pub.

Birthday boy Andy is second left

The Barrel at Bretton became an inn in 1753 and at 380 metres above sea level claims to be the highest pub in Derbyshire. It marks the intersection of two ancient bridle paths between Hathersage and Eyam and between Sheffield and Buxton.

Below is Hucklow Edge Lead Vein which was first worked by the Romans. Mining created huge caverns including Barrel Cavern which gave the pub its name. It stands on the divide between the White (Limestone) Peak and the Dark (Gritstone) Peak.

The area contains several rare species of flora including Jacobs ladder, cloudberry, dwarf thistle and southern marsh orchid.

Suitably refreshed we turned right out of the pub downhill passing The Bull's Head at Foolow on our left (171mins), which is no longer open at lunchtimes on Wednesdays.

We continued along the road until we reached a wooden public footpath sign on our right (174mins) and headed towards a wooden gate.

From here paths led us through fields and gates in a direct line back to Eyam where we emerged ultimately in the centre of the village (205mins)

We turned left at Eyam Hall, passing Eyam Post Office on our right before following the sign for the public toilets and car park on our right (208mins)

Next week's walk will start at 9.40am from the lay-by opposite The Harrington Arms at Bosley on the A523 Leek road out of Macclesfield just beyond its junction with the A54. It is intended to pause for a livener at Wetherspoons in Congleton or, if accompanied by dogs, at The George next door. We expect to reach there around 12.30pm and be back at the cars around 2.45pm.

Happy wandering !

Oven Hill

Oven Hill

April 20^th 2022

Distance: 10 miles

Difficulty: Moderate

Weather: Perfect

Walkers: Tom Cunliffe with Daisy, Mark Gibby, Micky Barrett, Hughie Hardiman, Cliff Worthington, Alastair Cairns, Andy Blease, Dean Taylor with Tommy.

Apologies: Too many to mention

Leader: Dean Taylor      Diarist: Dean Taylor

Starting Point: Hayfield Road, bottom of Oven Hill

Starting time: 9.40am      Finishing time: 2.00pm

We set off bang on time on this beautiful day with smiles on our faces and joy in our hearts.  We walked up Oven Hil for a good twenty minutes, which got all our pulses pumping.  Oven Hill is marked as Over Hill Road on an ordnance survey map, which could be a deliberate mistake for copyright purposes, Peter Beale pointed this out to me a few months previously.

At the top of Oven Hill we regrouped and continued along the road that had now become a rough track with lovely views all around us.

40 minutes into our walk we turned right and down the top of Lane Side Road.  After a short while we turned left down a narrow lane to Beardwood Farm, went through a metal gate and onto a picturesque path.  This led us through a small wooded area, going down quite a steep hill, and through a narrow gate and onto a farm track where we turned left.  After a few yards we turned right and went over a metal style, down hill we wandered through a large open field to a tunnel which took us under a railway line.

Through the tunnel we ventured into a small field with a large pylon and a power station in it.  We crossed the field and through a metal gate to an area known as Gowhole.  We went down some steep steps and crossed Lady Pit Lane to a path between some cottages, this path took us to Marsh Lane.  Turning left we crossed a bridge onto Station Road.

We got separated for a short while, a couple of our group got stranded when the barrier came down at a level crossing at the top of Station Road.

We crossed the very busy Buxton Road and regrouped on the corner of Yeardsley Lane.  Up Yeardsley Lane we went turning left up Dig Lee Road, this led us to a farm and a converted barn.  The road then became a track which led us up hill to a logging shed where we enjoyed pie time.

After pie time we continued our walk by going through a large field with a few cows there, at the top of the field we were treated to spectacular views of Manchester in front of us and a bird's eye view of New Mills to our right.

Following the yellow way markers we crossed Whaley Lane passing a dog retreat, which looked like just a fenced off parcel of grass and at £10 per hour seemed rather expensive.

Continuing on we had a lovely view of Lyme Cage in front of us.  We ventured through a small holding containing some friendly Shetland ponies and crossed Whaley Lane once more.

The way markers led us through somebody's garden to a wooden gate.  Turning left we walked down a track which took us to the bottom of Greenshall Lane, risking our lives once again, we crossed the very busy Buxton Road and onto Lower Greenshall Lane.

We ventured down the lane and over the canal and onto Waterside Road where we walked by the side of the river Goyt.

Crossing the road to our right we entered Mousley Bottom Wood, this is newly created area and nature reserve, this used to be a landfill site where a gas works and sewage works once stood.

