Hope

 April 24, 2024

 

HOPE, CHESHIRE CHEESE, LOSE HILL LANE, LOSE HILL, BACK TOR, HOLLINS CROSS, MAM TOR, BLUE JOHN CAVERN, PEAK CAVERN, YE OLDE CHESHIRE CHEESE INN AT CASTLETON, PEAKHOLE WATER, HOPE PINFOLD, THE OLD HALL AT HOPE

 

Distance: 7-8miles.

Difficulty: Moderate to strenuous.

Weather: Dry with blue skies and sunshine but a chilly wind.

 

Walkers: Andy Blease, Alastair Cairns, Mike Cassini, Mark Enright, Alan Hart, Dean Taylor, Simon Williams, Cliff Worthington.

Alternative walker: Jock Rooney with Milly. 

Apologies: Mickey Barrett (in London), Tom Cunliffe (medical appointment), Chris Owen (school duties), Jim Riley (unfit)

Leaders: Various. Diarist: Hart.

Starting point: Edale Road, Hope, near Old Hall Hotel.

Starting time: 10.08am. Finishing time: 2.40pm.

 

We have waited a long time for a nice spring morning but here it was at last with some welcome sunshine and a dry day. A chilly wind was defeated by appropriate clothing and we enjoyed spectacular views along the ridge joining Lose Hill to Mam Tor.

This was a familiar route for many of the group and the leaders seemed to change at will as most of us knew where we were going and how to get there.

Lambs were gambolling in the fields (they aren't allowed in casinos) and our spirits were lifted by such signs of summer approaching soon. 

 

We headed up Edale Road, Hope, away from The Old Hall on the corner of the main road through the village. After passing The Cheshire Cheese on our left (6mins) we turned left up Lose Hill Lane (12mins) before turning left again up Townhead (16mins). Shortly afterwards we turned right at a public footpath sign (18mins) and began a steady ascent. 

 Your diarist taking the easier route

 

 

At one point the paths to the summit diverged. Four of out group took the quicker but steeper route to the summit. The others including your diarist turned left for a longer steadier climb. The quicker quartet waited for us at the peak of Lose Hill. Reunited we all headed down via Back Tor to the Hollins Cross monument.

 

Hollins Cross is the point between Edale and Castleton where in days of yore pallbearers carrying coffins for burial in the churchyard in Castleton would pause for rest and refreshment. At this time there were no churches in Edale.

 

After Pietime we continued along the ridge which runs all the way from Lose Hill to Mam Tor with stunning views on both sides of the valleys below us. There was but one blot on the landscape in the shape of Hope Cement Works.

 

Mam Tor, at 1,696 feet, is also known as The Shivering Mountain because it stands on unstable lower layers of shale which slip in bad weather. The unequal struggle to keep the A625 Chapel-Sheffield road open was abandoned after it crumbled yet again in 1979.

At Mam Tor Trig Point

 

 

We descended the hill, which was once a late Bronze Age and early Iron Age fort, to reach a road. We then turned left before the road and followed a well-trodden path which brought us out on the remains of the abandoned stretch of the A625. We turned left, passing the Blue John Cavern on our right. Eventually we left the broken section of the road and reached a roadworthy part, passing Winnats Pass on our right.

 

This took us towards Castleton passing on our right the Speedwell Cavern (154mins), Goosehill Hall (164mins) and Peak Cavern (165mins) before reaching Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese Inn on our right (171mins). Here we joined Jock and Milly for a selection of cask bitters at £4-45.

 

 

 

 

This 17th Century coaching inn had several alcohol-related messages on its walls. One stated: “Without question the greatest invention in history is beer. I grant you that the wheel was also a fine invention but the wheel does not go nearly as well with Innkeeper's Pie.”

 

Leaving the pub we turned right along the main road towards Hope. At a green public footpath sign we turned right following the sign for Hope (174mins), passing a ruined mill on our left before reaching the right bank of a brook called Peakhole Water (178mins). Ahead of us was the unmistakable eyesore of Hope Cement Works.

We crossed a railway line from the cement works and continued to a road (201mins) where we paused for lunch before turning left. This brought us to Hope Pinfold on our left (203mins).

