Whaley Bridge

 July 27, 2022

WHALEY BRIDGE CANAL WHARF, CROMFORD AND HIGH PEAK RAILWAY LINE (DISUSED), GOYT VALLEY, TAXAL, TAXAL NICK, WINDGATHER ROCKS, DUNGE VALLEY GARDENS, ROUND KNOLL FARM, CLOUGH FARM, THE SWAN AT KETTLESHULME, HARDY GREEN, TODD BROOK, TODD BROOK RESERVOIR, THE RAILWAY AT WHALEY BRIDGE

Distance: 10 miles.

Difficulty: Moderate.

Weather: Dry, warm, cloudy with sunny spells.

Walkers: Andy Blease, Dave Dunford, Mark Enright, Alan Hart, Chris Owen, Dean Taylor, Keith Welsh, Simon Williams, Cliff Worthington.

Apologies: Mickey Barrett (sailing in Turkey), Peter Beal (covid positive), Alastair Cairns (domestic duties), Tom Cunliffe (sore heel), George Dearsley (in Turkey), Hughie Hardiman (hols), Dave Willett (French hols)

Leader and Diarist: Hart.

Starting point: Tom Brad's Croft free car park next to Whaley Bridge Canal Wharf.

Starting time: 9.35am. Finishing time: 2.10pm.

We welcomed a debutant to this week's walk which was challenging in parts but conducted in perfect walking conditions. Whenever the cloud cover broke a gentle breeze kept the temperature down to manageable proportions.

Our newcomer, Dave Dunford from Birch Vale, turned out to be a near neighbour of Peter Beal as well as being a friend of our Hayfield contingent. As a professional walking guide we hope Dave will join us again and perhaps increase our number of leader volunteers.

In such august company it was a relief to complete a course that has not been attempted since pre-pandemic days without any pratfalls.

From the car park we walked across the bridge over the River Goyt to reach the public footpath along the trackbed of the disused Cromford and High Peak Railway Line.

This 33-mile stretch linked Cromford Canal Wharf at High Peak Junction with the Peak Forest Canal at Whaley Bridge. Designed by Josias Jessop it included a climb of more than 1,000 feet to Ladmanlow and was one of the highest railway lines in Britain at that time.

Originally powered by horses it was later pulled by steam engines taking minerals to the canal wharfs for onward transportation. It closed in 1967.

When we reached Buttercup Cakes premises on our right (5mins) we turned right downhill to the main road where we turned left under a railway bridge. After passing The Cock pub on our left we turned left over a narrow bridge across a stream to head uphill, turn right and continue along the former trackbed (9mins).

Just before we reached Alpha Mews on our right (15mins) we turned right at a footpath sign and followed the well-beaten track uphill through a field. It emerged on a road where we turned right downhill.

Heading for the Goyt Valley

At the end of Mevril Road we reached and crossed the main road (21mins) and continued down a gravel track until we reached a wooden footbridge on our right (25mins). We used this to cross the River Goyt. The path took us steeply uphill to St James' Church, Taxal, on our right at a T-junction.

We turned left for 30 yards then entered a field on our right at a public footpath sign (28mins). Keeping to the right of the field we reached a gate, went through it with a drystone wall on our left, and continued uphill until we reached a track. Here we turned left and walked along the track until we reached a green public footpath sign indicating the way to Windgather Rocks on our right (42mins)

Looking back on Whaley Bridge from Taxal Nick

We climbed steeply up this path, passing a memorial tree to keen hiker Terry Lardner (48mins) on our way up Taxal Nick to reach the drystone wall on Taxal Ridge (53mins). While the main peloton turned left through an iron gate other concerned chums were tending to the needs of their distressed comrade Cliff. It transpired he had been over-indulging on two previous nights and was paying a heavy price.

The steep climb had taken its toll but we can have little sympathy for such self-inflicted wounds and the levelling of the land seemed to revive Cliff's spirits.

