Castleton

 January 29th 2025

 

CASTLETON, BLUE JOHN CAVERN, MAM TOR, HOLLINS CROSS, BACK TOR, LOSE HILL, THE OLD MILL AT HOPE, PINFOLD, PEAKHOLE WATER, OLDMAM TOR ROAD. TEAK CLIFF CAVERN

 

Distance: 11.4 miles.

Difficulty: Moderate to strenuous.

Weather: Dry with gentle breeze, clear and bright.

 

Walkers: Andy Blease, Steve Brearley, Tom Cunliffe with Daisy, Alistair Cains, Mike Cassini, Neil Millington, Chris Owen, Andy White with Bertta, Simon Williams, Cliff Worthington, Clive Rothel.

Alternative walker: Jock Rooney with Milly.

Apologies: Peter Beal (blocked ears – that’s a new one), Mark Enright (w**nking), Keith Welsh (dealing with a big log), Dean Taylor.

Leader: Cliff Diarist: Cliff.

Starting point: Road side of Rushups Edge near Blue John Mine Castleton.

Starting time: 9.52am. Finishing time: 3.20pm.

 

What a fabulous day for walking with early light mist giving way to bright sunshine with just a few fluffy clouds. Today we welcomed Alistair’s neighbour Neil Millington whom we last met on the Manchester walk/pub crawl before Christmas.

 

For this wander we normally park on Old Mam Tor Road but today we started on higher ground near the Blue John Mines. Anyone who thought this would make the walk easier were very much mistaken.

 

We walked a few yards past the mines and turned left through a gate to the base of a steep, very slippery, hill. At the top of that we reached the well known gate to the start of the stone steps that lead up to the trig point on Mam Tor. No chance of a team photo on the summit as Chris disappeared off into the distance along with a few others.

 

From the trig point looking across the great ridge

 

We continued along the ridge, towards Hollins Cross when we were surprised to find Chris walking up behind us. It turns out that like Keith he had a big log to attend to.

 

From Hollins cross we descended along the ridge to the base of Back Tor where we stopped for pie time. There were fabulous views across the valley below spoilt only by the old cement works.

 

Thereafter, we climbed up the near vertical staircase of rocks leading up to the top of Back Tor. On reaching the summit we were gain afforded fantastic 360 views.

 

We now started another descent before another climb led us to a sign marked Losehill Pike - Wards Piece. 

 

G.H.B. Ward was a local access activist who was given the land in appreciation by the Sheffield branch of The Ramblers Association in 1945. He subsequently presented it to the National Trust.

 

This soon brought us to the Trig Point at 1,562 feet and this time we assembled for a team photo curtesy of Clive. This was missing the elusive Chris who had elected to avoid climbing to the top of Lose Hill – because he’d done it before – you could say that about the whole walk!

 

We began our descent by taking the path to the right and walking down a steep and slippery pathway – keeping the wall and the fence to our right. Near the bottom we reached a road where we turned right. This leads directly to The Old Hall, but not before passing the farm shop renowned for their home make pork pies. Mike purchased a large pie and a whole leg of lamb, his bag now felt like he was carrying a bag of bricks.

 

At The Old Hall we met up with Jock and Milly. I don't know how much a pint was as I’m on tea, but I noticed that a pint of lime and soda was only £1.20.

 

Departing later we crossed the road, turned right and then left after the church. We briefly paused at this corner where I pointed out that the fields we were about to cross would be very muddy and I offered the option of walking back via the main road. This was of no interest, so we carried on, over a bridge before turning right passing through a gate into the first of a series of fields with the steam flowing rapidly to our right.

 

Of course, after a few minutes there were shouts of complaint about the amount of mud! I just muttered I told you so. We proceeded through field after field though a series of gates and styles before emerging on the main road in Castleton.

 

As we were leaving the town centre we turned right up Old Mam Tor road and commenced a long and very tough climb,  passing Treak Cliff Cavern until we met with what is know as the Broken Road.

 

This was a section of the A625 road between Chapel-en-le-Frith and Sheffield which finally closed in 1979. Over many decades the road had been closed and repaired after landslides caused by unstable layers of shale. This gave Mam Tor (Mother Hill) the alternative name of Shivering Mountain.

 

              

We turned right and continued our relentless climb until we emerged at the Blue John Mines round the corner from our cars. 

 

Next week's walk will start at 9.40am from the car park at Sutton Hall Macclesfield where Chris will lead us to the Ryles Arms.

Happy wandering !

Disley

 22nd January 2025

DISLEY, BOLLINHURST RESERVOIR, MILLENIUM WOOD, BLACK ROCKS, BYRON HOUSE, GREENSHALL LANE, PEAK FOREST CANAL, GOYT VALLEY, HAGUE BAR, THE FOX AT BROOK BOTTOM, STRINES, PEERES SWINDELLS' COTTAGE, PEAK FOREST CANAL, HAGG BANK, THE DANDY COCK AT DISLEY

Distance: 9 miles.

Difficulty: Moderate.

