Sutton Hall

 February 5th 2025

Directions 

Sutton Hall,Symondly Rd, Leek Old Rd, Croker Hill, Gritstone Trail, Ryles Arms, Hollin Lane, Gritstone Trail, Hollin Lane, Fox Bank, Ridge Hill, Judy Lane, Sutton Hall.

Attendees: Steve Brearley, Mike Cassini, Tom Cunliffe, Chris Owen, Julian Ross, Clive Rothell, Russ Spencer, Keith Welsh, Simon Williams.

Absentees: A lot.

Leader: Owen. Diarist: Owen

We set off at 09.45 leaving via the back gate and turned left to Hollin Lane where we turned right and proceeded to the Working Mans club at Symondly Rd turning right. This leads to a dead end where we went through a gate and across 3.5 fields via a number of kissing gates into woods which brought us out at Leek Old Rd opposite Sutton Reservoir (commonly known as ‘Turks Head’) to those living nearby.

Here we turned left along Leek Old Rd along an undulating lane until we reached the road to Croker Hill on our left (Mike’s favourite). So commenced ‘the Hill’ (Roy Kinnears favourite as well). Passing Croker Barn until we reached the summit of Croker Hill at the BT tower.

Here your diarist had a ‘melt down’, I think due to the lack of atmospherics and the effort to get there. As a consequence we ‘may’ have gone awry. We stopped for pie time in a non-descript field whereby both Tom and Julian pointed out my error indicating paths both above and below our current path, the above being the correct route. Julian, Tom, and Mike chose to go upwards. The remainder, six intrepid souls, led by Russ, chose to go forward with mixed fortunes. Upon encountering a fence (ripped gusset) and Clive’s unfortunate scramble (wet arse/bottom), we eventually met up with our comrades on the Gritstone Trail. 

Were there any possible + points? Well, we did see a number of red deer.

We arrived at the Ryles Arms without further incident where both Jock and Kiaren + Milly met us.

We left the Ryles via the back and rejoined the Gritstone trail, briefly, and came out onto Hollin Lane (to Tom’s delight). We progressed on Hollin Lane and turned right where after a tricky climb we walked upwards to Fox Bank and then onwards to Ridge Hill and turned left. We continued and turned left onto Judy Lane walking downhill turning right onto the ubiquitous Hollin Lane. We de-booted at Sutton Hall and three remained for a pint.

Next week's walk will start at 9.40am from Tom Brad's Croft car park, the free one next to Whaley Bridge Canal Basin. We will be aiming to reach the Swan Inn, Kettleshulme, around 12.15pm for a livener with a 2.30pm finish back in Whaley Bridge, possibly at The Cock.