Curbar Edge

  

October 25, 2023.

 

CURBAR, BASLOW EDGE, WELLINGTON MONUMENT, WHITE EDGE, TRIG POINT, WHITE EDGE MOOR, THE GROUSE AT FROGGATT, FROGGATT EDGE, FROGGATT PINNACLE, CURBAR EDGE, THE BRIDGE AT CALVER

 

Distance: 9 miles.

Difficulty: Moderate.

Weather: Misty start giving way to bright sunshine and blue skies.

 

Walkers: Micky Barrett, Alastair Cairns, Mike Cassini, Tom Cunliffe with Daisy, Mark Enright, Mark Gibby, Alan Hart, Chris Owen, Dean Taylor, Dave Willetts, Simon Williams, Cliff Worthington.

Alternative walkers: Peter Beal, Jock and Keiran Rooney with Milly.

 

Apologies:  George Dearsley (in Turkey)

Leader: Cunliffe. Diarist: Hart.

Starting point: Lay-bys at the top of Curbar Road two miles from Calver, Derbyshire.

Starting time: 10am. Finishing time: 2.45pm

 

Your diarist shamefully forgot his pen and a replacement donated by Mike ran out after ten minutes. Consequently this week's report will be short on words and long on photos: so much the better I hear you shout.

There was an excellent turnout of a dozen walkers on a misty morning and this number swelled to 15 when we were later joined by the three alternative walkers. Our hearts go out to Peter, who will be 75 next Wednesday, for making the effort to appear this week and buy a monster round. He was holding a premature celebration because of other commitments on November 1. We wish him many happy returns.

The contrasting photos below show how the weather changed during the course of the day. They include contributions from Mike, Tom and Simon as well as my own.

From the lay-bys we headed uphill before turning right at a footpath (4mins). As we followed the track we were obliged to overtake a herd of sharp-horned Highland cattle who were grazing on or next to the footpath. They clearly did not realise these footpaths are for the use of bipeds and not quadropeds.

 

 

 

 

 Highland Cattle and Wednesday Wanderers

 

After a leading group overshot our left turn they retraced their steps and we then had a short steep climb to bring us on to Baslow Edge and reached The Wellington Monument.

 The Wellington Monument

 

 

 

The Wellington Monument on Baslow Edge was erected by a local army man named Dr E.M. Wrench in 1866. It is thought he wanted to counterbalance the memorial to naval hero Admiral Nelson on Birchen Edge two kilometres away.

The memorial has a gritstone ashlar cross on a square gritstone pedestal founded on a natural outcrop. It is engraved “Wellington. Born 1769. Died 1852.”

 

From here we continued towards White Edge, stopping for Pietime (70mins) en route.

Near the Trig Point at 365 metres we were joined by Peter in time for a group photograph.

 Mike, Simon, Mark, Peter, Dave, Cliff, Alastair, Tom, Chris, Dean, Micky and Mark

 

From here we descended through White Edge Moor towards Froggatt. En route we saw some vivid examples of temperature inversion where the cold of the ground collided with warm air to create mist in the valleys below.

 

 

 

 

 Clouds and blue skies above: mist below

 

By the time we reached The Grouse at Froggatt (currently for sale at £2 million) it was warm enough for us to sit outside in the beer garden (135mins). We were joined by Jock and Keiran for pints of Boon Doggle and Marstons' Pedigree bought by the birthday boy. 

Resuming we turned right along the main road before crossing to follow a public footpath leading to Froggatt Edge (148mins)

 

 Froggatt Edge

 

 

 

 

We stopped for lunch at Froggatt Pinnacle (160mins) and then continued along the ridge with the valley below on our right. On reaching a footpath (175mins) we turned right and descended along a rocky path. Unfortunately Mark Gibby and Micky had become detached at the rear but were guided back to the cars (205mins) by Peter on a slightly longer alternative route.

Four of us then drove to The Bridge at Calver for further refreshment.

 

   The view from our cars at the finish

 

Next week's walk will be dubbed The Laurie Fairman Memorial Walk in memory of our fallen comrade whose funeral so many of us attended last week. This was one of Laurie's favourite Wednesday wanders. 

