Barber Booth

 September 28, 2022.

BARBER BOOTH, CHAPEL GATE, RUSHUP EDGE, LORD'S SEAT BARROW, MAM TOR, HOLLINS CROSS, HOLLINS, THE OLD NAGS HEAD AT EDALE, NEWFOLD FARM, SHAW WOOD, UPPER BOOTH, BARBER BOOTH CAR PARK

Distance: 7.5 miles.

Difficulty: Moderate.

Weather: Dry with early chill giving way to blue skies and sunshine.

Walkers: Peter Beal, Andy Blease, Tom Cunliffe with Daisy, Mark Enright, Hughie Hardiman, Alan Hart, Jock Rooney with Milly, Dean Taylor, Dave Willetts, Simon Williams.

Apologies: Mickey Barrett (Turkey hols), Alastair Cairns (domestic duties), George Dearsley (in Turkey), Mark Gibby (visiting Welsh relatives), Chris Owen (recovering from covid), Cliff Worthington (hols)

Leader: Beal. Diarist: Hart.

Starting point: Barber Booth car park, near Edale, Derbyshire.

Starting time: 9.44am. Finishing time: 1.55pm.

September 28, 2022.

BARBER BOOTH, CHAPEL GATE, RUSHUP EDGE, LORD'S SEAT BARROW, MAM TOR, HOLLINS CROSS, HOLLINS, THE OLD NAGS HEAD AT EDALE, NEWFOLD FARM, SHAW WOOD, UPPER BOOTH, BARBER BOOTH CAR PARK

Distance: 7.5 miles.

Difficulty: Moderate.

Weather: Dry with early chill giving way to blue skies and sunshine.

Walkers: Peter Beal, Andy Blease, Tom Cunliffe with Daisy, Mark Enright, Hughie Hardiman, Alan Hart, Jock Rooney with Milly, Dean Taylor, Dave Willetts, Simon Williams.

Apologies: Mickey Barrett (Turkey hols), Alastair Cairns (domestic duties), George Dearsley (in Turkey), Mark Gibby (visiting Welsh relatives), Chris Owen (recovering from covid), Cliff Worthington (hols)

Leader: Beal. Diarist: Hart.

Starting point: Barber Booth car park, near Edale, Derbyshire.

Starting time: 9.44am. Finishing time: 1.55pm.

After a chilly start in the shade of a tree-lined road, we emerged into bright, warm sunshine as Peter led us on a steady climb towards Rushup Edge. We were rewarded with stunning views across the valleys and a fabulous panorama from the summit of Mam Tor.

Setting out towards Rushup Edge

On top of that, we were treated to an aeronautical display by six paragliders who ran off the hillside a few feet from where we had stopped for Pietime and launched themselves off the ridge. Although the route was shorter than usual our ascent totaled 1,560 feet.

Aeronautical entertainment

From the car park we walked back up the minor road from which we had arrived and went under a railway viaduct before turning right across a wooden stile (4mins). The path took us through a small wooden gate (7mins) before we dog-legged left and right (8mins) to cross another wooden stile. The route continued through a series of gates and stiles towards Chapel Gate.

On our right at the top of a hill we could see a ventilator shaft from the Cowburn Tunnel on the Hope Valley Line linking Stockport with Sheffield. The tunnel, at the western end of the Vale of Edale, is 3,702 yards long. It lies 875 feet beneath the hillside and is the deepest railway tunnel in England.

Ahead in the distance we could clearly see the towns of Whaley Bridge and New Mills.

When the path reached a T junction we turned left (48mins) and went through a new wooden kissing gate (58mins). Another wooden kissing gate (61mins) brought us to Lord's Seat Barrow at 1,804 feet.

Barrow boy Peter

This is believed to be a late neolithic or Bronze Age burial site used between 3000 and 1500 BC. It is 55 feet in diameter and seven feet high.

After going through another wooden kissing gate (68mins) we stopped on the edge of the ridge for Pietime (76mins) at 11am sharp. As we did so six paragliders put on a bravura display above us.

Up up and away

Continuing our journey along the ridge we headed right and downhill through a gate to reach a road (82mins). We turned left for 20 yards then crossed to the far side to head up stone steps passing the sign for Mam Tor (84mins). A steep climb up the steps took us to the Trig Point at the summit of Mam Tor (92mins)

Mam Tor stands 1,696 feet above sea level and its name means Mother Hill. It is also known as Shivering Mountain because its shale content has led to many landslips over the centuries. In 1979 the prolonged battle to maintain the A625 road between Sheffield and Chapel-en-le-Frith was abandoned because of subsidence and the road was officially closed.