We entered The Torrs Riverside Park, passing Torr Vale mill on our right.  Torr Vale Mill is a grade II listed former cotton mill, built in the 1780s by Daniel Strafford.

Leaving The Torrs we crossed Church Street and walked along Hyde Bank road where we had refreshments at the Masons Arms.

We left the Masons and for about 2 miles we walked along the Sett Valley trail back to the cars.

Next week's walk will begin at the free car park at Eyam. 9.50 is our starting time, looking forward to seeing you all there.

Pictures by Tom Cunliffe

photos by Cliff Worthington

 

Rowarth

 ROWARTH

April 13^th 2022

CAR PARK OF THE LITTLE MILL INN AT ROWARTH, MATLEY MOOR, KNARRS FARM, HOLLINWORTH HEAD, CARR MEADOW, MIDDLE MOOR, SHOOTING CABIN, TWENTY TREES, KINDER LODGE AT HAYFIELD, SETT VALLET TRAIL, PENNINE BRIDLEWAY, SITCH LANE, WETHERCOTES, LITTLE MILL INN

Distance: 8.5 miles​

Difficulty: Moderate.

Weather: Dry with the occasional burst of sunshine

Walkers: Tom Cunliffe, Daisy Cunliffe, Jock Rooney, Cliff Worthington, Simon Williams, Dean Taylor, Tommy Taylor, Dave Willets

Apologies: Alan Hart et al (I know lots of WWs proffered their apologies but there were too many to remember in detail)

Leader: Cunliffe ​T ​Diarist: Cunliffe D

Starting point: Car park of the Little Mill Inn, Rowarth

Starting time: 9.40am ​Finishing time: 2.40pm

Firstly, let me acknowledge that this diary has largely been plagiarised from Mr Hart’s carefully crafted piece from 27^th November 2019 which was the last time we did this route albeit with an alternative finish.

Just 6 wanderers and 2 honorary WWs made themselves available for today’s wander….but what a treat our absent friends missed. The weather was warm dry with rays of sunshine almost scalding our backs, great beer, stimulating conversation and smiley faces. Marvellous!

We turned right out of the car park of the Little MIll Inn and immediately right again up a track past some cottages. This soon narrowed to a rocky path which led us in to Rowarth village. We bore left and at the now disused red telephone box turned right down a path.

We turned right on a metalled lane, forded a stream and crossed a footbridge on the left taking us into a wooded, boggy area, where we followed the course of the stream before reaching a track. We recrossed the stream and after a short section of track came to a metal gate leading us onto a narrow road.

This climbed steadily and swung right before reaching a gate at a ramshackle barn, where we turned into a muddy field. We climbed across two fields and crossed a wall stile to skirt Knarrs Farm, where extensive building work is going on.

We descended on a track which brought us to the Monks Road, once used by the friars of Basingwerk Abbey on their tax-collecting journeys. We turned right and soon reached the precarious crossing of the main Hayfield to Glossop road on a blind summit.

Unscathed, we crossed a stile at the far side and swung right down a path through the heather. This is a concessionary path and thus not marked on the OS maps. It brought us down to the stream at Carr Meadow, where pietime was declared.

Resuming we crossed a footbridge, with its nearby memorial stone dedicated to Thomas Boulger 'who served the Peak District and Northern Counties Footpath Preservation Society from 1921 to 1963'. We climbed steadily from here on a quite badly eroded footpath through the heather moorland.

We dropped down to ford a stream and climbed slightly again before reaching a footbridge across a bog near the white-painted shooting cabin that can be spotted from large parts of Kinder Scout.

We turned right here on a track, putting us on the Snake Path linking Hayfield and the Snake Inn. We reached a metal kissing gate marking the end of the moorland and descended through a series of rough pastures, past the landmark copse of Twenty Trees.

This emerged on Kinder Road, Hayfield, where we turned right to soon reach the Kinder Lodge where a selection of first-rate real ales were on offer. My personal selection was The Yardbird, spot on!

After a pleasant break we resumed, turning right and right again heading for the Sett Valley Trail. We travelled said trail for approx 1/3^rd mile before turning right along the western edge of the reservoir, crossing a footbridge over the River Kinder then heading uphill across a field before joining the Pennine Bridleway which led us up to Sitch Lane. Here we turned left, again uphill for 10 mins before turning right along a track. This track took us past a disused quarry and one of Derbyshire’s scruffiest farms (Wethercotes) all the way back to The Little Mill at Rowarth where your diarist enjoyed a cup of refreshing tea, though sadly, all alone, except for Daisy who didn’t have much to say.

