December 6, 2023
HIGHER POYNTON. MACCLESFIELD CANAL, GREEN FARM, GREEN CLOSE METHODIST CHURCH, SPOND HILL, BOWSTONES FARM, LYME PARK, LANTERN WOOD, LYME CAGE, RED LANE, THE DANDY COCK AT DISLEY, LYME PARK, LADYBROOK TRAIL, MACCLESFIELD CANAL, THE BOAR'S HEAD AT HIGHER POYNTON
Distance: 10 miles.
Difficulty: Moderate.
Weather: Dry, sunny with gentle breeze.
Walkers: Micky Barrett, Mike Cassini, Tom Cunliffe with Daisy, Hughie Hardiman, Alan Hart, Jonathan Hart, Chris Owen, Julian Ross, Keith Welsh and Cliff Worthington.
Alternative walkers: Peter Beal, Jock and Keiran Rooney with Milly.
Apologies: Andy Blease (jobs to do). Alastair Cairns (family visit from Turkey), Mark Gibby (covid), Simon Williams.
Leader: Hart. Diarist: Hart.
Starting point: Outside The Boar's Head on Shrigley Road North, Higher Poynton (SK12 1TE)
Starting time: 9.50am. Finishing time: 2.45pm.
The weather gods once more shone down on the Wednesday Wanderers for this winter walk. Although the temperature hovered a few degrees above zero there was blue sky and a bright sun throughout the day.
Although caution was advised because of icy patches on our route, there was unexpected entertainment by the Corps de Ballet from Burnage Rugby Club who showed us why few such sportsmen feature on the TV programme Dancing On Ice.
First Julian showed us his arabesque before Micky gave us a glimpse of his pas de deux. Not to be outshone Mike exhibited his triple salchow.
Full credit to Julian who pirouetted twice without actually falling. Micky and Mike however ended their routines on their derrieres. Happily nobody was hurt. Tom, the other member of the Burnage Rugby contingent, retained his usual elegant aplomb throughout.
Our new route involved a tough climb for the first 90 minutes. We were rewarded with clear panoramic views from the summit of Spond Hill and other peaks.
Opposite The Boar's Head was a wooden gate through which we headed down some cobbles to the former platform of Higher Poynton Railway Station. We descended steps to reach the former track and passed trestle picnic tables before turning left up steps to enter a football field.
We crossed this diagonally left and emerged on the bank of the Macclesfield Canal, where we turned right (7mins). With the canal on our left we reached a footbridge and crossed to the far bank of the waterway. Ignoring an exit on our right we proceeded uphill for 100 yards then went through a gate which led to an enclosed footpath.
This wove its way to a T-junction where we turned right uphill and then right again when we reached the buildings belonging to Green Farm (22mins). We turned right and kept to this footpath as it took us past the entrance to Lyme Park, turning left shortly afterwards left along a public footpath by the side of Green Close Methodist Church (37mins)
It was during the walk to Green Farm and the path beyond it that our skaters entertained us with their repertoire.
The path uphill after the church is straightforward although a short cut which might have been unofficial has now been blocked off by the local farmer. After passing through a metal gate (82mins) we reached a convenient dip looking like a bomb crater where we sheltered for Pietime.
Continuing uphill we reached the shoulder of Spond Hill (97mins), but instead of turning right towards its summit we headed left towards Bowstones.
On reaching Bowstones Farm (105mins) we turned left beginning a steady descent with the farm buildings on our right, passing the Monkhouse Memorial on our way to the ladder stile by which we accessed Lantern Wood in Lyme Park (117mins)
After exiting the wood (129mins) we walked down past Highland cattle and crossed a wooden stile where Peter Beal awaited us (140mins). We then aimed towards Lyme Cage keeping to the left of a deer sanctuary.
Some 50 yards before we reached the distinctive landmark we turned right following a wide footpath which took us to the left of Bollinhurst Reservoir. Hopes that another path might lead us from there directly to Disley were unfulfilled so we swung left along the main path, emerging by the wooden entry hut and turned right to exit the park along Red Lane.
This emerged at the traffic lights on the A6 which we crossed, turned right and soon reached The Dandy Cock on our left (145mins). Here we found Jock and Keiran already ensconced with Milly.
When your diarist was charged £11-95 for a pint of Robinsons' Unicorn cask bitter and a pint of Moretti lager he queried the amount. A check showed that the bitter was £4-10 and the lager £5-75 so I was given a £2-10 refund. Should it not have been obvious to the barmaid that £7-85 for a pint of lager was a bit steep ? Is mental arithmetic a lost art ? I think we know the answers.
Having bade farewell to the two Rooneys (it's goodnight from him and it's goodnight from me) we turned right out of the pub, crossed the A6 and entered the Disley Station car park. Opposite the ticket office we turned left up a steep and lengthy flight of steps to reach Red Lane (155mins).
Turning right we re-entered Lyme Park, passing the entry hut and heading to the right of a cottage. We left the path to pause for lunch on some convenient logs on our right (205mins)
Continuing we returned to the path which led to a ladder stile which in turn led to a footbridge. We crossed both and carried on along the path to the left of the stream which starts as Bollin Brook, becomes Norbury Brook and finally goes by the name of Lady Brook. We went through a tunnel under the railway (215mins), turned left and followed the path to the corner of a field where we crossed the Manchester – Buxton railway line (220mins)
Steps led us down to a lane where we turned right for 10 yards then went left over a ladder stile into a field, passing two derelict cottages before reaching a wooden stile and a footbridge over the brook (225mins). Beyond it we climbed a flight of steps to reach the Macclesfield Canal at the Middle Cale Moorings (227mins)
Turning left with the waterway on our right we soon reached the World War 2 pillbox and crossed Bridge 13, turning right at the far side before going sharp right again to walk beneath the bridge with the canal now on our left. From this vantage point we were able to see the accumulated memorabilia with which the pillbox is now decorated.
We now walked along the towpath to Lord Vernon's Wharf, where we turned right through the Nelson Pit car park to reach The Boar's Head (240mins)
Next week's walk will start at 9.40am from the free Miry Meadow car park at 1, Roebuck Place, off Station Road, Chapel-en-le-Frith (SK23 0ER). We are planning to have our annual Christmas lunch after arriving at the Olive Tree Farm Shop (formerly The Wanted Inn) on the A623 at Sparrowpit (SK17 8ET) at about 12.30pm for aperitifs.
Tom has texted menus and those wishing to dine should inform him of their choices on the morning when we meet.
Happy wandering !
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