Furness Vale

FURNESS VALE, LYME PARK AND ENVIRONS

Distance: 8.6 miles

Difficulty: Easy

Weather: Dry, overcast, some weak sunshine at times

Walkers: George Whaites, George Dearsley,  Julian Ross, Colin Davison, Tom Cunliffe,  Lawrie Fairman. Chris Corps and Fergus

Apologies: Pete Beal (walking part of Pembrokeshire Coastal Path), Alan Hart (returning from Malta), Jock Rooney (Isle of Man)

Leader: Davison Diarist: Dearsley

Starting Point: The Soldier Dick, Furness Vale

Starting Time: 9.32am. Finishing Time: 2.05pm

O, to be in England

Now that April 's there,

And whoever wakes in England

Sees, some morning, unaware,

That the lowest boughs and the brushwood sheaf

Round the elm-tree bole are in tiny leaf,

While the chaffinch sings on the orchard bough

In England—now!

Alright, it’s not quite April. But Robert Browning’s words seem appropriate for the Wanderers’ bracing walk around some of the most breathtaking scenery in Cheshire.

The last time your diarist was here (January 2013) there was deep snow on the ground.

This time, though the skies were mostly overcast, the snowdrops, emerging daffodils and the presence of two (possibly mating) skylarks gave notice of the oncoming of Spring.

We left the Soldier Dick car park slightly early at 9.32am, walked to the main road and turned left and left again just past the bus shelter.

After negotiating a stile, our leader Colin “Hills r Us” Davison was about to take us on the first of many climbs.

Having ascended some way we reached what looked like the summit and crossed a field, going over a stile and through a second stile, turning right as we followed the yellow arrow.

Lawrie pointed out the cavorting skylarks and we went through a five bar gate and turned left, passing Redmoor Farm.

This brought us to the main road (which goes to Disley) and we turned right, then left over a stile and onto a path which took us up our second hill.

 Scenic charm

We entered a field and went straight on. In the distance was The Cage.

The sun came out, albeit weakly.

We went over a stile and crossed a road with The Cage now virtually straight ahead of us.

We went through a gate and turned right, crossing a wooden bridge next to a red-brick bridge which was closed due to impending collapse.

A sign which read “unstable” was apparently not referring to us.

A lone female walker was ahead of us and our leader almost caused an incident worthy of investigation by Operation Yewtree as he tripped and almost rugby tackled the lass, just managing to regain his balance before a collision.

We went left and entered Lyme Park.

Soon we were climbing the ladder stile that takes you into Lantern Woods at 10.43am.

Tom brings up the rear

We negotiated another ladder stile and reached our second summit where Pie Time was declared at 10.54am at a monument erected to Allan Monkhouse.

M’learned friend Mr Hart has written about this chap before and I plagiarise his notes below.

Monkhouse, (no relation to the comic) was a playwright, novelist and literary editor of the Manchester Guardian, who was born in Disley and loved these hills.

The memorial to Allan and his wife Dorothy was erected by their children, who clearly followed their father’s liberal leanings. Patrick Monkhouse (1904-81) was a Guardian journalist and a member of the Peak Park Planning Board; Rachel Natzir (1905-85) was a district county councillor and chairman of the governors of Styal Prison; John Monkhouse (1908-90) was a headmaster; and Elizabeth Monkhouse (1912-2011) was a lecturer and president of the Workers’ Education Association.

                                                      Fergus mugs up on Allan Monkhouse

Despite the usual protestations from Mr Cunliffe, the Wanderers enjoyed a full 10 minutes of manduction before setting off again at 11.04am.

Just before we did so, however, two rather comely female walkers passed by, leading Mr Cunliffe to utter his killer chat up line: “My, your boots are clean.”

If only he had been wearing his £100 walking pants the effect might have been devastating, but sadly he’d left them at home.

As we set off Mr Davison claimed the ground ahead was “the best mile of walking in the whole of Cheshire.”

“Are we going that way?” your diarist inquired. “No,” was the curt reply.

We went over a stile on the left and then over a second stile, following a sign that read Gritstone Trail.

Before we turned right to follow this sign, however,  we passed a while looking at the Bowstones on our right.

                                                                      Bowstones

I’m obliged to M’learned friend Mr Laverick for his documented account of this monument.

The Bowstones are a pair of Anglian cross shafts situated beside the old ridgeway between Disley and Macclesfield overlooking Lyme Park, the Cheshire Plain, the city of Manchester and the hills of the Peak District.

The western shaft is 1.22 metres high and tapers from circumference of 1.25m at the base to 0.86m at the top. The eastern shaft is 0.98m high and has a circumference of 1.27m. Both are decorated with interlaced carvings in a style that indicates a date of the 10th century or earlier. There is some later lettering engraved.

Their round cross section and their erection as a pair is unusual for crosses of this era. They may have been moved their current location in the 16th century by Sir Piers Legh of Lyme Hall. Two stone cross heads on display at the hall may have originally surmounted the shafts.

Local legend states that the name is derived from their use by Robin Hood and his men to re-string their bows. Mr Hood was clearly well off the beaten track from Nottingham. Either that or someone has radically pruned Sherwood Forest over the years.

It also proves that people were getting lost long before they were helped on the wrong road by sat nav.

On researching further, I learned that these freestanding crosses, frequently heavily decorated, were erected in a variety of locations in the 8th, 9th and 10th centuries AD.

They are found throughout western and northern England, although they are particularly concentrated in the north.

