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