Little Hayfield

LITTLE HAYFIELD, BIRCH VALE, OLLERSETT MOOR, BIG ROCK, CRACKEN EDGE, PEEP-A-DAY, KINDER VALE, BOWDEN BRIDGE, THE SPORTSMAN AT HAYFIELD, SNAKE PASS TRAIL, MIDDLE MOOR, PARK HALL POOL AND THE LANTERN PIKE AT LITTLE HAYFIELD

Distance: Nine miles.

Difficulty: Moderate.

Weather: Dry but mostly cloudy.

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

Apologies: Peter Beal (narrow-boating), Colin Davison (sailing to Holland), George Dearsley (w*^king), Malcolm Halley (long-distance cycling) and Jock Rooney (w*^king in Turkey).

Leader: Cunliffe. Diarist: Hart.

Starting point: Car park of Lantern Pike at Little Hayfield, High Peak.

Starting time: 9.36am. Finishing time: 2pm.

Another Wednesday: another debutant. This week we were happy to welcome a new member to our group for a guest appearance. Russell Crank, brother of Nigel, lives on a working farm in Hayfield and was able to break away from the world of double-glazing to enjoy some of the sights in his neighbourhood previously unseen.

Tom was our leader for the day and, despite a technical fault for crossing a barbed wire fence, he managed to fulfil the main criteria of reaching the two pubs not only on time but a little ahead of schedule. Whether the leader’s badge sub-committee will overlook the illegal manoeuvre on Ollersett Moor remains to be seen. (They will probably sit on the fence)

From The Lantern Pike we headed downhill past the former rented homes of Coronation Street creator Tony Warren and actress Pat Phoenix on our right to pass what was once Clough Calico Printing Mill on our right. It has been converted into luxury apartments, one of which is occupied by George D, to whom we gave a wave as we passed by.

After swinging left beyond the mill we crossed a brook (4mins) and followed a wooden footpath sign to our left (8mins). This took us past a row of cottages (14mins). After passing Lower Cliffe Farm, built in 1713, on our left, we turned left at a wooden public footpath sign (18mins) to emerge by a farmhouse.

We are indebted to Tom for pointing out a washing line surrounded by netting which keeps off flies and dust. Much to his chagrin we were left somewhat underwhelmed by this information, wondering whether this was to be the highlight of our journey.

After heading right along a lane for 50 yards we turned left over a stone step stile, passing a field occupied by hens and guinea fowl. During the course of the day we also saw herons, lapwings and curlews.

We crossed a bridge over the River Sett (24mins) and passed a mill lodge on our left before crossing the Sett Valley Trail and emerging at a main road opposite The Grouse at Birch Vale. After crossing the road and with The Grouse to our right, we entered Morland Road (28mins) to start a long climb up Ollersett Moor. 

We carried straight on at a public bridleway towards Chinley (39mins) and we heard some rebellious mutterings as the ascent continued from a Wanderer sporting a beard and a Geordie accent.

When we reached a three-way crossroads (62mins), Tom consulted his map before leading us straight ahead across moorland in the only direction not indicated by the three fingerposts. This brought us to a low wall and a barbed wire fence (69mins).

Taking a leaf from his former metallurgy tutor’s book, Tom took the obstacle in his stride, showing no hint of surprise or hesitation. A year ago Lawrie might have had great difficulty in surmounting the wire without serious danger of partial castration. But on this occasion, mercifully,  he did not need to find a friend willing to disentangle him.

After clearing the wall and barbed wire, we turned right through an open gateway (71mins) and continued to head upwards until we reached Big Rock on Cracken Edge (74mins) where we stopped for pietime.

Resuming, we dropped down to a path 50 yards below and turned left (76mins) downhill. This brought us past Peep-A-Day, the 200-year-old landmark house, on our left (95mins). A few yards later we turned left on the main road to Glossop and then right uphill following a wooden public footpath sign (97mins).

After a short climb we followed a public footpath sign for the Kinder Valley. After passing Russell’s farm on our left, at a T-junction we turned left (125mins) and crossed Bowden Bridge. We turned left again (131mins) and reached The Sportsman on our right (136mins) just after its noon opening.

Here we enjoyed pints of Thwaites’ Original cask bitter at £2-90. We were persuaded to stay for a second pint, generously bought by Nigel to celebrate his birthday two days earlier. Age seems to have dulled Nigel’s memory for he described himself variously as 47, 53, and, somewhat optimistically, 39. At this point we bade farewell to Russell, who was returning to his farm.

On leaving the pub we turned right along Kinder Road towards Hayfield, then right again at a green public footpath sign (139mins) indicating the way to The Snake Inn. This took us past Twenty Trees, and at a bank by a drystone wall we stopped for lunch (153mins). It was at this point that the familiar cry of the curlew was heard and a pair of lapwings tried to scare us away from their nests on the moor by solicitous flights across our bows.