We will start at 9.50am from Monyash going through Lathkilldale to Youlgreave where we will be aiming for a livener in The George at about 12.20pm and returning to The Bull's Head at Church Street, Monyash (DE45 1JH)  around 2.30pm.

To reach the starting point take the A515 out of Buxton towards Ashbourne and Monyash is signposted after 6 miles to your left. Pass the Bull's Head on your left and continue for 400 yards to a lay-by on your left opposite public toilets on the right. We will assemble there.

 

Happy wandering !

 

 

Pictures by Tom Cunliffe

Pictures by Alistair Cairns

Poynton

 October 18, 2023.

POYNTON POOLCAR PARK, GLASTONBURY DRIVE, PARK LODGE, BIRCH HALL BOARDING KENNELS, BRAMHALL HIGH SCHOOL, HAPPY VALLEY NATURE RESERVE, BRAMALL HALL, THE LADYBROOK IN BRAMHALL, HAPPY VALLEY, MILL HILL HOLLOW, BARLOW FOLD FARM, POYNTON POOL

Distance: 7 miles.

Difficulty: Easy.

Weather: Fine with occasional sunshine.

Walkers: Peter Beal, Mike Cassini, Tom Cunliffe with Daisy, Mark Enright, Mark Gibby, Hughie Hardiman, Alan Hart, Chris Owen, Dean Taylor, Keith Welsh with Abe, Simon Williams, Cliff Worthington.

Apologies: Mickey Barrett (sore leg), Alastair Cairns, George Dearsley (in Turkey), Dave Willetts (on roof)

Leader: Hart. Diarist: Hart.

Starting point: Car park off Anglesey Drive next to Poynton Pool.

Starting time: 9.49am. Finishing time: 2.10pm.

A dozen walkers turned up for this double birthday celebration and were rewarded with unseasonably warm weather on a dry day that was occasionally brightened by sunshine.

A shorter route was chosen to maximise the time spent in the pub and to avoid the rain forecast for later in the day. It also enabled our wounded comrade Peter to join us for his first outing since a falling tree flattened him during a thunderstorm in Corfu.

We also met a new Wednesday Wanderer in the form of Abe, a black labrador puppy who is training to be a guide dog for the blind. He was accompanied by Keith, who made a welcome return to the fold after a long absence,

Debutant dawg Abe

From the car park, we walked away from Anglesey Drive and immediately encountered Poynton Pool on our left.

This secluded lake was created in the 18^th Century when road builders dug out soil to create a highway linking Hazel Grove with Macclesfield. It is now the home of several birds, including swans, Canada geese, mallards, coots, moorhens and great-crested grebes with occasional visits from herons, cormorants and parakeets.

Poynton Pool

Walking with the pool on our left we reached a bench and turned right (6mins) to emerge on the A523 linking Hazel Grove with Macclesfield. We crossed it to enter Glastonbury Drive. Sadly your diarist failed to notice that two of our group – those with canines – had been delayed while Keith gathered some poo into a plastic bag. As I understand the explanation this was shed by Abe.

In any event Tom and Keith passed the bench and continued to the end of the path by the pool, headed south along London Road North, and then headed east in the direction of Higher Poynton before Tom decided to ring his diarist and leader.

As a result of this conversation there was a 15-minute delay while Tom and Daisy and Keith and Abe rejoined the group at the end of Glastonbury Drive where a bridge crossed Lady Brook. Tom explained he was unaware we were heading north-west to Bramhall even though this was stated in last week's diary. “I never read where we're going,” he explained. “I only bother to see where and when we start.”

We headed slightly left (26mins) along a path which took us past Park Lodge on our left. After passing a row of homes on our right we turned right through a kissing gate to enter a field which we crossed and emerged at another kissing gate next to the new A555 bypass. Our group turned left with the by-pass on our right and emerged on Woodford Road (36mins)

We turned right, crossing the road bridge over the bypass and crossed the road to turn left following the sign for Birch Hall Boarding Kennels and Cattery (40mins). The lane swings left at the entrance to Further Dairyground Farm and passes to the right of an exotic poultry enclosure where we saw goats, tufted ducks, guinea fowl and turkeys.

