Kinder

 

Rowarth

 

Rowarth

 July 23rd, 2025.

VILLAGE CAR PARK IN ROWARTH, KING’S HEAD CLOUGH FARM, PENNINE BRIDLEWAY, KNARRS FARM, MATLEY MOOR, A624 CARR MEADOW, MIDDLE MOOR, SHOOTING CABIN, TWENTY TREES, KINDER LODGE IN HAYFIELD, LANE TO LITTLE HAYFIELD, 

 

Distance: 8.97 miles.

Difficulty: Moderate. If you enjoy a stiff climb or two (!)

Weather: Mostly Dry Occasional spot of rain but mainly firm underfoot.

Walkers: Mike Cassini Hughie Hardiman, Stuart Kitchen, Greg Owens Russell Spencer, Cliff Worthington.

Alternative Walkers: Peter Beale, Jock Rooney and Millie- Sportsman Hayfield Middle Moor Kinder Reservoir Bowden Bridge -6 miles.

Leader: Cassini. Diarist: Cassini. Photos: Russ

Starting point:  Rowarth village car park

Starting time: 9.40am. Finishing time: 2.15pm

 

As is traditional this walk was suggested over a pint the previous week when those of us present who had walked the route hoped their memories would work well enough to complete the route. To ensure this plan worked I looked over previous diaries which firmly stated take the turning by the red phone box. Cliff and I at the front promptly ignored this very clear instruction and marched straight on leading to a magical mystery tour largely in parallel to our planned route.

Leaving Rowarth car park we walked straight up Goddard’s Lane ignoring the phone box slightly down to the right. We could have picked up our intended route further down the lane, but carried on following a signed footpath, which took us across a couple of fields and upwards across to Monks Lane to re-join the diarised route, which we promptly ignored. Instead of travelling up to cross the Glossop - Hayfield route at the usual path, we traversed across and around the high point, meeting the main road further down the hill and then marched up to the footpath on the right, which almost immediately took us to the bridge and stream where we sometimes have pie-time. 

Overjoyed at being back on plan, we walked up the hill to the cairn where we stopped for pie-time.

We then followed the usual route past the hunting cabin, through twenty trees on Snake Lane into and across Hayfield, not stopping for tea at the Kinder Lodge.

We nearly found our way onto Giggle Gaggle Lane but thought it more fun to walk in parallel so we could have an even more exhausting climb. We did pass by resting Wednesday Walker Dave Willetts, who was still renovating his house, which looked in fine fettle with a fresh coat of paint, so hopefully Dave can re-join us soon.

Climbing upwards before descending into Rowarth we passed a troop of Duke of Edinburgh youngsters walking from Rowarth through to Birch Vale by way of map and compass – so ready for the walkers in 50 years’ time.

 

We stopped for beer or cider (£5.60 a pint!!) at the Little Mill. 

From the archives.

When the Wanderers undertook this walk in December 2012, there was drama in the car park just before the walk began, when Jock Rooney's dog Tip head butted Alan Hart in the gonads. Happily there was no need for the “magic sponge” and after some deep breaths and much cursing, Harty was declared fit.

In January 2013, a similar walk took the Wanderers past Aspenshaw Hall, once the home of Buckley Bower. According to the diary, he was  “a lover of the chase”, but, alas, something of a coward when it came to jumping fences at speed on a horse. Therefore, he kept a servant to accompany him on these occasions, for the purpose of taking down the fences when required. This servant was called Ben Cooke, who “with one arm, hunted his masters pack of harriers for a long period of years, until, both from age and infirmity, he could no longer follow them.” Doubtless he died a pauper for his troubles. If only we could have a manservant to give us a fireman’s lift up some of the more arduous climbs.