 

Here a plaque informed us that the circular walled enclosure had been used to keep stray cattle and sheep until they were claimed or sold at auction.

 

We turned left to pass the Woodroffe Arms on our left and dog-legged right and left across the main road to reach Edale Road and our cars (205mins). We de-booted and your diarist called at The Old Hall to join Jock for further refreshment.

 

Next week's walk will start at 9.40am from the free car park overlooking Bollington Recreation Ground , Adlington Road (SK10 5JT). Because of roadworks it is advisable to approach from Adlington before setting your satnav. We will be aiming to reach The Jolly Sailor in Sunderland Street, Macclesfield (SK11 6HN) at about 12.30pm for a livener before finishing at The Vale on Adlington Road (Sk10 5JT) around 2.30pm.

 

Happy wandering !

PS Always anxious to adopt new technology, you can see a video (courtesy of Alastair Cairns) of the scenery by cutting and pasting the link below into your browser or simply clicking on the word “Video”

 

https://www.facebook.com/751429898/videos/pcb.10163641800619899/1805220866636539

Video

 

Furness Vale

 

April 17, 2024

 

THE SOLDIER DICK AT FURNESS VALE, RINGSTONES CARAVAN PARK, WHALEY MOOR, HIGH PEAK SCHOOL, LYME PARK, LANTERN WOOD, LYME CAGE, RED LANE, THE DANDY COCK, PEAK FOREST CANAL, NEW MILLS, FURNESS VALE MARINA

 

Distance: 10 miles.

Difficulty: Easy to moderate.

Weather: Dry with early blue skies and sunshine giving way to cloud.

 

Walkers: Andy Blease, Mike Cassini, Tom Cunliffe with Daisy, Alan Hart, Chris Owen, Keith Welsh, Simon Williams and Cliff Worthington.

Alternative walkers: Jock Rooney with Milly, Dean Taylor with Tommy.

Apologies: Mickey Barrett (foot trouble), Alastair Cairns (volunteering commitments), Mark Enright (in Kenya), Mark Gibby (in the Cotswolds), Jim Riley (in Maidstone)

Leader: Hart. Diarist: Hart.

Starting point: Car park of The Soldier Dick on the A6 at Furness Vale.

Starting time: 9.40am. Finishing time: 2pm.

 

April's incessant showers dried up for the duration of this walk as eight of us set a brisk pace up hills and down dales. There were muddy patches and a cold wind but we enjoyed some splendid scenery.

Our route took us past two historic buildings in Lyme Park and ended with a hike along the towpath of the Peak Forest Canal. The proliferation of narrow boats along this waterway indicates an increase in the popularity of “water gypsies.” The Wednesday Wanderers have, however, lost representation in canal pleasure boating since Peter Beal and John Jones sold their vessels.

There is, though, a new trend among our group. I feel ashamed to mention it but many now prefer tea to beer.

 

  Tea time at The Dandy Cock 

 

There was a time when the wanderers referred to themselves as drinkers with a walking problem. But on this outing only three of the main group chose alcohol.

Happily, we were joined by long-time absentee Dean with Tommy, and by Jock with Milly. They restored the balance.

As Andy remarked of the tea set: “They will be bringing knitting next.” 

 

From our assembly point outside The Soldier Dick, we walked alongside the A6 towards Buxton for 80 yards before turning right into Yeardsley Lane. At its end, we turned right just before the entrance to Ringstones Caravan Park (7mins) and followed a track which later swung left towards a farm. 

Proceeding through a metal gate with the farmhouse on our left and stables on our right (13mins) we followed the track to another metal gate which we went through and turned right, walking through a field with a drystone wall on our right.

Approaching Whaley Moor 

 

We crossed a wooden stile (22mins) and then a second stile brought us to a road (26mins). Turning left we walked along the road for 100 yards before turning right over a stile to follow a green footpath sign for Bowstonegate. The path brought us to a wooden stile. Before crossing it your diarist took Simon and Cliff downhill 50 yards to see a local landmark called The Dipping Stone.

 

It was here during the Black Death in the 1660s that plague-infected villagers brought money to pay for food and placed it in the indented rock. The crevices were filled with vinegar which was believed to disinfect any coins placed in it. Food would be left by The Dipping Stone in return for the money.