Weather: fine and dry

Walkers: Tom Cunliffe, Daisy Cunliffe, Chris Owen, Cliff Worthington, Clive Rothell, Julian Ross, Mike Cassini, Russ Spencer and Simon Williams

Apologies: Unkown

Non Walking Drinkers: Jock Rooney and Milley

Leader: Cunliffe D Diarist: Cunliffe T

Starting point: Disley rail station car park.

Starting time: 9.45am. Finishing time: 2.15pm.

 

Having faithfully followed the diary of the identical walk written by Mr Hart on a previous occasion, I find myself plagiarising his carefully crafted effort from 6thApril 2022. His words and pics follow, interspersed with a few of my own  

 

From the station car park we walked past The Ram's Head on our right and turned right uphill, passing Red Lane. Just before we reached The White Horse we turned right up Ring O'Bells Lane and headed up to the building, a former pub, which gave the lane its name. The original pub sign is still there but the building is now a Quakers' meeting house.

We turned right in front of the building, crossed a footbridge over a stream and turned left (5mins). We continued along a path with graveyards from the parish church on either side.

We turned left and headed diagonally left along a well-trodden path which cut off a corner and emerged opposite a metal kissing gate which we went through to head diagonally right across a field with the distinctive Lyme Cage atop a hill in the distance (9mins)

At the corner of the field we left via another metal kissing gate to head up a track with Lyme Cage to our right until we reached the entrance to a farmyard. Here we turned left up steps through a wooden kissing gate (18mins). The path took us along the left of a drystone wall behind which was Bollinhurst Reservoir.

 

         The reservoir with Lyme Cage in the distance

 

As we walked towards the eastern end of the reservoirwe heard the first cries of a curlew. When we reached a wooden stile on our right (28mins) we turned right to enter a wood, following a path through a metal kissing gate and then headed right towards a metal gate (34mins)

Beyond the gate was a track and a sign directly opposite for Drake Carr. We followed this path and when we reached the picturesque cottage on our right after 50 yards we turned left up steps to enter Millenium Wood (36mins). The path brought us through a wooden gate to a road where we turned right (40mins)

After passing Bolder Hall Farm on our left we turned left to cross a stile by a wooden public footpath sign for Black Rocks (43mins). 

 

Having reached the ridge known as Black Rocks we turned left, soon climbing over a ladder stile marked with a white arrow. Pie time was declared.

Continuing along the ridge we went through a metal kissing gate and followed a yellow arrow (68mins) to the left of a copse of trees. We headed left to a new metal kissing gate which brought us to the rear of a cottage (78mins)

A right of way through the cottage garden brought us to the road. We crossed it and followed a footpath sign through the garden of Byron House. At a gate on the far side we were able to turn left and head downhill along a narrow pathway.

At the bottom of the path we turned right (83mins) passing Pear Tree Cottage on our left. We now followed this track, which became rocky, as it wound downhill. It was revealed as Greenshall Lane as it reached the A6 (95mins). We crossed the busy main road and entered Lower Greenshall Lane, walking through the tunnel under the Manchester-Buxton railway line and over Bridge 27 across the Peak Forest Canal.

 

We continued along the canal on our left as we headed in the direction of Marple.

The Upper Peak Forest Canal is 7 miles long starting from Whaley Bridge and Bugsworth Basin through Bridgemont, Furness Vale, New Mills and Disley on its way to Marple. It was opened in 1796 and was predominantly used to transport coal and limestone, using the Peak Forest Tramway and linking with other existing canals.

 

When we reached Bridge 25 we turned right through a gap marked with a green public footpath sign (113mins). The path led us down a flight of steep wooden steps and across a footbridge (119mins). After climbing uphill on the far side of a stream we turned right up a steep flight of wooden steps to cross a wooden stile (124mins)

Turning left at a yellow arrow we crossed a wooden stile (128mins) and walked to the left of a pond to enter a car park. As it emerged on a road at the far side we turned right for 10 yards then went left following a green public footpath sign(131mins)

This brought us to the banks of the Goyt where we walked with the river on our left.

The path led us back to the road where we turned left and crossed a bridge over the Goyt. We were now heading relentlessly uphill, passing a children's playground on our right at Hague Bar and crossing a main road (141mins)

This minor road became progressively steeper as it passed Lower Hague Fold Farm on the right just before it swung left in front of a row of cottages. 

Beyond the cottages the path swung right and came to a minor road (148mins). Turning left past a memorial bench to Eric Burdekin we arrived at The Fox at Brook Bottom, we were joined by Jock and Milly. 

 

On leaving the pub we retraced our footsteps for a few paces before turning right at a sign marked Goyt Valley Way, it was a rocky descent. We continued past Strines Station and Strines Hall on our left and passed a former millpond with its own dovecote on our right.

                      The millpond and dovecote at Strines  

 

 

 

We crossed Strines Road and headed uphill along a rough track. As it levelled we came to an ancient cottage on our right with a stone transcription above its door 

 

informing us that “Peeres Swindells purchest this land and built this house in the yeare 1694.”

 

          Built to last 326 years ago

 

On reaching an overhead bridge we turned left, climbed up the banking to reach the Peak Forest Canal. 

