Rowarth

 May 31, 2023.

LITTLE MILL INN AT ROWARTH, KNARRS FARM, THE MONK'S ROAD, HOLLINGWORTH BROOK AT CARR MEADOW, MIDDLE MOOR, TWENTY TREES, THE KINDER LODGE AT HAYFIELD, SETT VALLEY TRAIL, BIRCH VALE RESERVOIR, THORNSETT. HIGH WALLS FARM, ASPENSHAW HALL, ROWARTH

Distance: 8.5 miles.

Difficulty: Easy.

Weather: Dry but mostly cloudy with some blue sky.

Walkers: Mickey Barrett, Peter Beal, Andy Blease, Mike Cassini, Tom Cunliffe with Daisy, Mark Gibby, Alan Hart, Chris Owen, Dean Taylor with Tommy, Cliff Worthington.

Alternative walkers: Jock and Keiran Rooney.

Non-walking drinker: Mark Enright.

Apologies: Alastair Cairns, Hughie Hardiman, Julian Ross and Pete Johnson (walking the West Highland Way), George Dearsley (in Turkey), Jonathan Hart (w^*king), John Jones (in Arnside), Keith Welsh (in Cornwall), Simon Williams (in Edinburgh)

Leader: Cunliffe. Diarist: Hart.

Starting point: Car park of the Little Mill Inn at Rowarth, High Peak (SK22 1EB)

Starting time: 9.50am. Finishing time: 2.30pm.

After two weeks of dry, warm, sunny weather the conditions were disappointing at the start of this walk. It was chilly and there was an unexpected threat of rain as we assembled in Rowarth. On the scale of precipitation, this was at the opposite end of “absolutely pissing down” below even “light drizzle” or “spitting.” It was “trying to rain.”

Happily by the powers of positivity within our group, we faced down the rain clouds and they gradually disappeared during the course of the day.

Tom led us on a familiar route with the occasional tweak to ensure we reached our priority targets at the right time. Our numbers were diminished by the absence of a rival group of Wednesday Wanderers who were taking up the challenges of The West Highland Way, a long-distance walk from the outskirts of Glasgow to Fort William. We wish them every success.

One man who might have been relieved by their absence was Chris, celebrating becoming a grandpa for the seventh time – a third boy to join four girls. He generously bought a round of drinks to mark the occasion, although with Brother Rabbit cask bitter at £4-60 a pint he might have wished for a cheaper venue.

We returned to the entrance to the main car park and turned immediately right at a public footpath sign. This took us along a rocky trail which emerged on a lane where we turned left. After a few yards, we turned right at a path that started by the side of a red phone box (5mins)

Our path led by the side of a stream

We were soon crossing three wooden stiles as the path ran alongside a stream. When it reached a junction we turned right and forded the stream by using stepping stones (13mins). We left the path by the side of a wooden gate and headed left uphill. Where this road swung left we walked straight ahead through a metal gate marked with a green footpath sign (29mins)

As we crossed a wooden stile and a stone steps stile we heard the unmistakable cry of the curlew as another stone step stile brought us out to the left of Knarrs Farm (35mins). We turned left and followed the farm track until it reached a road where we turned right (42mins). This is still known as Monk's Road despite the fact that The Dissolution of the Monasteries took place in 1536. The folk of Derbyshire have long memories.

The monk who gave this road its name belonged to Basingwerk Abbey, which was founded in 1132 by Ranulf de Gernon, the fourth earl of Chester, who had already brought Benedictine monks from Savigny Abbey near his ancestral home in Normandy. Ranulf built the abbey near Holywell in Flintshire for the Order of Cistercians. They maintained significant lands in Derbyshire which the monks visited to collect donations. Since 1536 the ruined abbey near Holywell has been a Grade 1 listed building.

At the end of Monk's Road, we reached the A623 (46mins), crossed it and went over a wooden stile and turned right to head through The Intakes moorland towards Hollingworth Clough. When we reached the Thomas Boulger Memorial Bridge at Carr Meadow (60mins) we stopped for Pietime.

Continuing over the bridge we crossed Middle Moor. After leaving The Snake Path by a metal kissing gate (95mins) and going through another metal kissing gate (106mins) we reached the copse known as Twenty Trees on our right.

