Hartington

March 27, 2024.

HARTINGTON, CROSSLAND SIDES, BIGGIN GRANGE, BIGGIN DALE, DOVE VALLEY, WOLFSCOTE DALE, BERESFORD DALE, THE DEVONSHIRE ARMS AT HARTINGTON

Distance: 6 miles.

Difficulty: Easy apart from slippery stones and flooded areas.

Weather: Dull, cloudy and wet initially but with some sunshine later.

Walkers: Andy Blease, Tom Cunliffe with Daisy, Colin Davison, Mark Gibby, Alan Hart, Simon Williams and Cliff Worthington.

Alternative walkers: Jock and Keiran Rooney with Millie.

Apologies: Mickey Barrett (in Silverdale), Peter Beal (in Anglesey), Alastair Cairns, Mike Cassini (in Gran Canaria), George Deasley (in Turkey), Hughie Hardiman (Achilles problem), Chris Owen (heavy cold), Jim Riley (nursing his dog Olive after operation), Julian Ross, Dean Taylor (domestic duties), Keith Welsh (guide dog duties)


Leader: Davison. Diarist: Hart.
Starting point: Market Place in Hartington, Dove Valley, Derbyshire.


Starting time: 10.10am. Finishing time: 12.33pm.

It is a truth, universally acknowledged, that no matter how picturesque a landscape may be it is not enhanced by grey clouds and rain. Add mud to this mixture and you will understand, dear readers, why this journey was abridged without a dissenting voice.

There had been a forecast of light showers but these materialised on the heavy side and a chilly wind was blowing the rain into our faces. We had just negotiated a flooded pathway junction where signs indicated a left turn would take us in the intended direction of Mill Dale. In the opposite direction, a finger post was aiming back towards the pretty village of Hartington where we had started 85 minutes earlier.

When our leader Colin asked The Magnificent Seven to make a choice there was some enthusiasm for an early end to our venture: nobody demurred.

I need hardly tell you that within five minutes of making our irrevocable decision, the rain stopped and the sun tried bravely to break through the clouds. As we walked back in ever-improving spirits we were able to sample some of the stunning scenery in this attractive area between Buxton and Ashbourne.

Despite recent dry days, the record rainfall in February had left the hillsides still soaked in water and your diarist recommends that we should limit our visits to these beautiful valleys to the summertime when the rocks are less slippery and the mud has disappeared.

Because of traffic delays en route at Hazel Grove and Doveholes, our start was delayed by 20 minutes.

From the Market Square, we passed The Devonshire Arms on our right as we headed slightly uphill, turning right at the village war memorial. The gradient now became steeper. Soon after passing Hartington Youth Hostel on our left, we followed a wooden public footpath sign indicating Hulme End on our right (6mins)


    Heading towards Hulme End


We carried straight on where the main path swung right (12mins). The series of hills to our right resembled the curves on a dragon's back. The path led us into a field where we headed diagonally right (13mins) before following a yellow arrow on a post to enter the next field (17mins)

By crossing a stone step stile we reached a lane (19mins) and turned left. This brought us to a stone step stile (28mins) which we crossed to enter Biggin Dale. The path took us through a metal gate (30mins), a large wooden gate (32mins) and a small wooden gate (44mins) as we walked upstream with water overflowing from the river on our left.


    Biggin Dale

When we reached a group of rocks (50mins) in the shelter of some trees we paused for Pietime (50mins). It was as we started to resume our journey that the rain arrived earlier (and ultimately heavier) than forecast.

It started as drizzle but soon escalated. We found ourselves faced with deep water at a wooden gate (55mins) which we managed to circumvent. Further on (62mins), we were faced with a stiffer challenge which involved using submerged stepping stones while clinging to the rocks on a cliff edge to our right.

By the time we emerged with no casualties (72mins) the rain was falling heavier and we were given the choice of turning left for Mill Dale or turning right to take an alternative route back to Hartington.

There were no arguments as we took the latter route although when the rain stopped five minutes later there were some blessed with hindsight who wondered whether we should have continued to The George at Alstonefield. By this time we were in Wolfscote Dale with the Dove on our left and a steep hill on our right. The hill later gave way to towering cliffs and the river on our left was in full spate.