Next week's wander is a new route researched by Dean where we will start at the junction of Oven Hill and Hayfield Road in Birchvale leading us on a wander through the New Mills uplands before descending into New Mills itself where we will refresh ourselves in the Masons (say 12:15pm) before returning to our starting point (say 2:15pm)

Parking is available all around the junction.

Let us rendezvous at 9:40.

Disley

 April 6, 2022

DISLEY, BOLLINHURST RESERVOIR, MILLENIUM WOOD, BLACK ROCKS, BYRON HOUSE, GREENSHALL LANE, PEAK FOREST CANAL, GOYT VALLEY, HAGUE BAR, THE FOX AT BROOK BOTTOM, STRINES, PEERES SWINDELLS' COTTAGE, PEAK FOREST CANAL, HAGG BANK, THE DANDY COCK AT DISLEY

Distance: 9 miles.

Difficulty: Moderate.

Weather: Sunny start, then prolonged rain and sunny finish.

Walkers: Andy Blease, Alastair Cairns, Tom Cunliffe with Daisy, Alan Hart, Chris Owen, Jock Rooney and Cliff Worthington.

Apologies: Mickey Barrett (Turkey hols), Peter Beal (collecting mended car), George Dearsley (in Turkey), Mark Enright (w*^king), Mark Evans (India hols), Kieran Rooney (w*^king in Middle East), Dean Taylor (heavy cold), Simon Williams (daughter home from uni)

Leader: Hart. Diarist: Hart.

Starting point: Disley rail station car park.

Starting time: 9.31am. Finishing time: 2.11pm.

A miserable day weather-wise was brightened by the idiosyncrasies of Tom, who broke his personal best for getting lost, and by Chris who was blessed with a low turnout for his round of birthday drinks.

Having lost touch with the group twice on the last time we attempted this route, Tom was offered a carer before we set off. He scorned the suggestion. Within five minutes he was ringing to ask where we were.

It turned out he had forgotten his rucksack as we headed out of the car park and returned to his car to retrieve it. By then he had lost sight of the group. To provide perfect symmetry for the walk, Tom left his rucksack behind at our final watering hole.

Light rain had been forecast for most of the day and even the donning of your diarist's magic waterproof pants failed to keep the persistent precipitation away. But the first call of the curlew and the hammering of a woodpecker were indications of better weather ahead.

From the station car park we walked past The Ram's Head on our right and turned right uphill, passing Red Lane. Just before we reached The White Horse we turned right up Ring O'Bells Lane and headed up to the building, a former pub, which gave the lane its name. The original pub sign is still there but the building is now a Quakers' meeting house.

We turned right in front of the building, crossed a footbridge over a stream and turned left (5mins). It was at this early juncture that we received Tom's Mayday call. After waiting for him to rejoin us we continued along a path with graveyards from the parish church on either side.

We turned left and headed diagonally left along a well-trodden path which cut off a corner and emerged opposite a metal kissing gate which we went through to head diagonally right across a field with the distinctive Lyme Cage atop a hill in the distance (9mins)

At the corner of the field we left via another metal kissing gate to head up a track with Lyme Cage to our right until we reached the entrance to a farmyard. Here we turned left up steps through a wooden kissing gate (18mins). The path took us along the left of a drystone wall behind which was Bollinhurst Reservoir.

The reservoir with Lyme Cage in the distance

As we walked towards the eastern end of the reservoir we heard the first cries of a curlew. When we reached a wooden stile on our right (28mins) we turned right to enter a wood, following a path through a metal kissing gate and then headed right towards a metal gate (34mins)

Beyond the gate was a track and a sign directly opposite for Drake Carr. We followed this path and when we reached the picturesque cottage on our right after 50 yards we turned left up steps to enter Millenium Wood (36mins). The path brought us through a wooden gate to a road where we turned right (40mins)

After passing Bolder Hall Farm on our left we turned left to cross a stile by a wooden public footpath sign for Black Rocks (43mins). In the past we have had difficulty reaching the summit because of thick fog, but on this occasion the way was clear.

Would we be rewarded at last for our climb by stunning views from the ridge. Alas not.

