Topley Pike

  

March 29, 2023.

 

TOPLEY PIKE, WYE VALLEY,  MONSAL TRAIL, BLACKWELL MILL, CHEW DALE, BANK PIT SPRING, THE CHURCH INN AT CHELMORTON, DEEP DALE, TOPLEY PIKE QUARRY

 

Distance: Eight miles.

Difficulty: Difficult terrain with one strenuous climb and one tricky descent.

Weather: Cloudy, mainly dry with 30 minutes of light rain.

 

Walkers: Mike Cassini, Alan Hart, Jonathan Hart, John Jones and Dave Willetts.

Alternative walkers: Jock and Keiran Rooney with Milly.

Apologies: Mickey Barrett (collecting son from airport), Peter Beal, Andy Blease (needy parents), Alastair Cairns (decorating), Tom Cunliffe (medical appointment), George Dearsley (in Turkey), Mark Enright (w^*king), Mark Gibby (sore knee), Hughie Hardiman, Chris Owen (walking in Northumberland), Dean Taylor (having car and motorbike MoTd), Keith Welsh (w^*king), Simon Williams (domestic duties)

Leader: Hart. Diarist: Hart.

Starting point: Monsal Trail car park on the A6 three miles east of Buxton.

Starting time: 9.50am. Finishing time: 2.15pm.

 

Despair turned to joy at the start of this challenging walk along the picturesque Wye Valley. On arrival at the spare land next to the quarry entrance at Topley Pike we discovered that giant boulders had been placed blocking cars from parking there. What sort of a person, we wondered, would spend money on preventing motorists from parking free of charge on an unused site ?

Disillusioned and annoyed we grudgingly parked at the Pay-And-Display car park opposite where the daily rate is £4. Then, to our joint delight, we discovered that the ticket machine at the start of the Monsal Trail was out of order. So we were able to park without cost after all.

Disappointing weather forecasts may have been responsible for a low turnout for the walk. Certainly some of the late cry-offs gave flimsy excuses for their non-attendance. This does not apply to Tom. Having suggested this walk last week he immediately announced his absence due to a forgotten medical appointment. So it fell to your diarist to lead the intrepid wanderers who made up for the lack of quantity with their quality.

From the car park we set off along the lane which runs on the right bank of the River Wye at the start of The Monsal Trail.

 

This is a cycling, horse-riding and walking trail constructed from a section of the former Manchester, Buxton, Matlock and Midland Junction Railway which was built by the Midland Railway in 1863 to link Manchester with London. It closed in 1968. The Monsal Trail is 8.5 miles long from Topley Pike to Coombs Viaduct one mile south east of Bakewell. It opened in 1981.

 

The River Wye is 22 miles long, rising on Axe Edge Moor just west of Buxton and flowing east through The Pavilion Gardens, The Peak District, south of Tideswell, via Ashford-in-the-Water and Bakewell before its confluence with the River Derwent at Rowsley. 

 

When we reached the Blackwell Mill cycle hire premises on our right we crossed a wooden footbridge on our left (13mins) and turned immediately right along a footpath next to the river now on our right.

The path was muddy and strewn with slippery limestone but the fast-flowing river a few feet away kept us vigilant. The path criss-crossed the river on two occasions and duckboards kept us above the slimiest stretches.

We also managed to negotiate two sets of stepping stones near the cliffs which now guarded the river valley on both sides.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We continued until we reached a footbridge on our right (66mins). Here we stopped for pies and port whilst girding our loins for the steep climb which followed. 

After crossing the bridge we headed diagonally right uphill and then kept to the left of trees until we reached a drystone wall. Artefacts unearthed over the centuries indicate this was once a hill fort in ancient times. By the time we reached its summit (78mins) a mist was beginning to spoil visibility of the view enjoyed by our forefathers.

 

With the drystone wall on our right we walked left until we reached a small wooden gate on our right (82mins) marked with a faded yellow arrow. We went through it and followed a marker post through the field and through a farmyard (93mins). We continued down a lane to a T-junction where we turned left downhill (98mins)

Just beyond Crossroads Farm on our right we reached a crossroads and followed the signpost towards Priestcliffe and Taddington. After 100 yards we turned right at a public footpath sign to enter a field and swing gradually left with trees on our right.