 

 The Dipping Stone 

 

We returned uphill 50 yards to the wooden stile which we crossed (35mins) and followed the path across Whaley Moor. After climbing a ladder stile (46mins) we reached a gravel track and turned right (51mins). This took us past High Peak School on our right.

 

This was once The Moorside Hotel, a popular venue for weddings and anniversaries, and where legendary soap actress Pat Phoenix held her farewell party for Coronation Street colleagues when she gave up her role as Elsie Tanner in 1984. 

It was also the hotel where Manchester United manager Tommy Docherty had extra-marital trysts with club physiotherapist's wife Mary Brown. The affair cost him his job. Fourteen years ago it was converted into a school for children with behavioural difficulties. There is speculation it might now be a care home.

 

The track reached a road that we crossed (55mins) and headed uphill towards Dissop Head Farm passing Hill View Farm on our right (58mins). Beyond this substantial house, we reached a green public footpath sign (62mins) and turned right.

The footpath led us uphill over two wooden stiles to a stone step stile (70mins). We crossed this and immediately on our right crossed a ladder stile which took us into Lantern Wood in Lyme Park. 

We followed the path through the wood towards a ladder stile (78mins) which we ignored and turned left going into the woods with a drystone wall on our right. At a second ladder stile on our right, we turned left (83mins) and followed the path until we saw The Lantern on our right (85mins)

 

 

 

This is a belvedere (structure built to take in a view) comprising three storeys, the top of which is a spire that dates from 1580. The folly resembled a lantern in shape and is a Grade 11 listed building.

 

  On the steps of The Lantern: Chris, Tom and Daisy, Cliff, Andy, 

   Keith and Simon

 

From here we retraced our steps, this time crossing the ladder stile, and turned left downhill. In the distance was the distinctive Lyme Cage.

 

  Lyme Cage can be seen from miles in every direction 

 

 

 

It is believed Lyme Cage has existed since 1580. It was dismantled in 1734 and rebuilt in 1737. Originally used as a hunting lodge it was also inhabited by park staff. The last residents, the Felthams, moved out in the late 1920s. During World War 2 it was used as a lookout post by Disley Home Guard.

 

   The view towards Manchester from Lyme Cage

 

We now began heading downhill towards the park's green entrance hut (122mins) with Bollinhurst Reservoir on our right. At the hut we turned right to exit the park (124mins) and start climbing Red Lane. The lane then descended and brought us out on the right side of The Ram's Head Hotel at Disley traffic lights (142mins). Here we turned right, crossed the A6 and arrived at The Dandy Cock on our left for pints of Unicorn or Dizzy Blonde bitter (144mins). We were soon joined by Jock with Milly and Dean with Tommy. The two dogs seemed pleased to see each other although later Milly started to tease a bemused Tommy by pretending to fight him.

Resuming we turned right out of the pub and then sharp right downhill along a road which took us under a railway line before we turned left into Sherbrooke Road (149mins). 

At the end, we reached The Peak Forest Canal where we turned right along a path between the waterway and the gardens of houses (150mins)

On reaching a bridge we climbed up a flight of steps, crossed the bridge and turned left to go under it with the canal on our right. I stopped at a bench for lunch (153mins) while the seven other lunchless members of our group continued.

The route was a direct one, keeping the canal on our right as we passed the aromatic Swizzels' sweet factory in New Mills on our left and reached Furness Vale Marina. Here we exited at Bridge 31 (198mins) before turning right to cross the bridge This took us over the level crossing to the A6 with The Soldier Dick diagonally on our right (203mins). 

The start of Furness Vale Marina 

 

Next week's walk will start at 10am from The Old Hall, Market Place, Hope (S33 6RH). If approaching the village east from the main road out of Castleton turn left just before The Old Hall and park at the side of the road wherever you can. Then walk back to the pub to assemble.

We intend to climb Lose Hill and head along the ridge through Back Tor and Hollins Cross before reaching Mam Tor. We will then descend to arrive for beer (or tea !) at Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese Inn, How Lane, Castleton (S33 8WJ) at about 12.45pm. We will return along the bank of Peakhole Water to reach The Old Hall around 2.30pm.