   Wolfscote Dale

We reached and crossed a wooden footbridge to reach the far bank of the Dove and turned immediately right to enter Beresford Dale (105mins). The river was now on our right.



    The River Dove in full flow

We crossed another wooden footbridge to reach the right bank of the Dove (110mins) and entered Monson Wood. Exiting the wood through a small wooden gate (115mins) we took the left fork as we climbed uphill through a field (125mins).

Two wooden gates brought us to a road by the side of public toilets (128mins). Here we turned right along the road back into Market Square with The Devonshire Arms on our right (130mins).Pints of Devonshire Arms Pale Ale were in fine form but priced at £4-70 a pint.


Next week's walk will start at 9.40am from the free car park overlooking Bollington Recreation Ground, Adlington Rd SK10 5JT. We will call at Smith's orgasmic pie shop before mounting White Nancy and following Kerridge Ridge into Rainow. After heading out to Walker Barn we will return to Rainow to celebrate the reopening of The Robin Hood, Church Lane, Rainow SK10 5XE) at about 12.20pm. From there we will return along The Virgins' Path past Ingerley Vale waterfall, aiming to reach The Vale, Adlington Rd, Bollington SK10 5JT for a final drink around 2.15pm.

Happy wandering !

Bollington

  

March 20, 2024

 

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: Light Drizzle Throughout but mild in temperature

Walkers: Andy Blease, Alastair Cairns, Colin Davison with Tom Cunliffe and Daisy joining us at the mid point.

Alternative walkers: Jock Rooney and Kieran Rooney with Milly.

Non Walking Drinkers: Peter Beale, Alan Hart

Apologies: George Dearsley (in Turkey), Mark Enright (w*^king), Chris Owen (holiday in Cyprus), Dean Taylor, Simon Williams, Cliff Worthington, Julian Ross, Keith Welsh (all didn’t fancy getting wet)

Leader: Blease. Diarist: Blease.

Starting point: Free car park overlooking Bollington Recreation Ground.

Starting time: 9.40am. Finishing time: 2.25pm.

 

This was a figure-of-eight walk with Bollington at its start, middle and finish. On this occasion there were only 3 walkers for the top loop of the figure of 8, joined by Tom and Daisy at lunchtime for the shorter bottom loop. Jock and Kieran with Milly did an alternative 5 mile walk meeting at the Vale pub at lunchtime. 

 

Please be aware that these notes have been heavily plagiarised from those well crafted notes made by AlanHart following a previous walk on 4th October 2023.

 

This day, 20th of March is International Day of Happiness, the weather had no respect for this day, it was truly miserable. I met Alastair in the agreed car park having navigated the nearby road closure which almost entirely changed our route to this venue. Alastair and I decided the best place to don our boots and waterproofs was the undercover area in front of the public toilets on the car park. We were soon joined by a middle aged recreational lady jogger dressed in tight fitting, highly colourful lycra leggings, she also sought shelter from the rain. Alastair and I were subsequently joined by many other lady joggers, this flange of joggers soon increased in size to the point where we were almost overwhelmed. Fortunately, Colin appeared out of the blue and the WW’s numbers were bolstered by 50%. We departed at 0940, and with reference to the rain, each group wished the other a moist but enjoyable experience.

 

Our intrepid 3 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.

 

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, we paused for Pietime in a bus shelter on the right. We continued to Stocks Lane to the left of the main road running off Chapel Lane (74mins). On this corner is a garden for weary travellers called The Pleasance and previously we have paused for Pietime.

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 18th 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 and then

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. 

 

We followed 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.

 

On this occasion we celebrated Alastair’s birthday, he was ‘cock-a-hoop’, only 3 walkers and it was Wingsday in The Vale, all cask ales were £3.00 a pint. Although Alastair didn’t show any disappointment, within a few minutes of our arrival we were joined by Jock, Kieran, Milly, Tom, Daisy, Peter and Alan.

 

We all enjoyed pints of White Nancy, Long Hop, Bollington Best cask ales and soft drinks from The Bollington Brewery before embarking on the second loop of our trek, the intrepid three were joined by Tom and Daisy for the final loop of our journey.