From Taxal Nick the distinct formation of Windgather Rocks was clearly visible and we proceeded towards them. We reached the summit of the cliffs (77mins) which are often popular with rock-climbers literally learning the ropes.

The view from Windgather Rocks

We turned left along a track which led to a sheep fold on our right where we stopped for Pietime in its shelter (80 mins). Continuing we walked along the minor road in the direction of Pym Chair. At a T-junction we turned right towards Salterford (93mins) and headed downhill.

At a wooden public footpath sign (100mins) we turned right over a broken wall and soon crossed a short ladder stile to head through a field. When we reached a farmhouse (107mins) we walked right across its frontage and then turned left up a path to the right of the building.

After crossing a stile with a yellow arrow (113mins) we passed a derelict farm building and followed a series of posts marked with yellow arrows which led us to two metal gates. These led us into Dunge Valley Gardens (119mins), a former nursery specialising in rhododendrons. It appears to have ceased trading and gives the impression of being returned to a wild state.

After leaving the gardens (130mins) we continued to a crossroads and went straight across into Clayholes Road (137mins). Bearing slightly left we passed Round Knoll Farm on our right and reached Clough Farm on our left (144mins). Next to its entrance was a wooden gate on the right which we walked through and headed left downhill through a copse.

Nearing the pub – and the pace quickens

After going through a metal gate (149mins) we swung right past a cottage (152mins) and reached crossroads. We turned right over a stone bridge and immediately left (156mins). This track took us past Stocks Bank Cottage on our right to the back of The Swan Inn at Kettleshulme on our left. We descended a flight of stone steps to reach the front of the pub (157mins). Here we enjoyed pints of Hop Sack at £4 a pint and Lord Lucan at £4-40 under the parasols in the beer garden.

Some 15 years ago the pub was threatened with closure but local residents bought the premises and kept it going.

Resuming our journey we crossed the road opposite the front door of the pub and walked through a garden centre to exit opposite a church (159mins). Here we turned right and then left into Kishfeld Lane. This took us past Hardy Green on our left and Kishfeld Croft on our right (170mins) before we reached a bridge over Todd Brook where we stopped for lunch (174mins)

Afterwards we retraced our steps for 30 yards and turned left over a wooden stile to enter a wood (175mins)

The wood leading to Todd Brook Reservoir

Ignoring paths to our right we kept Todd Brook in sight on our left until the path led us down to it. Depending on recent rainfall the stepping stones across the brook can be under water. However, since the bursting of the dam at Todd Brook Reservoir in 2019 they have been pinned with sandbags to make access to the opposite bank easier.

However the “protection” of the railings on the far side required strength and nerve to negotiate a safe landing. Having passed this unexpected test (192 mins) we now walked with the sluice channel on our left and the reservoir on our right as we made our way back into Whaley Bridge.

After passing Brookfield Pond on our left (202mins) we arrived at the traffic lights where four of us called at The Railway (207mins) for pints of England's Pride at £3-50 while the others crossed the main road to return to the car park.

Next week's walk will start at 9.35am from the free car park overlooking Bollington Recreation Ground. Chris will lead us on a figure-of-eight route calling at the pie shop before heading along The Macclesfield Canal and climbing up to Kerridge Ridge to visit Rainow, returning to Bollington on The Virgins' Path past Ingersley Waterfall and pausing for a livener at The Vale. A loop will take us along The Middlewood Way to Whiteley Green before we return to The Vale for further refreshment.

Happy wandering !

Topley Pike

 

July 20, 2022.

TOPLEY PIKE, MONSAL TRAIL ALONG WYE VALLEY, CHEEDALE, BLACKWELL HALL FARM, PRIESTCLIFFE, BANK PIT SPRING (THE ILLY WILLY WATER), THE CHURCH INN AT CHELMORTON, SHEPLEY FARM, DEEP DALE AND TOPLEY PIKE QUARRY

Distance: 8 miles.

Difficulty: Moderate.

Weather: Warm, dry but cloudy.