We began our descent, going through two wooden gates until we reached Hollins Cross (115mins) which is marked by a memorial stone. As we did so we had one last visit from a paraglider.

Last sighting

Waiting for Jock and Milly at Hollins Cross

From Hollins cross we turned left down a rocky path, taking a right fork (117mins) and passing a farm on our right as we went through a wooden gate (124mins). We followed a sign for Edale downhill and went through a wooden gate (130mins). Not far beyond the gate, a path appeared on our left off the main track (131mins)

After some 20 yards the path led us to a new wooden gate in front of a road. We crossed the road and followed a public footpath sign opposite to head along a fenced path (132mins). After passing through a wooden gate and gap stile (134mins) we crossed a field diagonally right and headed towards a tunnel.

The path led through the tunnel under the Hope Valley railway line and towards a wooden gate (137mins) which led to a flagged path. At a T-junction (143mins) we turned left through a gap stile and almost immediately right at a path marked with a yellow arrow.

Emerging at a road opposite Edale Parish Church (145mins)we turned right and reached The Old Nags Head on our right (148mins). Outrageously there were no apostrophes on the pub's name or on its doorway marked Hikers Bar. The consistently poor punctuation continued at the bar itself where staff polo shirts also lacked an apostrophe in Nags. (Stop me if I'm nagging).

Three draught ales were on offer and I can vouch for the quality of the English Pride. Others were not happy with the pale ale. Pints cost £4-40 on average.

Suitably refreshed we left the pub. Turning left for a few paces in the direction from which we had come we then turned immediately right at Newfold Farm. We swung left passing a campsite on our right as we saw the distinctive outline of Mam Nick on our left across the valley.

Mam Nick on the skyline

Before reaching a farm we turned left (154mins) through a wooden gate and headed diagonally right across a field. The path then took us through a series gates and fields until we reached a pile of log ends on our left and stopped for lunch (159mins)

Resuming we followed a sign for Barber Booth (160mins) and went through another wooden gate and a wooden public footpath sign for our destination (162mins). Another series of gates led us into a field occupied by a flock of unusually spotted dark brown and white sheep.

We spotted spotted sheep

After going through another wooden gate we turned left across a bridge over the railway line (169mins), reached a lane and turned right towards Upper Booth. After passing The Old Dairy on our right (171mins) we turned right at a sign for Upper Booth (173mins).

This narrow road took us under the railway viaduct (177mins) and back to our cars (179mins)

Next week's walk will start at 10am from Alport, near Bakewell, Derbyshire. To reach Alport follow the A6 through Buxton and Bakewell. Two miles out of Bakewell a sign will appear for Alport on your right. In Alport park at the side of the road near a red phone box. We aim to stop for refreshment in Birchover either at The Red Lion or The Druids Inn at about 12.15pm. A final glass will be taken at The George in Youlgrave around 2.30pm.

Happy wandering !

Allgreave

 ALLGREAVE

September 21, 2022

ROSE AND CROWN AT ALLGREAVE, BURNTCLIFF TOP, GRADBACH, FOREST WOOD, HANGING STONE, DANEBRIDGE, THE SHIP INN AT WINCLE, ALLMEADOWS, ROSE AND CROWN

Distance: 6.5 Miles Ascent/descent: 1,350 ft

Difficulty: Very easy

Weather: Dry with lots of sun.Warm

Walkers: Peter Beal, Andy Blease, Alastair Cairns, Tom Cunliffe with Daisy, Jock Rooney with Millie, Dean Taylor, Keith Welsh, Dave Willetts, Simon Williams

Apologies: Alan Hart (bowling), Chris Owen (Covid), Hughie Hardiman (physio), Julian Ross (Portugal hols), Cliff Worthington (Spanish hols), Mark Enright (working), George Dearsley (Turkey)

Leader: Rooney Diarist: Beal

Starting point: Rose and Crown pub car park on A54

Starting time: 9.43 am Finishing time: 1.29pm

It doesn’t get much easier than today’s walk. Deprived of our scheduled leader Chris, struck by Covid, we nevertheless cobbled together what can be described as a leisurely ramble around the Cheshire and Staffordshire hills.

