Rowarth

  

September 14, 2022.

 

ROWARTH, MATLEY MOOR, HOLLINGWORTH HEAD FARM, HOLLINGWORTH CLOUGH, MIDDLE MOOR, TWENTY TREES, THE KINDER LODGE AT HAYFIELD, WETHERCOTES FARM, ASPENSHAW HALL, LANESIDE FARM AND THE LITTLE MILL INN AT ROWARTH

 

Distance: 10 miles.

Difficulty: Easy.

Weather: Dull cloudy start: sunny finish.

Walkers: Andy Blease, Alastair Cairns with Daisy, Tom Cunliffe, Hughie Hardiman, Alan Hart, Jonathan Hart, Chris Owen, Jock Rooney with Milly, Dean Taylor with Tommy, Keith Welsh, Dave Willett, Simon Williams, Cliff Worthington.

Apologies: Micky Barrett (Turkey hols), Peter Beal (Greek island hols), Daisy Cunliffe (on heat), George Dearsley (in Turkey), Mark Gibby (sore back), Julian Ross (Portugal hols)

Leader: Cunliffe. Diarist: Hart.

Starting point: Car park of The Little Mill Inn at Rowarth, High Peak.

Starting time: 9.44am. Finishing time: 2.21pm.

 

After a dull start in unpromising weather we inadvertently split into two groups after seven minutes and it took an hour before we were reunited. But once modern mobile communications had been restored the splinter group created unwittingly by your diarist rejoined the main peloton and we enjoyed a splendid walk.

It was led by Tom, making a comeback after several weeks' absence through a heel injury, and the day ended amid blue skies and warm sunshine in a beer garden.

It was enjoyed by 13 wanderers and three dogs. However Dave's journey may have been spoiled when a sheep defecated on him at Pietime ! Read on for the squalid details.

From the car park of the Little Mill Inn we walked back along the road from which we had arrived for some 10 yards before turning right up a gravel track, passing a cottage on our left and emerging at the end of a cul de sac. We turned left and went immediately right past a red phone box to follow a path into woods (5mins)

After crossing a wooden stile  (7mins) and turning right we approached a shallow ford on the lane ahead. While Tom led a group of seven over a stile on the left I wrongly assumed they would be returning to the original lane beyond the ford. I attracted five followers who were either of the same opinion or simply following the man immediately in front.

However the seven members of the main contingent and the six members of the splinter group diverged and there was no mobile signal available. The details which follow describe the route taken by the minority.

 

 

 

 

 

      The path taken by the breakaway group

 

Continuing steadily uphill we reached Higher Harthill Farm on our left (15mins) and swung right, crossing a wooden stile (18mins), a stone step stile (25mins) a wooden gate (35mins) and two metal gates (39mins). We went through a wooden gate (45mins) and immediately turned right through a metal gate.

We then crossed a wooden stile (46mins) and headed uphill keeping a drystone wall on our right. After crossing two stone step stiles and passing a farmhouse we reached a lane and turned left (52mins). At this point a mobile signal became available and arrangements were made for a reunification of our group. We reached a road (57mins) and turned right, following Camp Road until it reached the main Glossop-Chapel road (63mins)

 

   An ageing wanderer walking towards the Kinder Range

 

By crossing the A624 and a wooden stile we linked up with our colleagues and turned right along the footpath towards Middle Moor, going through a wooden gate (74mins). We stopped for Pietime (76mins) at 11am sharp just before the Thomas Boulger memorial footbridge at Hollingworth Clough.

As soon as we halted Dave asked if anyone had hand sanitiser because he had been slobbered over by Dean's Italian mastiff Tommy. The irony of this request came moments later when a horned sheep ventured unsheepishly into our group apparently wanting to join Pietime.

At one point it thrust its entire head into Simon's rucksack searching for whatever it is sheep prefer to their routine diet of grass. Then the animal turned its attention to the seated and freshly cleansed Dave. When our comrade told the sheep in no uncertain manner to go away (or words to that effect), the unwelcome intruder responded by crapping down Dave's back.

Jonny then gave the sheep what appeared to be a round of applause but explained later that he had been clapping to scare the sheep away from us and had meant no disrespect to Dave.

After this extraordinary episode we continued across the bridge and along a footpath which brought us to a cairn (90mins). We carried straight on until we reached a junction (105mins) where a sign informed us we were at an altitude of 1,090 feet. Here we turned right, heading on through a wooden gate (112mins) and a metal kissing gate (122mins) before passing Twenty Trees on our right (This landmark continues to be known by this name even though there are only 19 trees in the group)

We kept right and crossed a wooden stile (130mins) before descending to Kinder Road where we turned right towards Hayfield town centre (134mins).