Walkers: Alastair Cairns, Tom Cunliffe with Daisy, Mark Enright, Martin Evans, Mark Gibby, Hughie Hardiman, Alan Hart, Dean Taylor, Keith Welsh, Cliff Worthington.

Apologies: Mickey Barrett (sailing in Turkey), Peter Beal (domestic duties), Andy Blease (Anglesey caravan), George Dearsley (in Turkey), Chris Owen (in Germany) Jock Rooney (in the Isle of Man), Dave Willetts (in France)

Leader and Diarist: Hart.

Starting point: Land adjoining quarry entrance on A6 at Topley Pike, near Buxton.

Starting time: 9.45am. Finishing time: 1.45pm.

This walk has often suffered a delayed start because of traffic conditions in and around Buxton. On this occasion fears of roadworks saw all expected walkers arriving early and we were able to begin five minutes ahead of schedule: a new record for a start which produced a new record for an early finish.

Last time this route was attempted earlier in the year heavy rain had swollen the River Wye and the stepping stones in Cheedale were under water. On this occasion, after a lengthy dry spell and the highest temperatures on record the day before, we enjoyed warm weather with a gentle breeze.

The river, in which several brown trout were visible, was at a low level but its course through the gorge is always spectacular.

Although your diarist was theoretically leading the group this route is so well known that he was often seen trailing behind the eager front runners.

Happily we arrived in perfect time for the opening of one of our best-loved pubs, The Church Inn at Chelmorton, and basked in the sunshine breaking through the clouds while drinking a choice of cask ales in the beer garden.

From our free parking spots we crossed the A6 to enter the pay-and-display car park at the start of the Monsal Trail where motorists were paying £4-65 for the privilege.

The Monsal Trail follows the trackbed of the former Manchester, Buxton, Matlock and Midland Junction Railway which was built in 1863 to link Manchester with London. It closed in 1968.

The trail opened for hikers, cyclists and horse riders in 1981 starting at Topley Pike 3 miles east of Buxton and running to Coombs Viaduct one mile south east of Bakewell. It follows the Wye Valley through Blackwell Mill, Chee Dale, Millers Dale, Cressbrook, Monsal Dale, Great Longstone, Hassop and Bakewell.

Start of Monsal Trail

We walked along the trail with the River Wye on our left until we reached the Blackwell Bike Hire shop on our right. Here we turned left to cross a wooden footbridge (13mins) and turned right. The well-trodden but overgrown path now led us along the left bank of the Wye into a gorge where the cliffs on either side grew higher as we progressed.

It was a jungle out there

At one point we crossed a footbridge over the Wye to walk along the right bank before another footbridge brought us back again.

The surrounding cliffs grew taller

Large brown trout were visible below the shallow surface

After making our way along a row of stepping stones we followed the path over duckboards until we reached a footbridge on our right with a sign pointing to Blackwell (72mins). Here we stopped for Pietime.

Stepping stones in the River Wye

Resuming we crossed the bridge and headed diagonally right up a steep hill until we

reached a drystone wall at its summit. Historians have found artefacts which indicate this was once a Bronze Age fort.

Turning left at the wall we proceeded to a wooden gate on our right which led us into a field. Keeping right we followed the path through a farmyard (96mins) before exiting Blackwell Hall Farm and crossing a road to follow signs for Priestcliffe and Taddington (100mins).

At a wooden public footpath sign (101mins) we turned right to enter a field and kept to the left as we continued uphill. We left the field through a wooden gate marked with a yellow arrow (105mins) and reached the A6 (111mins). We crossed this and entered a spinney by a stone step stile, keeping to a wall on the left as we climbed uphill. After crossing two more stone steps stiles we headed diagonally left through fields.

On reaching a gravel path we turned right and followed it as it swung left before reaching a stile on our right and a wooden public footpath sign. Tom, who had taken the lead with Daisy, ignored this and despite our best efforts to correct him insisted on proceeding forward, persuading five misguided souls to follow him.