The start was the Rose and Crown at Allgreave, the domain of the fearsome landlady Luda, formerly of the Hanging Gate, one of our former favourite haunts. In fact, the Rose and Crown has effectively been boycotted by the Wanderers for many years after what went down in history as The Great Chip Robbery. This was when the effusive Luda sold two of our number reasonably-priced bacon butties and then persuaded them to have some chips which turned out to be £5 a bowl. Not that we bear grudges. (or chips on the shoulder, Ed)

Luda was nowhere to be seen today and it has to be said the pub is delightful inside and in the splendid beer garden where we all enjoyed post-walk drinks.

In the absence of our planned leader, Jock emerged as the person with a really impressive- looking map marked with what looked like a route so he was appointed leader for the day.

We left the top of the car park above the pub and turned left along a minor road. The pub unfortunately has no link to any footpaths. We followed this road for 1.25 miles as far as Burntcliff Top, where a plaque told us the house was at one time the Eagle and Child pub.

We turned right here through a gate and dropped steeply downhill on a grassy, and at times stone-stepped path to cross a footbridge over the River Dane to emerge at Gradbach Mill. This imposing building was once a busy silk spinning mill before closing around 1900. In 1978 it became Gradbach Youth Hostel and later a local authority education centre. Now it is an up-market conference and events centre called The Mill with a seven-bedroomed luxury self-catering farmhouse next door.

We crossed the courtyard and went through a gate to a path alongside the river. A series of gates and stiles brought us to Forest Wood, where a sign pointing uphill to the left indicated Lud’s Church. This 60-foot deep moss-covered chasm was a secret meeting place in the 1400s for the persecuted religious group the Lollards, followers of dissident John Wycliff.

We climbed uphill through the woods to reach a rocky outcrop at a junction of tracks. Left would have taken us to Lud’s Church and on a longer route planned by Jock, who was valiantly leading from the rear, but our group decided to press straight on along a path just east of the ridge to come to a gate at a track junction, where pie-time was called.

We turned right through the gate along the ridge, soon dropping down to the rocky outcrop of Hanging Stone (3 miles). This was not a place of execution but more likely named because of its rock overhang, or from the old English ‘hangra’, meaning wood.

We descended stone steps to the right of the rock. From here we could seen plaques on the two outward-facing slabs of the rock, both placed by the Brocklehurst family, former owners of the nearby Swythamley Hall.

One – a memorial to a gundog – read:

‘Beneath this rock August 1^st 1874

Was buried

BURKE

a noble mastiff

black and tan

faithful as woman

braver than man

a gun and a ramble his heart’s desire

with the friend of his life

the Swythamley squire’

The other plaque read:

‘Lt Col Henry Courtney Brocklehurst

10^th Royal Hussars

pilot in the Royal Flying Corps 1916-18

Game Warden of the Sudan

Born at Swythamley May 27^th 1888

Killed on active service

in Burma on commando 1942’

It was Henry Courtney who introduced wallabies to the Swythamley estate. After the hall was sold in the 1970s they escaped and the colony made its home in the nearby Roaches rocks, where one could occasionally be spotted. They died out in the 1980s, many victims of cars on the nearby busy A53.

His brother Philip was a geologist on Shackleton’s 1907 Nimrod expedition, where he lost toes to frostbite but went on to have a distinguished military career.

We descended from the rock to a nearby track, where we turned right and almost immediately left over a stile into a field, where we dropped down into a wood. A path dropped down with a stream below on the right to emerge on a track close to the road at Danebridge, where the bridge marks the Cheshire-Staffordshire border.

We turned right across the bridge and climbed through the village to the Ship Inn at Wincle (4 miles). Our direct route meant we had arrived before it opened but we waited at a table at the rear and the beer drinkers were soon enjoying John Willie Lees’ Dragonfly pale ale, which was pronounced excellent at £3-80 a pint.

Leaving the pub we turned right up the road and almost immediately right up stone steps in a gap in the wall. We crossed a private drive and went straight ahead through a kissing gate in to fields. We followed the path through a wood to cross Hog Clough on a small bridge and then carried on through stiles and gates through fields with the Dane below us on our right.

This path emerged on a minor road at Allmeadows Farm, where we turned right to soon come to the A53. An unavoidable short stretch on the main road took us right, up a hill to reach the Rose and Crown after a few hundred yards.

All nine of us sat in the beer garden, where the Isobar IPA, from Macclesfield’s Storm Brewery, was declared top-class, again at £3-80.