The 19 trees known as Twenty Trees

Our descent overlooking Hayfield

After crossing a wooden stile (111mins) we reached Kinder Road on the outskirts of Hayfield and turned right (115mins). As we descended the road Tom directed us down an easily-missed narrow path on our left (117mins) where stone steps led us steeply downhill.

At the road at the path's end, we turned left (118mins) and crossed a wooden footbridge, passing a playground on our right before turning right through a wooden gate (119mins). We walked right across another footbridge (123mins) and crossed a stone step stile on our left to enter Hayfield Cricket Club.

The groundsman was at work cutting grass on the outfield and your diarist had to dart

out of his way to avoid being mown down.

We exited the cricket club grounds via The Royal Hotel car park and turned left at the main road. After passing St Matthew’s Church on our right we turned right (127mins) and crossed the A623 at the pedestrian lights before turning left to pass the bus station on our right. At the end of Station Road we turned left and immediately reached The Kinder Lodge on our left (130mins)

Here we were soon joined by Jock and Keiran, and later by Mark. The Brother Rabbit cask bitter was in good form, although some preferred the Timothy Taylor offering.

We toasted the health of Chris's yet-unnamed grandson.

Retracing our steps to the bus station we turned left to head for the trestle tables and stopped for lunch (131mins). Resuming we joined the start of The Sett Valley Trail heading west along the trackbed of the former Hayfield-New Mills railway line.

En route we passed Birch Vale Reservoir on our right.

Birch Vale Reservoir

The trail crossed a road and we continued along it until we reached a sign for Thornsett at crossroads (162mins). The path took us through Thornsett Trading Estate and right up stone steps (165mins) before crossing a road and following a cobbled path (166mins)

At a T-junction we turned left uphill (167mins) and then turned left, right, left and right in quick succession at High Walls Farm. We went over a stone step stile at a wooden public footpath sign and entered a field through a gap stile, keeping a drystone wall on our right (170mins)

After crossing another stone step stile we entered a field and turned left. We crossed a wooden stile marked with a yellow arrow (178mins) to cross another field and leave it via a wooden stile.

A friendly shire horse watched as we left his field

Our group passed Aspenshaw Hall on our right (183mins) before turning right over a stone step stile marked with a wooden public footpath sign (185mins). We then crossed two similar stiles ((190 and 197mins) to reach a farmyard.

We went through a wooden gate and over a wooden stile to walk through a field. Beyond it we turned left and reached The Little Mill Inn on our left (206mins) where we enjoyed pints of Little Mill cask bitter. By now the sun was shining and we quaffed them in the beer garden outside.

Journey's end

An old mill wheel by the stream

Advert in gents' toilet

Next week's walk will start at 0930 from the free car park next to Poynton Pool off Anglesey Drive, Poynton (Nearest Postcode SK12 1LJ). We will aiming to reach The Boar's Head at Higher Poynton for a bracer around 1215 and finish at about 1415.

Happy wandering !

Low Leighton

 May 24, 2023.

 

LOW LEIGHTON, BIG STONE, PEEP-O-DAY, SOUTH HEAD, TUNSTEAD HOUSE, BOWDEN BRIDGE, THE SPORTSMAN INN AT HAYFIELD, SETT VALLEY TRAIL, BIRCH VALE, OLLERSETT MOOR, LANESIDE ROAD END, THE MASONS ARMS AT NEW MILLS

 

Distance: 10 miles.

Difficulty: Strenuous.

Weather: Dry with blue skies and sunshine throughout.

Walkers: Mickey Barrett, Peter Beal, Mike Cassini, Tom Cunliffe with Daisy, Mark Enright, Mark Gibby, Hughie Hardiman, Alan Hart, John Jones, Chris Owen, Dean Taylor with Tommy, Dave Willetts, Simon Williams, Cliff Worthington.

Alternative walker: Jock Rooney.

Apologies: Andy Blease (Anglesey), Alastair Cairns (hamstring), George Dearsley (in Turkey)

Leader: Jones. Diarist: Hart.

Starting point: Laneside Road end on the outskirts of Low Leighton, New Mills (SK22 4LU)

Starting time: 9.49am. Finishing time: 3.10pm.

 

 

A road traffic accident at Disley's main traffic lights delayed the arrival of some of those coming from that direction. Consequently, JJ's valedictory appearance as a Wednesday Wanderers' leader was late starting. He then led us flawlessly along a roller-coaster route which involved three serious climbs.

