December 13, 2023.
CHAPEL-EN-LE-FRITH, HIGHER EAVES FARM, WINDY HILLS FARM, SITTINGLOW FARM. “THE BULLRING” AT DOVEHOLES, HIGHER BARMOOR FARM, KNOWLE TOP FARM, THE OLIVE TREE AT SPARROWPIT, BENNETTS WELL, GOLDPIECE FARM, PEASLOW FARM, LANESIDE FARM, CHAPEL-EN-LE-FRITH
Distance: Eight miles.
Difficulty: Easy to moderate.
Weather: Dry with blue skies and sunshine, but chilly wind.
Walkers: Micky Barrett, Andy Blease, Alastair Cairns, Mike Cassini, Tom Cunliffe with Daisy, Mark Enright*, Alan Hart, Iain (Jock) McFarland*, Chris Owen*, Dean Taylor*, Dave Willetts*, Simon Williams.
Alternative walkers: Jock and Keiran Rooney.
Non-walking drinker: George Dearsley
Apologies: Peter Beal (family visit), Mark Gibby and Hughie Hardiman.
Leader: Cunliffe. Diarist: Hart.
Starting point: Free car park at Miry Meadow, off Station Road, Chapel-en-le-Frith SK23 0ER.
Starting time: 10.05am. Finishing time: 2.30pm.
After a week of rain the weather gods looked down kindly upon us once again as Tom led us on a walk last attempted in 2012. The route towards our annual Christmas lunch varied considerably from that completed 11 years previously. Furthermore our choice of venue, formerly a pub called The Wanted Inn, had now become a farm shop named The Olive Tree.
However, given the limitations of a cafe selling bottles of beer, we were accorded a warm welcome and the prices were very reasonable.
Another member of Burnage Rugby Club old boys made his debut but Iain “Jock” McFarland pulled up lame at lunchtime. By then we had already been depleted by two refusals – Dean having to deal with a problem of a delicate personal nature and Chris finding his ankle had not recovered sufficiently from an earlier injury.
Along with our new boy, we lost two more walkers at The Olive Tree as Mark and Dave opted for an early finish and a lift back to Chapel.
So from a dozen starters and 15 diners we were reduced to seven finishers. Rather a poor show chaps. Must try harder.
At the rear of the car park was a footpath where we turned right downhill and emerged to the left of The Roebuck. We crossed the cobbles and continued downhill until we met the main road running through Chapel (3mins). At this point we lost Dean who feared his bowels would not survive the journey. (We were later relieved to hear his dash back home had avoided any further embarrassment)
The remaining 11 crossed the road and turned left and then right at a green public footpath sign (4mins) which brought us into Park Road and across a stream (10mins). At this juncture Chris told our leader an old ankle injury was too painful for him to continue. The remaining 10 went through a metal kissing gate on our right (12mins) and we headed diagonally left, passing a marker post before reaching a tunnel under the Manchester-Buxton railway line (25mins)
We continued uphill through a field and a gate to the right of Higher Eaves Farm (29mins) where Daisy was briefly attacked by the farm owner's dog before we came to her rescue.
Two cute calves newly born at the farm
As we continued to a T junction with Windy Wells Farm on our left we turned right (36mins) and could see our lunchtime venue across the fields to our left.
The Olive Tree was a mile to our left
But first we had to visit Doveholes. We turned left at a Y-junction (40mins) and reached Sittinglow Farm on our left (43mins). We went straight on and crossed a bridge over a railway line (58mins) turning left to reach the A6 on the outskirts of Doveholes (61mins).
We turned right, passing the station, and went right at Doveholes Village Hall (68mins) where a neolithic henge, known locally as The Bull Ring because of its shape, was on our right (71mins)
This circular henge is a monument constructed in the late Neolithic Period circa 2000-1500 BC. Archaeologists estimate the original was used for ceremonial activity for the scattered farming communities nearby.
The mounds forming the circle were originally 2 metres high and 6 metres wide. A ditch inside was up to 1 metre deep. It had two entrances and there was a causeway across the ditch. It is believed that accompanying standing stones were removed and used as sleepers for the Peak Forest Tramway circa 1790.
After the briefest of Pietimes we went to the back of The Bull Ring and aimed towards a soccer pitch before turning right at a sign marked “Private Property” (75mins). Although the terrain was described as dangerous the path remains a right of way and we followed it until we reached a T-junction (78mins)
Turning left we crossed a wooden stile (85mins) and climbed to reach a rough road (87mins). The way ahead appeared to be through a padlocked gate. Seven of us noticed a wooden stile some 80 yards to our left and decided to enter the field from that direction. Tom and two followers climbed over the gate, crossing the field and reaching a farmyard simultaneously (99mins)
We went through a metal gate to the right at the far end of the farm buildings (103mins). The path took us to another farm and we followed it through the outbuildings. We then turned right (112mins). Beyond a metal gate we followed an enclosed footpath (115mins) and went through yet another farmyard (123mins)
We crossed a pair of stone step stiles (130mins) to reach the main A623 road and turned left. This soon took us past the sign for Sparrowpit. Beyond it on our right was Knowle Top Farm where three alpacas mingled with the sheep.
Three alpacas and four sheep
Just beyond the farm on our right was The Olive Tree Farm Shop (135mins), where we joined our Blogspotter George, who is celebrating Christmas with his family in England, before returning to his home in Turkey. Chris and Dean also awaited us. We were soon joined by the two Rooneys making a total of 15 Wanderers for lunch.
Of those only seven started the last leg of the journey by turning right out of The Olive Tree, crossing one road and climbing another past Sparrowpit Methodist Church on our right. On our left was the Bennett Well.
Rising from a spring in Peaslows, this orginally provided drinking water for the villagers and latterly its animals. Sparrowpit village is a watershed where water from the front of The Olive Tree flows via Black Brook west to the River Mersey and the Irish Sea. Water at the back of the building flows east to the River Noe into the Hope Valley and the River Humber into the North Sea.
John Bennett was a non-conformist who joined John Wesley to found Methodism. His descendants built nearby Bennetston Hall.
Tom now led us on a direct field-free route back to Chapel, passing Goldpiece Farm on our right (145mins), Peaslow Farm on our left (150mins) and Laneside Farm on our right (160mins) until we reached the A6 roundabout (167mins)
Nearly there
We turned right and then left to walk under the A6 and reach the outskirts of Chapel, passing The Pack Horse, turning right and passing the Shoulder of Mutton before reaching the cobbles leading back to the The Roebuck. Sadly this was shut at 2.25pm
so we took the path uphill back to Miry Meadow car park (180mins)
Next week's walk will start at about 10am from Piccadilly railway station in Manchester. Wanderers are advised to gather next to the bronze war memorial statue depicting a line of soldiers just outside the main entrance. They will be led on a tour of historic city centre pubs and stop at a well-loved curry cafe, The Kabana, for lunch at around 12.30pm.
Happy wandering !