The lane emerges at the start of a housing estate. At the end of Lytham Drive we turned right along a road which led to Bramhall High School on our right. Just beyond the school buildings, there is a public footpath sign and a laid path that leads down to the bank of Lady Brook.

This area is called Happy Valley. It is the home of foxes, badgers, rabbits, voles, herons, kingfishers, songbirds, greater crested newts, frogs, dragonflies, butterflies and a variety of wildflowers. We turned left with the brook on our right.

The path took us out of Happy Valley to the start of a road going left. On our right was the A5143. We went up Bridge Lane opposite, passing houses on our left. On the right of the last house was a footpath down a flight of steps which emerged on Bramhall Park roundabout.

Turning left past a bus stop we used a zebra crossing on our right to reach the road on the far side. We turned right along the pavement for 100 yards and turned left at a white gate on our left to enter Bramhall Park.With the brook on our right we took the right fork signposted Lake and Parklands.

Bramhall Hall

We were now approaching Bramhall Hall, walking over a bridge then swinging right and then left with a duckpond on our right. We climbed a flight of steps to have Pietime on benches at the front of the building (75mins).

The hall is a largely Tudor manor house. It is timber framed and its oldest parts date from the 14^th Century with additions in the 16^th and 19^th Centuries. It stands in 70 acres of landscaped parkland with a playground area, restaurant and museum.

During his harrying of the north William the Conqueror gave 2,000 acres of land in Bramale to Hamon de Massey in 1070. From the late 14^th Century it was owned by the Davenport family (by marriage) and they built the present house. They remained lords of the manor for 500 years.

In 1877 they sold the estate of nearly 2,000 acres to The Manchester Freeholders Company, which was formed to exploit the potential for residential housing. The hall and its residual park was sold to the Nevill family, who were successful industrialists, and in 1935 it was acquired by Hazel Grove and Bramhall Urban District Council. After government reorganisation it became the property of current owners Stockport Metropolitan District Council.

Continuing our journey with the hall behind us we turned right and walked down steps to reach a path where we turned left. This took us back to Lady Brook which was now on our left as we exited the park. Those of us who knew the way turned right to retrace our steps back to the pedestrian crossing which took us to the start of Fir Road.

Despite our cries others took a circuitous route over a succession of pedestrian crossings while we awaited their arrival. We then walked up Fir Road and reached The Ladybrook on our right (90mins)

This is a traditional pub serving a variety of cask ales, lagers and ciders, where a table had been reserved for us. As your diarist and Mark Enright were celebrating our birthdays, there were two rounds of drinks to be enjoyed. A variety of tapas snacks were also provided.

We soon noticed a sign overlooking our table which seemed highly appropriate.

Birthday boy Mark looking vulnerable

Tapas time

Hughie had already left us for a prior engagement at Bramall Hall and as we left the pub the Bramhall contingent decided to make their own ways home. The remaining seven of us retraced our footsteps back to Happy Valley. When we reached the path on our right which we had descended earlier we swung left across a bridge with Lady Brook now on our right.

The path now took us over duckboards and a stile into trees where we crossed another stile on our right and turned left. With trees now on our left we walked to the end of a field and reached Woodford Road. Here we turned right and after 100 yards turned left at Mill Hill Hollow (113mins). At this point Mark G made his own way home.

We walked uphill passing houses, the final one being Coppice End where the lane becomes a footpath with a pond on the left. Beyond the pond the path swerves first left and then right as it goes under the A555 with Lady Brook on our left.

After the tunnel we turned right along a gravel track and immediately left towards a metal kissing gate. The path through this leads to another kissing gate and the path continues. A yellow arrow on a tree showed us where to head right uphill to yet another metal kissing gate.