John is moving to a flat in Arnside, Cumbria, in a week so he was persuaded to end his role as a leader on a high note. Clearly, JJ took that seriously as we visited summits at Big Stone, South Head and Ollersett Moor. We were reminded that there is no gain without pain as we enjoyed spectacular views of the Kinder Range and its valleys in the summer sunshine.

Once again the late spring and early summer flowers provided a kaleidoscope of colour in the meadows and hedgerows, whilst we spotted newly-born calves with their mothers and lambs with their ewes. Your diarist has enjoyed a lifelong affection for spring lambs, especially when they are served with minted carrots, peas and new potatoes.

From our parking spots at the far end of Laneside Road, we walked even further uphill along a rocky path. We walked through a wooden gate (3mins) and continued to a second wooden gate beyond which were crossroads in the paths (20mins)

We continued straight on going down and up before we reached Big Stone – a huge rock outcrop - overlooking a valley below. The views in every direction were wonderful although at this time an early morning mist shrouded some of the surrounding moorland.

 

 

 Looking back from Big Stone 

 

Having arrived at Big Stone (29mins) we waited for the stragglers to catch up before pausing for a photo opportunity (34mins) 

 

  A fine body of men at Big Stone 

 

 

Facing the valley we turned left for 10 yards and then began a tricky descent to a track where we turned left (31mins). This took us through a wooden gate towards the A623 Glossop-Chapel Road. Just before we reached it (51mins) we passed the farmhouse called Peep-o-Day on our left.

After turning left at the A623 we crossed it and soon turned right uphill (54mins). The track reached a junction where we dog-legged right and left through a wooden gate (57mins). After going through another wooden gate we turned right (62mins) and crossed a ladder stile to begin a stiff climb towards South Head.

Our leader commented that the ascent reminded him of an occasion when he had mounted the rear of The Great Gable. Whether he was referring to Hollywood legends Clark Gable or Betty Grable is unclear but we live in enlightened times so no further clarification was sought.

At a handy sheltered depression in the land on the right side of the path we stopped for Pietime (74mins), enjoying splendid views across the valley below 

 

          Our elevated view at Pietime

 

Continuing our climb we reached a gravel path and turned left for 30 yards before taking a path on our right steeply uphill (82mins). This brought us to the cairn marking the summit of South Head (89mins)

After waiting for stragglers (94mins) we began our descent which was a continuation of the path which had brought us to the cairn. When we reached a path across (91mins) we turned left and then right at a green public footpath sign (93mins) which indicated the way to Hayfield via Coldwell Clough.

 

 

We went left through a wooden gate and followed a sign for the National Trust Trail (109mins). This took us through South Head Farm (114mins) before swinging left across a bridge (119mins). The lane then took us to a farmhouse on our right which we entered through a metal gate and exited through another metal gate at the rear (124mins)

The path then took us over a stone step stile and a stile next to an electrified fence to reach a farm track (131mins). After walking through a farmyard we turned left downhill and immediately right over a wooden stile (133mins). We crossed another stone step stile to emerge opposite Tunstead House (138mins)

 

      A new-born calf being protected by two cows

 

Turning left downhill we passed a bridge on our left before crossing Bowden Bridge on our right (150mins). The bridge marks the point where the River Kinder becomes the River Sett. On its far side, we turned left along Kinder Road and reached The Sportsman Inn on our right (155mins)

Here we enjoyed pints of Theakstons' cask ale in the beer garden at the back where we were joined by Jock, who had walked along the Sett Valley Trail from New Mills.

Suitably refreshed we walked diagonally left from the pub entrance to reach a flight of steps which we descended. At the foot of the steps was a bridge across the Sett. We crossed this and walked towards the centre of Hayfield with the river on our right.

At a crossroads (166mins) we went straight ahead through Fishers Bridge to reach the A623. We crossed the main road, turned right for 15 yards then turned left along the A6015.

 

 

We passed The Kinder Lodge on our right, turned next right towards the bus station and then left to reach trestle picnic tables where we stopped for lunch (168mins). Afterwards, we headed towards New Mills along The Sett Valley Trail, passing a host of hawthorn bushes covered in dazzling white-scented blossom.