They were erected in a variety of locations and appear to have served several functions. Some are associated with established churches and monasteries and may mark burial places, focal points used in religious services, or the boundaries of ecclesiastical land-holdings. Others may have marked route-ways or other gathering points for local communities.

All examples tend to be heavily decorated, the patterns and ornament used drawing on wider artistic traditions of the time. Patterns of interlace are common, some depicted as 'vine- scrolls', tendrils of growth of the grape vine, sometimes complete with leaves.

On the most developed examples this 'vine-scroll' is shown to be inhabited by a variety of birds and animals. Panels depicting figures and animals are also commonly found; on occasion these depict Biblical scenes or personages. This carved ornamentation was often painted in a variety of colours, although traces of these colourings now survive only rarely.

The earliest examples were created and erected by native communities; later examples were heavily influenced by Viking art styles and mythology and their creation can be related to the Viking infiltration and settlement of the north of England. Several distinct regional groupings and types have been identified, some being the product of single 'schools' of craftsmen.

Around 200 examples of such crosses have been identified. This is likely to represent only a small portion of those originally erected. Some were defaced or destroyed during bouts of iconoclasm in the late medieval period.

Others fell out of use and were taken down and re-used in new building works. They provide an important insight into art-traditions and changing art-styles. The figured panels provide information on religious beliefs. The Viking period stones contribute to studies of the impact of the Scandinavian newcomers into the north of England. All well preserved examples are identified as nationally important.

                                                        Top of the world, ma!

We turned left at a sign “to Handleyfoot”.

We came to a Y-junction and our leader insisted we go right when the left fork was probably the legal one.

We negotiated a steepish gulley where Mr Fairman found a sheep’s head and duly wore it like a Viking.

Norsing around.

We passed a farm with an extra large duckpond and turned right up yet another hill.

We took a path on the left following a sign “to Kettleshulme”.

This sign was spookily sponsored by the family of “A Hart, killed on active service”.

We went left and first right following the familiar yellow arrow and up – yes you’ve guessed – another hill.

But at 11.42am we were required to descend a steep hill, which, had it been covered in show, would probably have been a black run, certainly a red.

We crossed a wooden bridge and went over a stile onto a metalled road.

We turned left and passed Brookbottom Cottages, turning right  at a stone house and into the garden centre.

The Swan pub hove into view and we were inside by 11.58am.

Excellent Pedigree was £3.30 a pint as was Silver King.

Colin’s NASA-style watch-come-computer told us that we had ascended 1246 feet and descended 987 feet.

                                                               Horny Devil (1)

                                                                 Horny Devil (2)

We set off at 12.49am leaving the pub and turning right and then left into Kishfield Lane.

We passed Colehurst farm on the right.

Luncheon was taken from 1.03pm until 1.11pm on a bridge over a small stream.

We continued up a hill and passed some very horny cattle (pictured above).

We took a path on the left and managed to find another hill.

We crossed a stile on our right and crossed a field. We negotiated another stile and turned right.

Then we came to a road and turned left, passing The Posting House on the left.

We swung right following a sign that said “bridleway”.

At this point your diarist, Mr Corps and Fergus became detached from the main body of Wanderers and - seeking help from a local - made our way down to the A6 just before the turning for Bugsworth.

The remaining Wanderers must have stayed higher but happily we were all reunited yards from the Soldier Dick, which we reached at 2.05pm.

Wainwight was £2.80 a pint.

Mr Hart (happily not killed on active service) was already in situ and we were soon joined by the B-Walkers.

Colin’s wrist computer claimed we’d ascended 1742 feet and descended 1722 feet.

Next week’s walk will start at 9.45am from outside the primary school in Edale Road, Hope, with a scheduled half way stop in Bamford at a pub to be nominated by Mr Corps.

Sadly your diarist will be lecturing in Manchester and Mr Fairman will be lecturing in the Arctic circle.

I wonder who will be the colder?

Happy Wandering.

Poynton

POYNTON/SPOND HILL/LYME PARK/POYNTON

Distance: 10.36 miles; Avg. Walking Speed 3.25mph; Max Elevation 1082.04ft; Elevation Gain 1073.73ft.

Difficulty: Easy

Weather: Hot and sunny.

A  Walkers, Julian Ross, John Laverick, Nigel Crank, Chris Corps, Colin Davison, Alan Hart, George Whaites, Jock Rooney and Tips, Syd Marland

Apologies: Tom Cunliffe poorly foot, Laurie Fairman campervan holiday, George Dearsley long Turkish holiday, Peter Beal narrow boating holiday, Malcom Halley holiday, Micky Barrett  steam train trip down memory lane and from the B Team Geoff Spurrell yet another holiday, Mike Walton poorly knee.

B Walkers: Tony Job, Peter Morrell, Ken Sparrow.

Non Walking Drinkers: Mike Walton, Chris Wood

Leader: Laverick, Diarist: Laverick 

Starting Point: Alan Hart's house.

Starting Time: 09.40hours. Finishing Time: 14:15hours.

The day started well with bacon butties kindly provided by Mr Hart. Our new walker Syd Marland was introduced and welcomed into the group for his maiden walk. Colin was of course welcomed back after bobbing about on the North Sea and more recently annoying the Welsh.

Leaving the house the group turned right picking up the public footpath that runs through a thin belt of trees and leads onto Towers Road. Turn right onto Towers Road walking along until it crosses the Princess Incline turning left to follow the Incline until it crosses the track just before entering Prince's Wood, turn right on to the track. Follow the track through the golf course until it joins the Middlewood Road.

