Hayfield

Wednesday January 4th

HAYFIELD, SNAKE PATH, MIDDLE MOOR, MILL HILL, PLANE WRECKAGE, BURNT HIL, CHUNAL, MATLEY MOOR, LITTLE HAYFIELD, GIGGLE GAGGLE WAY, THE KINDER LODGE AT HAYFIELD

 

Distance: 8-9 miles.

Difficulty: Moderate.

Weather: Early drizzle then mainly dry.

Walkers: Peter Beal, Andy Blease, Mike Cassini, Tom Cunliffe with Daisy, Alan Hart, Jonathan Hart, Chris Owen, Jock Rooney with Milly, Dean Taylor with Tommy, Simon Williams, Cliff Worthington.

Apologies: Micky Barrett (cruising to Australia), Alastair Cairns, Mark Gibby, Hughie Hardiman, Dave Willetts (poorly)

Leader: Beal. Diarist: Hart.

Starting point: Outside The Sportsman, Kinder Road, Hayfield.

Starting time: 9.40am. Finishing time: 2.20pm.

 

In damp conditions the first Wednesday Wanderers' walk of 2003 got off to an encouraging start with 11 hikers and three dogs tackling a healthy climb over scenic moorland in the foothills of the Kinder Range.

A plaque reminded us we were walking in the footsteps of the Kinder Mass Trespass in 1932 which paved the way for ramblers to use public footpaths over privately-owned land. We all owe a debt of gratitude to those trespassers who defied an unfair law to bring about change.

En route we also paused at the wreckage of a plane which crashed in 1944 to bring back memories of the sacrifices made in World War 11.

From outside The Sportsman pub we walked back downhill towards Hayfield before turning right at a green public footpath sign (5mins) and passing the plaque commemorating the Mass Trespass.

 

The trespass was a coordinated protest involving three groups of walkers approaching Kinder Scout from different directions at the same time. It is thought about 400 took part. Some of them were arrested after a scuffle with gamekeepers and jailed, which evoked a wave of sympathy.

This led to the National Parks legislation, the establishment of long-distance footpaths and The Countryside Code relating to ramblers' behaviour.

It has been interpreted as the embodiment of working class struggle for the right to roam against the rights of the wealthy to have exclusive use of moorlands for grouse-shooting.

 

The rough path uphill took us past the landmark called Twenty Trees on our left (14mins) and the start of The Snake Path (29mins).This took us past the distinctive white shooting lodge and a row of grouse-shooting butts as we climbed Mill Hill.

 

 

The relentless climb took us close to Williams Clough leading to the Kinder Ridge but before that started we turned left along a flag-stoned path (85mins) towards Burnt Hill.

 As we headed west along the flagged path we reached some plane wreckage on our right where half our group stopped with leader Peter for Pietime (95mins). A group of mutineers declared the site of the plane crash, which had caused a dip in the landscape, failed to provide sufficient shelter from a sharp wind. They chose to carry on and pause elsewhere.

 

Little now remains of the wreckage of a Liberator from the US 310th Ferry Squadron which crashed on Mill Hill on October 11, 1944. The plane was being moved from RAF Burtonwood to RAF Hardwick and had climbed to 2,800 feet when it encountered turbulence.

The plane flew into the hillside in low cloud despite a warning from the navigator. The two crewmen, 2ndLieutenant Creighton R Houpt and Staff Sergeant Jerome M Najvar, survived the crash. They walked along the route we followed to the A624 Chapel-Glossop road where they were picked up by a passing truck.

According to local legend the only injury suffered was a broken jaw suffered by the pilot after he was punched by his angry navigator.

 

We continued along the flagged path taken by the USAF pair, going through a gate and climbing a wooden stile to reach the main road and rejoin the breakaway group (130mins). We crossed the A624 following a sign for Charlesworth until we reached a green public footpath sign and turned left (140mins)

 

 

Forking left off the main track (145mins) we now crossed a field where a herd of cows were protecting a young calf who had been born out of the normal season. On crossing a wooden stile and reaching a T junction we turned right towards Matley Moor Farm, going through a gate into the farmyard and then swinging left (160mins). 

The track now led us to a cluster of signposts where we chose the one leading to Hayfield via Little Hayfield (170mins), The well-trodden path was heading towards a gate but 50 yards before we reached it we chose another path which led downhill and swung right (175mins)

Where the main path swung left downhill (196mins) we carried on straight ahead

along a path which was known locally at The Giggle Gaggle Path.

 

It was so named, according to folklore, because every morning a long line of women millworkers would follow this route from Thornsett to Clough Mill at Little Hayfield, returning in the opposite direction each night. The sight and sound of the long line of chattering ladies gave the path its name.

 

We passed Bank Vale Farm on our right (202mins) and went through the Old School Field (alternatively known as The May Queen Field) to reach a footbridge on our right over the River Sett (213mins)

Emerging at Hayfield bus station we kept left to reach a road and turned left. The Kinder Lodge was 50 yards on our left (215mins) where the Timothy Taylor Landlord cask bitter was in excellent form.

Suitably refreshed we turned left out of the pub, crossed the A624, dog-legging right and left to head uphill into Hayfield town centre. At a large Chemist sign we turned right to enter Kinder Road and return to our cars (225mins)

Next week's walk will start at 10am outside The Red Lion at Litton. To reach it turn left off the A6 at Chapel-en-le-Frith on to the A623. After 7 miles the road to Litton is marked on your right.

Happy wandering !