Next week’s walk will take us to Edale. The starting point, at 9.45am is the free National Park car park at Barber Booth. For those who might not have been there before – take a left off the Castleton road, towards Edale and at the bottom of the hill, where the road turns sharply right, turn left. This lane goes under a rail viaduct and soon after is the roadside car park. We intend to cross Rushup Edge and Mam Tor before refreshments at the Nag’s Head in Edale.

Happy Wandering!

Rowarth

  

September 14, 2022.

 

ROWARTH, MATLEY MOOR, HOLLINGWORTH HEAD FARM, HOLLINGWORTH CLOUGH, MIDDLE MOOR, TWENTY TREES, THE KINDER LODGE AT HAYFIELD, WETHERCOTES FARM, ASPENSHAW HALL, LANESIDE FARM AND THE LITTLE MILL INN AT ROWARTH

 

Distance: 10 miles.

Difficulty: Easy.

Weather: Dull cloudy start: sunny finish.

Walkers: Andy Blease, Alastair Cairns with Daisy, Tom Cunliffe, Hughie Hardiman, Alan Hart, Jonathan Hart, Chris Owen, Jock Rooney with Milly, Dean Taylor with Tommy, Keith Welsh, Dave Willett, Simon Williams, Cliff Worthington.

Apologies: Micky Barrett (Turkey hols), Peter Beal (Greek island hols), Daisy Cunliffe (on heat), George Dearsley (in Turkey), Mark Gibby (sore back), Julian Ross (Portugal hols)

Leader: Cunliffe. Diarist: Hart.

Starting point: Car park of The Little Mill Inn at Rowarth, High Peak.

Starting time: 9.44am. Finishing time: 2.21pm.

 

After a dull start in unpromising weather we inadvertently split into two groups after seven minutes and it took an hour before we were reunited. But once modern mobile communications had been restored the splinter group created unwittingly by your diarist rejoined the main peloton and we enjoyed a splendid walk.

It was led by Tom, making a comeback after several weeks' absence through a heel injury, and the day ended amid blue skies and warm sunshine in a beer garden.

It was enjoyed by 13 wanderers and three dogs. However Dave's journey may have been spoiled when a sheep defecated on him at Pietime ! Read on for the squalid details.

From the car park of the Little Mill Inn we walked back along the road from which we had arrived for some 10 yards before turning right up a gravel track, passing a cottage on our left and emerging at the end of a cul de sac. We turned left and went immediately right past a red phone box to follow a path into woods (5mins)

After crossing a wooden stile  (7mins) and turning right we approached a shallow ford on the lane ahead. While Tom led a group of seven over a stile on the left I wrongly assumed they would be returning to the original lane beyond the ford. I attracted five followers who were either of the same opinion or simply following the man immediately in front.

However the seven members of the main contingent and the six members of the splinter group diverged and there was no mobile signal available. The details which follow describe the route taken by the minority.

 

 

 

 

 

      The path taken by the breakaway group

 

Continuing steadily uphill we reached Higher Harthill Farm on our left (15mins) and swung right, crossing a wooden stile (18mins), a stone step stile (25mins) a wooden gate (35mins) and two metal gates (39mins). We went through a wooden gate (45mins) and immediately turned right through a metal gate.

We then crossed a wooden stile (46mins) and headed uphill keeping a drystone wall on our right. After crossing two stone step stiles and passing a farmhouse we reached a lane and turned left (52mins). At this point a mobile signal became available and arrangements were made for a reunification of our group. We reached a road (57mins) and turned right, following Camp Road until it reached the main Glossop-Chapel road (63mins)

 

   An ageing wanderer walking towards the Kinder Range

 

By crossing the A624 and a wooden stile we linked up with our colleagues and turned right along the footpath towards Middle Moor, going through a wooden gate (74mins). We stopped for Pietime (76mins) at 11am sharp just before the Thomas Boulger memorial footbridge at Hollingworth Clough.

As soon as we halted Dave asked if anyone had hand sanitiser because he had been slobbered over by Dean's Italian mastiff Tommy. The irony of this request came moments later when a horned sheep ventured unsheepishly into our group apparently wanting to join Pietime.

At one point it thrust its entire head into Simon's rucksack searching for whatever it is sheep prefer to their routine diet of grass. Then the animal turned its attention to the seated and freshly cleansed Dave. When our comrade told the sheep in no uncertain manner to go away (or words to that effect), the unwelcome intruder responded by crapping down Dave's back.

Jonny then gave the sheep what appeared to be a round of applause but explained later that he had been clapping to scare the sheep away from us and had meant no disrespect to Dave.