PS

John Jones sent Alan Hart this photo of our B team chums. Seated (left to right) are Ken Sparrow, Tony Job and Geoff Spurrell. Standing are Barry Williams and Terry Jowett. The photo was taken on a footpath which crosses Towers Road, Poynton.

Sadly Terry passed away in March last year. The others are very much alive and we meet regularly at funerals.

Thanks to JJ for this trip down memory lane.

 

Happy wandering 

Alderley Edge

 April 10, 2024.

ALDERLEY EDGE, WEST MINE AND THE DRUM AND MONKEY AT ALDERLEY EDGE

Distance: Two miles.

Difficulty: Not for the faint-hearted.

Weather: Wet and windy outside; dry and mild underground.

Walkers: Mickey Barrett, Mike Cassini, Colin Davison, Alan Hart, Chris Owen, Jim Riley and Keiran Rooney.

Alternative walker: Jock Rooney with Milly.

Apologies: Andy Blease (in Anglesey), Peter Beal (entertaining), Tom Cunliffe (sunbathing in Keswick), Julian Ross (Denmark), Keith Welsh (Cornwall), Simon Williams (daughter's 21^st birthday), Cliff Worthington (decorating)

Leader: Kieran Rooney. Diarist: Hart.

Starting point: Opposite car park for Wizard pub restaurant, Macclesfield Road, Alderley Edge SK10 4UB.

Starting time: 10.05am. Finishing time: 1.05pm

This was a brave new concept for the modern Wednesday Wanderers. At the suggestion of cave rescue expert Keiran Rooney, we agreed to dispense with the usual hills and valleys, streams and woods, meadows and moors. Instead, he offered to lead us underground to explore the mine workings beneath the high-priced luxury homes of Alderley Edge.

Your diarist described it last week as a forthcoming adventure. But it was far more than that. It was a physical challenge, which tested the nerves and took most of us out of our comfort zones. It also took us to a fascinating world beyond our imaginations.

And gentlemen abed in Anglesey, Cornwall, Denmark, Derwentwater and Keswick shall think themselves accursed they were not here and hold their manhoods cheap...

Courtesy of Keiran and the Derbyshire Caving Club we were allowed to explore the labyrinthine tunnels and caverns which had been created by miners 150 years ago.

In doing so we had to stoop, crawl, climb and scramble through this alien territory.

Your diarist is especially grateful that the visit gave him an opportunity to take up abseiling in advance of his 79^th birthday later this year.

Before setting off we were issued with hard hats and head torches as we assembled opposite the car park of the Wizard pub-restaurant at a building known as The Surgery where the equipment was stored.

Its name goes back to the days when horse racing took place in the nearby fields a century ago. A vet kept his medical kit in the tiny building to treat any equine injuries.

The building is now owned by The National Trust and leased by Derbyshire Caving Club.

From the Surgery Keiran led us along paths through the woods until we reached the enclosed shaft leading to West Mine (20mins)

The Magnificent Seven ready to begin their adventure

Led by Keiran we descended into the mine workings by ladder and followed him as we marvelled at the sights for some two miles and more than two hours.

We reached depths of around 150 feet following in the footsteps of miners who had preceded us from 1857 to 1877.

With picks and shovels they excavated copper, lead, silver and cobalt, using winding gear and rail tracks to raise the minerals to the surface.

The mines closed when it was no longer viable because of exports from abroad. They were re-opened for arranged tours in the early 1900s.

All the tunnels and caverns were man-made after geological experts were able to predict where in the sandstone rock the desirable minerals could be found. Small charges of explosive were used to expose the ores and the caverns were created by the miners when they extracted the valuable materials and the waste.

Luminous blue spoil

Keiran (right) keeping a watchful eye on his team

Abseiling down to a lower level

After having a troglodyte-style lunch underground (120mins) we climbed back to the surface (165mins) and walked back to our cars (185mins)

We then drove to The Drum and Monkey, off Heyes Lane, Alderley Edge SK9 7LD for pints of Unicorn and Dizzy Blonde cask bitter at £4-40.

We were heartened to hear from Jock, who had been walking above ground with Milly, that the rain had persisted throughout our dry underground adventure.