Beyond an exit gate we crossed the A6 and went over a stone step stile to enter The Spinneys. Beyond the trees we exited the copse by another stone step stile and began a climb up the left hand side of the field.

After crossing a stone step stile to leave the field we turned right along a gravel track (118mins). We followed as it swung left and as rain began to fall we paused at a stone step stile on our right to don our waterproofs (120mins)

Crossing the stile we headed diagonally left through fields until we reached a gate with a yellow arrow (125mins). It took us through a farmyard where we turned left (131mins). This brought us to a road where we dog-legged left and right to follow a footpath sign pointing towards Chelmorton (135mins)

 

On the edge of the village we passed Bank Pit Spring on our right (143mins). Rather than try to explain it is easier to show a photo of the plaque there. 

 

 

We decided to press on and try pints of Moonshine or Wainwrights' cask bitter instead when we reached The Church Inn at Chelmorton (145mins). Jock and Keiran were already in situ after going on a two-mile walk of their own.

After enjoying a couple of pints in this traditional country pub we left the Rooneys and turned right, passing St John The Baptist's Church on our left. 

 

 

 

After 40 yards we turned right and headed in a north-westerly direction. The rain, which had been falling heavily while we were sheltering inside the inn, now stopped as we passed a farm on our right. Our route back consisted of keeping in a fairly straight line as we crossed stiles to head through a series of fields.

There was one last hurdle to be overcome as we descended into Deep Dale where the combination of muddy boots and wet limestone can be treacherous. Happily we all emerged unscathed as we passed the Topley Pike quarry on our left, crossed the A6 and returned to our cars.

Next week's walk will start at 9.40am outside The Navigation Inn at Buxworth, High Peak (SK23 7NE). It can be reached from the A6 at Bridgemont along the B6062 road towards Chinley. Do not use the pub car park overlooking Bugsworth Basin but park on the roads nearby. JJ will be leading us on a walk which should take us to The Lamb Inn at Chinley for a livener at about 12.30pm before returning to The Navvy around 2.30pm.

Happy wandering !

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chapel-en-le-Frith

 March 22, 2023.

CHAPEL-EN-LE-FRITH, COOMBES EDGE, CASTLE NAZE, BAGHOUSE FARM, MEVERIL BROOK, THE BEEHIVE AT COMBS, MANCHESTER TO BUXTON RAILWAY LINE.

Distance: 7-8 miles.

Difficulty: Stiff climb in windy conditions: barbed wire hazard.

Weather: Blue skies and sunshine: dry with strong winds on the ridge.

Walkers: Mickey Barrett, Peter Beal, Mike Cassini, Tom Cunliffe with Daisy, Mark Gibby, Alan Hart, Jonathan Hart, John Jones, Chris Owen, Dean Taylor, Keith Welsh, Simon Williams, Dave Willetts.

Non-walking drinkers: Jock and Keiran Rooney.

Apologies: Andy Blease (supervising carpet fitter), Alastair Cairns (in Kirby Stephen), George Dearsley (in Turkey), Mark Enright (w^*king), Mark Evans (medical appointment), Hughie Hardiman, Cliff Worthington.

Leader: Cunliffe. Diarist: Hart.

Starting point: Road outside Chapel-en-le-Frith railway station, Derbyshire.

Starting time: 9.48am. Finishing time: 2.03pm.

Two prodigal wanderers returned to the fold to swell the numbers for our first walk of spring, 2023. We were rewarded with blue skies, sunshine and a moderate temperature as we climbed a ridge that once protected an Iron Age hill fort.

JJ made an all-too-rare appearance and Mickey came back at weekend from a world cruise which included visits to various former colonies of the British Empire.

The walk was led by Tom in his usual carefree manner with two of our group choosing an alternative and legal route while Tom's followers found themselves on an assault course. Your diarist was left wondering when was the last time Tom had led a walk which did not involve us climbing through or over a barbed wire fence. Answers on a postcard, please.

From the road leading to the station we walked uphill, going over the Manchester to Buxton railway line at the level crossing. We forked right at a green public footpath sign (11mins) and reached a lane where we turned right.

