Topley Pike : Take 2

 June 12, 2024.

TOPLEY PIKE, MONSAL TRAIL, WYE VALLEY, CHEE DALE, BLACKWELL HALL FARM, PRIESTCLIFFE, BANK PIT SPRING, THE CHURCH INN AT CHELMORTON, SHEPLEY FARM, DEEP DALE, TOPLEY PIKE QUARRY

Distance: 8 miles.

Difficulty: Moderate with one strenuous climb.

Weather: Dry but cloudy.

Walkers: Andy Blease, Alan Hart, Cliff Worthington.

Apologies: Peter Beal (Skiathos hols), Alastair Cairns (volunteer at Lancaster Castle Police Museum), Mike Cassini (chest cold and cough),Tom Cunliffe (sciatica), George Dearsley (in Turkey), Mark Enright (w*^king), Mark Gibby (unspecified), Chris Owen (changing caravan wheels), Jim Riley (w*^king), Jock and Keiran Rooney (Austria hols), Dean Taylor (cash and carry duties), Simon Williams (Italy hols)

Leader: Hart. Diarist: Hart.

Starting point: Free lay-by near entrance to Topley Pike Quarry on the A6 south east of Buxton.

Starting time: 9.51am. Finishing time: 2.30pm.

Only two of us turned up for this walk a week earlier so it was postponed as rain began falling. An electioneering politician might claim that a 50 percent increase in turnout for this week's hike was encouraging.

The truth is that once again we had an avalanche of apologies for absence and some unexplained no-shows. Perhaps it is time for a discussion about where we would prefer to wander at this time of year.

The trio who did attend enjoyed what has become a rare dry day this summer although it has to be said the temperature was disappointing for Flaming June !

Whatever happened to global warming ??

In the past, we have basked in bright sunshine outside the popular traditional country pub at Chelmorton. On this occasion, we opted to take a pew inside the Church Inn with all the other customers than to sit in the empty beer garden.

Anybody wanting to know the precise route taken should refer to George Dearsley's Blogspot for July 20, 2022. Suffice to say, we enjoyed the spectacular scenery, photos of which appear below.

Setting out on the bank of the Wye

Cliffs towered above us

Cliff and Andy cross the stepping stones

The Church Inn at Chelmorton

Returning from the pub

Supporting England in the EuroFinals ?

Next week's walk will start at 9.30am from High Lane Village Hall free car park off Windlehurst Road, High Lane SK6 8AB (turn left at The Horseshoe). We plan to walk along the Macclesfield Canal, through Elmerhurst Wood into Lyme Park and reach the Boar's Head, Shrigley Road North, Higher Poynton SK12 1TE for a tincture around 12.30 pm. We expect to return to our cars to de-boot at about 2.30pm

Happy wandering !