 

   Hawthorns frosted in blossom

 

We left the trail at a sign for Chinley (188mins) and crossed the A6015 to head up Morland Lane at the side of former pub The Grouse in Birch Vale. This was the final relentless climb uphill until we passed through a wooden gate and turned right (202mins)

This took us towards the telecom mast on Ollersett Moor where we crossed a wooden stile (205mins) and continued along the path, crossing another wooden stile (212mins) and a ladder stile (215mins) to reach a lane.

We squeezed through a gap next to a gate and turned left (213mins), waiting outside a cottage for the rest of the group to catch up (218mins). We carried on until we reached the end of Laneside Road on our right where our cars were parked (228mins). Some planned to have a final drink in The Masons Arms at New Mills.

Next week's walk will start at 9.50am from the overflow car park of The Little Mill Inn at Rowarth, High Peak (SK22 1EB). We will be aiming to reach The Kinder Lodge at Hayfield around 12.20pm for a bracer and finishing with a drink at The Little Mill at about 2.15pm. 

Happy wandering !

 

 

 

 

 

 

Taddington

 May 17, 2023.

TADDINGTON PRIMARY SCHOOL, OVER WHEAL FARM, DEEP DALE, SHELDON, MAGPIE MINE, MONYASH, BARN CLOSE FARM, LIMESTONE WAY, FLAGG, HIGH STOOL HOUSE FARM, THE CHURCH AT CHELMORTON, BANK PIT SPRING (ILLY WILLY WATER), SOUGH TOP, TADDINGTON

Distance: 11 miles.

Difficulty: Easy.

Weather: Dry with Cloud, Sunshine and a Gentle Breeze.

Walkers: Alastair Cairns, Mike Cassini, Tom Cunliffe with Daisy, Alan Hart, Chris Owen, Julian Ross, Dean Taylor, Simon Williams, Dave Willetts, Cliff Worthington.

Alternative walkers: Jock Rooney with Milly.

Apologies: Mickey Barrett (hols), Peter Beal (sore foot), Andy Blease (in Anglesey),

George Dearsley (in Turkey), Mark Enright (marking), Mark Gibby and Hughie Hardiman (walking locally to return to watch York races on TV), Jonathan Hart (w^*king), John Jones (preparing for move to Arnside), Keith Welsh.

Leader: Taylor. Diarist: Hart.

Starting point: Road outside Taddington and Priestcliffe C of E Primary School, School Lane, Taddington, near Buxton SK17 9TW.

Starting time: 9.55am. Finishing time: 2.45pm.

A creche for lambs ?

Dean used a booklet of Peak District walks to find this gem of a journey through five of Derbyshire's pretty villages as spring began to give way to summer. This was demonstrated by the numbers of cows with calves and ewes with lambs in the fields along our route.

There was also an uplifting amount of vibrant colour from wild flowers blossoming in the hills and dales. On an historical note we paused at a former lead mine where a row between rival miners in 1833 led to three deaths. On a cheerier note we were treated to a round of drinks by Simon to celebrate his 54^th birthday. Simon represents the junior branch of The Wednesday Wanderers and is part of our youth policy. We wish him many happy returns of the day.

Despite a record number of stiles to negotiate we kept up a brisk pace throughout only to find that our final watering hole, The Queens Arms at Taddington, was closed at 2.50pm. A disappointing end to an otherwise brilliant day.

With the school on our right we walked into the village on the road towards Ashbourne and Bakewell. As we were reaching the end of Taddington where the main road swung left we carried straight on for 100 yards then turned right at a wooden public footpath sign (12mins) and headed uphill.

At a T junction we turned left (19mins) and reached a lane where we turned right (22mins). This took us past Over Wheal Farm on our left (31mins) and we continued until we reached a wooden public footpath sign and turned left (35mins). We went through a wooden gate to enter Deep Dale, crossing a series of stone step stiles as we plunged steeply downhill and just as steeply back up again through two wooden gates.