 

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 previously we had struggled to find an exit. With advice from Alan in the pub and an unusual directional instinct from Tom we found the exit stile without problem. We 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). 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. 

 

Next week's walk will start at 0950 and will be led by Colin. An 8-9 mile walk, we will start from the centre of Hartington, SK17 0AL, free car parking is available close to the duck pond and the Cheese shop. The plan is to walk from Hartington via Biggin Dale to Alstonefield, drinks at the George pub,, returning via Wolfscote Dale

 

My apologies if any readers of this diary are offended by poor grammar, inaccuracies or inappropriate flangeuage.

 

Happy wandering !

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ridgegate

 March 13, 2024.

RIDGEGATE RESERVOIR, MACCLESFIELD FOREST, SHUTLINGSLOE, CRAG INN AT WILDBOARCLOUGH, PIGGFORD NATURE RESERVE, THE HANGING GATE AT HADDON FARM, SMALLHURST FARM, THE RYLES ARMS, LOWERHOUSE, GRITSTONE TRAIL, LEATHER'S SMITHY AT LANGLEY

Distance: 9 miles.

Difficulty: Moderately strenuous.

Weather: Cloudy and mainly dry: mild with short shower.

Walkers: Andy Blease, Alastair Cairns, Mike Cassini, Colin Davison, Alan Hart, Chris Owen, Jim Riley with Flossie, Simon Williams, Cliff Worthington.

Alternative walkers: Tom Cunliffe with Daisy, Jock and Keiran Rooney with Milly.

Apologies: Micky Barrett (South American hols), Peter Beal (foot injury), Mark Enright (w^*king), Mark Gibby and Hughie Hardiman (monitoring Cheltenham Races on TV), Dean Taylor (shopping with wife)

Leader: Owen. Diarist: Hart.

Starting point: Lay-by next to Ridgegate Reservoir, Sutton, Macclesfield, near Leather's Smithy pub in Clarke Lane, Sutton SK11 0NE.

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

Former police officer Jim Riley brought a new recruit to this walk in the shape of Flossie, a winsome two-year-old cocker spaniel, having previously introduced us to his other spaniel Jasper.

As he approached a stile near the end of the walk, Jim remarked: “ As long as she has a ball in her mouth I know she won't jerk me off.” Now we don't like to be judgemental in the Wednesday Wanderers and the complicated relationship between dogs and their owners is nobody else's business. However, this does seem to be a situation which needs monitoring and other dog owners are hereby warned.

Jim Riley with Flossie

Chris led us on this popular walk and your diarist was pleased to note that on this occasion he decided not to defy an instruction that one of the climbs through Macclesfield Forest was specifically designed for mountain bikers only. This meant we were denied the spectacular views over Ridgegate from Nessit Hill but for once this was a price worth paying for the sake of safety.

Rain had been forecast to fall from noon and it duly obliged at 12.15pm with a sustained light shower. This caused Colin, who had not brought any waterproofs, to divert back to his car and drive to The Ryles Arms where we were already ensconced.

Our shepherd Chris, who had been fretting over his scattered flock, was relieved to discover that the lost sheep had been found. So Chris emerged without a stain on his escutcheon (which must have been a huge relief).

In the Ryles Arms, we joined Tom and The Rooneys who had been on a brief alternative walk.

They started from Ryles over to the SW edge of Ridgegate returning in a circular pattern.

Ridgegate Reservoir

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 been designated for mountain bikers only. We ignored this path and carried on uphill, turning right at a footpath sign. The path continued uphill through a gate (40mins). By now Alastair had already turned right to head for the summit.

Because of its shape Shutlingsloe is ironically named “The Matterhorn of Cheshire.” At 1,660 feet it is somewhat dwarfed by the 14,692 Alpine mountain of that name between Switzerland and Italy.

As Alastair climbed towards the Trig Point the rest of our group took the easier option and went straight on to walk along the left shoulder of Shutlingsloe, hearing the distinctive sound of a curlew in the valley to our left below as we went through a series of gates and over a footbridge.(70mins). The path then led us to a lane (72mins) where we turned right.