We followed the path now over a footbridge until we reached a main road via an elaborate metal kissing gate (133mins). This was London Road North which we crossed and went up a flight of steps to reach the bank of Poynton Pool. We turned left and reached the car park (135mins)

Next week's walk will start at 10am at Curbar Edge, To reach our starting point most of us will take the A6 east towards Buxton then turn left at a roundabout just before Dove Holes to follow the A623 towards Chesterfield. After passing through Stoney Middleton reach Calver and turn left at The Bridge Inn then go immediately right uphill. After two miles the lane swings right and there are lay-bys on the left where there is free parking.

We will be visiting The Wellington Monument and calling at either The Fox House Inn or The Grouse depending on which route Tom finds himself.

Happy wandering !

Bollin Valley

October 11, 2023

 

THE UNICORN AT DEAN ROW, VICAR FARM, BOLLIN VALLEY, MOTTRAM HALL GOLF COURSE, LOWER GADHOLE FARM, THE ADMIRAL RODNEY AT PRESTBURY, BOLLIN VALLEY, PRESTBURY SEWAGE WORKS, THE UNICORN AT DEAN ROW

 

Distance: 10 miles.

Difficulty: Easy

Weather: Dull, cloudy with frequent light showers.

 

Walkers: Mike Cassini, Tom Cunliffe with Daisy, Alan Hart, Chris Owen.

Apologies: Peter Beal (convalescing from falling tree injury during Greek island holiday.), Andy Blease, Alastair Cairns and Julian Ross (w*^king in Saudi Arabia), Micky Barrett (in Spain), George Dearsley (in Turkey), Hughie Hardiman, Mark Enright, Dean Taylor, Dave Willetts, Simon Williams, Cliff Worthington,

Leader: None. Diarist: Hart.

Starting point: Car park of The Unicorn at Dean Row, Handforth.

Starting time: 9.45am. Finishing time: 2.30pm.

 

Because of the forecast of heavy rain Tom decided to postpone his planned 13-mile hike around Ladybower Reservoir. At the 11th hour the venue was switched to a closer starting point and a shorter route. By then we had received several apologies, some no doubt due to the predicted weather. Against his better judgement, your diarist was not among them.

There was light drizzle at the outset, but this became heavier after the first mile. From then onwards there was little respite as one shower followed another throughout our journey.

Most of the quartet who decided to brave the conditions were familiar with the route so no leader was deemed necessary. All went smoothly until one member of the group insisted against advice on crossing a bridge back over the Bollin.

For the sake of unity we followed him. This resulted in the first and last three miles of our route retracing our earlier footsteps with a three-mile loop around Mottram St Andrew in the middle on top of a one-mile return trip to Prestbury for our customary liveners.

In those circumstances, I do not propose to relate the precise details of this walk. 

 

Suffice to say the Dizzy Blonde in the Admiral Rodney was in excellent fettle at what has become a normal £4-75 a pint.

Earlier we had encountered cows with new-born calves in a field as we approached Vicar Farm. 

 

 Camera-shy calves

 

Pietime with port was taken on a flight of steps shortly after was had passed a traditional thatched cottage on our right.

 

    Pretty in pink

 

 

Next week's walk will start at 9.45am from the free car park next to Poynton Pool off Anglesey Drive, Poynton (nearest postcode SK12 1LJ). We are aiming to walk alongside the lake before crossing paths through fields to Bramhall and joining The Happy Valley Leisure Park. After Pietime at Bramall Hall we will aim for a livener at The Ladybrook pub in Fir Road, Bramhall SK7 2NP, around noon. (Dogs are welcome)

Your diarist will be celebrating a day early the 78thanniversary of his birth and you are welcome to join him for drinks and snacks. We expect to return via the rest of Happy Valley and Mill Hill Hollow, arriving back at Poynton Pool car park around 2.30pm.

 

Happy wandering !

PS Jock's alternative wander:

Finding it difficult to resist the charms of the Bollin and it's breathtaking sewage works I somehow managed to do so and opted to do a repeat of Kieran, Myself and Millie's last wet weather wimps walk with a few minor changes. It was hard choice, but I opted for the sparkling clear waters and towering white limestone cliffs of the Wye Gorge because it was much closer.