Tom climbing up Deep Dale

We continued going over stiles through several fields before reaching a lane via a stone step stile and turning left (59mins). We soon passed the sign for Sheldon and walked through the village passing the comically-named Cock And Pullet on our right (62mins)

The Cock and Pullet

After passing The Byre on our right we turned right through a wooden gate at a wooden public footpath sign (65mins), crossed a stone step stile (69mins) and stepped over a broken wall to enter a field which we exited by another stone step stile (70mins) keeping next to a drystone wall on our left before crossing another stone step stile (72mins). We could now see the distinctive shape of our next target, The Magpie Mine, on the skyline ahead.

Part of the ruins of The Magpie Mine

On reaching the reasonably well preserved ruins of this once-thriving lead mine we paused for Pietime (76mins)

In its heyday in the 19^th Century the mine's main shaft was 728 feet deep although the bottom 160 feet were often flooded in wet weather. The Magpie Sough was a drainage tunnel more than a mile long which was completed in 1881 after eight years' work. It ran into the River Wye at Ashford-in-the-Water.

Originally there had been several separate and competing mines on the site which were governed by “Barmote Laws.” Trouble broke out in 1833 when Magpie miners working on the North Bole Vein underground were in collision with Maypitt miners working the Great Redsoil Vein.

Workers on both sides lit fires to smoke out their rivals. Three Maypitt miners were killed by inhaling sulphurous fumes. Widows of the victims put a curse on the Magpie Mine, but it continued to be worked until the 1950s.

We carried on by turning right at the foot of a flight of steps and passing to the left of a building with a corrugated roof and through a small wooden gate before crossing a stone step stile (79mins). We crossed another stone step stile to reach a road where we turned right (86mins)

Wild flowers provided colourful scenery

We soon swung left and after 100 yards turned left at a wooden public footpath sign to enter a field (87mins). We continued over stiles and through gates before following a sign for Monyash. At one point as we were crossing a field a herd of heifers came galloping over to inspect us.

Our route continued through fields until we crossed a stone step stile to reach a lane and turned right (105mins). We passed a sign for Monyash (111mins), reached a road and turned left (113mins)

Turning right at a wooden public footpath sign (115mins) we went right again through a gap stile, reaching a lane through another gap stile and turning right to pass Barn Close Farm on our right (123mins).

Just before we reached a metal gate we turned left at a wooden public footpath sign (126mins) and crossed a stone step stile signed for Flagg (129mins)

After crossing another stone step stile and going through a small wooden gate we picked up a sign for The Limestone Way (138mins). We passed the sign for Flagg and before entering the village itself turned left through a gap stile (140mins). We crossed two stone step stiles to reach a road and turned left uphill (145mins)

After passing Edge Close Farm on our right (147mins) we turned left ignoring the road on our right signposted for Chelmorton (152mins). Turning right at High Stool House Farm (154mins) we walked unmolested through a field of grouchy cows with calves and crossed stone step stiles to reach a road where we turned left (167mins)

After passing a sign to Taddington on our right, we took the next lane right (171mins). We reached a T junction and turned right with St John the Baptist's Church at Chelmorton on our right and the welcome sight of The Church Inn on our left (179mins)

By now we had been joined for the last half mile by Jock with Milly, and were delighted to be treated to a round of drinks by birthday boy Simon.

It was interesting to note that the £4-20 price of a pint of Marstons' Pedigree here was greater than your diarist received in 1961 in his first week's pay packet. For a five and a half day week, with two weeks annual holiday, I was paid the equivalent in pounds, shillings and pence of £3-90 after deductions for tax and insurance. As was the custom I gave my mum £2 for my keep, paid 77p for my weekly rail fare: the remaining £1-13 was mine to squander !

After enjoying our drinks in the sunlit beer garden, we left the pub, turning left uphill to pass Bank Pit Spring on our left. (181mins). According to local folklore this was known as the Illy Willy Water for reasons too disturbing to even contemplate. Further on, after climbing uphill, a wooden gate brought us to a lane which we crossed (189mins) and proceeded forwards via a stone step stile.

Our route now took us along well-trodden paths through fields using stone step stiles until we reached a man-made mound which proved to be an underground reservoir (209mins). Here, at Sough Top, we paused for lunch.

Afterwards we continued in a north-easterly direction along paths through fields, crossing stone step stiles and a broken wall until we could see the village of Taddington directly below us.

The descent into Taddington

The well-marked path brought us to the outskirts of the village via a wooden stile which we crossed and turned left to walk back to our cars. Sadly the hopes of some still thirsty wanderers to call in The Queens Arms were dashed when they found the pub shut at 2.50pm.