Our remaining group of four proceeded over the stile, turned diagonally left towards a metal gate and headed for a farm. We walked through the farmyard (127mins) and turned left as we exited.

As the track swung left we saw a wooden public footpath sign for Chelmorton and turned right to follow it (131mins). Tom's breakaway group was approaching from another direction 100 yards behind us.

The path led us down past Bank Pit Spring (139mins) on our right. For reasons not made clear this was known in the days when lime was mined in the area as The Illy Willy Water.

Plaque at Bank Pit Spring

We resisted the temptation to test it and walked another 100 yards to reach The Church Inn on our right (141mins). Here we sampled a variety of cask ales, including Wainwrights, Moonshine and Pedigree for £4 as the sun came out in the beer garden.

Suitably refreshed we turned right out of the pub and right again after 80 yards at a wooden public footpath sign towards Shepley Farm (142mins) and then crossing a road (152mins).

Homeward bound

When we reached an electrified fence across the forward path we turned right and when the fence ended turned left into a field (156mins) and stopped for lunch.

Continuing our journey we carried on along the path and then headed diagonally right to the edge of a wood. After crossing a wooden stile we entered the wood and began a tricky, twisting descent along a path into and through Deep Dale (170mins)

The path emerged on the right of a stream coming from the quarry and led us back to our cars (191mins)

Next week's walk will start at 9.35am from Tom Brads Croft free car park next to the canal wharf at Whaley Bridge (SK23 7SR). We plan to climb up to Taxal Ridge, head up to Windgather Rocks, then walk via Dunge Valley to The Swan Inn at Kettleshulme for a tincture around 12.15pm. We aim to return via Todd Brook Reservoir, reaching our cars at at about 2.30pm, having completed a route of 9-10 miles.

Happy wandering !

Random Wednesday Wanderers' Photo Gallery

 

Old Glossop

 July 13, 2022.

THE WHEATSHEAF AT OLD GLOSSOP, MOORSIDE, COCK HILL, TORSIDE CLOUGH, CLOUGH EDGE, LONGDENDALE VALLEY TRAIL, THE ANCHOR AT HADFIELD, GLOSSOP CEMETERY, SWINESHAW RESERVOIR, THE QUEENS AT OLD GLOSSOP

Distance: 8.5 miles.

Difficulty: Moderate.

Weather: Hot and sunny with cooling breeze.

Walkers: Peter Beal, Mark Enright, Martin Evans, Mark Gibby, Hughie Hardiman, Alan Hart, Dean Taylor, Cliff Worthington.

Apologies: Mickey Barrett, Andy Blease (in Anglesey), Alastair Cairns, Tom Cunliffe (domestic duties), George Dearsley (in Turkey), Chris Owen, Julian Ross, Jock Rooney, Keith Welsh (awaiting delivery), Dave Willetts (in France)

Leader: Beal. Diarist: Hart.

Starting point: Wasteland opposite Wheatsheaf pub in Old Glossop, Derbyshire.

Starting time: 9.51am. Finishing time: 1.52pm.

After a previous effort to reach the spectacular viewpoint from Deepclough had been thwarted by footpath closures, Peter Beal vowed to find us an alternative route. This was the trial run for another means of getting there and what a triumph it proved to be.

A cooling breeze took the edge off what threatened to be an uncomfortably hot day and enabled us to enjoy the scenery of the Longdendale Valley at its best. The closure of the footpath through Blackshaw Farm may prove to be a blessing in disguise because on this circular journey we never retraced our footsteps at any stage.

Even when we suffered a setback with the quality of the cask bitter in The Anchor, the barmaid was quick to apologise and bring us free replacements as we basked in the sunshine outside.

Those who failed to make it shall think themselves accursed they were not here and hold their manhoods cheap (Henry V, Act 4, Scene 3)

From the informal car park opposite The Wheatsheaf in Old Glossop we turned right to enter Hope Street, which became Charles Lane (4mins). As this road petered out by the side of a house called Moorside we went left up a rather overgrown footpath to the left of the drive.