Cross the Middlewood Road to walk up a short slope to the right of the old bridge support over a style towards the stables past the stables towards the next style. Over the style towards a metal gate. Through the gate following the footpath to a style on the left. Over this style following the path to yet more styles which comes out eventually to Coppice Road.

Cross Coppice Road into the left hand rough road, where a non alcoholic drink was taken due to the heat. It was at this point that one of our walkers mentioned Mr Darcy again. The Coppice, and follow until it splits, take right hand track proceeding along the track until the footpath sign to Wards End Bridge. Turn left following the footpath to the bridge, over the bridge turn right following the path to Narrow Lane. Turn right proceed a short distance until the footpath sign, to Miners, on the left is encountered, turn left and follow this path which will arrive at Wood Lane West.

Turn right past the Miners (it was shut) turning left on to Wood Lane East, over the canal and following the track up to Lockgate Farm. 

Through the stile into the farmyard, out the over another stile out of the farmyard turning right behind the farm house to the next strange combination of two stiles you can step across between the stiles. 

(The writer would be interested to know why this strange arrangement appeared). The walkers continued at an angle across the field to the far corner and a gate to a path leading on to Shrigley Road.

Pie time was called at 11:08am and finished at 11:15am. At this point there were shouts of dissent pointing out that Tom was not on the walk plus they also decided to rename the Walk Leader John Thomas or Dick for short. 

A second time leader trying to gain his spurs should not be subjected to such dissent but I thought at least Tom would be pround of me.

Proceeding to Shrigley Road where the walkers turned left and continued down the road as far as the Coffee Pot Café. You cannot miss it, it is painted green and turning left to join the North Cheshire Trail that will lead you up to some very smart residences called Birchencliff Farm,  past the desirable residences to join a track between two small lakes proceeding up the track towards Moorside Lane.

At the junction of the North Cheshire Way and Moorside Lane the Leader made an executive decision and turned left along Moorside Lane which is the North Cheshire Way following the path to the left mark “way to Higher Poynton”, just past Keepers Cottage leaving Moorside Lane and proceeding downhill. The Cage in Lyme Park can be seen from this path.

Following the path down to the Methodist Chapel turning sharp right towards Lyme Park West Gate, following up the road past West Gate Farm walking through the gate, ignoring the road to the left, follow the path up and along the side of Lyme Park below Hase Bank Wood until it meets the track to Lyme House then turned left towards Windgather. Follow the track down over the canal, over the Middlewood Way and low and behold the welcome sight of the Boars Head hove into view at 12.34hrs.

Boar's Head

The B Team were already in residence. The Black Sheep ale was in good form, as was the Thwates Original at £2.86 each

After a 45minute refresher break the Wanderers were rounded up and lead back to the canal, turned left and proceeded to Princes Incline on the left. Down the incline to London Road turning right to reach the Bull's Head at 14:15 hours.

The Summer Girl ale hit the right spot at £3 per pint and the Wanderers thank Sally for the excellent sandwiches.

A Team next weeks walk meeting at 9.30am in the car park of  The Royal Oak at New Mills. The first refreshment will be taken around 12.15pm at a pub called The Oddfellows somewhere near Mellor, returning to The Royal Oak around 2.20pm. I believe Colin was going to seek permission for us to leave about three or four cars.

B Team Walk Report Tony Job

Route: 393 bus from Poynton Church to just above Shrigley Hall.

Walk: Cross onto Long Lane towards Bollington, take one of many paths down to Styperson Pool, enjoying shady woods. Turn right at road for Poynton, then left at footpath sign, continue to canal bridge, then along canal to Higher Poynton, reaching Boar's Head at 12.20 (before the A-team).

After medicinal Black Sheep, down Anson Road, then right through Davenport G.C., as far as Prince's Incline, and down to the Bull for bitter at £3 a pint, inclusive of butties.

B Team next week: Possible TP bus journey from Rising Sun (10am) to Ashford-in-the-Water, gentle walk to Bakewell, and return bus about 2pm. The trouble is buses only 3 hourly!

High Lane

HIGH LANE, LYME PARK, LYME CAGE, LYME HALL, DEER PARK, MONKHOUSE MEMORIAL, BOWSTONES, HANDLEY FOOT, MOORSIDE HOTEL, RINGSTONES CARAVAN PARK, THE SOLDIER DICK AT FURNESS VALE, THE PEAK FOREST CANAL, HIGGINS CLOUGH, DISLEY, AND THE HORSESHOE AT HIGH LANE

Distance: 12 miles.

Difficulty: Moderate.

 Weather: Dry and warm, but cloudy with a gentle breeze.

Walkers: Mickey Barrett, Nigel Crank, Alan Hart, John Laverick, Jock Rooney plus Tips, Julian Ross and George Whaites.

B walkers: Tony Job, Peter Morrall and Ken Sparrow.

Apologies: Peter Beal (narrowboating), George Dearsley (Turkey hols), Colin Davison (Welsh hols), Geoff Spurrell (French hols) and Mike Walton (wounded knee).

Leader: Hart. Diarist: Hart.

Starting point: Outside Colin's home at 11, Carr Brow, High Lane.

Starting time: 9.17am. Finishing time: 2.43pm.

Senior moments are a natural hazard and occasional source of joy for the Wednesday Wanderers. There have been many occasions when Lawrie has arrived the best part of an hour early, only to discover at the last moment that his boots were standing on the drive of his home 20 miles away. This usually happened on an extremely muddy day. The same affliction was suffered by George W.