A bright start

When we reached a stile on our left marked “Access Land – No Dogs” we crossed it and started a stiff climb up to Coombes Edge. Two woolly hats had already been snatched by the blustery wind and as we reached the top of the ridge (42mins) we had to crouch low to avoid being blown over.

Ahead lay a path to Castle Naze, a promontory hill fort from the late Iron Age occupying 2.5 acres of land. It is protected to the north and south by natural slopes. From the east it is sheltered by two man-made mounds of earth and a ditch beyond.

Instead of visiting the summit, we turned right keeping a drystone wall to our left as we began walking along a sometimes boggy path with great views to our right across the valley below.

Looking down from Coombes Edge

We followed the well-trodden permissive path through the moors until we reached two buildings erected for the exclusive benefit of grouse-shooters. At the second (82mins) we stopped outside for Pietime. As we prepared to leave Peter spotted a gamekeeper in the distance heading our way.

Sensing the danger of being caught with a banned dog Tom sounded the metaphorical bugle and we immediately took a path downwards off the main ridge. At this point Peter and Mark decided he was heading the wrong way and proceeded along the higher ridge.

This would have had the added bonus of luring the gamekeeper away from the main peloton if he had spotted Daisy and was in pursuit.

For the rest of us it was a somewhat boggy slalom until we reached a fenced field and started heading uphill to go round it (110mins). When a weak link in the barbed wire was spotted Chris and Keith combined to create a gap just wide enough for us to bestride at great risk to our crown jewels.

We were then able to reach a farm track which led to a lane where we turned right and passed Baghouse Farm on our left (127mins). After crossing the bridge over Meveril Brook and Combs Infant School on our right we turned left at the end of Lesser Lane and reached The Beehive at Combs immediately in front of us (140mins)

As we enjoyed pints of Beehive cask bitter at £4-30 a pint at tables in the sunshine outside, we were joined by Jock and Keiran. Twenty minutes later Peter and Mark arrived having taken the longer orthodox route.

Leaving the pub we retraced our steps but then carried straight on where Lesser Lane appeared on our right until we reached a wooden footpath sign on our left (144mins) and followed it to a T-junction (145mins). Here we turned right, crossed a wooden stile and headed diagonally left uphill through a field.

One of two cute Shetland ponies in an adjoining field

At the far side we crossed a wooden stile (153mins) and turned right along a footpath which brought us to a bridge over the railway line (158mins) and stopped for lunch.

Resuming we crossed the bridge and turned immediately right to follow a footpath which ran parallel to the Manchester-Buxton railway line on our right.

This path led all the way back to Chapel Station (169mins) where we turned left to reach our cars (170mins)

Next week's walk will start at 9.40am from spare land next to the entrance to the quarry at Topley Pike. It is on the A6 between Buxton and Bakewell opposite the entrance to the pay-and-display car park at the start of the Monsal Trail (SK17 9TE)

We plan to reach the Church Inn at Chelmorton for a livener around 12.15pm and return to our cars at 2.15pm for a possible flyer in Wetherspoons in Buxton.

Happy wandering !

                                                 The pictures below by Jonathan Hart

Hazel Grove

  

March 15, 2023.

 

TORKINGTON PARK, HAZEL GROVE GOLF COURSE, CLOUGH HOUSE FARM, OAKFIELD FARM, HIGH LANE STATION ON MIDDLEWOOD WAY, MACCLESFIELD CANAL. BEESTON PARK LODGE, HOLLINWOOD LANE, PEAK FOREST CANAL, MARPLE LOCKS, THE NAVIGATION AT MARPLE, MACCLESFIELD CANAL, GOYT MILL, STOCKPORT GOLF COURSE, TORKINGTON MANOR

 

Distance: 9 miles.

Difficulty: Easy.

Weather: Cloudy but dry.

Walkers:  Peter Beal, Alastair Cairns, Mike Cassini, Tom Cunliffe with Daisy, Alan Hart, Jonathan Hart, Chris Owen, Dean Taylor with Tommy, Dave Willetts.

Non-walking drinker: Jock Rooney with Milly.