This brought us into a field and we stayed on this footpath all the way to the Trig Point (426 metres) at Cock Hill.

View looking back to Glossop

After reaching a brief plateau on our ascent of Cock Hill we forked left and aimed for a wooden post on the distant skyline (39mins). We soon reached the summit and posed for a team photo (49mins)

Left to right: Martin Evans, Mark Gibby, Mark Enright, Cliff Worthington, Hughie Hardiman, Dean Taylor and Peter Beal.

From the Trig Point we continued in the same northerly direction with grouse butts on our right to reach the derelict roofless building between Glossop Low and Blackshaw Clough which has hosted many a Pietime on previous occasions (57mins)

After a break for snacks and port we continued in a northerly direction along a path through a cleft in the heather until we reached a view over Rhodeswood and Torside Reservoirs (65mins)

Descending Clough Edge

We then walked down Clough Edge until we reached a path (84mins) and turned left.

A path on the right (90mins) led us down to a wooden kissing gate and two gaps stiles through which we reached the B6105. By turning left, crossing the road and turning sharp left at a sign for West Hadfield we were walking along The Longdendale Valley Trail (95mins)

The Longdendale Trail follows the former Woodhead railway line which ran between Manchester and Sheffield until it closed east of Hadfield in 1981.

We followed the trackbed until it brought us past Bottoms Reservoir on our right to a car park in Hadfield (137mins)

Bottoms Reservoir

We exited the car park, crossed the road and passed Malvern Rise on our right before heading to the left of a flagpole and statue to head up Railway Street (139mins). When we reached a crossroads we turned right and The Anchor was on our left (144mins)

In the past we have enjoyed excellent Tetleys' cask bitter in this pub which is run by an efficient team of ladies. On this occasion your diarist found his pint tasted sour and looked slightly cloudy. The barmaid replaced it with lager and said she hoped the previous pints she had pulled for our group were OK.

In fact there were three unhappy drinkers at our beer table outside and on returning some glasses I reported that there was something wrong with the Tetleys. As we were leaving the barmaid came out with two fresh pints of John Smiths' Smooth and apologised for the beer she had poured earlier. If only all pubs were so obliging.

We turned right out of the pub and walked back along the main road, passing Railway Street on our left as we walked for a mile uphill until we reached Glossop Cemetery at Bettenhill on our left (162mins). Here we stopped for lunch at the gates.

Continuing our journey we walked through the cemetery to its far surrounding wall and crossed a flight of stone steps to exit the grounds and turn right (165mins)

Walking through a wooden gate the path then took us through a farm garden piled up with stonework and flags. We reached the B6105 (167mins), turning right and then left at a wooden public footpath sign to proceed along the right of way.

After crossing a broken drystone wall (170mins) just before reaching Swineshaw Reservoir we turned right and followed a path which skirted woods on our left.

Approaching Swineshaw Reservoir

The path took us through two fence gates and a metal kissing gate (180mins) from which we emerged among houses on a road which took us to the right side of The Wheatsheaf in Old Glossop (183mins). From here we returned to the cars to de-boot (184mins) before calling at The Queens nearby for a final thirst-quencher.

Next week's walk will start at 9.50am from free parking spaces at Topley Pike outside the entrance to the quarry. It is opposite the pay-and-display car park on the other side of the A6 heading south east from Buxton (SK17 9TE)

We intend to walk along the Wye Valley before crossing the river and heading through farmland to reach The Church Inn at Chelmorton around 12.20pm. We will be returning via Deep Clough and expect to be back at our cars by 2.30pm.

Happy wandering !

