October 23, 2024.
HAYFIELD, SETT VALLEY TRAIL, BIRCH VALE, OLLERSETT MOOR, BIG STONE, CRACKEN EDGE QUARRY, MOATS MEADOW FARM, THE LAMB AT CHINLEY HEAD, THE DRAGON'S BACK, THE SPORTSMAN AT HAYFIELD
Distance: 9 miles.
Difficulty: Moderate to strenuous.
Weather: Dry, warm and sunny later.
Walkers: Peter Beal, Steve Brearley, Hughie Hardiman, Alan Hart, Simon Williams and Cliff Worthington.
Alternative walker: Jock Rooney with Milly.
Non-walking drinkers: Mark Enright and wife, Dean Taylor.
Apologies: Andy Blease (in Anglesey), Mike Cassini (recovering from op), Alastair Cairns (on East Coast),Tom Cunliffe (with Stella), Chris Owen (recovering from hip replacement), Jim Riley, Julian Ross (decorating),Clive Rothel (strained back muscle)
Leader: Beal. Diarist: Hart.
Starting point: Outside Sportsman Inn, Kinder Road, Hayfield.
Starting time: 9.45am. Finishing time: 2.31pm.
What a fabulous day. The weather was better than we could have expected at the end of October. A new route back to Hayfield was spectacular in the sunshine. To top it all birthday boy Mark Enright popped into our first watering hole and bought a round of drinks. It doesn't get much better than that !
Unfortunately we had quality rather than quantity in our numbers because there were many cry-offs, some of them convalescing after surgery. We wish them speedy recoveries.
This has always been one of our more challenging walks but there's no gain without pain and the effort was rewarded with a stunning return journey from Chinley Head to Hayfield. It is a route I have never experienced in 23 years of Wednesday Wandering and the view will last long in the memory.
After a sedate walk through Hayfield and along the Sett Valley Trail the hard work begins in Birch Vale with a relentless climb up to Ollersett Moor. The views there from Big Stone were picturesque but paled to insignificance when we left The Lamb to climb towards South Head and Mount Famine.
Leaving those summits untouched Peter led us along a ridge known as The Dragon's Back because of its undulations. It provided wonderful views across the valleys below before we started our steep descent through a wood to reach Hayfield.
From outside The Sportsman we walked downhill back into Hayfield, crossing the main A624 linking Glossop with Chapel-en-le-Frith. On the far side of the pelican crossing we passed the bus station and entered The Sett Valley Trail (12mins)
This is a 2.5 mile linear park for hikers, cyclists and horse-riders linking Hayfield with New Mills via Birch Vale, Thornsett and Ollersett. It follows the trackbed of the former railway line which opened in 1868 and closed in 1970.
In a field on our left was a herd (or is it a flock ?) of ten alpacas. On our right was Lantern Pike, the hill which overlooks Little Hayfield and gave its name to the pub there, once run by Tom and Stella.
On reaching a sign pointing towards Chinley (28mins) we left the trail and headed up a flight of steps to reach the A6015 between Hayfield and New Mills. We crossed the main road and headed up Morland Road as it aimed itself remorselessly upwards until we reached Ollersett Moor. Sadly our climbing was by no means over as we continued through one wooden gate (43mins) and turned left just before a wooden five-barred gate (69mins).
The well-trodden path took us through a wooden gate (83mins) and immediately right over a wooden stile. This led us to Big Stone (88mins)
Beyond the rocky outcrop we continued with the valley on our left below until we reached a drystone wall and turned left towards a small stone-built hut (93mins). Here we paused for pies and port before continuing our descent. This soon brought us to a lower path (96mins) where we turned sharp right and followed the well-trodden route. Where it divided (100mins) we took the upper path and reached a stone step stile (114mins) which we crossed. The path now took us through a metal kissing gate (116mins) to a lane (119mins)
We turned left and continued beyond a large house on our right to reach a wooden public footpath sign (130mins). We turned right here and a series of paths led us round fields and farm buildings to emerge on the left of a farmhouse (139mins). Now we turned left up a lane away from Moats Meadow Farm back to the A624 we had crossed earlier.
After turning left for a few yards we crossed and reach The Lamb on our right (144mins). Jock had just arrived at the bar. Minutes later Mark arrived with Rachel and Dean to invite us to join him for a drink to celebrate his 57th birthday.
After arms had been twisted and an unexpected round of drinks bought by Mark, we left for the final leg of our journey.
A weather check
With a last check on the weather prospects we left The Lamb and turned left along the A624 for 30 yards before heading left through a open gate and then right through a wooden gate marked with a yellow arrow. The path weaved through gorse bushes and we aimed uphill towards a drystone wall where we turned left keeping the wall on our right (154mins)
It was another tough climb but briefer than our earlier ascent of Ollersett Moor. We went though a wooden gate and swung left before metal gate (165mins). When we reached another gate before a farm we stopped for a brief lunch (171mins). The gate took us round the farm to a lane and through a five barred wooden gate.
We were now enjoying the sights from The Dragon's Back (186mins) as we followed a footpath sign for Kinder Valley. The ridge meandered through gates and over stiles.
As we approached Hayfield we entered a wood and started a steeps descent which brought us out on the banks of the River Kinder (224mins). We turned left with the river on our right and soon crossed a footbridge to the far side (226mins). We now had one last climb up a steep flight of steps before we emerged on Kinder Road opposite The Sportsman (228mins)
Next week's walk will start at 9.50pm from the road next to The Peak Cavern in Peak Cavern Road, Castleton (S33 8WS). Approaching Castleton town centre from Winnats Pass there are free parking places on the right of the road before you reach Peak Cavern. We will be aiming to climb Mam Tor and head towards Hope via Hollins Cross, Back Tor and Lose Hill before reaching The Old Hall, Market Place, Hope S33 6RH at about 12.45pm. We will return around 2.30pm for the option of a final drink at Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese Inn, How Lane, Castleton S33 8WJ.
Happy wandering !
No comments:
Post a Comment