One time your diarist emptied his entire rucksack to search for the walking socks he clearly remembered packing, only to find he was already wearing them. Jock once set off but had to return with an empty lead after 200 yards when he remembered that Tips was still in the car.

On this occasion it was John who provided the entertainment. While marching metaphorically to the tune of The Happy Wanderer, long before the Valderee, Valderah, let alone the Valderahahahahahahahah section, he reached the line "And as I go, I love to sling my knapsack on my back." He was then heard to mutter: "Oh bother. What a silly boy I am."  - or words to that effect, before returning to George's car to pick up his rucksack

Holidays had once again taken their toll on our numbers, but Mickey made a welcome return after his sailing trip off the coast of Turkey to buy us a belated drink in celebration of his 63^rd birthday last month. For he's a jolly good fellow, and so say all of us.

                                     Free parking provided by Colin.

From outside Colin's house we walked back to the A6, crossed the road and turned left until we reached Park Road and turned right downhill (8mins). After awaiting John's return to complete The Magnificent Seven, we went left into Woodlands Road (10mins) and along a path leading to a T-junction. We turned right downhill (12mins) and then left over a wooden stile towards Bollinhurst (13mins) along the Ladybridge Trail. After crossing a stream on our left via a footbridge, we went right over a ladder stile and into Lyme Park (24mins).

We turned right at the ticket cabin and soon left the road by a path on the left which led us to Lyme Cage (28mins), pausing to admire the view and catch our collective breath after a continuous climb. Continuing (31mins), we passed the entrance to Lyme Hall on our left, the foyer and the picnic area to aim for the left corner of the car park.

This brought us to the entrance to the deer park (43mins) and another opportunity to admire the view across the lake to the hall. This is now known as "Darcy's Lake" since it was the setting for Mr Darcy's plunge in the BBC adaptation of Jane Austen's novel, Pride and Prejudice. After passing the lake on our left we spotted a small group of fallow deer grazing a few yards to the right of our path.

Spot Mr Darcy

After reaching the exit gate to the deer park (53mins) we turned right uphill and climbed over a ladder stile (54mins). Another long climb brought us to the memorial to Alan Monkhouse, literary editor of the Manchester Guardian (72mins). We continued ever upwards until we reached Bowstones Farm (88mins) and paused for pietime.

             Mr Hart trying to educate, (not sure about the dodgy shorts)

In the absence of the impatient Tom, we lingered for 15 minutes before following the footpath sign for Whaley Bridge via Handley Foot. This took us down through a series of fields and stiles until we reached a road by the side of a farm (103mins). We turned left, passing Handley Barn Farm on our left (109mins), before heading right at a public footpath sign on our right (110mins). This soon led us across a footbridge over a stream and a choice of footpaths.

We followed the one heading left, numbered 54, and walked through fields until we came to a gravel track running across our route. The Moorside Hotel, in the process of being converted into a home for wayward juveniles, was to our left covered in scaffolding. We can only suppose the authorities were adding pool tables, plasma TV screens and bidets to make the facilities acceptable.

We turned right (116mins), heading slightly uphill. Some 20 yards before we reached a cattle-grid, we turned left uphill (119mins) and over a ladder stile (123mins). The route now afforded us splendid views to our right across the picturesque valley as we walked along a flat beaten path just below a ridge. We crossed a footbridge ((132mins) and went over a wooden stile (133mins) before crossing a stone step stile to reach a road (137mins).

After turning left for 80 yards we went right following a wooden footpath sign (138mins) which took us over a wooden stile (143mins). We exited a field on our left through an open gateway (148mins) and went through a farmyard (152mins).

Continuing downhill along a gravel track, we turned left at the entrance to Ringstones Caravan Park on our right (155mins). The track became a tarmac road called Yeardsley Lane, which we followed downhill until we reached the A6 (162mins). A left turn soon brought us to The Soldier Dick on the left (163mins).

B walkers Tony Job, Pete Morrall and Ken Sparrow had just arrived to avail themselves of a choice of well-kept cask beers, including Bad ToThe Bone, at £2-70 a pint. Just before we left, a group of kindred spirits arrived in the form of some retired railway workers sporting matching ties. I am indebted to John for discovering that they had all been employed by British Rail in Manchester in various capacities, and they all called for a tipple at 5pm before heading home from work. In comradely fashion, they continued to meet regularly for pub visits after their retirements. We salute them.

Suitably refreshed, we left the pub and turned right back to the traffic lights, where we crossed the road and headed left downhill over the level crossing. This took us to The Peak Forest Canal (166mins) where we turned left to walk along the towpath with Furness Vale Marina on our left. Lunch was taken on a bench near the Swizzels factory at New Mills (190mins).

As we continued past the factory on our right the aroma of Love Hearts was heard to bring nostalgic sighs from some of our group. We walked on until we reached Higgins Clough Swing Bridge (No. 25) where we turned left (217mins). This took us uphill under a rail bridge until we reached the A6 again and turned right (225mins).

There then followed a somewhat tedious walk along the A6 for more than a mile until we reached Carr Brow on our right (248mins) and turned right back to our cars.

After de-booting we returned to the A6 in our cars, turned right and reached The Horseshoe at High Lane on our right at the first set of traffic lights. Here we were reunited with the B walkers and enjoyed Robbies' Unicorn at £2-80 a pint after the Trooper cask bitter costing £3 had been rejected and replaced by the landlord. Mickey kindly stood the first round.