After this extraordinary episode we continued across the bridge and along a footpath which brought us to a cairn (90mins). We carried straight on until we reached a junction (105mins) where a sign informed us we were at an altitude of 1,090 feet. Here we turned right, heading on through a wooden gate (112mins) and a metal kissing gate (122mins) before passing Twenty Trees on our right (This landmark continues to be known by this name even though there are only 19 trees in the group)

We kept right and crossed a wooden stile (130mins) before descending to Kinder Road where we turned right towards Hayfield town centre (134mins).

En route we passed the old Hayfield Grammar School,  which was founded in 1604. The current building, now a house for sale, was built in 1719. 

Further along the road, on our right was a blue plaque to Hayfield-born actor Arthur Lowe (1915-82) who lived on the terrace. 

 

   Local hero

 

 

Lowe became famous from 1960-66 when he played Leonard Swindley, a draper and lay preacher, in Coronation Street. But he was best loved for his role in the sitcom Dad's Army, where from 1968-77 he played the pompous Home Guard leader Captain Mainwaring. Strangely he is least known by the public for his role in the movie O Lucky Man for which in 1973 he won a much-coveted BAFTA as Best Supporting Actor.

 

Beyond the plaque we turned left down cobblestones (140mins), turned right past the parish church (141mins) and crossed the A624 (142mins) to walk to the left of Hayfield bus station. We turned left on the A6015 to reach The Kinder Lodge on our left (144mins). Here we enjoyed a choice of cask ales at £3-80 a pint. 

For the return journey we left Dave and Dean behind as they had walked from Hayfield to Rowarth that morning to meet us at the starting point. We turned right out of the pub and retraced our footsteps back to Hayfield bus station where we turned left passing picnic tables to follow The Sett Valley Trail (146mins)

 

   A view to the right from the Sett Valley Trail

 

The trail is a 2.5 miles cycling path and bridleway running from Hayfield west through Birch Vale, Thornsett and Ollersett to New Mills following the trackbed of the railway line which opened in 1868 and closed in 1970.

 

After passing Slacks Crossing (153mins) we reached a sign on our right pointing towards Lantern Pike (162mins) and followed the path across a footbridge over the Sett (164mins), We crossed a field and followed a path between fences to cross a stone step stile and turn left (168mins)

 

 

 

 

 

    A close up of the lake

 

Following the lane as it swung right uphill (170mins) we reached a road (175mins) where we turned left passing Hegginbottom Farm on our left and Hext Farm on our right (178mins). At a gravel track we turned right towards Wethercotes Farm (180mins) and stopped for lunch on a low wall (183mins)

Continuing we took the left fork downhill (196mins) and followed a rocky path as it descended past derelict farm buildings (206mins). The lane soon brought us back to The Little Mill Inn (211mins) which stands like a licensed oasis in the Derbyshire desert. Here we enjoyed another choice of cask bitters which we quaffed in the sunny beer garden.

Our attention was drawn to a building next to the pub called The Love Shack. We learned it was the quarters of the inn's amorous chef. The sign had been erected while he was on leave in his native Yorkshire. 

Next week's walk will start at 9.45am on the higher car park of The Rose and Crown, Allgreave, which lies on the A54 linking Congleton and Buxton. Our aim is to pass the former youth hostel at Gradbach, Lud's Church and Hanging Stone before arriving for a bracer in The Ship at Wincle around 12.30pm. We hope to return to The Rose and Crown for a departing drink at about 2.15pm.

Happy wandering !

The Little Mill’s head chef’s personal bothy which they’ve named “the love shack”. 

Danebridge

 September 7, 2022

DANEBRIDGE, WINCLE, HAWKSLEE, SUTTON COMMON, CROKER HILL, GRITSTONE TRAIL, THE RYLES ARMS AT SUTTON, LITTLE PETHILLS FARM, CLEULOW CROSS, BROOM HILL, WINCLE GRANGE AND THE SHIP AT WINCLE

Distance: 10 miles.

Difficulty: Easy.

Weather: Early cloud followed by blue skies and sunshine.

Walkers: Mickey Barrett, Andy Blease, Alan Hart, Chris Owen, Jock Rooney with Millie, Dean Taylor, Keith Welsh, Dave Willetts and Simon Williams.

Non-walking drinker: Tom Cunliffe with Daisy.

Apologies: Peter Beal (Greek island hols), Alastair Cairns (dental appointment), George Dearsley (walking in Georgia), Mark Gibby (injured), Hughie Hardiman, Eric Jackson (prior engagement), John Jones (medical appointment), Cliff Worthington.

