Poynton

November 30, 2022.

Poynton Sports Club, Bramhall, Poynton Sports Club via Dairyground Farm, various housing estates, Bramhall Golf Club, Bramhall Park, Happy Valley Nature Reserve, and Poynton Pool.

Distance: 8.6miles

Difficulty: Easy Peasy Lemon Squeezy.

Weather: Dry but overcast.

Walkers: Andy Blease, Alastair Cairns, Chris Owen, Tom Cunliffe, Mike Barrett, Dean Taylor, Hughie Hardiman, Mark Enright, Keith Welsh, Cliff Worthington, Simon Williams, Dave Willetts, Peter Beale.

Non-walking drinkers: Colin Davidson, Laurie Fairman, John Jones, Alan Hart.

Apologies: Julian Ross (shifting sofas) George Dearsley (Turkey) Alan Hart (Caring)

Leader: Hart. Diarist: Cairns.

Starting point: Poynton Sports Club car park.

Starting time: 09.55. Finishing time: 1415.

Because of my late arrival (caused by an encounter with adverse traffic conditions on the M61) and as Mr Hart was not on parade our birthday boy Mr Thomas Cunliffe (70 years young) kindly gave me with the opportunity to write the blog. On my arrival 12 walkers were already assembled in the Poynton Sports Club car park, eagerly awaiting the start of a new walk from Mr Hart (or were they eagerly awaiting the free beer and lunch provided by our birthday boy?).

In Alan’s absence, Peter Beale took on the challenge of leading our merry band on what turned out to be a white stiletto walk to Bramhall and back. In truth, Peter’s greatest challenge was to ensure we did not arrive at the halfway house too early Anyway the local knowledge and support provided by our Brookside contingent ensured Peter guided us to the Ladybrook in perfect time to enjoy our refreshments.

On leaving Poynton Sports Club we turned right on Chester Road passing the Bull’s Head before turning left into Vicarage Lane. At the end is a cul-de-sac. We walked into Glastonbury Drive where we turned right on a path between a hedge and a field leading to a bridge over the confluence of two streams. Passing over the bridge we followed the footpath which took us through a gate passing Park Lodge on our left and a row of whitewashed cottages to our right. Beyond these cottages and on our right was a metal kissing gate marked with a yellow arrow, passing through this gate we crossed a field turning right onto a gravel path at its far side. We followed the gravel path eventually crossing the Woodford Road then following a sign for Birch Hall Kennels and Cattery. From here we followed the lane into the Dairyground housing estate turning right at the end of Lytham Drive and passing Bramhall High School on the right. At this point our route should have taken us right along a public footpath to the banks of the Lady Brook but as we had made such good time it was decided to put in a loop via Bramhall Golf Club before stopping at Bramall Hall for pie time which was called at 11:15.

                                     

Bramall Hall is a Tudor mansion with its older parts dating back to the 14th Century. Extensions and improvements were added in the 16th and 19th Centuries by the families who owned it. The manor of Bramall is first described in The Domesday Book of 1086 when it was held by the Massey family, Normans who had accompanied William The Conqueror at the Battle of Hastings. From the late 14th Century, it was owned by the Davenports who built the present house and who remained lords of the manor for about 500 years.

In 1877 they sold 2,000 acres to the Manchester Freeholders' Company for housing development. The hall and its remaining 50 acres were sold by MFC to the Nevill family of industrialists and in 1925 it was bought by John Henry Davies. Ten years later the hall and land were acquired by the local authority, Hazel Grove and Bramhall Urban District Council, which became part of the current owners, Stockport Metropolitan Council under reorganisation in the 70s.

After pausing for pie time and to admire the outside of the hall and its surrounding parkland, we walked down to the lake and to the entrance of the park where we turned right to cross the road. Walking up Fir Road and passing a small parade of shops on our right we reached on The Ladybrook Pub where an impressive variety of cask beer was available. 

Suitably refreshed we retraced our footsteps to the end of Fir Road before swinging right at the roundabout and heading uphill to our right to enter a small grassy area with steps leading up to an elevated road with houses on its right. At the end of the road crossing into the gap stile at the entrance to Happy Valley Nature Reserve. From here we followed the trail along the valley crossing the Lady Brook via the wooden bridge rather than using the stepping stones. 

This path eventually led us to a stile where we turned right to cross a field keeping woodland to our left. We exited this field by way of a rickety gate at Woodford Road where we turned right following the road uphill (narrow road with no footbath on a blind bend) where we turned left into Mill Hollow past some houses to a footpath with a pond to the left which swings left and then right under the A555 with the Lady Brook on your left. 

After the tunnel, we turned right along a gravel path and immediately left toward a metal kissing gate leading to another kissing gate, following the path to yet another kissing gate (no kisses on offer) at London Road North. Crossing London Road North, we climbed 3 steps to reach Poynton Pool where we then turned right following the path and eventually the main road back to our starting point at Poynton Sports Club.

                                         

                                                                   Tom's birthday bash

Next week’s walk will start from Brabyns Park (car park) at 09:40. The plan will be to stop for refreshments at The Fox Inn at Brookbottom before making our way back to the Norfolk Arms at Marple Bridge.