Next week's walk will start with a meeting at your diarist's home, 68, London Road North, Poynton, Cheshire SK12 1BY, at 9am with bacon butties, accompanied if requested by brown sauce. We will then leave around 9.40am for a walk led by John through the southern section of Lyme Park and Sponds Hill prior to a livener at The Boar's Head, Higher Poynton, around 12.20pm.

John will then lead us via Princes Incline to The Bull's Head in Poynton, arriving at about 2.30pm. I am reliably informed that sandwiches will then be provided.

   

Poynton Pool

POYNTON POOL, HIGHER POYNTON, MACCLESFIELD CANAL, LADYBROOK TRAIL, LYME PARK, LYME CAGE, LYME HALL, DEER PARK, BOAR’S HEAD AT HIGHER POYNTON, MIDDLEWOOD WAY, LADYS INCLINE AND BULL’S HEAD AT POYNTON.

Distance: Nine miles.

Difficulty: Easy.

Weather: Early cloud giving way to blue skies and sunshine.

Walkers: Mickey Barrett, Chris Corps, Nigel Crank, Tom Cunliffe, Colin Davison, Alan Hart, John Laverick, Julian Ross and George Whaites.

B walkers: Tony Job, Ken Sparrow, Geoff Spurrell and Mike Walton.

Apologies: Peter Beal (narrow-boating), George Dearsley (w*^king), Lawrie Fairman (Hungarian hols), Jock Rooney (w*^king in Turkey).

Withdrawal of apology: Colin Davison (not sailing after all).

Leader: Hart. Diarist: Hart.

Starting point: Poynton Pool car park off Anglesey Drive.

Starting time: 9.38am. Finishing time: 2pm.

We welcomed another newcomer to the Wednesday Wanderers on an ideal day for walking. Chris Corps made his debut, stepping straight into the A team, and appeared to find no difficulty in keeping up with a brisk pace.

This gave us a good turnout of eight A walkers, and we soon had one over the eight when we encountered a marooned mariner en route. 

The ideal walking weather also produced perfect drinking conditions and we ended the day on a high note when Barbara and Sally Bromley once again produced two platters of sandwiches as a goodwill gesture. They hope to see us again. They surely will.

Poynton Pool was once an attractive feature in the estate of Poynton Hall, the home of Lord Vernon, who was lord of the manor. In 1850 Bagshaw’s Directory described Poynton as a compact village near the Macclesfield branch of the London and North Western Railway.

In 1841 it contained 152 houses and 854 inhabitants on 2,400 acres of good, well-drained land. “Its subterranean wealth far exceeds that on the surface,” the directory declared, following the discovery of rich seams of coal beneath the farmland. Although much of the coal was worked out at the start of the last century and its 71 pits closed down, Poynton continued to grow because of its proximity to Manchester (20 minutes by train for commuters) to the north and to the spectacular countryside of the Peak District to the south and east. It now has a population around 16,000.

From the car park we crossed Anglesey Drive and walked between the trees separating London Road North on the left from its houses on the right. This brought us out on Towers Road, where we turned right. After passing South Park Drive on our right we reached a bungalow on our right which was once the site of Towers Hall, from which Towers Drive derived its name. Like Poynton Hall, it has long been demolished, but one interesting remnant survives.

By turning left through a kissing gate (10mins) to join a public footpath, we soon reached a mound on our right. This hid a flight of steps down to a grilled door on the far side which had once been the entrance to “The Ice House” – a cool storage facility for the family and servants of Towers Hall.

We continued straight ahead through a series of fields via gates and stiles until we emerged at The Macclesfield Canal (42mins) and turned left along the towpath. At the first bridge across the canal (Bridge 13) we turned left to go back over it and there encountered Colin (47mins).

He explained that his catamaran trip across the North Sea to Holland scheduled to start on Monday had been postponed for four days because the boat involved was blocked by another vessel and could not reach any water to start its journey. Colin joined our group and before you could say “Hello sailor!” he was issuing orders.

For anyone who falls into obvious traps such as iced-over canals, it may have seemed cruel to lead Colin up the garden path, so to speak, but he does bring out the worst in your diarist. After crossing the bridge we rounded a World War 2 pillbox to follow the towpath with the canal now on our left. After 100 yards we reached a wooden footpath sign on our right and followed it into woodland which is part of the picturesque Ladybrook Trail.

The trail in turn crossed the Manchester-Buxton railway line (69mins) before leading us by a footbridge and a ladder stile into Lyme Park (72mins). Our journey had taken us gradually uphill, but now came a steeper ascent as we turned right at the entrance hut and made our way up to Lyme Cage (90mins).

By now the clouds were clearing and the sun was shining as we paused for pietime overlooking the countryside and landmarks below. Resuming, we walked down from Lyme Cage and passed the entrance to Lyme Hall, the ancestral home of the Legh family for more than 500 years until it was handed over to The National Trust in 1946.

It was decided to make a brief detour round the deer park, to the left of the hall, first passing the lake where Mr Darcy emerged with dripping breeches to melt the hearts of not only Elizabeth Bennett but also the millions of Jane Austen fans watching the series on BBC back in 1995. Continuing, we saw a herd of fallow deer grazing and sunbathing to our left before making two right turns to bring us back to our homeward route.