A slight drizzle had steadily worsened and even my magic pants failed to scare the rain away. By the time we reached the ridge known as Black Rocks the landscape back across the valley was veiled in mist (62mins). We turned left, soon climbing over a ladder stile marked with a white arrow (63mins)

Continuing along the ridge we went through a metal kissing gate and followed a yellow arrow (68mins) to the left of a copse of trees. Following Tom's confident instructions from the rear Chris headed straight on towards a dead end and clambered over a wall. Tom meanwhile, realising his mistake, headed left to a new metal kissing gate which brought us to the rear of a cottage (78mins)

A right of way through the cottage garden brought us to the road where Chris awaited. We crossed it and followed a footpath sign through the garden of Byron House. At a gate on the far side we were able to turn left and head downhill along a narrow pathway.

At the bottom of the path we turned right (83mins) passing Pear Tree Cottage on our left. We now followed this track, which became rocky, as it wound downhill. It was revealed as Greenshall Lane as it reached the A6 (95mins). We crossed the busy main road and entered Lower Greenshall Lane, walking through the tunnel under the Manchester-Buxton railway line and over Bridge 27 across the Peak Forest Canal (101mins)

At the far side of the bridge we turned left to reach the canal and turned left again to where a bench has often been used at Pietime. On this occasion, however, we chose to shelter from the rain under the bridge itself.

Pietime under Bridge 27

Resuming after pies and port we walked with the canal on our left as we headed in the direction of Marple. Ducks and geese were nesting on the far side and we should not have long to wait for our first sights of ducklings and goslings.

The Upper Peak Forest Canal is 7 miles long starting from Whaley Bridge and Bugsworth Basin through Bridgemont, Furness Vale, New Mills and Disley on its way to Marple. It was opened in 1796 and was predominantly used to transport coal and limestone, using the Peak Forest Tramway and linking with other existing canals.

When we reached Bridge 25 we turned right through a gap marked with a green public footpath sign (113mins). The path led us down a flight of steep wooden steps and across a footbridge (119mins). After climbing uphill on the far side of a stream we turned right up a steep flight of wooden steps to cross a wooden stile (124mins)

Turning left at a yellow arrow we crossed a wooden stile (128mins) and walked to the left of a pond to enter a car park. As it emerged on a road at the far side we turned right for 10 yards then went left following a green public footpath sign(131mins)

This brought us to the banks of the Goyt where we walked with the river on our left.

The path led us back to the road where we turned left and crossed a bridge over the Goyt. We were now heading relentlessly uphill, passing a children's playground on our right at Hague Bar and crossing a main road (141mins)

This minor road became progressively steeper as it passed Lower Hague Fold Farm on the right just before it swung left in front of a row of cottages. (Front-runners Andy, Alastair and Chris had wrongly opted to go up a track to the right of the cottages and were well on their way to New Mills before they learned the error of their ways)

Beyond the cottages the path swung right and came to a minor road (148mins). Turning left past a memorial bench to Eric Burdekin we arrived at The Fox at Brook Bottom (149mins) and were joined five minutes later by our three amigos. Tom proclaimed the Robinsons' Unicorn bitter to be top class – praise indeed. The beverages were supplied by Chris, celebrating his 67^th birthday.

On leaving the pub we retraced our footsteps for a few paces before turning right at a sign marked Goyt Valley Way. This was a rocky descent and we stopped just short of a railway bridge for a brief lunch (159mins). We continued past Strines Station and Strines Hall on our left and passed a former millpond with its own dovecote on our right.

The millpond and dovecote at Strines

We crossed Strines Road (167mins) and headed uphill along a rough track. As it levelled we came to an ancient cottage on our right with a stone transcription above its door informing us that “Peeres Swindells purchest this land and built this house in the yeare 1694.”

Built to last 326 years ago

When we reached the Peak Forest Canal (176mins) Andy and Alastair had used their innate sense of direction to turn right towards Marple before the rest of us could advise them to turn left towards our destination. When this was realised a phone call brought them back along the towpath of righteousness with the canal on our right.

We exited at Bridge 24 (184mins) and climbed steadily uphill before descending to pass Hagg Bank Allotments on our left.

One last climb under the railway bridge brought us to the A6 at Disley with The Dandy Cock a few yards to our left (200mins). Here we enjoyed pints of Robbies and Dizzy Blonde, with Tom once more forgetting his rucksack. From there is was a five minute walk across the A6 and right through the traffic lights to reach our cars at the station (205mins).

Next weeks' walk will start at 9.40am from The Little Mill Inn at Rowarth on the far side of Mellor. We will aim to reach The Lantern Pike at Little Hayfield around 12.15pm for a bracer before returning to The Little Mill at about 2.20pm.

Happy wandering !