Ridgegate

September 27, 2023.

 

RIDGEGATE RESERVOIR, MACCLESFIELD FOREST, NESSIT HILL, SHUTLINGSLOE, CRAG INN  AT WILDBOARCLOUGH, PIGGFORD NATURE RESERVE, THE HANGING GATE AT HADDON FARM, BROWNLOW, THICKWITHERS, LEATHER'S SMITHY AT LANGLEY

 

Distance: 7-8 miles.

Difficulty: Moderately strenuous.

Weather: Dry and pleasantly warm with a gentle breeze stiffening later.

Walkers: Andy Blease, Mike Cassini, Mark Gibby, Hughie Hardiman, Alan Hart, Chris Owen, Julian Ross, Cliff Worthington.

Apologies: Mickey Barrett (leg injury), Peter Beal (recovering from falling tree injuries), Alastair Cairns (weather forecast), Tom Cunliffe (touring north-east), George Dearsley (in Turkey), Mark Enright (w*^king), Dean Taylor and Dave Willetts (busy), Simon Williams (in St Ives)

Alternative walkers: Jock and Keiran Rooney with Milly.

Leader: Owen. Diarist: Hart.

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

Starting time: 9.45am. Finishing time: 12.5

 

Perhaps it is time for the Wednesday Wanderers to ignore negative weather forecasts. Keep calm and carry on, as they used to say during Luftwaffe raids.

In recent times these predictions have become increasingly alarmist. Last week this walk was postponed because of fears of rain of biblical proportions and the threat we would be hit by the tail of a hurricane. The reality was that the Rooneys defied the doom merchants and enjoyed fine weather near Buxton apart from a ten-minute downpour. (They would have escaped this too if they hadn't been caught between tunnels on The Monsal Trail). The “gale force winds” were insufficient to embarrass a kilted piper.

This week we shortened the route in anticipation of a lunchtime deluge which never materialised. It transpired that we had changed our plans to escape five minutes of light drizzle.

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 countryside below.

 

 From the hill, we looked down across the valley on Bottoms, Ridgegate and Trentabank reservoirs with the Teggs Nose plateau in the background. Dare I ask if it would be possible to reach this glorious vantage point without risking life and limb by ascending a narrow path designated for cyclists hurtling downhill at speeds around 30mph ?

Our view from Nessit Hill

 

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). 

 Approaching Shutlingsloe

 

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

 

 Our leader Chris decided to ignore the summit and was followed round the left shoulder of the hill by Mike and your diarist (50mins). A breakaway group turned right at a gate, then swung left to reach the Trig Point on the top. The A team, as I shall describe those who walked in the footsteps of Chris, encircled the hill on a track leading to a metal kissing gate (55mins)

A similar gate then led us across a footbridge (60mins). The path then led us to a lane (66mins) where we turned right. This brought us to a road (72mins) where we turned right to reach The Crag Inn at Wildboarclough. We stopped for Pietime (75mins) on a bench in its car park and awaited the arrival of the intrepid quintet.

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) 

 

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). 

With our leader's permission your diarist then turned right along the road with the pub on my left on a direct route back to the cars in order to escape a deluge, which never materialised. What follows is a brief description of my route back to Ridgegate Reservoir. 

 

 

 The view towards Croker Hill from The Hanging Gate pub 

 

This narrow country road led mainly downhill as it passed Brownlow Farm and Thickwithers Farm before emerging at the southern tip of Ridgegate Reservoir and the lay-by where our cars were parked (171 mins)

After de-booting I drove the 500 yards north to the car park of the Leather's Smithy. 

 

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.

 

Here, drinking a pint of Steerage cask bitter at the eye-watering price of £4-75, I was soon joined by other members of our group who reported that Chris, having pointed them in the direction of the pub, had walked home. (He is having an alcohol-free period prior to tests on persistent groin pains later in the week. We wish him a speedy recovery)

 

Next week's walk will start at 9.40am from the free car park overlooking Bollington Recreation Ground on Adlington Road, Bollington (SK10 5JT). We will aim to walk in a figure eight climbing White Nancy and following the ridge into Rainow, returning along The Virgins' Path to The Vale Inn on Adlington Road (also SK10 5JT) for a bracer at about 12.15pm. From there we will embark on an experimental route to form a second loop and return to the car park around 2.20pm with the option of another drink in The Vale.