From the car park outside the kiosk and with the hall on our right, we turned left and followed the road round to the right. We forked right again to skirt the wall and headed downhill out of the park. Still going forward and still descending, we crossed the bridge over the Macclesfield Canal, passed the Nelson Pit museum on our right and reached the Boar’s Head on schedule at 12.15pm (146mins).

Here we enjoyed pints of Black Sheep, Thwaites or Wainwrights’ cask bitter at prices from £2-92 to £3-20. The B walkers had just pipped us to the bar from a stroll which had left Tony with a sore ankle. After the A Team had departed, three of them headed on a direct route to the Bull’s Head while Tony made his way by bus.

Meanwhile the main party walked back from the Boar’s Head to The Middlewood Way, which we joined and headed in the direction of Marple before stopping (152mins) at a bench for lunch. Resuming, we left at the first exit by going right and then left over a bridge leading into Green Lane.

We turned right along Green Lane, ignoring the first footpath on our left which would have led us to The Anson Museum. At the next footpath (162mins) we turned left and headed steadily downhill until we entered Woodside Road. At the end we joined the main road between Macclesfield and Hazel Grove and turned right.

We reached The Bull’s Head (189mins) at 2pm and enjoyed draught Bass and two other cask beers at £3 a pint. Barbara and Sally Bromley did us proud with two platters of home-made sandwiches.

This has raised the bar considerably for next week’s walk, which finishes at The Lantern Pike. At the time of writing Tom and your diarist are examining the logistics of an A team walk from Edale up along Kinder, ending in Little Hayfield, possibly starting with a train from New Mills Central station.

When arrangements have been finalised, you will be notified.

  

Poynton

POYNTON/SPOND HILL/LYME PARK/POYNTON

Distance: 9.93 miles; Avg. Walking Speed 2.65mph; Max Elevation 1073.12ft; Walking Time 3hrs 47mins 18 sec.

Difficulty: Easy

Weather: Wet, wet, wet, wet, wet and then we finished the walk almost dry.

A  Walkers, Julian Ross, John Laverick, Nigel Crank, Mick Barrett.

Apologies: Jock Rooney, Colin Davison, Alan Hart, Tom Cunliffe, Laurie Fairman, and from the B Team Geoff Spurrell, (sunning themselves in Portugal pretending to be on a walking holiday), Peter Beal (domestic duties after cruising in sunny Norway), George Dearsley (too wet, not George but weather), Malcom Halley (in London),

B Walkers: Apologies from all it was a bit too wet.

Leader: Laverick  

Diarist: Laverick

Starting Point: Car Park, Farmers Arms, Poynton

Starting Time: 9.40am (We were waiting for Mick to get his wet weather gear on). Finishing Time: 2.15pm

This is my second diary in an attempt to confirm to my fellow Wanderer’s that I can really do a passable written effort in the English language and more importantly my maiden voyage as a walk leader. 

This I could have handled however George D. phoned to say he thought it was a bit wet and took a leaf out of Harty’s book and wimped out. This resulted in the fact that not only did I have to lead the walk but have to do the diary as well. Executive stress I thought I had left that all behind me.

Being a walk leader I learnt is not an easy thing, for instance your flappy thing gets wet in the rain and to top it all some of the walkers complain about the weather and the paths they are walking.

Any way enough bitching and on to the diary… Sorry no pictures this week it was too wet to risk my phone, no insurance plus it was hard to see past the cloud.

Apart from the maiden leader two intrepid walkers turned up at the appointed hour, where Mr Crank arrived kindly provided continental coffee, the third arrived but then seemed to spend a long time trying to dress in his wet weather gear and missed out on the coffee.

So we ventured forward into the rain climbing up hill towards Spond Hill, looking around us for something that would keep us afloat should Poynton be under water when we returned.

First the boring bit out of the village on the roads; Farmers Arms turning right up Park Lane, turning right on to Clumber Road to the junction turning left on to Dickens Lane and continued past Waterloo Road to Narrow Lane just past the line of white cottages.

Then the good bit on paths; continued up Narrow Lane until we reached the footpath sign on the right that comes out on Wood Lane and just to the side of the Miners. (It should be noted that at this point the Leader received his first moan from one of the  walkers about narrow paths because it made him walk like a model, the Diarist will not mention your name Mick in this diary to save you the embarrassment; OOPS). 

Onward we paddled through the driving rain past the Miners (it was shut) turning left on to Wood Lane East, over the canal and following it up to Lockgate Farm.

Through the stile into the farmyard, out the over another style out of the farmyard turning right behind the farm house to the next strange combination of two styles so close together you can step across between the styles. (The writer would be interested to know why this strange arrangement appeared).

The walkers continued at an angle across the field to the far corner and a gate to a path leading on to Shrigley Road where the walkers turned left.

We continued down the road as far as the XXXX Café, sorry did not record the name but you cannot miss it, it is painted green, and turning left to join the North Cheshire Trail that will lead you up to some very smart residences called Birchencliff Farm. 

It was on the gentle climb up to Birchcliff Farm that I received the second moan, no sorry not a moan but an observation, that I had set a fast pace!! This did confuse the leader as he was normally at the back of the pack and the last up any hills the Wanderer’s venture up, past the desirable residences to join a track between two small lakes. It was raining so hard that the first lake appeared to have sprung a leak and was gushing water all over the track.

Proceeding up the track towards Moorside Lane pie time was called at 10.50hrs, at 908ft, 3.28miles, under the shelter of the last tree the walkers would see for a while. Mr Crank however decided he would be drier standing out in the rain? 