Outbound : No wind, occasional light rain with the odd patch of blue sky. Homeward bound patchy light rain but a bit heavier and more persistent for the last half hour.

Length...10 miles Time...4h 45 mins Difficulty...Easy Peasy ....Pub Weatherspoons with my younger son where the price was definitely on form.

Next week. Apologies for absence, I will be in Puerto Pollenca with the caving gang.

 

 

Bollington

October 4, 2023

BOLLINGTON RECREATION GROUND, MACCLESFIELD CANAL, BRIDGE QUARRY, KERRIDGE RIDGE, RAINOW, THE PLEASANCE GARDENS, THE VIRGINS' PATH, INGERSLEY VALE WATERFALL, THE VALE AT BOLLINGTON, MIDDLEWOOD WAY, WHITELEY GREEN

Distance: 9 miles.

Difficulty: Moderate.

Weather: Mainly dry with sunny finish.

Walkers: Andy Blease, Alastair Cairns, Mike Cassini, Tom Cunliffe with Daisy, Mark Gibby, Hughie Hardiman, Alan Hart,

Alternative walkers: Jock Rooney with Milly.

Apologies: Peter Beal (convalescing), George Dearsley (in Turkey), Mark Enright (w*^king), Chris Owen (watching soccer in Leipzig), Dean Taylor, Simon Williams (recovering from long drive the day before), Cliff Worthington (attending funeral)

Leader: Hart. Diarist: Hart.

Starting point: Free car park overlooking Bollington Recreation Ground.

Starting time: 9.43am. Finishing time: 2.25pm.

This was a figure-of-eight walk with Bollington at its start, middle and finish. On a previous occasion when this was tried, your diarist led the first section of the loop with Chris shepherding us on the second stage. The latter was unable to join us on this occasion for the very good reason that his son had won a prize which any Manchester City fan would treasure – two tickets on the team plane to Leipzig to watch them play in the Champions' League !

On the first time this walk was tried in the summer of last year, Chris got lost whilst trying to remember the route. This time around your diarist got lost whilst trying to follow his own directions. After a 10-minute search we eventually located the stile which had eluded us.

The reason for this unusual route was because of the closure of The Robin Hood at Rainow, which has blighted popular walks in the Lamaload Reservoir and Walker Barn areas. Without a pub to break our journey, we had to create a walk which solved the problem. Unfortunately, this involved covering rather more tarmac than we like and perhaps an alternative might be considered. All suggestions are gratefully received.

Our Magnificent Seven left the car park and headed for the right corner of the recreation ground next to the River Dean. We exited the sports fields and crossed the road, turning left and then right up a flight of steps built into the bridge holding the Macclesfield Canal aqueduct. At the top we reached the waterway and proceeded with the canal on our left as we walked under Bridge 27 (9mins)

Various proposals to connect Macclesfield to the national network of canals were discussed from 1765 but it was not until 1824 that a scheme came to fruition and the 26-mile canal finally opened in 1831. It linked Marple in the north through Macclesfield and Congleton to the Trent and Mersey Canal in the south.

However, the embryonic railways were starting to take business from canals and by 1954 the Macc Canal was no longer commercially viable.

Spirited campaigning succeeded in revitalising the canal as the leisure facility it is today.

After passing the converted Adelphi Mill on our right we reached Bridge 28 and exited the canal by heading right up the cobbles and swinging left over the bridge.

We swung right on the far side of the bridge (21mins) and followed the track until we reached a road at Dawson Farm and turned right (29mins) before soon swinging left uphill on Higher Lane.

When we reached a flight of steps on our left indicated by a green public footpath sign on our right we ascended them (34mins). It was a tough climb and we had momentary respite when we reached a road at Bridge Quarry. There was a flat stretch when we turned left for 40 yards before turning left towards Bridge House and heading for another steep ascent to Kerridge Ridge (46mins)

At the top we turned right and to our right was the Astra Zeneca factory on the Hurdsfield Industrial Estate. To our left were views across the hills with the pretty village of Rainow nestling in the valley below.