En route we passed the old Hayfield Grammar School,  which was founded in 1604. The current building, now a house for sale, was built in 1719. 

Further along the road, on our right was a blue plaque to Hayfield-born actor Arthur Lowe (1915-82) who lived on the terrace. 

 

   Local hero

 

 

Lowe became famous from 1960-66 when he played Leonard Swindley, a draper and lay preacher, in Coronation Street. But he was best loved for his role in the sitcom Dad's Army, where from 1968-77 he played the pompous Home Guard leader Captain Mainwaring. Strangely he is least known by the public for his role in the movie O Lucky Man for which in 1973 he won a much-coveted BAFTA as Best Supporting Actor.

 

Beyond the plaque we turned left down cobblestones (140mins), turned right past the parish church (141mins) and crossed the A624 (142mins) to walk to the left of Hayfield bus station. We turned left on the A6015 to reach The Kinder Lodge on our left (144mins). Here we enjoyed a choice of cask ales at £3-80 a pint. 

For the return journey we left Dave and Dean behind as they had walked from Hayfield to Rowarth that morning to meet us at the starting point. We turned right out of the pub and retraced our footsteps back to Hayfield bus station where we turned left passing picnic tables to follow The Sett Valley Trail (146mins)

 

   A view to the right from the Sett Valley Trail

 

The trail is a 2.5 miles cycling path and bridleway running from Hayfield west through Birch Vale, Thornsett and Ollersett to New Mills following the trackbed of the railway line which opened in 1868 and closed in 1970.

 

After passing Slacks Crossing (153mins) we reached a sign on our right pointing towards Lantern Pike (162mins) and followed the path across a footbridge over the Sett (164mins), We crossed a field and followed a path between fences to cross a stone step stile and turn left (168mins)

 

 

 

 

 

    A close up of the lake

 

Following the lane as it swung right uphill (170mins) we reached a road (175mins) where we turned left passing Hegginbottom Farm on our left and Hext Farm on our right (178mins). At a gravel track we turned right towards Wethercotes Farm (180mins) and stopped for lunch on a low wall (183mins)

Continuing we took the left fork downhill (196mins) and followed a rocky path as it descended past derelict farm buildings (206mins). The lane soon brought us back to The Little Mill Inn (211mins) which stands like a licensed oasis in the Derbyshire desert. Here we enjoyed another choice of cask bitters which we quaffed in the sunny beer garden.

Our attention was drawn to a building next to the pub called The Love Shack. We learned it was the quarters of the inn's amorous chef. The sign had been erected while he was on leave in his native Yorkshire. 

Next week's walk will start at 9.45am on the higher car park of The Rose and Crown, Allgreave, which lies on the A54 linking Congleton and Buxton. Our aim is to pass the former youth hostel at Gradbach, Lud's Church and Hanging Stone before arriving for a bracer in The Ship at Wincle around 12.30pm. We hope to return to The Rose and Crown for a departing drink at about 2.15pm.

Happy wandering !

The Little Mill’s head chef’s personal bothy which they’ve named “the love shack”. 

Rowarth

ROWARTH, GLOSSOP, HARRY HUT

Distance: 9 miles

Difficulty: Moderate

Weather: Cold and Crisp but Sunny

Walkers: George Dearsley, Lawrie Fairman, Phil Welsh, Tom Cunliffe, Alan Hart, Micky Barrett, Tom Cunliffe, Jock Rooney and Tip

Apologies: George Whaites (working), Colin Davison (yachting in the Caribbean), Peter Beal (cruising, in the nautical sense)

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

Leader: Fairman Diarist: Dearsley

Photographs: Phil Welsh and George Dearsley

Starting Point: Car park at the Little Mill, Rowarth

Starting Time: 9.51am. Finishing Time: 2.32pm

The largest turn out of the Wanderers for some weeks was rewarded with clear blue skies and bright sunshine, which conspired to deliver excellent light for photographs.

The cadre might have been larger but road closures (due to flooding and ice) and an indecipherable Sat Nav meant Julian Ross had to return home when less than two miles from the meeting point.

There was further early drama, when Mr Hart was injured in the warm up, after being butted in the gonads by an over enthusiastic Tip.

Happily there was no need for the “magic sponge” and after some deep breaths and much cursing Harty was declared fit.