Mellor Boundary

 July 6,2022

MELLOR BOUNDARY WALK

BRABYN’S PARK, MARPLE BRIDGE, LONGHURST LANE, TOWNCLIFFE LANE, MILL BROW, HOLLYWOOD END, SMITHY LANE, CLOUGHEND, PISTOL FARM, GUN ROAD, SHILOH ROAD, POLE LANE, CASTLE EDGE FARM, SHAW FARM, FOX INN AT BROOKBOTTOM, STRINES STATION, ROMAN LAKES, MELLOR MILL, LOW LEA ROAD, MARPLE BRIDGE

Distance: 10.5 miles Total ascent/descent: 1,550 ft

Difficulty: Moderate

Weather: Dank and drizzly at first, cleared later.

Walkers: Micky Barrett, Peter Beal, Andy Blease, Alastair Cairns, Tom Cunliffe with Daisy, Mark Enright, Hughie Hardiman, Chris Owen, Dean Taylor, Keith Welsh, Simon Williams, Cliff Worthington

Alternative walkers: Jock Rooney with Milly

Apologies: Alan Hart (in Lakes), George Dearsley (Turkey), Dave Willetts (France), Julian Ross (Cornwall), Mark Gibby (shielding before family wedding)

Leader: Beal Diarist: Beal

Starting point: Brabyn’s Park, Marple Bridge

Start time: 9.39am Finishing time: 2.38pm

A good turn-out of 12 walkers came to Marple Bridge for what was a new and fairly gentle route for the Wanderers, despite being over 10 miles. Dreary dank weather to start with lifted fairly soon and our walk was largely dry. We were also pleased to welcome Tom for his first full outing since his recent op and he reported completing it with no ill effects.

The Mellor Boundary Walk was conceived in May 1992 by the Mellor Society around the parish boundary, athough the route strays occasionally from Greater Manchester in to Derbyshire.

We left the Brabyn’s Park free car park, turned left at the road, and crossed at the pedestrian lights in to Marple Bridge Town Street. This led us to Longhurst Lane and at the brow of the hill, where a postbox was set in to the wall, we turned left then immediately right in to the roughly-surfaced Towncliffe Lane.

At the top of the lane at some cottages we bore left along a track signed Mill Brow. We soon came to a cobbled courtyard at cottages and went straight on, immediately taking a narrow path on the left. This went through a gate with the wooded valley of Mill Brook below us on the left. A second gate brought us in to an open field and we descended to reach a stile.

We crossed this to reach a track descending from our right. We turned left and left again at another surfaced track to cross a bridge over Mill Brook and ascend a surfaced lane. This emerged on a minor road opposite the Hare and Hounds pub in the hamlet of Mill Brow (34 minutes, 2 miles).

We turned right up the road here and where a road with a ‘no through road’ sign branched off on the left, we swung right to cross a bridge and took an unsigned track on the left past cottages at Hollywood End.

We went through a gate in to fields, where a distinctive green and white Peak and Northern Footpath Society sign on the stream bank pointed us towards Cown Edge via Ludworth Moor. The path went through a garden in front of two picturesque cottages and soon after we ignored a track in front of us and turned left to drop down to cross the stream on a small wooden bridge. The path climbed to a stile and through newly-planted saplings to a gate.

At the next lop-sided stile we ignored a small gate in front of us and bore left up a grassy field and right through a gate at the top, where we turned right to reach Smithy Lane (51 min). Immediately opposite was another path alongside farm buildings which we took, fording a stream and climbing on an indistinct path to skirt a house at Clough End (66 min).

We reached a minor road and immediately took a track on the right. Shortly after this swung sharply left we took an unsigned path uphill on the left that brought us to Gun Road which links New Mills and Charlesworth (74 min, 3 miles). We continued along the track opposite on a diversion on to Ludworth Moor that reduced the amount of road walking that was to follow.

We took the first path signed on our right and crossed a small ladder stile to cross moorland, took another stile and then a large wall stile on our right. Here we declared pietime (81 min) in rather a windy spot.

We crossed the field to cross yet another stile to join a track that brought us back on to Gun Road opposite Pistol Farm(91 min). We now faced an unavoidable mile-and-a-half road walk along Gun Road and Shiloh Road but dispatched it in 25 minutes of brisk marching. It took us past a development of smart apartments that some will remember as the Moorfield Arms pub before its closure many years ago.

