Ridgegate

  

February 1, 2023.

 

RIDGEGATE RESERVOIR, MACCLESFIELD FOREST, NESSIT HILL, SHUTLINGSLOE, CRAG INN  AT WILDBOARCLOUGH, PIGGFORD NATURE RESERVE, THE HANGING GATE AT HADDON FARM, SMALLHURST, THE RYLES ARMS, LOWERHOUSE, BACKLANE HOUSE FARM, MOSSLEE FARM, LEATHER'S SMITHY AT LANGLEY

 

Distance: 9 miles.

Difficulty: Moderately strenuous.

Weather: Mainly dry, clear visibility, occasional cold wind.

Walkers: Andy Blease, Mike Cassini, Ben Enright, Mark Enright, Alan Hart, Chris Owen, Dean Taylor, Simon Williams.

Apologies: Micky Barrett (cruise nearing Australia), Peter Beal (visiting Center Parcs), Alastair Cairns (calf injury), Tom Cunliffe (supervising workman), George Dearsley (in Turkey), Mark Gibby, Hughie Hardiman, Jonathan Hart, Julian Ross (visiting Hawaii), Keith Welsh, Dave Willetts (recovering from tooth extraction), Cliff Worthington (visiting South Africa)

Non-walking drinker: Jock Rooney with Milly.

Leader: Owen. Diarist: Hart.

Starting point: Lay-by next to Ridgegate Reservoir, 3 miles south east of Macclesfield.

Starting time: 9.45am. Finishing time: 2.25pm.

 

After fog and mist spoiled our views around Kinder last week we swapped the attractive Derbyshire moorland for the area surrounding one of Cheshire's highest peaks. We were rewarded with a dry day, apart from the odd spits and spots, and with some stunning views of the lovely landscape. Reaching the hills to admire them was breathtaking in every respect.

We also visited two traditional upmarket country pubs which are in need and deserving of support in these uncertain times despite their extravagant prices. Sadly when your diarist arrived at our final watering hole three of its four cask beers had already run out and the fourth gave up the ghost as his pint was being poured.

It was a pity that the attractive, well-groomed, well-spoken, well-dressed barmaid was not also skilled in the art of changing barrels.

With Ridgegate Reservoir on our right we walked along the road, turning right towards Wincle and then heading left by a gate leading into Macclesfield Forest (5mins). This was the start of a steady climb uphill.

When we reached a six-barred wooden gate on our right (13mins) a sign warned us that this had now been designated as a route for mountain bikers. Undeterred by the potential peril, our intrepid leader Chris led us unharmed up the trail. Just before we reached a wooden gate (23mins) we took a footpath on our left which brought us to the summit of Nessit Hill on our left (29mins) for the first of our spectacular views of the country.

 

 

After admiring the vista and regaining our collective breath we continued along the path towards Shutlingsloe, going through a gate and turning right along flagstones (40mins). 

           

 

After passing over a stone step stile and through a wooden gate (50mins) the path became even steeper as we approached the summit and reached the Trig point (55mins)

 

Because of its shape Shutlingsloe is ironically named “The Matterhorn of Cheshire” and it is the third highest peak in the county behind Black Hill and Shining Tor. But at 1,660 feet it is somewhat dwarfed by the 14,692 Alpine mountain between Switzerland and Italy.

 

 

      

 

With a blustery cold wind blowing we wasted little time in appreciating the panorama before turning right and descending the summit before turning diagonally left to reach a track leading to a metal kissing gate (66mins)

A similar gate then led us across a footbridge (70mins). The path then led us to a lane (72mins) where we turned right. This brought us to a road (80mins) where we turned right to reach The Crag Inn at Wildboarclough. The pub was closed and its future appears uncertain. We stopped for Pietime (82mins) in its car park.

Resuming we immediately turned right at a yellow arrow to enter a field and follow the well-trodden path uphill through a series  of gates. Several fields later we continued along a steeper path towards a drystone wall where we used a stone step stile to climb over it (103mins)

 

 

 

We turned left along a narrow lane with Piggford Nature Reserve on our right and joined a road emerging from our left (111mins). After passing Heron Crag on our left we turned right through a metal kissing gate at a green footpath sign (114mins).

This path took us through a wooden gate and across a footbridge (118mins) where we encountered a large flock of exclusively black sheep. There was not even a token white member of the group.

 

 

On our right was the home of George Osborne when he served as Chancellor of the Exchequer in David Cameron's Conservative government and represented the Tatton constituency.

We crossed a wooden stile (126mins), crossed a road and headed uphill through a wooden gate at a green public footpath sign (128mins). At another wooden gate we turned right then went left over a wooden stile marked with a yellow arrow (136mins)

This path took us through a metal kissing gate where we emerged at a road with The Hanging Gate pub opposite (141mins). We crossed the road, lamenting that this once favourite half-way house for thirsty Wednesday Wanderers was no longer open on Wednesday lunchtimes.

We went past the front door of the pub on our left with its separate toilets to our right, and reached a gate on our right marked with a yellow arrow. As we did so we gazed nostalgically at the picnic tables which commanded idyllic views across the valley.

 

 

 

The path took us through another metal kissing gate and down a flight of steps to a road where we turned left (145mins). After 20 yards we turned sharp left uphill then turned right towards Smallhurst Farm (148mins). As we reached the impressive farmhouse we walked to its left following a footpath sign (150mins). It took us down steps and across a footbridge.

 

 

 

We crossed a broken wall by the side of a ladder stile and through two metal kissing gates (155 and 159mins). On reaching a wooden stile we turned left (162mins) to reach the rear of The Ryles Arms (163mins). Here we enjoyed a choice of three cask ales priced at an eye-watering £4-30 a pint. 

Suitably refreshed we retraced our footsteps to the lane leading to the back of the pub before turning right at a Gritstone Trail marker (164mins). After going through two metal kissing gates (166 and 171mins) we walked through a wooden gate, climbed a stone step stile and reached a road (180mins)

We dog-legged right and left to follow the GT marker and go through a a wooden kissing gate and then a farmyard (188mins). Continuing to follow GT markers through metal kissing gates either side of a lane (194mins)

Another metal kissing gate brought us to a track where we turned left (199mins)

 

We went right through a wooden gate and crossed a wooden footbridge over a stream (203mins) The path then emerged on the banks of Ridgegate Reservoir. We turned left along the bank before reaching Leather's Smithy (211mins) on our left.

 

Dating from the 18th Century the building was formerly a smithy which gets its name from William Leather, a local farrier who in 1821 obtained a license to sell ale and porter.

 

Some of our group aimed straight for the bar and were joined by Jock and Milly whilst others walked back to their cars for the drive home.

 

 

Your diarist sat outside the pub on a nearby bench eating a lonely lunch before returning to his car to de-boot and drive back to the pub. It was to prove a schoolboy error. By the time I returned three cask beers were already unavailable and there was nothing left in the remaining Black Sheep pump except froth.

The aforementioned barmaid asked if I would like “a nice pint of lager instead.” In the finest of journalistic traditions I made an excuse and left.

 

Next week's walk will start at 9.30am at Tom Brads Croft car park (SK23 7LX) next to Whaley Bridge Canal Basin (Approaching from the A6 turn left opposite The Jodrell Arms and swing first left and then right). We plan to head for Taxal, pausing for Pietime at Windgather Rocks before descending to the dam bridge separating Errwood and Fernilee reservoirs. After a bracer in The Shady Oak at Fernilee at about 12.20pm we will return to Whaley Bridge along the banks of The Goyt for a final drink in the town around 2.20pm.

Happy wandering !