 

Happy Wandering !

 

Topley Pike

 SEPT. 20th 2023

ROUTE: TOPLEY PIKE, WYE DALE, MONSAL TRAIL, MILLERS DALE, CRESSBROOK TUNNEL, CRESSBROOK MILL, RAVENSTOR, THE ANGLER'S REST, MONSAL TRAIL, TOPLEY PIKE, THE SUN INN BUXTON.

DISTANCE: 9 MILES. 

DIFFICULTY: EASY.

WEATHER: ONE SHORT SHOWER OF APPROX 10 MINS.

WALKERS: KIERAN ROONEY, JOCK ROONEY, MILLIE ROONEY.

APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE: WET WIMPS UNITED.

LEADER: ROONEY J.

Topley Pike

With stormy wet weather in mind, we chose what we hoped would be a well-sheltered route which neither of us had done for years ie. the Monsal Trail. 

Parking at the lay-by opposite the pay & display (which was completely empty !! ) we followed the river along Wye dale into Chee Dale and thence up onto the Monsal Trail which proved to be completely bike-free for the duration. 

Once onto the trail we were completely out of the wind but did get caught in a short but heavy shower just as we were between Litton tunnel and Cressbrook tunnel. At this point, we descended to the river and walked alongside it passing the bottom of Tideswell Dale and Ravenstor to the Anglers where the Dizzy Blonde was on form at £4.20 a pint. On leaving the pub we crossed the river and made our way back to the car along the trail and from thence into Buxton for a finisher at the Sun after what turned out to be a surprisingly pleasant day out.

Please note next week's walk will start at 9.45am from the layby next to Ridgegate Reservoir near Leather's Smithy (SK11 0NE) in Sutton, near Macclesfield, with a livener in The Ryles Arms at Sutton (SK11 0NN) at about 12.30pm and a final optional drink in Leather's Smithy at about 2.20pm.

New Mills

 September 13, 2023.

NEW MILLS LEISURE CENTRE, BEARHOUSE FARM, HAGUE BAR, DANE VALLEY, PEAK FOREST CANAL, SPOUT HOUSE FARM, ROMAN BRIDGE, MELLOR AND THORNCLIFFE GOLF COURSE, THE DEVONSHIRE ARMS AT MELLOR, TARDEN FARM, THE FOX AT BROOK BOTTOM, THE TORRS

Distance: 10-11miles.

Difficulty: Moderate.

Weather: Dry and warm with sunny spells.

Walkers: Mike Cassini, Tom Cunliffe with Daisy, Mark Gibby, Alan Hart.

Alternative walker: Jock Rooney with Milly.

Apologies: Mickey Barrett (leg injury), Peter Beal (recuperating from injuries during holiday in the Greek islands), Andy Blease (in Anglesey), Alastair Cairns (walking in Lake District), George Dearsley (in Turkey), Mark Enright (w*^king), Hughie Hardiman, Chris Owen (in Leek), Dean Taylor (motor-cycling), Simon Williams.

Leader: Cassini. Diarist: Hart.

Starting point: New Mills Leisure Centre, Hyde Bank Road, New Mills (SK22 4BP)

Starting time: 9.34am. Finishing time: 2.57pm.

                                                         

                                                                                Tom's map

This was a new route devised by Mike from his home town which began with a climb through the suburbs and became increasingly picturesque throughout the journey. We visited wooded paths, rolling hills, canal towpaths, and a cracking country pub which provided great service.

Unfortunately, having used up our allotted alcohol units in The Devonshire Arms at Mellor, we abandoned plans to finish at The Masons Arms in New Mills. There is always a next time.

En route, we also bumped into an old friend and erstwhile Wednesday Wanderer we had not seen for many a year. Phil Welsh, armed with a massive chainsaw and looking like a genial psychopath from a horror movie, was working as a volunteer at the Mellor and Towncliffe Golf Course. It was good to see him post-retirement and we hope he will return to our ranks again one day.