The diarist can only put this down to the amount of time he has spent out of the country. Also we did not need Mr Cunliffe to move us onward on our venture, the walkers were driven forward with the thought of a dry refuge in the Boars Head.

At the junction of the North Cheshire Way and Moorside Lane the Leader made an executive decision and turned left along Moorside Lane rather than proceed upwards into the cloud and even more rain.

Along the North Cheshire Way following the path to the left mark “way to Higher Poynton”, just past Keepers Cottage leaving Moorside Lane and proceeding downhill. The Cage in Lyme Park can be seen from this path through the rain and cloud.

Following the path down to the Methodist Chapel turning sharp right towards Lyme Park West Gate, following up the road past West Gate Farm, another barn conversion for the idle rich to live the country life. (sorry lapsed back into my left wing world there).

Past the new Tory pad (there I go again) walking through the gate, ignoring the road to the left, follow the path up and along the side of Lyme Park below Hase Bank Wood until it meets the track to Lyme House then turned left towards Windgather. Follow the track down over the canal, over the Middlewood Way and low and behold the welcome sight of the Boars Head hove into view at 11.59hrs.

The Black Sheep ale was in good form, (the diarist failed here forgot to ask the price of the beer) apart from Mick who was having a bad day and got the first one out of the pump but was too shy to take it back and complain. 

Also the local entertainment failed to show after all the effort the walker’s put into getting Mr Crank to sit in the corner seat. (Only those on the last Poynton walk will understand the importance of the corner seat in the Boar’s Head).

It was still raining when the walkers left the pub retracing the route over the Middle Way back to the canal turning left in the High Lane direction along the tow path.

Turned left down the Princes Incline where the Leader had found a seat so that lunch could be taken. At the seat more complaints, sorry observations, there was a lovely roaring fire to warm the walkers but apparently the smell of smoke did not agree with the nostrils.

So onwards across Carlton Road until the path on the right is reached. Followed the path through the field past the stables to the Middle Wood Road. Cross the Middlewood Road onto the track/path leading to New House Farm.

At the end of this track the delayed lunch was taken, again not a long one due to the fact that soggy bread does not taste great. One highlight however was a conversation that only can be described as bizarre when Mr Barrett asked if cows were circumcised, the Leader at this point decided it was time to move on.

Through the gate bearing right at an angle towards the style, over the style turning left to follow the fence line down to anther style in the corner of the field.

Over another style turning sharp left to follow the path towards Rabbit Burrow Farm.

Past Rabbit Burrow Farm towards Davenport Golf Club then turn right across the practice ground to join the path through Petre Bank.

Follow path to Towers Road, turn left proceed to Park Lane, turn right and then follow Park Lane which will lead you to the Farmers Arms.

At the end of the walk the maiden leader did ask “how was it for you boys?” There were no comments apart from some sighs so this will be taken as at least a pass and no one seemed to be missing from the starters.

The beer Trooper was is very good form at £3.15 a pint.

The B Team did not turn out.

Next weeks walk unless there are rumbling in the ranks is Errwood Car Park, Goyt Valley, starting at 09.30hrs. It was suggested before but there was snow to stop us. I seem to remember it involved a half time drink in the Cat and Fiddle, (it is open at Lunch time) but I leave it to my more learned friends to suggest a route and an end pub.

High Lane

HIGH LANE, LYME PARK, BOW STONES, DISLEY

Distance: 9.95 miles; Avg. Walking Speed 2.68mph; Max Elevation 1419.18ft; Walking Time 3 hrs 43.56mins.

Difficulty: Moderate

Weather: Overcast with clear views but absolutely no rain.

A  Walkers, Lawrie Fairman, Julian Ross, John Laverick, Peter Morrall, George Whaites.

Apologies: Jock Rooney (working abroad), Colin Davison (holiday), Alan Hart (wimped out), Peter Beal (cruising in sunny Norway), George Dearsley (working abroad), Tom Cunliffe (????), Malcom Halley (recovering from dentist?) Mikey Barrett (on holiday)

B Walkers: Geoff Spurrell, Tony Job, Mike Walton, Ken Sparrow

Non-walking drinkers: Alan Hart (See special report)

Walking-non drinkers : Pete Morrell

Leader: Fairman  

Diarist: Laverick with contributions from Hart and Job

Starting Point: Car Park, Horse Shoe Inn, High Lane

Starting Time: 9.20am. Finishing Time: 2.20pm

First a word of apology for the delay in the receipt of this diary and if it is not to the usual high standard of my mentors Hart and Dearsley, I was foolish enough to volunteer to write and then remembered that English is my second language (been born in the north east) and I was finding more excuses than a virgin on her wedding night why I had no time to do it.

However I digress and to the diary……………………

The group gave Pete Morrell the usual warm welcome for new members to the group.

It started strangely with Pete M and myself turning up at Mr Hart`s in DRY with the sun trying to break through weather to be told he was not coming out to play because it was raining and would be raining really heavily that morning. George however had not heard the rain warning of the second coming of a biblical flood and turned up at the appointed hour in a car rather than an ark.

The walk started for five of the intrepid A Team ready to take on the elements from the car park of the Horse Shoe Inn, High Lane at 09:30 Hrs. crossing the A6 following the public footpath just above the Middlewood Road that leads onto the Middlewood Way which was followed along until the Boars Head in Higher Poynton. It was a wrench to pass the Boars Head without popping in unfortunately it was closed.

