Bugsworth

 April 5, 2023.

 

BUGSWORTH BASIN, PEAK FOREST TRAMWAY, WHITEHOUGH, CHAPEL MILTON, SHIREOAKS FARM, SOUTH HEAD, THE LAMB INN AT CHINLEY HEAD, VALLEY VIEW FARM, CRACKEN EDGE QUARRY, THROSTLE BANK, COTEBANK, THE NAVIGATION AT BUGSWORTH

 

Distance: 9 miles.

Difficulty: Moderately strenuous.

Weather: Cloudy with light drizzle throughout.

Walkers: Andy Blease, Mike Cassini, Mark Gibby, Alan Hart, Jonathan Hart, John Jones, Simon Williams.

Alternative walkers: Jock and Keiran Rooney with Milly.

Apologies: Mickey Barrett (in Silverdale), Peter Beal (heavy cold), Alastair Cairns (bad weather forecast), Tom Cunliffe (bad weather forecast), George Dearsley (in Turkey), Hughie Hardiman (unspecified), Chris Owen (bad weather forecast), Dean Taylor (unspecified)

Leader: Jones. Diarist: Hart.

Starting point: Outside The Navigation Inn at Bugsworth Basin, near Whaley Bridge.

Starting time: 9.38am. Finishing time: 2.47pm.

 

After a warm and sunny Tuesday the forecasts of day-long rain had a marked effect on the turnout for this otherwise attractive walk led by JJ. The Magnificent Seven who did attend were rewarded with an undulating route in the lightest of drizzle.

We also encountered three llamas, a pair of emus and an unusual (and unrecognised) breed of goat as we wandered the hills and valleys of The Peak District. In addition we spotted a bird of prey which, in your diarist's opinion was a buzzard but in the view of our leader was a red kite.

 

The town once known as Bugsworth changed its name to Buxworth many years ago after a vote in which the Hyacinth Buckets defeated the Onslows of this world. However the branch of the Peak Forest Canal where we assembled will forever be known as “Buggy Basin.”

The basin was once at the core of a transport network connecting local quarries bringing lime, limestone and gritstone to the industrial northwest of England. It connected the Peak Forest Tramway to canals linked to such as Macclesfield, Huddersfield, Rochdale, Manchester Ship, Bridgewater, Trent and Mersey, Leeds and Liverpool.

 

With the Navigation Inn on our left and the canal on our right we joined the track of the Peak Forest Tramway and headed east through Whitehough to its end at Chapel Milton (40mins). Here we turned left along the A624 for 100 yards and then turned right at CJK Packaging (41mins). After going through a metal kissing gate we approached a double viaduct.

 

We walked under the bridge spans (47mins) to reach a road (48mins) which we crossed, turned left and after 20 yards headed right up a path. We then dog-legged left and right to follow a gravel track (50mins)

When we reached The Cottage we turned left through a gate to cross a field (51mins).  On the far side we emerged on a lane where we turned left and right to cross a bridge over The Hope Valley railway line (55mins). 

At a T-junction we turned right and then swung left (57mins) before taking the right fork and following the track towards Shireoaks Farm (70mins)

When we reached the farm (74mins) we followed the green public footpath sign for the Pennine Bridleway (79mins). After pausing for Pietime (89mins) we followed a wooden public footpath sign for South Head (107mins) going through a metal gate and passing the South Head sign itself (110mins).

A well-trodden path on our left led us to the summit (118mins) to admire the misty view and pose for a team photo round the cairn. 

 

 

 

Descending from its peak at 1,621 feet we took the first path on our right after the path from which we had ascended. This led down to a farm track where we turned left (125mins). After going through a metal gate we immediately turned left over a stone step stile (128mins) to head downhill through a field.

After crossing a wooden stile (133mins) we headed diagonally right (136mins) to aim for a gap in the drystone wall and turn left on its far side. The path was wide and flat leading to a wooden gate (140mins). 

Beyond it our route now went left, plunging steeply downhill and a gap in gorse bushes which led to first a wooden gate and then a wooden stile to reach the main A624 road linking Chapel-en-le-Frith with Hayfield (147mins). We turned right and immediately on our right was The Lamb Inn at Chinley Head (148mins) serving pints of Timothy Taylor's Landlord cask bitter in a cosy room in front of a warm fire.

Here we were joined by Jock and Keiran who were obliged, by the pub's dog ban, to leave Milly in their car.

On leaving the pub we returned to the main road, crossed it and turned left for 20 yards before following a wooden public footpath sign (150mins) down through trees

to reach the lane for Valley View Farm. Just before the farmhouse we turned left at a green footpath sign and followed a path alongside three fields containing creatures not often seen in Derbyshire.

 

 

The first of these to come over to inspect us was a llama, normally seen in the foothills of the Andes where South American farmers use them as beasts of burden.

Next to come bounding over was a friendly emu, more often seen in its native Australia.

 

 

 

 

After pausing for lunch (156mins) we crossed a stream called Otter Brook by a footbridge (163mins), reached a road and turned right (168mins). At a wooden public footpath sign (169mins) we turned left and began a steep climb up a field. Here again we encountered an unusual animal.

 

 

We crossed a stone step stile (174mins) and continued uphill to reach a grass track (184mins). After catching our collective breath we turned left with a valley below on our left.

             

 

We crossed two wooden stiles to reach a lane (206mins) where we turned left and immediately right towards Cotebank. After passing Tythe Barn Farm on our right (213mins) we took a left fork downhill (215mins). After crossing a wooden stile (216mins) we kept left and reached the outskirts of Buxworth (222mins)

At the end of Dolly Wood Close we turned left (223mins) to reach the B6062 road and turned right. This took us under a railway bridge and past Bugsworth War Memorial Club on our left before turning left to reach the Navigation Inn and our cars  (228mins). 

Four of us enjoyed a further pint of Timmy Taylor's here before de-booting and heading home.

Next week's walk will start at 9.45am at the car park at Barber Booth (S33 7ZL). To reach it from the A6 take the A625 east towards Castleton, turning left at the sign for Barber Booth. On the left of this winding road is a sign for Upper Booth which leads under a railway viaduct. The car park is beyond the viaduct on the left.

Andy will make his debut as walk leader taking us up to Rushop Edge, Mam Tor and Hollins Cross before descending into Edale for a bracer at The Old Nags Head around 1230. We expect to be back at the car park at about 2.20pm to discuss the venue for any further refreshment.

Happy wandering !