It brought us to a road junction known locally as Five Lane Ends (125min, 5.5 miles), where we took the track immediately ahead of us marked on maps as Pole Lane. This took us past a covered reservoir on the left and arrived at a junction of tracks (137 min, 6 miles). We went straight on, on a surfaced road and almost immediately turned right towards Castle Edge farm.

We took a stile on the left, through a small gate. The path went through a series of small fields and over four stiles, after the last of which, at the foot of a copse of trees, we swung left downhill towards Shaw Farm. Here Chris made one of several attempts during the day to lead Wanderers off piste in directions wrong and unknown, but this was spotted and the situation retrieved.

At the farm buildings we crossed a stile in to the yard and at the other side went over a stile and took a small gate along a track. Here our way was blocked by a herd of large and severely incontinent cows. Chris to his credit took the initiative and forced his way thourgh, driving some of the beasts ahead of him. The rest of our band gingerly followed, not sure whether we should be more worried of being trampled or violently shat upon.

We were relived to soon reach a stile on the left which we crossed in to a wood and descended steeply to cross a wooden plank bridge. We climbed the bank opposite and went through a gap in the wall to descend on a stepped path, skirting a house, and going down a drive that brought us to the familiar sight of the Fox Inn in the hamlet of Brookbottom (163 min, 7 miles).

We enjoyed pints of Robinson’s Unicorn and a tasty new hoppy ale from them called Citra.

We were joined by Jock and his sheepdog puppy Milly, who had walked from Marple locks along the Peak Forest canal.

Resuming, we turned right out of the pub and immediately right again down a track signed as being the route of the Goyt Way, a 10-mile route between Whaley Bridge and the Etherow Country Park in Compstall near Marple. This descended to the railway station at Strines (187 min), where we crossed under the tracks on to cobbles.

The station and nearby New Mills Central station have been mooted as the inspiration for Edith’s Nesbit’s The Railway Children. She had visited her half-sister’s houses in Marple Bridge and later near Cobden Edge, Mellor, for holidays. Next to the Cobden Edge house was a property called Three Chimneys – the same name as the family house in the book. It is also said the location was more likely inspired by one in her native Kent – or probably a combination of the two.

At the end of the cobbles we took a track on the right, again signed Goyt Way. This climbed steadily to re-cross the Manchester to Sheffield railway line over a bridge, where we paused for a brief lunch, and at a track junction we bore left after some buildings. At another junction of paths we kept right, following a well-hidden Goyt Way sign down on a fencepost.

The path here had been much-improved recently, presumably by the local council. It took us again under the railway line and we soon reached the Roman Lakes on our right (223 min, 9 miles). These two lakes have no Roman links at all, but were so-named after being turned in to a Victorian tourist venue, following the destruction by fire of Samuel Oldknow’s nearby textile mill, for which they served as mill ponds. Similarly the so-called Roman bridge over the River Goyt which we passed a few minutes earlier, is in fact a 17^th century packhorse bridge.

The tearooms alongside the North Lake were open daily until recently but would now appear to restrict public opening to one Sunday a month, relying otherwise on private functions.

We continued along the good track, soon reaching remains of the mill, the largest of its kind in the world when it was built in1793. Some years ago the ruins were re-excavated and the site improved with information boards by the local historical society in an on-going project.

We turned right through the site along Bottoms Mill Road, which climbed before descending down Low Lea Road to the top of Marple Town Street (243 min, 10.5 miles). From here it was a short walk back to our cars.

Next week’s walk will start at 9.40am at the car park opposite The Wheatsheaf in Old Glossop, and climb Cock Hill on the way to Torside Clough. Refreshments will be at The Anchor in Hadfield around 12.30pm.

Wanderers may recall there was an abortive attempt on this route in January due to a path closure, so this time we will go for an alternative ascent.

Happy Wandering!