At the Boars head we turned off the Middlewood Way and turned right over the bridge on to Lyme Road following it up to the canal, over the canal  by the  marina and bearing right onward past Elm Wood on towards Haresteads Farm where we came across giant rabbits.

Where`s Alice ??

Wonderland....or Blunderland?

The walk continued uphill winding our way up past Windgather and through the West Gate in to Lyme Park and onward towards toward the big house. Picking up the Gritstone Trail up through Knights Low Wood where we passed a whole host of small children who were making more noise than their size allowed and they appeared to be building wood camps with not a sign of Elf and Safety in site.

 Pie Break was taken in the shelter of the wood, at this point Tom would have had something to say, not only did we have Pie Break early but we also had a full ten minutes!

Onward we pressed towards the summit to view the Bow Stones, not for the first time this month.

The Bowstones are a pair of Anglian cross shafts in Cheshire, England. Situated beside the old ridgeway between Disley and Macclesfield overlooking Lyme Park, the Cheshire Plain, the city of Manchester and the hills of the Peak District, they are a scheduled monument.

The western shaft is 1.22 metres high and tapers from circumference of 1.25m at the base to 0.86m at the top. The eastern shaft is 0.98m high and has a circumference of 1.27m. Both are decorated with interlaced carvings in a style that indicates a date of the 10th century or earlier. There is some later lettering engraved. Their round cross section and their erection as a pair is unusual for crosses of this era. 

They may have been moved their current location in the 16th century by Sir Piers Legh of Lyme Hall. Two stone cross heads on display at the hall may have originally surmounted the shafts.Local legend states that the name is derived from their use by Robin Hood and his men to re-string their bows.

Despite the rain that we had been promised, the views from the summit were magnificent and the mountains of Wales were clearly visible, even Manchester was a site to behold as we scoured the horizon for a rain cloud.

                                

                                                                         Dry as a desert.

On leaving the Bow Stones picked up the track, the Gritstone Trail, past Handley Barn, Dissop Head to the junction of Higher Lane and Mudhurst Lane where we turned left at Cock Knoll following the Gritstone Trail towards the East Gate of Lyme Park.

It was at this point our so far flawless Leader made a small mistake taking us past a lady on her knees bending over then taking us back past her again claiming he had made a mistake with his map reading, we should have turned right not left!

Onward we went following the Gritstone Trail along Green Lane with Higher Disley to our right.

One has to admire the farmer who has preserved the stile for the footpath passing through his field when the fence seems to have disappeared many years ago.

                                      

                                                                Mind the fence Pete.

Past Superman`s changing room on the left with the path to the Hanging Gate on the right onward we forged until the St Andrew`s Church was in sight and the smell of Unicorn from the Dandycock spurred us on.

We arrived at 12:20 Hrs have completed 7.61 miles.

Pete left us at this time to sort out a small problem at home, hence he became our first non drinking walker.

The Unicorn as usual was on fine form see prices in our special non walking drinker`s reporter.

After a suitable intake of ale to strengthen our resolve we set of once more to complete the walk and set off back towards the North Gate of Lyme Park retracing some of our steps along Red Lane ending back at the entrance kiosk (Park Gate) of Lyme Park.

Following the Bollinhurst Brook crossing the North Cheshire Way, crossed over the Hazel Grove to Disley railway line on to the LVI Trail joined on Coppice Lane to re-cross the railway further down the line turning right onto Chatsworth Road.

Keeping left behind the row of houses on Ashbourne Road, following the footpath, round the back of Haddon Close, turning left on to Hartington Road, right on to Alderdale Drive, then turning left on to the A6 and onwards to the end objective of a good pint in the Horse Shoe Inn after 2.64 miles and arriving as planned at 14:20 Hrs.

SPECIAL REPORTER ALAN HART

After wimping out of the A walk because of inaccurate weather forecasts, Alan arrived at The Dandy Cock at 12.20pm after catching a train from Hazel Grove to Disley.

As the rest of the group sallied forth on a route which ran parallel with the A6 to the south, Harty announced he would carry out a survey of pubs on the main road. His report made sad reading, following the excellent Robbies' cask bitter at The Dandy Cock at £2-70 a pint, with mild at £2-60.

At the Ram's Head in Disley, our intrepid reporter sampled a pint of Adnams Kristal White wheat beer at £3-39. He said the overpriced beer was tasty but the pub suffered from delusions of grandeur as a posh restaurant which sold beer.

The same was true of the Red Lion at High Lane, although the Robbies' 1892 mild was in good form and reasonably priced at £2-65.

At the Dog and Partridge he found six choices of lager, which he was happy to refuse, and both barrels of cask bitters had run out the previous day. He declined the offer of a "smooth" alternative (as in chemical keg beer).

The Bull's Head, which was advertised as "a business opportunity", was shut. The Horseshoe offered a warm welcome and Unicorn cask bitter at £2-80 a pint.

SPECIAL REPORTER TONY JOB

Route: High Lane, Macc Canal, Romper, Roman Bridge, Goyt Way, Lower Cliff, Brook Bottom (Fox), New Mills bus stn., Newtown, and then 199 bus to High Lane. Path from Goyt Way up to Lower Cliff involved crossing barbed wire, not recommended. Bus connections from New Mills to Newtown not good, so we will not repeat the route from Fox onward.

Beer at The Fox was in fine condition.

Final word from Laverick

Next week's walk will start at 9.30am from The Cock at Whaley Bridge, calling at The Old Hall in Whitehough, Chinley, around 12.15pm and finishing back at The Cock around 2.20pm.