We were also treated to a round of drinks by Mike to celebrate his 67^th birthday in two days' time. The small turnout meant our debutant leader got away with a modest bill but we wish him many happy returns of September 15.

We also raised a glass to wish good health to Peter Beal. He is recovering from his injuries after he was flattened by a tree during a thunderstorm in the Greek islands where he is on holiday with his wife Jackie. Luckily for Peter, the tree landed on his head so he wasn't seriously hurt but it has been a painful holiday for him.

The following directions are for posterity so wanderers can try to follow them on future rambles. If you wish to cut to the chase now details of next week's walk appear, as ever, in the final paragraph.

From the car park we passed the entrance door to the leisure centre on our left and soon crossed a road to join the start of the Sett Valley Trail.

This is a linear leisure facility for walkers, cyclists and horse riders linking New Mills with Hayfield. It follows the trackbed of the branch line of a railway through Birch Vale, Thornsett and Ollersett which opened in 1868. It closed in 1970.

After heading up a zigzag path (4mins) we turned left at a road and immediately right through a graveyard (5mins). We exited by a gate and headed down to the end of Dye House Lane, where we turned right (7mins). We crossed the road and headed up Spring Bank (10mins)

Turning left at Whitle Road (14mins) we went left again at a green public footpath sign (17mins). Just before we reached Bearhouse Farm we turned left down a flight of steps (20mins), went through a wooden gate and over a wooden stile marked with a yellow arrow (21mins)

Our view back over Disley

We followed the path through a wooden gate and over a wooden stile marked with a yellow arrow (25mins). After crossing a road we went through an alley (27mins) and reached a road where we turned left downhill (29mins). At the end of The Crescent we turned right uphill (31mins). Just before the crest we went left over a wooden stile (35mins) into a field and crossed a stone step stile (36mins).

After crossing another stone step stile (38mins) we turned right at a bench (40mins) to head downhill, crossing a stone step stile marked with a yellow arrow (41mins) and then going right at a similar stile (42mins)

On reaching a lane we turned right and then went left at a green public bridleway sign (45mins). This led us to a track where we turned left downhill (46mins). At the end of Hague Fold Road (51mins) we crossed the main road and then went across a bridge over the Manchester-Sheffield railway line.

We passed a playground on our left and then crossed a bridge over the River Goyt (57mins). At a wooden public footpath sign marked with a yellow arrow on our right (61mins) we turned right and followed the path around the garden of a house with the river on our right. This path emerged on a road where we dog-legged right and left (68mins) and then turned left along a track (69mins)

After crossing a wooden stile marked with a yellow arrow (70mins) we turned right. This brought us to another wooden stile which we crossed before descending a flight of steps (72mins). We turned left over a wooden stile with a yellow arrow (73mins) and crossed a wooden footbridge (74mins)

From here we climbed up several flights of steps and along a path which emerged through a gap stile opposite Higgins Clough Swing Bridge on the Peak Forest Canal (79mins). We turned right with the waterway on our left before stopping for pies and port at a convenient low wall (84mins)

The view to our right from the canal towpath

We continued along the towpath, passing Little Woodland Farm on our right and going under Bridge 23 (92mins) before turning right at a green public footpath sign on our right (103mins) pointing to Mellor, Werneth Low and Gee Cross. The path took us through a gap stile and three wooden stiles in quick succession to reach a lane (108mins) where we turned right.

We reached a main road with a cottage on our left bearing a date stamp of 1661. Turning left we immediately passed Spout House Farm (110mins) and headed uphill along Strines Road. We turned right at a green public bridleway post (112mins) and headed downhill to the bank of the River Goyt.

Turning left with the river on our right we reached the hump-backed bridge known as Roman Bridge on our right, crossed it and turned left (117mins). We walked with the Goyt now on our left for some 250 yards then branched right uphill to follow a sign for Mellor and Cobden Edge (119mins)

We crossed a stone step stile and headed up a flight of steps before crossing a footbridge over the railway line (122mins) and entering the grounds of Mellor and Thorncliffe Golf Club where we immediately encountered Phil Welsh.