This brought us to a road (80mins) where we turned right to reach The Crag Inn at Wildboarclough and stopped for Pie time (82mins) in its car park. This pub has long been closed on weekday lunchtimes and there have been rumours that the latest owner wants to sell water, discovered in a well beneath the property, rather than beer.

This appeared to be confirmed to some extent by a sign indicating the pub was only open for 4 hours a week - surely worth an entry in the Guinness Book of Records !

A sign of the times ?

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). We crossed the road, lamenting that this once favourite half-way house for thirsty Wednesday Wanderers was no longer open on Wednesday lunchtimes.

We went past the front door of the pub on our left with its separate toilets to our right, and reached a gate on our right marked with a yellow arrow. As we did so we gazed nostalgically at the picnic tables which commanded idyllic views across the valley.

View across the valley from The Hanging Gate

The path took us through another metal kissing gate and down a flight of steps to a road where we turned left (145mins). After 20 yards we turned sharp left uphill then turned right towards Smallhurst Farm (148mins). It was at this point that Colin went AWOL.

As we reached the impressive farmhouse we walked to its left following a footpath sign (150mins). It took us down steps and across a footbridge. We crossed a broken wall by the side of a ladder stile and through two metal kissing gates (155 and 159mins).

On reaching a wooden stile we turned left (162mins) to reach the rear of The Ryles Arms (163mins). Here we enjoyed a choice of three cask ales priced at £4-50 a pint.

Suitably refreshed we retraced our footsteps to the lane leading to the back of the pub before turning right at a Gritstone Trail marker (164mins). After going through two metal kissing gates (166 and 171mins) we walked through a wooden gate, climbed a stone step stile and reached a road (180mins)

We dog-legged right and left to follow the GT marker and go through a wooden kissing gate and then a farmyard (188mins). Continuing to follow GT markers through metal kissing gates either side of a lane (194mins)

Nearly home with Tegg's Nose in the distance

Another metal kissing gate brought us to a track where we turned left (199mins)

We went right through a wooden gate and crossed a wooden footbridge over a stream (203mins) The path then emerged on the banks of Ridgegate Reservoir. We turned left along the bank before reaching Leather's Smithy (211mins) on our left.

Dating from the 18^th 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 the Timothy Taylor Landlord cask bitter was an eye-watering £4-85 a pint.

                     Route taken by alternative walkers 

Next week's walk will start at 9.40am from the free car park overlooking Bollington Recreation Ground, Adlington Road, Bollington SK10 5JT. It will be a figure-of-eight walk heading first towards Rainow and aiming to return to The Vale at Bollington SK10 5JT at about 12.20pm for a bracer before returning to the same pub for final refreshments around 2.30pm.

Happy wandering !

Glossop

 

March 6, 2024.

 

OLD GLOSSOP, SHELF MOOR, HIGHER SHELF STONE, PLANE WRECKAGE SITE, GLOSSOP LOW, COCK HILL, THE QUEENS AT OLD GLOSSOP

 

Distance: 9.5 miles.

Difficulty: Strenuous.

Weather: Mild with blue skies and sunshine.

 

Walkers: Peter Beal, Andy Blease, Mike Cassini, Colin Davison, Mark Gibby, Alan Hart, Julian Ross, Keith Welsh, Simon Williams, Cliff Worthington.

Apologies: Alastair Cairns (Daisy poorly), Tom Cunliffe (hamstring still sore), Mark Enright (w^*king), Jim Riley (celebrating birthday), Dean Taylor and Dave Willetts (attending funeral)

Leader: Davison. Diarist: Hart.

Starting point: Far end of Shepley Street, Old Glossop SK13 7SG.

Starting time: 9.52am. Finishing time: 2.48pm.

 

After a six-week absence your diarist was hoping to ease his way back into Wednesday wanderings. Mark also returned after two months convalescence with the same desire. However we were thrown straight into the metaphorical deep end with one of our more challenging routes.

On a mild March morning of blue skies, sunshine and fluffy white clouds, conditions were perfect for such a tough journey. Peter, another recently-recovered invalid, announced at the outset that he might not complete the course. In the end we all crossed the finishing line after a punishing test of our fortitude. We were uninjured  and finished like exhausted but relieved marathon runners feeling rather pleased with ourselves.