We exited at Bridge 24 and climbed steadily uphill before descending to pass Hagg Bank Allotments on our left.

One last climb under the railway bridge brought us to the A6 at Disley with The Dandy Cock a few yards to our left. Here, Mike C and your diarist enjoyed a pint of Unicorn and Dizzy Blonde whilst the rest of the party chose to forego the pleasure of a pint of Robbies and headed staright back to their vehicles. On emptying our glasses we heading back to our cars. From the pub is was a five minute walk across the A6 and right through the traffic lights to reach our cars at the station.

 

 

 

 

 

Next week’s walk will start at 9.50am from the A623 in Castleton, park on the roadside between the tight right turn and the tight left hand turn to Winnats pass indicated thus:

 

 

The wander will be led by Cliff who expects to reach the Old Hall at Hope around 12:30. We anticipate debootingaround 2:30 or thereabouts. 

 

Happy wandering !

 

New Mills

New Mills

 January 28th, 2024.

 

NEW MILLS LEISURE CENTRE, TORRS RIVERSIDE PARK, PEAK FOREST CANAL, GREENSHALL LANE, CORKS LANE, LONG LANE, GREEN LANE, LYME PARK, DISLEY, GOYT VALLEY WAY, MILLENIUM WALKWAY

Distance: 8.97 miles.

Difficulty: Moderate.

Weather: Mostly Dry, Occasionally Sunny, wet but mainly firm underfoot.

Walkers: Andy Blease, Steve Brearley, Alistair Cairns, Mike Cassini, Tom Cunliffe and Daisy, Mark Enright, Hughie Hardiman, Chris Owens, James Riley with Flossie Jasper and Olive, Julian Ross, , Clive Rothell, Russell Spencer, Dean Taylor and Tommy, Keith Webb, Andy White and Berta, Cliff Worthington.

Non Walking Drinkers: Colin Davison. Alan Hart, Jock and Kieran Rooney with Milly.

Apologies: Simon Williams car problems en route

Leader: Cassini. Diarist: Cassini

Starting point: New Mills Leisure Centre, Hyde Bank Road, New Mills (SK22 4BP)

Starting time: 9.46am. Finishing time: 2.15pm.

                                                                           

 

An excellent turnout with 16 starters including new member Russ Spencer and an abundance of canine companions were able to enjoy a contrast to last week’s slog through the snow and mud, with generally good walking conditions and a sunny day. Additionally 4 non walkers joined in at the Dandy Cock some drinking Dizzy Blonde at £4.40 a pint

 

Starting at New Mills Leisure Centre in warmer conditions than in previous weeks we descended steps from the car park turned right through the road tunnel emerging into the Torr’s Riverside Park where shortly we came across the small hydroelectric community scheme. 

Following through the park towards a small climb to the Peak Forest Canal, we passed under the Hayfield Road supported by a Leat and another viaduct for the railway, the River Goyt was faster and fuller than normal due to the recent heavy snow and rain.

As on the last time we did this walk we had to allow a large group of female joggers to pass, last time they were in Lyme Park but this time they were just past New Mills Marina.

Once on the Peak Forest canal path we passed by New Mills marina and Swizzels before exiting at bridge 27 onto Greenshall Lane, crossing the A6 just past the service station where surprise, surprise road works on the A6 allowed us to cross and continue upwards to Corks lane.

Chris and Dean in the advance party continued on Greenshall Lane, which exits on to Mudhurst Lane and could have linked up with the planned route but for some reason I didn’t fancy the additional ½ mile climb and they were called back and we exited onto Buxton Old Road. We crossed the road after 400 yards taking a bridle path onto Long Lane and Green Lane where Pietime was taken outside a boarding kennels. The residents got very excited and noisy because of our four legged friends.

Shortly after and into Lyme Park through the East Lodge gate where a few yards later we came across Lyme Cage.

Passing by Lyme Cage, we exited the park continuing up Red Lane into Disley village and the Dandy Cock, where Alan, Colin, Jock and Kieran (and Millie) met up with us virtually taking over the pub for the hour we were there; dogs, non-walking drinkers, non-drinking walkers, drinking walkers altogether enjoying the fine day and conversation.

On leaving the pub we continued back along the Peak Forest canal through the relatively new housing estate. Plans to go down Waterside and onto Mousley Bottom were scuppered by Network Rail blocking passage onto the Goyt Way due to overrunning Rail repairs!

We carried on to just past Swizzels where we turned left into the Torrs, again going over the Millennium Bridge and into the Leisure centre.

STOP PRESS

Fellow WW, sadly our planned wander for tomorrow leaving from Carr Brow has been postponed for a few weeks. Our guide, Colin, has had to cancel due to illness. I’m sure we all wish Colin a speedy recovery.

All is not lost; we will now leave from the Ram’s Head Disley at 9:45. We’ll have a  wander over to the Fox at Brook Bottom arriving at say 12:15 returning to Disley for say 2:30. 

Be there or be square 🤷🏽‍♂️

 

Happy Wandering!