Leader: Owen. Diarist: Hart.

Starting point: Roadside near Danebridge, Wincle, Macclesfield.

Starting time: 9.55am. Finishing time: 2.45pm.

After a delayed start caused by the late arrival of your diarist, Chris led this walk impeccably through some of the prettiest hills and valleys of East Cheshire. A series of roadworks and two sets of temporary traffic signals in Adlington had been the major source of trouble but a road closure on the outskirts of Wincle added to the problem. I apologise profusely and thank my fellow wanderers for their patience.

There had been forecasts of occasional showers but Chris skilfully directed us to the safety of The Ryles Arms before the only rain of the day – a sharp five-minute downpour – fell outside.

Tom, who has been hors de combat due to a painful heel condition in recent weeks, made a welcome reappearance at the pub with his toy poodle Daisy. He hopes to walk with us next week and be fit enough to join the Wednesday Wanderers' international synchronised drinking team in Turkey next month.

From Danebridge we walked uphill passing The Ship on our right before crossing a stile on our left at a wooden public footpath sign marked with a yellow arrow (4mins). We crossed a field, exited by a step-over stile and turned left along a lane, passing a house called The Bagstones on our right.

A cloudy start

The lane took us through a farmyard and into fields leading to tall wooden kissing gates designed to contain a herd of deer (32mins). We turned right and followed a path through fields.

It was so overgrown with high brambles and nettles that we regretted failing to pack a machete and wondered whether we might encounter members of the

legendary Fekawe tribe.

On reaching a lane we turned right past Hawkslee Farm on our right (59mins) and a comic sign with a warning.

Beware of the dog – French style

Passing Kisswood Farm on our right (62mins) we climbed a ridge opposite Croker Hill to our left with a valley between. When we reached a convenient drystone wall as the path swung left we stopped for pies and port (93mins).

Croker Hill and its telecom mast: Note the improving weather

Looking back we could clearly see Teggs Nose, Shining Tor and Macclesfield Forest with Shutlingsloe to their right as we resumed and headed for the telecom mast. Reaching a road we turned left (96mins) and then right (97mins) at a public footpath sign bearing the Gritstone Trail logo.

The Gritstone Trail runs for 35 miles from Disley Station in Cheshire to Kidsgrove Station in Staffordshire via Lyme Park, White Nancy, Tegg's Nose, The Cloud and Mow Cop. There are 5,900 feet of ascent. The trail is marked with a bootprint logo on a series of wooden public footpath signs.

The path led us through a series of metal kissing gates to a lane (108mins) where we turned right in front of the fenced-off mast. Taking the path towards Upton Fold Farm we went through another series of gates and along the stone-flagged section of a field (144mins)

When we reached a road we turned right (146mins) and reached the Ryles Arms on our left (150mins). Here we enjoyed pints of Sir Philip cask bitter from the nearby Wincle Brewery at £4-20 and were joined by Tom and Daisy.

On leaving with the pub on our left we continued up the road to Little Pethills Farm (164mins) where we paused for lunch, followed by the unexpected but much appreciated dessert provided by a tree ripe with plums.

Continuing we passed the now completed roadworks which had held us up earlier

and could only wonder how two new sections of tarmac totalling 20 square yards could have occupied five men and three vehicles.

We merged into the A54 at Cleulow Cross (176mins) and headed uphill before turning right at a sign for Wincle (181mins). As we began our descent we turned right (182mins) over a stone step stile and headed diagonally left through a field. Our group then entered and exited a series of fields via stone step stiles until we reached a gravel track through a gate and turned left over a cattle-grid (192mins).

This brought us to a lane where we turned right (193mins), passing Wood Cottage Farm on our left and Broomhill Farm on our right. We crossed another cattle-grid (201mins) and bore left along a track (203mins) then turned right over a stone step stile (207mins)

Wincle Grange

This took us down through a wood which we left via a stone step stile, keeping a drystone wall to our right as we continued our descent through a field (215mins). We now crossed a lane and stepped over another stile to enter a field and retrace our earlier footsteps to the road leading to The Ship at Wincle on our right (218mins).

A choice of cask ales was available at £3-80 a pint. Suitably refreshed we returned to our cars to de-boot and head home (219mins)

Next week's walk will start at 9.40am from the car park of The Little Mill Inn at Rowarth, from where we will aim to reach The Kinder Lodge at Hayfield around 12.15pm for a livener, returning to The Little Mill at about 2.30pm.

Happy wandering !