Next week's walk will start at 9.40pm from outside The Soldier Dick pub on Buxton Road, Furness Vale, High Peak SK23 7PH. If you are travelling towards Buxton turn right immediately after the pub and park in Threaphurst Lane. We shall be heading over Whaley Moor through Lyme Park to The Dandy Cock, Market Street, Disley SK12 2AA for a livener around 12.20pm. We will return along The Peak Forest Canal and expect to reach our cars at 2.15pm.

Happy wandering !

Bollington

 April 3, 2024

BOLLINGTON, WHITE NANCY, KERRIDGE RIDGE, RAINOW, BULL HILL LANE, WALKER BARN, THE ROBIN HOOD AT RAINOW, SUGAR LANE, FLAG COTTAGE, THE VIRGINS' PATH, INGERSLEY VALE WATERFALL, THE VALE AT BOLLINGTON

Distance: 8 miles.

Difficulty: Strenuous start becoming easier.

Weather: Dry start, wet middle, dry end.

Walkers: Peter Beal, Mike Cassini, Tom Cunliffe with Daisy, Mark Gibby, Hughie Hardiman, Alan Hart, Chris Owen, Jim Riley with Flossie, Julian Ross.

Alternative walkers: Jock and Keiran Rooney with Milly.

Apologies: Andy Blease (Anglesey hols), Alastair Cairns (things to do), Dean Taylor, Keith Welsh (Cornwall hols), Simon Williams (daughter Mia home from uni for her 21^st birthday), Cliff Worthington (decorating)

Leaders: Hart and Cunliffe. Diarist: Hart.

Starting point: Free car park on Adlington Road overlooking Bollington Recreation Ground.

Starting time: 9.40am. Finishing time: 1.40pm.

This was a chaotic outing from start to finish. It began with a 7.15am phone call from Tom in which he suggested postponing the walk because of the “horrendous” weather. My view was that the forecast was not too bad and I thought we should go ahead as planned. Five minutes later Tom sent a WhatsApp message to the group stating that the prediction was for “light light rain so shouldn't be too much of an issue.”

Then came the problem with roadworks. Those who hadn't taken the precaution of driving from the Adlington direction found they were unable to reach the car park overlooking Bollington Recreation Ground.

In spite of this hurdle, we set off on time only to be delayed immediately by one of our group needing to pay an urgent visit to the public toilets. There was a certain symmetry to the start when another wanderer had a similar problem at the end of the walk. His desperate visit to a pub caused some of his chums to think the final venue had been changed from The Vale to The Spinners causing further confusion.

In between these mishaps, we found that both the orgasmic pie shop where we had planned to buy provisions, and the pub which had been especially selected as our first port of call, were both closed.

Happily, despite these slings and arrows of outrageous fortune, we managed to navigate the course successfully. We also enjoyed a double birthday celebration as Chris and Hughie bought rounds of drinks. The former is 69 and the latter a mere 60. We wish them many happy returns.

From the car park, we headed to the main road through Bollington and turned left, intending to buy our favourite pies from Smiths' bakery. To our horror, a sign on the door informed us they were closed from March 26 to April 9 for Easter holidays. What about the hot cross bun trade ?

We then endured a long, tough climb to White Nancy, the landmark on Kerridge Hill, which is visible for miles in many directions.

White Nancy was built around 1815 and it is thought to have been in celebration of Wellington's victory over Napoleon at the Battle of Waterloo. It was built by John Gaskell who lived below the hill in Ingersley House, now Ingersley Hall. The 18 feet high onion-shaped building, which originally had a window with seats and a table inside, has an elevation of 920 feet. The origin of its name is uncertain, although John Gaskell had a sister called Nancy. It is also believed that the grey horse which pulled the stonework uphill was called Nancy.

Wanderers approaching White Nancy from Bollington below

After the aforementioned delays we reached the landmark (60mins), caught our breath and girded our loins for a walk along the ridge with the Hurdsfield Industrial Estate on our right and the pretty village of Rainow below on our left.

By taking the right fork after passing through a kissing gate we were on the higher path which brought us to the Trig Point (80mins) and paused again to gather and admire the view.