                                                                The dog…..bollocks!

Thus delayed, we left the car park at the Little Mill at 9.51am and walked away from the pub up the hill, turning right at a sign to “Rowarth”.

We walked through the tiny hamlet and turned left up what proved to be a steepish climb. At the top of the hill we negotiated a stile and went left and immediately right.

Only 26 minutes after departure it was time for the first map check.

Our route took us past Near Slack Farm. In 1983 I attempted to buy neighbouring Far Slack Farm but was gazumped by notorious financier Peter Clowes. Unfortunately he used other people’s money to purchase the property. His investment empire collapsed in 1988 with 15,000 people swindled out of millions. He got 10 years.

We went through a gate and turned left. The path dog -legs left (10.25am) and from this point we had a great view of the flight path to Manchester airport.

We turned right through a gate and the sun was now shining brightly directly from our right.

We came to a four-way intersection. There was a bridle path going down steeply ahead but we turned left over a stile.

Pie Time was declared at 10.52am at a vantage point which gave stunning views over Cheshire.

                                                                           Stunning view

We set off again at 11.05am turning right and heading eventually to the road which links the Grouse and Charlesworth (11.16am). This we crossed.

We climbed a stile, again with the sun to our right.

We then descended a steep path on which Mr Barrett was a faller and on meeting a metalled road at the bottom, we turned left.

A path to the right eventually brought us onto the road from Glossop to Chinley, opposite the O Sole Mio Italian restaurant. Well, I’m presuming it’s Italian, never having dined there.

We were on the road for only minutes before swinging left at a sign for Gnat Hole Farm. One can only imagine what was in the farmer’s mind when he so named his beloved home.

We turned onto a path to the right about 200 yards before the farmhouse. Of course, had we stayed on the road we would have been at the Grouse in about 25 minutes.

Our detour would delay our arrival by nearly 90 minutes. While affording spectacular views, it was to involve a climb Paras would have been proud to complete to the heights of the so called Harry Hut (please note NOT Harry’s Hut)

Harry Hut trig point

Mr Hart, spurred on by the thought of ale, duly set a cracking pace.

Your diarist opined: “He’s like Mo Farrah”.

To which Mr Barrett retorted: “I’m more like Mo Mowlem”.

At 12.17pm leader Fairman became a faller on the boggy heather.

As to the derivation of the phrase Harry Hut little could be found.

I can exclusively reveal that in 1980 no fewer than 1083 pieces of artefacts and tools from the Mesolithic Period were discovered here. Anyone operating a market stall selling gloves and woollen hats in this period would have been onto a “good earner”. But beyond the archaeology, zilch.

We plodded on like Napoleon’s infantry retreating from Moscow but at last reached the road again where Tom’s wife Stella arrived to end the cruelty and take him to a Nativity play.

(No, he wasn't playing the Donkey!).

One hopes the singing of the herald angels was not drowned out by Tom snoring.

By 12.55pm your diarist reached the Grouse, 10 minutes after Mr Hart. Thwaites Original was on offer at £3.

Five B Walkers were already in situ. They had gathered at the Little Mill, crossed a ford and walked via Plainsteads Farm to the Grouse.

Peacock (not a Grouse) at the pub

Leader Fairman insisted this was a one pint pit stop only and we set off again at 1.21pm.

The B Walkers left a little earlier but we soon overtook them.

Climbing the hill to the turning for Charlesworth we continued on the metalled road for a couple of hundred yards before taking a path to the right.

Lunch was taken between 1.45pm and 1.52pm. But the main body of Wanderers left Mr Hart behind. He was either taking a phone call or doing a bit of Horse Whispering to the animal in the nearby field.

Luncheon is taken

We followed a sign to “Rowarth via Long Lee Farm”.

This took us over a wall where we saw a sign pointing left to “Hayfield”. We turned right here.

We were back at the cars at 2.32pm but amazingly Mr Hart was already in the car park.

Had he ridden the horse?

At the Little Mill Banks’ Bitter was £2.70.

One further picture of today’s walk follows below.

Another stunning view

Given average walking speed today’s walk should have been around 10-11 miles. But Mr Welsh calculated it via Google at 8.5 miles, which may well be correct given the climbing.

Although the non-walking drinkers were absent, there is good news of Frank Dudley who has recovered from a fall at home.

Next week’s walk will start at the Old Cock, Whaley Bridge at 9.35am, with a stop at around 12.30pm at the Shady Oak, Fernilee. We will finish, of course, back at the Cock.

Happy Wandering!