Phil Welsh

After a catch-up chat (127mins) in which we discovered Phil was working as an honorary groundsman as well as being a golf member, we kept to the right of the course until we reached the second tee, which we passed and turned left (132mins). We left the course and entered Gill Lane (138mins), swinging first right and then bearing left (144mins) until we emerged opposite The Devonshire Arms at Mellor (149mins)

Here we enjoyed pints of Dizzy Blonde and Unicorn in the beer garden, bought first by birthday boy Mike and then by Mark. We were joined by Jock and Milly and the waiter service was so efficient that it seemed rude not to tarry a while longer.

Resuming we retraced our earlier footsteps up Gibb Lane, bearing right at a fork (153mins) and stopping for lunch at a convenient wall with magnificent views across the valley to our right (156mins)

Our lunchtime view

Continuing we passed Tarden Farm on our right (160mins) as we walked along a ridge which afforded us a continuous view across the valley. We passed The Fox Inn at Brook Bottom on our right (185mins) and passed the Eric Burdekin memorial bench as we reached the outskirts of New Mills. At a row of terraced houses on our left we turned right at a green footpath sign to enter a wood (203mins)

We emerged on St Mary's Road (210mins) and turned right before going left into Market Street, passing The Pride of the Peaks pub on our right. We walked down Rock St (212mins), crossed a road to enter Lower Rock Street (213mins) and then swung right under a tunnel and left up a flight of steps (216mins). This brought us to the back of New Mills Leisure Centre car park to de-boot (217mins)

Next week's walk will start at 9.45am from the layby alongside Ridgegate Reservoir, Sutton, near the Leather's Smithy pub (SK11 0NE). We aim to reach The Ryles Arms at Hollin Lane, Sutton (SK11 0NN) for a snifter around 12.30pm, finishing at The Leather's Smithy at about 2.15pm.

Happy wandering !

Allgreave

  

September 6, 2023.

 

ALLGREAVE, THE EAGLE AND CHILD, GOOSETREE FARM, GRADBACH, BACK FOREST,  LUD'S CHURCH, HANGINGSTONE, DANE VALLEY, DANEBRIDGE, THE SHIP AT WINCLE, ALL MEADOWS FARM, WHEELWRIGHTS HOLLOW, THE ROSE AND CROWN AT ALLGREAVE

 

Distance: 9 miles.

Difficulty: Moderate,

Weather: Hot with blue skies and sunshine.

Walkers: Mike Cassini, Hughie Hardiman, Alan Hart, Chris Owen, Simon Williams, Cliff Worthington .

Alternative walkers: Jock Rooney with Milly.

Apologies: Mickey Barrett (sore leg), Peter Beal (in Corfu for two weeks), Andy Blease (in Anglesey), Alastair Cairns (in Keswick), Tom Cunliffe (doing jobs), George Dearsley (in Turkey), Mark Enright (w^*king), Julian Ross (cruising in The Med), Dean Taylor (working in the shop)

Leader: Owen. Diarist: Hart.

Starting point: Higher car park at The Rose and Crown, Allgreave (SK11 0BJ).

Starting time: 9.55am. Finishing time: 2.30pm.

 

 

An Indian summer of hot sunny weather had the effect of reducing our numbers for this spectacular walk. Many of our regulars were missing for what proved to be a glorious day of sunshine, stunning scenery and a history lesson.

It is always a joy to see the looks of astonishment on those walkers approaching Lud's Church for the first time. This chasm in the rocks is clearly a national treasure to be cherished.

Finding it in the middle of Back Forest is no easy matter and Chris struggled for several minutes before we discovered the route to this ancient monument. It is definitely a site worth finding and the newcomers to it were suitably impressed.

A delayed start and the difficulty in locating the historic landmark as well as the sweltering temperatures meant that Chris wisely shortened our planned route and is now saving a trip to The Roaches for another occasion.

Heavy traffic held up the arrival of Simon and Cliff, who then waited in vain in the lower car park. 

 

We eventually got away 15 minutes late and turned left at the foot of the upper car park to head east towards Helmesley. On our left we passed a house which was once a pub called The Eagle and Child.