Apologies: Micky Barrett (in Australia), Andy Blease (supervising plumber), George Dearsley (in Turkey), Mark Enright (w^*king), Mark Gibby (monitoring Cheltenham Races), Mark Jones (w^*king), Simon Williams (w^*king), Cliff Worthington (asthma attack)

Starting point: Torkington Park free car park, Hazel Grove.

Starting time: 9.30am. Finishing time: 2.35pm.

 

 

Recent cold weather and icy winds relented for this walk through two golf courses and alongside a pair of canals. It remained dry throughout and had the added bonus of two celebratory rounds of drinks.

Chris invited us to raise a glass to his seventh, yet-unnamed grandson and Alastair was toasting his 66thbirthday. Congratulations to all concerned. Ten of us enjoyed the generosity of our chums and there could have been more if three w^*kers hadn't cried off. Indeed we suspect Julian might have been w^*king as well !

From the rear of the car park we walked along a path with a soccer pitch to its right which rose uphill then swung left and down to bring us out on Torkington Road. Here we turned right. Where the main road swung left and became Offerton Road we swung right along the continuation of Torkington Road and passed Torkington Primary School before turning right at a green public footpath sign (15mins)

We went through a metal gate and kept to the left of a field before exiting it via a wooden stile, This took us through a copse of trees on to Hazel Grove golf course. We kept left, passing a sign for the course before turning left to cross a wooden stile and enter a field (26mins)

After crossing a wooden stile and going through a metal gate we emerged at a road with Clough House Farm on our right (32mins). We turned right and then headed left (37mins) towards Oakfield Farm. 

As we followed the track we passed a pretty thatched cottage on our right.

 

 

 

 

 

 

           Maidens Bower Cottage 

 

We reached the Middlewood Way and turned right  (39mins) to pass the platform of the former High Lane railway station.

 

The Middlewood Way is an 11-mile shared use path for walkers, cyclists and horse riders between Macclesfield and Marple which opened in 1985. It is on the track bed of the Macclesfield, Bollington and Marple Railway which operated from 1869 until 1970.

 

We left the Middlewood Way just beyond the old station platform to reach the A6 and turn left. When we were opposite The Bull's Head on our right (55mins) we turned left down stone steps to reach the Macclefield Canal at Bridge 11. Turning left with the waterway on our right we proceeded to Bridge 8 (69mins) where we left the canal and turned right.

Where the lane swung right we carried in straight ahead through a metal gate (71mins) along a footpath. At a T-junction we turned left (74mins) and went through a metal gate passing a green sign indicating that we were heading for Strines. 

Crossing a wooden stile marked with a white arrow (76mins)we went through a metal gate (83mins). 

After discussion we ignored a wooden stile on our right, recalling the eager beavers who had already crossed it in misplaced anticipation. After passing Beeston Park Lodge on our left (88mins) we turned left past an imposing house which had once been a popular pub called The Romper on our left (90mins)

 

              The house that was once a pub called The Romper

 

A few yards beyond it, where the road swung left, we went straight on along Hollinwood Lane and paused for Pietime on a wall (95mins). Resuming we started our descent and crossed Bridge 22 over the Peak Forest Canal. With the canal on our left we walked along the towpath until we reached Bridge 19 where we switched to the towpath on the left of the canal (115mins)

Fearing that our intended refreshment stop, The Ring o' Bells, might not be open until noon Tom improvised with a loop taking us past the Marple Locks (120mins)

 

            Only a narrow boat could fit in here !

 

 

As we walked past The Navigation at the back of the group, your diarist instinctively glanced at the pub door (123mins). It was only 11.45am but the bar was open and early customers had already taken their regular seats. Peter needed no second invitation and we notified our chums by phone of this opportunity.

They returned from their vigil outside the Ring o' Bells thus emphasising the Wednesday Wanderers' motto “Firm of purpose: flexible in design” to join us.

Our happiness was almost completed when Chris announced he would be buying a round to celebrate the birth of a son to his daughter Jessica, who has already produced a daughter. At 10lb 10 oz this hefty addition to the family promises to be a big lad like his grandpa.