The view to our right of Astra Zenica

The village of Rainow to our left in the valley below

When we reached a metal gate we turned left and took the lower route (50mins). At the next metal kissing gate we followed the direction of a yellow arrow pointing diagonally left downhill. Through two more gates with yellow arrows, we continued downhill until we reached the main road through Rainow (63mins). Here we turned left.

The road took us down Tower Hill until we saw Stocks Lane to the left of the main road running off Chapel Lane (74mins). On this corner was a garden for weary travellers such as ourselves. It was called The Pleasance and it was here we paused for Pietime.

After a well-earned rest we continued left down Chapel Lane and turned right into Sugar Lane as we headed back towards Bollington. As we walked along Sugar Lane we could see Kerridge Ridge on our left with the distinctive White Nancy folly at its far end in the distance. We turned right following a green public footpath sign and the stone-flagged path at the back of Flagg Cottage (79mins)

This was the start of the historic Virgins' Path (also known as The Brides' Path) which was built in the 18^th Century when there was no church in Rainow. Village maidens were obliged to walk through sometimes muddy fields to the nearest church in Bollington to marry. Local farmers, seeing their daughters arrive in church with their white dresses besmirched, laid rows of flags through the fields to spare their blushes.

We followed this trail until we reached Ingersley Vale waterfall on our left. On our previous visit dry weather had reduced it to a trickle but this time it was in full flow.

Ingersley Vale waterfall in full flow

How it looked in June, 2022

By now we had been joined by Jock and Milly as we continued past the derelict Ingersley Clough Mill (97mins) and passed the old millpond on our left. Beyond the pool we turned right and passed a church on our left as we walked to the roundabout (104mins).

From here we continued along the main road, passing the aqueduct tunnel and turning right to once again enter Bollington Recreation Ground. By following the path as it swung left behind the tennis courts and bowling green we were able to turn right and emerge at the car park of The Vale Inn (125mins). The pub's entrance door was on our left.

Inside we enjoyed pints of White Nancy and Long Hop cask ales from The Bollington Brewery before embarking on the second loop of our trek. With Chris away in Germany I was obliged to follow my own directional notes made while following him 16 months earlier.

From the front door of The Vale we turned right and headed uphill for 20 yards before going left over a wooden stile marked with a yellow arrow. We turned left at a sign for Four Winds Farm (129mins). We crossed a wooden stile and turned right along a footpath (131mins)

We swung left to reach The Middlewood Way (135mins) and turned right under Bridge 7. After 50 yards we turned left (151mins) up a flight of wooden steps and turned right. We went through a gate marked with a yellow arrow and crossed a field where, without the benefit of a well-trodden path, we scoured the perimeter for an exit stile.

Aided by Andy's pathfinder device we eventually found it and turned left into the next field. We exited this field (158mins) by a wooden stile and turned left along a minor road.

At a passing point in front of a metal gate we turned left (168mins) and walked down a farm track before turning right at a metal gate with a yellow arrow (172mins). Here we paused for lunch.

Resuming we went through the metal gate and a wooden gate beyond it (174mins) to cross a field with a fence on our immediate left.

After negotiating a metal kissing gate (177mins) with a council tip on our left we turned right along a road which passed a church on our right to reach the main road into Bollington. We turned left passing the post office on our left. On reaching Waterwheel Way on our left (195mins) we turned left and then right into Leat Place. We headed uphill then swung left before turning right over a wooden footbridge (198mins). Under a railway arch was the car park where we de-booted. Nobody was anxious for further refreshment, leaving Jock a forlorn figure as he and Milly waited in vain for our return.

Next week's walk will start at 9.45am from the car park near Fairholmes Visitors' Centre on the banks of Derwent Reservoir (S33 0AQ). To reach it head east along the A57 Snake Pass, turning left just before the road bridge across Ladybower Reservoir.

The visitors' centre car park on the right after three miles is pay-and-display but there is, according to Tom, a free car park on the right just before it where we should assemble.

Tom will lead a 13-mile walk taking in the cliffs known as Alport Castles, finishing with a drink at the Ladybower Hotel around 2.15pm (which might, in your diarist's humble opinion, be a rather optimistic target)

Happy wandering !