Next week’s walk plan - discussed by phone with Chris –apparently at the Kinder Lodge with Dean (who?), is to meet at Danebridge Wincle at 9:40 SK11 0QE

Dean Row

Bollin Valley

Dean Row – Unicorn Pub

July 16th, 2025

DEAN ROW, MOTTRAM HALL GOLF COURSE, BOLLIN VALLEY TRAIL, WATER TREATMENT PLANT, BULLS HEAD, MOTTRAM HALL, UNICORN AT DEAN ROW

Distance: 8.72 miles Ascent/descent: 405 ft

Difiiculty: Easy

Weather: Fine & dry

Walkers: Steve Brearley, Mike Cassini, Hughie Hardman, Stuart Kitchen, Greg Owens, Russell

Spencer.

Alternative walkers:

Leader: Hughie, Diarist: Russell

Starting point: Car Park of Unicorn Pub, Dean Row. SK9 2LN

Starting time: 9.40am Finishing time: 13.30 pm

This Weeks Route:

https://explore.osmaps.com/route/27856228/wednesday-wanderers--dean-row?

lat=53.3029&lon=-2.18281&zoom=14.0019&style=Standard&type=2d

I have saved this walk for public consumption. Anyone can follow the route using the OS app, providing you have a registered account (Free) in future.

The day started fairly overcast but brightened up for this walk. We had a new walker, Stuart Kitchen, (welcome Stuart). The plan was to have an easy one due to a temperature forecast of 30 degrees last week but this seemed to have fizzled to a mere 20 degrees on the day. The walk is fairly unremarkable, and takes in some of the (overgrown) footpaths around Mottram Hall and Bollin. 

Bollin Valley Trail

On this day our leader decided to walk the second half of the leg first, going past the Water Treatment Plant, which unfortunately brought us into Prestbury too early for the Admiral Rodney, so after a quick pie time (and Samosas offered by new walker Stuart) we made headway back to the Unicorn for refreshments, where we were entertained by a Elton John (well a tribute singer) who was entertaining the local retirement home residents who were out for lunch.

From the archives.

Back in May 2012 the Wednesday Wanderers' walk that week took in the Admiral Rodney pub. Alan Hart, the diarist wrote: 

 George Brydges Rodney

As we enjoyed excellent pints of Robinsons’ Unicorn cask bitter at £2-75, a plaque informed us that the rear of the pub was once the front and Pearl Street had been the old turnpike road. We were further informed that the pub had been called The Board and was built in 1730. In 1745 the bells rang joyfully when the Duke of Cumberland rode through the village, pursuing the retreating Jacobite army of Bonnie Prince Charlie, whom he subsequently defeated at Culloden. The pub was renamed The Admiral Rodney after George Brydges Rodney, who was born in London in 1719, joined the navy in 1732, was promoted to captain in 1742. He later became governor of Newfoundland. He enjoyed an illustrious career in the West Indies, leading to his promotion to admiral before his death in London in 1792.

 “His love of women and play carried him to many excesses,” read the plaque. In short, a man after our own hearts. 

Next week’s walk we will be meeting at Rowarth Car Park, SK22 1EB, 9.40am, and walking over to Hayfield and back via Giggle Gaggle Lane.

Happy Wandering!

Chinley

 

CHINLEY, CHINLEY CHURN, CHINLEY QUARRY, SOUTH HEAD (NEARLY), NEW SMITHY

Distance: 8.53 miles Ascent/descent: 1495 ft

Difiiculty: Moderate. One long climb

Weather: Fine & dry

Walkers: Steve Brearley, Mike Cassini, Hughie Hardman, Greg Owens, Russell Spencer, Keith Welsh.

Alternative walkers: Jock Rooney

Leader: Russell, Diarist: Russell

Starting point: Old Hall Inn, Chinley, SK23 6EJ, parking on the bridge over bypass

Starting time: 9.40am Finishing time: 1.20pm

This Weeks Route:

https://explore.osmaps.com/route/27653535/wednesday-wanderers--chinley-chinley-churn-

south-head?lat=53.34269&lon=-1.93201&zoom=14.7703&style=Standard&type=2d

 

I have saved this walk for public consumption. Anyone can follow the route using the OS app, providing you have a registered account (Free) in future.

 

The day started with cloudy skies but warm, which was the forecast for the day, however the clouds cleared and led to blue skies for most of the route, which is why its always handy to carry suncream.

