Topley Pike (cancelled)

 June 5, 2024

TOPLEY PIKE LAY-BY

Distance: 0 miles

Weather: Sunny with blue skies

Attendees: Mike Cassini and Alan Hart

Apologies: Andy Blease (in Anglesey), Alastair Cairns (Devon hols), Tom Cunliffe (touch of sciatica), Mark Gibby (adverse effect to shingles vaccine), (Jock and Keiran Rooney (Austrian hols), Simon Williams (stuck in traffic jam), Cliff Worthington (A6 closed at Disley); Mark Enright, Dean Taylor and Keith Welsh (unspecified)

Starting point: Lay-by on A6 at Topley Pike, south east of Buxton.

Starting time: 9.50am. Finishing time: 10am.

As the trickle of apologies for absence became a deluge your diarist wondered whether any wanderers would be joining him for this walk along the picturesque Wye Valley with a visit to one of our favourite pubs.

Some of the excuses given were on a par with “The dog ate my homework.” May I remind you that no reasons are necessary but some take an interest in the movements and welfare of their comrades and it is useful to know for whom we do not need to wait.

Absolved from any criticism is Simon who was gridlocked for an hour after a major crash on the A34 near Handforth Dean and kept sending bulletins about his (lack of )progress.

Because of the closure of the A6 at Disley your diarist took an alternative route to Buxton which went down narrow country lanes but proved to be far quicker than the dual carriageway. By heading towards Whaley Bridge from the main traffic lights in Disley it took just 41 minutes from Poynton to reach Topley Pike and only 38 minutes to return. For more than 20 years the journey via Doveholes has taken me 50 minutes. You live and learn.

It was also useful to note that a small layby on the A6 which can accommodate four or five cars was completely empty almost opposite the pay-and-display car park at the start of the Monsal Trail

Although Mike and I arrived in blue skies and sunshine by 10am the temperature had dropped, the blue turned to grey and it started raining. We decided to postpone the walk for one week.

So next week's walk will start at 9.50am from the pay-and-display Wye Valley car park at the start of the Monsal Trail opposite Topley Pike Quarry (SK17 9TE). We will be aiming for a livener in the Church Inn, Main Street, Chelmorton (SK17 9SL) around 12.30pm and returning to our cars at about 2.30pm, where we will discuss any desire for further refreshment.

Happy wandering !