Next weeks' walk will be led by John Jones on his last Wednesday before relocating to Arnside, It starts at 9.40am from the end of Laneside Road in Low Leighton, New Mills (SK22 4LU). To reach it follow the road between New Mills and Hayfield, turning into Laneside Road opposite The Hare and Hounds pub. Drive till the end of the lane and park at the side of it.

JJ will lead us via Big Stone to Peep-a-Day, Mount Famine and South Head before stopping to knock the froth of one or two at The Sportsman Inn, Hayfield, around 12.40pm. We continue along The Sett Valley Trail and Ollersett Moor back to our cars – a journey just short of 10 miles.

Happy wandering !

Disley

 May 10, 2023.

DISLEY, BOLLINHURST RESERVOIR, MILLENIUM WOOD, BOULDER HALL FARM, BLACK ROCKS, GREENSHALL LANE, PEAK FOREST CANAL, GOYT VALLEY, MOUSELEY BOTTOM WOOD, TORRS RIVERSIDE PARK, MASONS ARMS AT NEW MILLS, PEAK FOREST CANAL, DANDY COCK AT DISLEY

Distance: 10 miles.

Difficulty: Easy to moderate.

Weather: Mainly cloudy with sunny spells and showers.

Walkers: Andy Blease, Mike Cassini, Tom Cunliffe with Daisy, Mark Enright, Alan Hart, Chris Owen, Julian Ross, Keith Welsh, Dave Willetts, Simon Williams, Cliff Worthington.

Alternative walkers: Jock Rooney with Milly.

Apologies: Mickey Barrett (boat trip), Peter Beal, Alastair Cairns (in Buttermere), George Dearsley (in Turkey), Jonathan Hart (w^*king), Mark Gibby, Hughie Hardiman (on holiday), John Jones (house inspection in Silverdale), Dean Taylor (attending birthday party)

Leaders (official): Cassini and Hart; (unofficial): Cunliffe.

Diarist: Hart.

Starting point: Car park at Disley railway station.

Starting time: 9.40am. Finishing time: 2.20pm

This week's walk should have been led by Dean from Taddington but his unavailability led to a change of plans. Mike offered to make his debut as a Wednesday Wanderers' leader in conjunction with your diarist who would be responsible for the first leg of the route. Mike was to cut his teeth on plotting the return journey.

The carefully constructed scheme was scuppered however when Tom seized leadership of the walk minutes before Mike was due to take over.

Cries of “control freak” fell literally on deaf ears as Tom diverted from our planned route and marched ahead along a trail that Mike had planned to use for the walk back to Disley. Some walkers wanted to follow the designated leaders but were faced with breaking into two groups your diarist said we should follow Tom.

As we are anxious to encourage new leaders may I suggest that in the future volunteers should be allowed to lead without interference unless they are heading the wrong way. Followers should just follow. How hard can that be?

The walk itself through attractive scenery went well although there was a constant threat of rain from dark clouds above. Mercifully we were spared all but a few drops until we reached the pub in New Mills. Heavier rain fell as we left The Masons Arms but it subsided after half an hour and we completed the journey in the sunshine.

From the car park we walked past The Ram's Head and turned right uphill, turning right again just before The White Horse into Ring o' Bells Lane. This takes its name after the pub which used to be at the top of the lane, but which is now a Quakers' meeting house. The ancient pub sign remains on the wall.

Sign on the wall of the former pub

We crossed a footbridge over the stream after turning right in front of the sign and then proceeded past the graves on each side of the footpath with St Mary The Virgin's, parish church of Disley, on our right. Cutting diagonally left through a field beyond the cemetery we emerged on a lane and soon turned right through a metal kissing gate to head diagonally left again through a field aiming for Lyme Cage in the distance.

This brought us to a lane that we headed along with the cage ahead to our right. At a green public footpath sign just before we reached a farmhouse we turned left (15mins). Bollinhurst Reservoir soon appeared on our right.

The reservoir with Lyme Park beyond

The path next to the wall alongside the reservoir on our right brought us to a wooden stile leading into a copse (25mins). We followed the path beyond the stile to a five-barred wooden gate. On the far side of the gate, we crossed the lane to head for Drake Carr. With the cottage of that name on our right, we turned left to enter Millenium Wood.