Looking down on Rainow from the Trig Point

We then followed the path through a series of gates which took us down to the point where Lidgetts Lane meets the A5002 through Rainow (92mins). Here we stopped on steps for Pietime. At this point, pieless Tom decided to press on and took Chris with him.

At the end of Pietime the remaining six turned right along the road for some 80 yards. Opposite Brae Cottage (93mins) on our right we turned left up stone steps at an easily-missed public footpath sign. The path took us to the right of a field until we reached Bull Hill Lane and turned right uphill (97mins)

At the T-junction at the top of the hill we turned left for 50 yards where Tom waited alone opposite a wooden public footpath sign (105mins). He announced that Chris had followed the sign and had turned left after crossing a stile to make his way to Walkers Barn. He suggested we should avoid the deep mud (how did he know ?) and take the main road instead.

The A537 took us past the sign for Walker Barn on our right and then a converted house which had once been The Setter Dog pub. After passing the house we turned left at a green public footpath sign (120mins)

We followed a yellow arrow on our left to leave the farm track and reached a wooden stile which we crossed and turned left (123mins). The path took Chris, Hughie and I through a farmyard (124mins) before we turned left over a wooden stile (128mins).

By keeping to the right of a field we crossed a ladder stile on our right (131mins) and turned left following a well-trodden path downhill which led to a road (136mins)

After crossing the road via two stiles we headed down to a farmhouse, passing it on our right before crossing a wooden stile on our right (138mins) and a wooden footbridge (141mins). We then ascended through a field to a stone step stile where we turned left along a lane (145mins)

This brought us back to the A5002 where we turned right into Rainow (150mins). By carrying straight on at Stocks Lane we passed the medieval wooden stocks on our right (152mins) and reached the car park of The Robin Hood (154mins)
Chris, who had been leading the way, returned with manly tears in his eyes as he informed us the pub was shut. Tom had previously assured us that The Robin Hood website showed the pub's opening hours were from noon till 11pm on Wednesdays.

When your diarist spotted the apparent landlord entering the premises I tackled him about the pub being shut when it was supposed to be open at noon. He said that would happen when they started summer hours in May. In the interests of research I checked the pub website 24 hours later. It read: “We're making a slight change to our winter opening hours. This will be until Easter weekend in March. Wednesdays open 4-11pm. Food served 5.30-8.30pm.”

The date of our visit was April 3 so Tom's assurance should have been correct.

As we returned down Stocks Lane we met Tom's quintet at the junction with Chapel Lane and relayed the dispiriting news. Then we headed down the lane before turning right into Sugar Lane (160mins). At Flag Cottage (162mins) we followed a public footpath sign round the back of a row of cottages to emerge on The Virgins' Path.

Also known as The Bridal Path this was so-called after a local farmer laid a series of flags across his fields so that the maidens of Rainow who, without a church of their own had to walk two miles to Bollington, did not sully their white dresses. Prior to the path being laid the mud on gowns led to smutty sniggering in the Bollington Church about the brides' virtue.

Sadly some of those flags have disappeared and we had to wade through thick mud to reach Ingersley Vale waterfall (185mins) as the drizzle returned for our homeward journey.

The waterfall opposite Waukmill Cottage, Ingersley Vale

After passing the waterfall and a former mill pond on our left we turned right and passed a derelict church on our left to reach a mini roundabout with The Turners Arms on our right. Here we turned left (195mins) and walked along the main road through Bollington.

When Bollington Recreation Ground appeared on our right we went back through it to return to our cars (204mins). But there was still one banana skin to negotiate when word spread that Chris's birthday round would be bought in The Spinners Arms and not The Vale. Happily, this proved not to be the case so, in the words of the Bard of Avon, all's well that ends well.

Next week's walk will start at 10am from the car park of The Wizard pub restaurant, Macclesfield Rd, Alderley Edge SK10 4UB. Park in the lay-bys before you reach The Wizard and assemble on foot in its car park. Here Keiran Rooney will provide us with torches and helmets for an underground adventure exploring the caves and mine-workings beneath the prosperous town. It is expected to last 3 hours before we surface to drive to The Drum and Monkey, off Heyes Lane, Alderley Edge SK9 7LD for refreshment.

Happy wandering !