Just when we thought things couldn't get much better, Alastair revealed that he was celebrating his 66thbirthday and we were treated to another round of Robbies Unicorn  cask bitter. The welcome was warm and the beer was good but the landlady had to be reminded repeatedly that we liked full pints.

On leaving the pub we turned right and right again to walk uphill alongside Marple Locks. We took the towpath at Bridge 1 (131mins) and changed sides at Bridge 2 opposite the Ring o' Bells to walk in the direction of Macclesfield alongside its canal with the waterway on our left.

After passing The Goyt Mill on our left (141mins) we stopped for lunch at a handy bench. A few yards beyond the bench was a yellow arrow marker at a path into Stockport Golf Course. The path took us left and then across the course to  cross the Middlewood Way (156mins) following a sign for Offerton Road. This took us over a wooden stile and across a wooden footbridge (162mins)

 

              A rare sighting of a crocodile in Stockport ?

 

 

We turned right at a T-junction (164mins) and crossed another footbridge (171mins), went over a wooden stile and turned left. The path took us to the left of a pond (175mins) as we crossed a stile to exit the course, where Chris had pocketed three lost golf balls.

We swung right through a muddy field and crossed a wooden stile to exit it and enter a farmyard (179mins). We went through a metal gate, turned left over a wooden stile and then turned right (181mins)

After walking through a gap stile we were on a main road opposite Torkington Manor (190mins). Turning right we followed the road leading back along our earlier footsteps to Torkington Park and our cars (206mins)

Next week's walk will start at 9.50am from Chapel-en-le-Frith railway station, Bridgeway, Chapel-en-le-Frith, High Peak SK23 0XT. To park on the station car park you need a valid rail ticket so we invariably park by the side of the road leading to the station.

Tom is intending to lead us to Castle Naze, the site of a Bronze Age hillfort on Coombes Edge, before guiding us to The Beehive at Coombs around 12.30pm. We will have the option of a flyer at The King's Head in Chapel after we finish the walk at about 2.15pm.

Happy wandering !

 

 

 

 

 

 

Middlewood

 March 8, 2023.

MIDDLEWOOD, JACKSONS BRICKWORKS NATURE RESERVE, LADYBROOK TRAIL, LYME PARK, LYME CAGE, LYME HALL, KNIGHTSLOW WOOD, PARK MOOR, KEEPERS COTTAGE, BIRCHENCLIFF, LYME VIEW MARINA, MACCLESFIELD CANAL, THE BOAR'S HEAD AT HIGHER POYNTON, MIDDLEWOOD WAY

Distance: 8-9 miles

Difficulty: Moderate.

Weather: Mainly dry with chilly breeze: sleet for final mile.

Walkers: Andy Blease, Mike Cassini, Tom Cunliffe with Daisy, Mark Gibby, Alan Hart, Jonathan Hart, Mark Jones, Chris Owen, Keith Welsh, Simon Williams, Cliff Worthington.

Non-walking drinkers: Jock and Keiran Rooney with Milly.

Apologies: Peter Beal (visiting friends in Shrewsbury), George Dearsley (in Turkey), Mark Enright (lecturing), Dean Taylor (in La Palma)

Leader and Diarist: Alan Hart.

Starting point: Jacksons Brickworks car park, Pool Meadow Road, Middlewood.

Starting time: 9.35am. Finishing time: 2.25pm.

This was an experimental walk through familiar territory to test whether routes published in Ramblers “Walk” magazine were easy to follow. Although the information was sometimes sparse we followed the directions without mishap so in future we might risk further excursions to pastures new.

Despite a bitingly cold wind we had an encouraging turnout of 11, including a debutant. Mark Jones, from Preston. He not only provided entertainment with a couple of falls but also bought a round of drinks to celebrate his first outing with the Wednesday Wanderers. Bravo.

From the free car park we went through a metal kissing gate leading to Jacksons Brickworks Nature Reserve.

The reserve, comprising nearly 10 hectares of wetland, grassland, woodland and scrub, was once, as the name suggests, the site of a local brick-making firm. The extraction of clay created several ponds which have provided havens for migrating birds, butterflies, dragonflies and 400 species of moth. It is also home to the great crested newt.