The walk was a made up one from available paths, some of which were slightly overgrown!, and one had a new build right in the middle of it, so we had to box round, but other than that it was a pleasant walk, with great views from the top of the churn. Time caught us out on the latter part of

the walk so we truncated the route slightly, not making it to the top of South Head but skirting round the bottom, so we could make it back to the pub in time.

The Old Doctor's Surgery, Chinley (now a house).

 

Next week’s walk will be led by someone who hopefully knows where we're going. Due to the heatwave it was decided a ‘Handbag’ walk was in order so we are meeting at the The Unicorn Pub, Handforth, SK9 2LN. Parking is apparently free but you have to register on the ipad in the Pub. Meet at 9.40am.

 

Wincle

 

Wincle Walk

July 02, 2025

WINCLE (DANEBRIDGE), ALLGREAVE, BURNTCLIFF TOP, GRADBACH MILL, LUD’S CHURCH,

HANGING STONE, DANEBRIDGE, WINCLE BEER Co.

Distance: 7.05 miles Ascent/descent: 1742 ft

Difficulty: Moderate

Weather: Fine & dry to start, Sunny and warm later

Walkers: Andrew Blease, Steve Courtney, Hughie Hardman, Greg Owens, Russell Spencer, Keith Welsh, Simon Williams,

Alternative walkers: Jock Rooney with Milly, Kieran Rooney, Peter Beal, Tom Cunliffe with Daisy.

Leader: Hughie Diarist: Russell

Starting point: Danebridge (on the bridge) Nr Wincle. SK11 0QE

Starting time: 9.40am Finishing time: 12.45pm

THE NEW STYLE BLOG

This week’s walk differed from the usual in that there was no ‘Mid Walk’ beer stop, instead we ploughed through with only a single Pie/Lunch stop en-route and we Started/Finished at a drinking

establishment. This would appear to be the preferred method from now on, it also opens up some more options for walks, without the halfway stop.

Also the blog was up for discussion as there seems to be very few volunteer diarists. I felt there was a need for recording the walks, but maybe not with the full descriptions as previously offered.

So to bring the blog into the current century, this week we have the snapshot of the walk as per the OS Map App and also a link below, where I have saved this walk for public consumption.

Anyone can follow the route using the OS app, providing you have a registered account (Free) in future.

This Weeks Route:

https://explore.osmaps.com/route/27578115/wednesday-wanderers-wincle-020725?

lat=53.19422&lon=-2.05488&zoom=12.6610&style=Standard&type=2d

Points of Interest en-Route:

Allgreave Wesleyan Methodist Church (for sale) below.

Former Eagle and Child Public House

Legend has it that many years ago an eagle abducted a small child or baby, whether or not it took place at this house I am not sure, it may have just taken place in this

area. However the event has been duly recorded in the plaque above the door of the house.

Lud’s Church. 

Lud’s Church has a renowned place in history and legend. In the early 1400s the chasm is said to have been used as a secret place of worship for Lollards, reforming Christians who were opposed to many practices of the Roman Catholic church and who were persecuted for their beliefs. It is likely that the ‘Lud’ of the title came from Walter de Lud Auk, who was captured at Lud’s Church during one of their meetings.

The Hanging Stone. 

View From the Top.

Sir Philip Brocklehurst left his mark upon the Hanging Stone in the form of two plaques, one is in memory of the Royal Hussars and the other is in memory of his favourite Mastiff dog Burke who was buried there in 1871. Apparently his name came from one half of the infamous duo Burke and

Hare, as like them he was skilled in taking life, being an excellent hunting dog. There was at one time a full size oil painting of the dog at Swythamley Hall.

(More pictures below)

Next week’s walk: will be led by Russell, starting at The Old Hall Inn, Chinley SK23 6EJ, parking on the bridge over the A6. 9.40am Start. It will be a 9 mile walk round Chinley Churn and over to South Head. Approximate return time of 1.00-1.15 for refreshments and meet up with the 'B Team'

Happy Wandering!