It is extraordinary to recall that back in December Tom suggested we might choose a short flat route so that fragile Colin could be tempted back into the fold. Six years ago he had dropped out of our main group on the basis that we walked too far, too quickly and too high. Yet here he was a few weeks after his comeback leading us on such a relentless climb.

One can only wonder whether he has paid a secret visit to Lourdes.

Apart from the open moorland we walked through the strewn wreckage of a military plane which crashed on Shelf Moor in 1948 with the loss of all 11 crew members. On a cheerier note we also spotted a mountain hare near the summit. As a further bonus Mark treated the five of us who called in The Queens to a double round of drinks to celebrate both his 62nd birthday and the birth of his first grandchild Rosemary. Double congratulations, Mark.

 

 From the end of Shepley Street and its turning circle we followed a footpath uphill, soon reaching a brook below on our right. This was the start of a steady climb which lasted 103 minutes and took us all the way to the Trig Point at Higher Shelf Stones. This stands 621 metres above sea level.

 

        Leaving Old Glossop

 

On our way we went straight ahead through a metal gate (8mins) and crossed a wooden stile (80mins) before continuing up Shelf Moor until we reached the Trig Point (103mins) at Higher Shelf Stones. This provided a photo opportunity.

 

  Achieving our first target at Higher Shelf Stones 

 

 

Here we stopped for Pietime and were grateful when Mike distributed squares of his home-made flapjack. Is there no end to this man's talent ?

By turning diagonally left after the TP we were able to follow a path leading to the wreckage of an historic aeroplane (109mins).

 

This Boeing B-29 Superfortress had been built originally as a bomber but had been modified to become a reconnaissance aircraft within the 311th Air Division of the USAAF. On November 3, 1948, it was on a routine flight from RAF Scampton in Lincolnshire for the allied airbase at Burtonwood, near Warrington.

In low cloud it failed to clear the summit and crashed on Shelf Moor at 610metres (11 metres below the peak). The plane burst into flames and all 11 American crewmen were killed. 

The aircraft was carrying $7,400 in wages which were recovered from the wreckage by US Military Police.

The plane, nicknamed Overexposed, had taken photos during testing of the atomic bomb at Bikini Atoll and landed supplies during The Berlin Airlift earlier in 1948. 

During the course of World War 11 six military planes crashed on these hills and 21 crew members were killed. The deaths in this Superfortress after the war was the heaviest single  toll of casualties on the wider area known as Bleaklow Moor.

   Some of the remains of the Flying Fortress 

 

From the wreckage we yomped across moorland following Colin until we reached a pathway across us where we turned left (125mins). The path became flagged with square stones (132mins) and where they petered out we took the right fork to pick them up again (135mins) and continued. 

This brought us to a giant cairn surrounding a pole at Bleaklow Head where Colin took another group photograph (154mins)

 

 

 

 

Andy, Mike, Cliff, Simon, Alan, Julian, Keith, Mark and Peter

 

Beyond the cairn we turned left along a path which took us across a stream by stepping stones up to a yellow arrow where we turned right (188mins). Shortly after we turned left following a path across Glossop Low and stopped for lunch at an unroofed ruin (227mins)

 

           Homeward bound 

 

 

 

 

We then headed left downhill to Cock Hill (236mins). From here the route was downhill and the paths were easy to follow apart from one fork where we went right to reach the track which brought us back to Old Glossop, turning left into Shepley Street with The Queens on our right and returning to our cars to de-boot (277mins). We had been walking for nearly five hours without a pint so the Wainwrights' cask bitter in The Queens went down smoothly and quickly.

 

Next week's walk will start at 9.45am from the layby next to Ridgegate Reservoir near Leather's Smithy pub on Clarke Lane, Sutton, Macclesfield SK11 0NE. We plan to head through Macclefield Forest to Shutlingsloe, passing The Crag Inn and The Hanging Gate on the way to The Ryles Arms, Hollin Lane, Sutton SK11 0NN for a livener around 12.30pm, finishing back at Leather's Smithy at about 2.15pm.

 

Happy wandering !