We emerged from the wood onto a main road (35mins) and turned right uphill. After passing Boulder Hall Farm on our left we crossed the road and went over a wooden stile by a holly bush alongside a public footpath sign for Black Rock (38mins)

Crossing another wooden stile we followed the well-trodden path towards a finger post and continued ahead until the path swung gradually left and we picked up a well-trodden path to the summit (50mins). We reached the ridge at Black Rocks and paused to collect our collective breath.

Simon looks down from Black Rocks

We now began our descent (55mins), turning left and crossing a ladder stile which led us to a field with a wood on our right. We kept left and then went through a metal kissing gate leading to a public footpath through a cottage garden (70mins)

After crossing a main road we walked through a gate opposite to follow the footpath through another garden before reaching a narrow path on our left and followed it downhill. This led to a lane where we turned right (75mins)

As we headed downhill and the path ahead became rocky we took a path alongside it to the left which enabled us to avoid the water flowing down the rocky path. We emerged at the end of Greenshall Lane (82mins) and crossed the A6 to enter Lower Greenshall Lane. After going under a railway bridge we crossed Bridge 27 over the Peak Forest Canal and turned immediately left to stop for Pietime (87mins)

Continuing with the canal on our left we headed towards Marple where we passed Jock and Milly heading towards New Mills in the opposite direction. Just after Bridge 25 we turned right through a gap stile and descended a steep path through woodland. After climbing down and up a flight of steps we reached a T junction and turned right (104mins)

After crossing a wooden stile we entered more woodland, turning left over a wooden stile and passing a pond on our right to enter a factory car park. We turned right up a lane and immediately left (107mins) to follow a path right which ultimately dropped to the right bank of the River Goyt.

The path then led uphill to a road where we turned left (111mins) and crossed a road bridge over the Goyt. We were now approaching Hague Bar and the point beyond where Mike was scheduled to take on the baton of leadership for the rest of the journey.

However, Tom who was walking ahead turned right at a sign for Mouseley Bottom Wood (116mins). When he was called back and told he was going the wrong way he said he preferred woodland paths to tarmac. Mike pointed out that the way Tom was heading was the route Mike had planned to return along.

But Tom would brook no argument and simply marched back towards the wood shouting “Come on men” as if he were our general. While the majority hesitated I argued that it would be better to stick together and follow Tom despite his unacceptable behaviour.

(No doubt those who disagree with my assessment will be in touch)

The path took us through the wood and into the Torrs Riverside Park (123mins). When we reached a rough lane we turned right (132mins) and walked along The Millenium Bridge (136mins)

The weir from Millenium Bridge

We then exited Torrs Riverside Park to reach Hyde Bank Road which we followed until swinging sharply left uphill to The Masons Arms (151mins). Here we enjoyed pints of Storm Brewing's IPA guest ale at £2-50 a pint. We were soon joined by Jock and Milly who had inserted a loop into their alternative route.

As we left the pub and turned right it had started raining quite heavily and waterproofs were donned as Mike now led us through the centre of New Mills instead of retracing our footsteps along the path he had previously planned.

We turned left at a junction (155mins), turned right at Rock Mill Lane (158mins) and immediately left down a cobbled street. We crossed the main road into Victoria Street (168mins) and turned right to reach The Peak Forest Canal (169mins). Lunch was taken there under the shelter of a bridge.

Peak Forest Canal

Resuming we walked with the canal on our left, passing Swizzels' sweet factory on our right as we headed towards Marple. We left the canal just beyond Bridge 26 (189mins), where we swung sharp right to cross it. We turned right into Hollinwood Road which ended with a sharp incline as we reached the A6 and The Dandy Cock on our left (197mins). Turning right we reached Disley's main traffic lights, crossed the road and turned right to the station car park (202mins)

Jock and I were the only wanderers to take a final glass at The Dandy Cock.

Next week's walk will start at 9.55am outside the Taddington and Priestcliffe C of E Primary School, School Lane, Taddington SK17 9TW. Dean will lead us through Sheldon, Monyash and Flagg to The Church Inn at Chelmorton for a bracer around 12.45pm, before returning to The Queens Arms, Taddington, at about 3pm. Pietime will take place at the site of The Magpie Mine.

Happy Wandering !