The sign above the door of the former pub built in 1735

 

After passing Helmesley Farm on our right (18mins) we turned right opposite the house which was once The Eagle and Child and headed towards Goosetree Farm (23mins). With the farm on our right we turned left at a wooden public footpath sign marked with a yellow arrow (25mins)

The path led us down through a gap and across a footbridge over the River Dane to reach a building on our left which was once Gradbach Youth Hostel. We turned right following a sign towards Lud's Church (32mins). 

 

Sadly this was the last sign we saw for the main attraction in the area as we encountered many other hikers trying to find it with tracking devices on their mobile phones. The instructions on the phones of Simon, Mike and Cliff sent out conflicting messages. Eventually, after retracing our footsteps and using stepping stones to cross a stream, we located a rock tower which we recognised as being close to the church.

From here we were able to find the chasm known as Lud's Church at the end of a footpath (77mins)

It was caused by a giant landslip in the gritstone which is 100 metres long and 59 feet deep. During the 15th Century it was used as a secret place of worship for people known as Lollards who were followers of John Wycliffe, an early church reformer (or heretic, as Hugh describes him)

It may have been named after Walter de Ludank, who was captured and arrested here at an illegal prayer meeting. 

In 1862 local landowner Philip Brocklebank placed a wooden ship's figurehead from his ship Swythamley on a high niche in the chasm. It mysteriously disappeared. Legends involving Robin Hood, Sir Gawain and The Green Man abound.

The chasm called Lud's Church

 

At the far side we followed a path over duckboards and turned right at a sign for The Ridge (88mins). At a crossroads we turned right for Swythamley and Dane Bridge (94mins) and stopped for Pietime.

Resuming we passed two outcrops on our left before reaching Hangingstone (120mins)

 Posing on an outcrop

 

 

 

        Hugh The Redeemer on Hangingstone

 

The impressive outcrop is inscribed with two memorials – one to Burke, the loyal mastiff of Squire Brocklehurst and the other to his descendant Lt Col Henry Courtney Brocklehurst, who was killed on commando in Burma at the end of World War 2.

 

We descended a path below the rock to reach a track where we turned right (125mins) and then turned left over a wooden stile (128mins) to descend through a field into woods along the Dane Valley. At a junction  after wrongly turning right we quickly retraced our steps and reached the road where we turned right across Danebridge (142mins) and marched uphill to The Ship Inn at Wincle just as Jock arrived with Milly (145mins).

Here we were able to drink cask ales called Dragon's Fire or All The Way in a shady tented section of the beer garden at the bargain price of £4 a pint. (This is a phrase I thought I would never live to use !)

Continuing we turned right out of the door of the pub and walked uphill for a few yards then turned right up steps marked with a yellow arrow (146mins). After going through a metal kissing gate we kept to the right side of a field as we approached trees and crossed a wooden stile marked with a yellow arrow (151mins)

After crossing a wooden footbridge we went over another wooden stile on our left to take us through a house garden and emerge at a lane with a wooden stile on our right (154mins). After crossing it we stopped for lunch. The path then led us through fields as we reached the final leg of our journey.

 

 Returning from Wincle to Allgreave

 

After passing All Meadows Farm and Wheelwrights Hollow on our right we reached the A54 and turned right (174mins). We were then faced with a tough climb along the main road as it passed a church and swung sharply left with The Rose and Crown on our right (185mins)

Here again we were charged £4 for pints of cask bitter and given a warm welcome after many years by Luda, the Estonian wife of Ian Rossenbury. The pub chef was born and raised in Poynton where his father taught woodwork at Poynton High School.

Their hospitality made what became known as The Chipsgate Scandal a distant memory.

 

Next week's walk will start at 9.30am from the car park at New Mills Leisure Centre, Hyde Bank Road, New Mills (SK22 4BP). We will be aiming to arrive for a bracer at The Devonshire Arms, Mellor (SK6 5PP), around 12.30pm with an optional extra pint at about 2.30pm in The Masons Arms, New Mills (SK22 4BR).

 

Happy wandering !