November 29th 2023
THE WIZARD TEAROOMS ALDERLEY EDGE, THE BUTTS, DEAN GREEN FARM, FIRTREE FARM CHELFORD NETHER ALDERLEY, BRADFORD LANE
Distance: 9.43 miles
Difficulty: Comfortable though weather condition underfoot meant mud and frozen ground
Weather: Cold but clear dry sunny day
Walkers: Mickey Barrett, Andy Blease, Mike Cassini, Alistair Cairns with Daisy ,Tom Cunliffe with Daisy, Chris Owens Keith Welsh, Simon Williams, Cliff Worthington
Apologies: Alan Hart (still in former colonies) George Dearsley (in Turkey), Mark Enright (wxxking), , Hughie Hardiman, Mark Bibby, Julian Ross, Dean Taylor
Leader: Owens. Diarist: Cassini
Starting point: B5087 Macclesfield Road Wizard tearooms.
Starting time: 9.am. Finishing time: 2.30pm.
A certain degree of confusion will permeate this diary,beginning with the parking arrangements which Andy described as the perfect example of female logic! We were advised by our Leader Chris to park in the not-really-a –layby on Artists lane which after several drives up and down the lane, 4 drivers decided that actually it was a layby towards the top of the road after all. Chris (leader) however agreed it wasn’t a layby and parked in an obvious layby on the main road, Alistair in the Tangerine Dream used the National Trust car park as that too was obviously a car park.
We assembled where Chris parked, crossed the road and passed through a gate immediately opposite the actual layby. Continuing downwards through the woodland on a muddy path that occasionally became a stream causing some issues for the Daisies with us.
Tom asked our leader how difficult the walk was and Chris said it was mostly downhill so relatively easy; applying male logic Tom asked the not unexpected question that surely we must come uphill at some point which Chris reluctantly agreed would be a slight climb at the end up Bradford lane- which actually proved to be the case although not a major incline it did prove a challenge to some of us –about an 800ft climb.
Meandering through the wood we came back onto Artists laneto try and get firmer footing, although throughout the walk a lot of the road surfaces were still frozen and proved hazardous on several occasions though without serious falls.
We passed by The Butts in Nether Alderley which is a National Trust Farmstead with history possibly stretching back to the 17th century and then across the A34 by Dean Green and Fir tree farm, having Pie time at the Clover Patch an agricultural business and then on to the Egerton Arms- a Pub and Chophouse at Chelford where we arrived 20 minutes before opening but the bar staff took pity and responding to Mickey’s beating on the front door with his walking stick opened early for us.
Tom was celebrating his birthday (71) and bought teas (5) and beers (4) all round. Following refreshment we returned through Chelford up the B5359 where we turned right on a path through the Quarry Lakes and then through St. Mary’s churchyard were a stone commemorating Tim Brook (!) Taylor was laid in the ground, although born in Buxton it is not likely to be for the famous Goodie as his association was with a Sheffield St Mary’s church and his full name is Tim Julian Brooke-Taylor. From St Mary’s churchyard we walkedup Bradford Lane, former home of the Beckhams, each to our respective car parks. Next week we meet outside the Boars Head Higher Poynton to leave at 9:40.
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