There have been recent sightings of a kingfisher, a green woodpecker and the unwelcome presence of an American mink. Last summer a pair of buzzards reared their young here and a falcon preyed on dragonflies, house martins and swallows.

There is little activity at this time of year and our low expectations were vindicated.

After following the path through the reserve we exited into a farmyard and turned left to go through a gate with an electric fence separating two fields. At the footpath's end we swung right to reach the Macclesfield Canal at Bridge 13 (12mins). We crossed the bridge and turned immediately left round the back of an elaborately-decorated World War 11 pillbox, passing the narrow boats moored on our left.

After 80 yards we turned right to follow a footpath heading steeply downhill along The Ladybrook Trail. This took us over a wooden footbridge to a wooden stile which we crossed and kept to the right of the Ladybrook, walking upstream.

The well-marked path took us through meadows past a derelict summer house to a ladder stile (25mins) by which we exited the field. After crossing the lane we climbed another stile and ascended steps to use a right of way across the Manchester-Buxton railway line.

We then followed the path as it led to a tunnel under the railway and turned left along a path through a field that passed a large newly-built house on our left. We turned right at a wall, keeping it on our left before reaching a lane and turning left through a gate to enter The Lyme Estate of 1,400 acres (45mins)

The lane brought us to the wooden entrance hut where we turned right and soon took a marked path on our left to head uphill on a steep climb to reach Lyme Cage, a former hunting lodge and temporary jail for poachers. Here we posed for a team photograph (60mins)

My request for ugly ones to go to the back went unheeded

Descending the hill on which Lyme Cage stands we headed for Lyme Hall, ancestral home of the Legh family for six centuries before they gave it to The National Trust in 1946 to avoid death duties.

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Lyme Hall approached from Lyme Cage

Before the entrance to the hall we turned right and headed to the left of a pond where a tree had been felled to provide seating for Pietime (75mins). After refreshments we continued along the path, taking the left fork to walk along a path fringed with pines on our left.

This brought us to a handgate leading into Knightslow Wood where we followed a path along the Gritstone Trail (100mins). Beyond the exit gate we turned right to follow the track across Park Moor. As the track petered out we kept to the left of a high drystone wall, passing two ladder stiles on our right before reaching a third one straight ahead which we crossed (120mins)

This led to a stony track which passed Keepers Cottage on our left before reaching a finger-posted cross-track 250 yards later (125mins). We turned right here down the walled bridleway, passing the renovated farmstead of Birchencliff on our right (132mins)

Beyond this was a T-junction where we turned right, passing The Coffee Tavern on our right and then turning left at the whitewashed Yew Cottage to follow a finger-posted path behind the chevron road sign (140mins). This emerged into a field where we steered to the right of a farmhouse to reach a tarred access lane via a stile.

On reaching the canal bridge at Lyme View Marina we crossed over the canal and joined the towpath, heading towards Marple with the canal on our right (148mins)

As we approached Higher Poynton we turned left at a footpath sign to descend steps and swing right across a soccer pitch aiming diagonally for the far left corner. This brought us to The Middlewood Way, where a right turn took us to picnic tables on the disused railway line outside what was once Higher Poynton Station.

Turning left from the former platform we emerged opposite The Boar's Head (165mins) to enjoy pints of Wainwrights, Timothy Taylors' Landlord cask bitter or, in some sad cases, tea and soft drinks. For the second week running we had arrived at the pub seconds after Jock and Keiran had reached the bar ahead of us with Milly.

Suitably refreshed we returned to The Middlewood Way, where two of us had a quick lunch under the bridge to shelter from substantial sleet which was now falling. We then headed left in the direction of Marple to reach Bridge 18. Here we exited to our right and entered Pool Meadow Road to turn right and reach the car park (192mins)

Muddied but unbowed: debutant Mark Jones

Next week's walk will start at 9.30am from Torkington Park car park off the A6 opposite The Rising Sun in Hazel Grove. We hope to reach The Fox at Brook Bottom around 12.10pm for a livener before returning to the car park around 2.20pm with the option of a flyer at The Wilfred Wood Wetherspoons on the A6 in Hazel Grove.

Happy wandering !