 After passing through a gate leading on to Middle Moor (164mins), we turned left downhill and emerged at the driveway to Park Hall. This took us past a dazzling display of a variety of rhododendron bushes which were the legacy of an expert, now dead.

Tom offered to take our group to the derelict Park Hall Pool, which was once a commercial, open-air swimming baths. This involved two false starts which clearly lost the confidence of some of his followers, who returned smartly to The Lantern Pike. Those of us who kept faith were rewarded with a fascinating glimpse into the past.

From the side of the bus stop opposite Tom’s pub, we headed uphill, before stepping over a low barbed wire fence and becoming trespassers for the second time. Here in a woodland glade was a remarkable sight. On two levels were the abandoned pool which was still being fed by fresh water from Kinder, with its overflow continuing down and under the main road. The changing rooms and toilets appeared to be still intact, although coated in grease and grime from more than 40 years of neglect.

The deeper of the two pools was occupied by a dozen bright orange carp – an example of what can happen if you give a goldfish a bit more room.

Here, in a microcosm, was a perfect example of the changing face of Britain. In the post-war years, Park Hall Pool had been a magnet for swimmers who came from far and near to visit this beauty spot. But when the Beeching axe fell on Hayfield railway station in 1970, the number of visitors fell into sharp decline and the pool was abandoned.

A subsequent attempt to revive it, Tom informed us, was stymied when a neighbour objected to planning permission being granted and the council upheld his view.

The village of Hayfield has suffered a similar fate. In 1901 it was a boom town with a population of 2,817. Of its 1,351 active workers, 788 were engaged in manufacturing , predominantly at the calico and print works and in weaving; 308 were in the service industries of which 140 were in the retail trade, 69 were quarrying and 46 farming.

The population was served by 17 pubs, eight grocers’ shops, seven greengrocers, seven butcher, two bakers, two tripe dealers, two confectioners, two newsagents, two chemists, one bookseller, one hairdresser and a yeast dealer. There were 15 dressmakers’ shops, 12 boot and shoe retailers, eight tailors, four drapers, six laundries, two milliners and one clogger.

Today, with a population of 2,615, Hayfield has eight pubs, two restaurants, two hairdressers, two antique shops, two surgeries, two motor dealers, one fish and chip shop, one butcher’s, one florist, one greengrocer, one general store, one health food shop, one gift shop, one art gallery, one newsagent, one chemist, one post office and one estate agent.

The arrival of the railway in 1868 seems to have brought about the rise in Hayfield’s fortunes. Its closure in 1970 seems to have marked its commercial decline. Discuss.

Despite the reduction in amenities, however, Hayfield’s popularity as a rural retreat has continued to grow. Its house prices continue to soar and are among the dearest in The High Peak area.

After our visit  to Park Hall Pool, we rejoined the rest of the nine-strong party at The Lantern Pike for pints of Timothy Taylor’s excellent Landlord cask bitter and chip butties generously provided by Tom.

Walkers; Wally, Tony, Ken.    Apologies: Pete (domestic duties) and Geoff (taking Gill to Oswestry for another mini op.

Route: Bollington Rangers' car park - F.Smith pie shop - Ingersley Vale - Virgins' path - Flagg Cottage - Kerridge Ridge - White Nancy - Kerridge - Bollington.

Wally had printed off 2 different walks, but Ken needed a pie, so when we reached the pie shop, we were not on one of Wally's routes. Ken suggested White Nancy; after chatting to a younger couple, we decided to attempt the ascent of Kerridge Ridge by a zig-zag path starting by the dam below Rainow. Ken would have led us back to Ingersley Vale, but we stayed put until he came back. After lunch at White Nancy, we descended towards Kerridge, and hit on an open Bulls Head. Emerging after a single pint (beer OK), we turned right, then headed left downhill, which brought us via the canal to the public library opposite the rec, and hence to the D & P., where we were joined by Geoff.

Stats:

Stats.

Mileage 4.75

Elevation 1116 feet

Average speed 1.46 mph

Fastest 3.73 mph

Time 2.55 hours

Next week’s walk will start at 9.55am from the main square in Longnor, Derbyshire, with a break at The Hartington Arms, Hartington, around 12.30pm. Our final watering hole has still to be decided, depending on whether Frank Dudley can be tempted out to celebrate his 97^th birthday.

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.

  

Millers Dale

MILLERS DALE, LIMESTONE WAY, WHESTON HALL FARM, THE DEVONSHIRE ARMS AT PEAK FOREST, HAY DALE, MONKS DALE AND ANGLER’S REST AT MILLERS DALE

Distance: Nine miles.

Difficulty: Moderate.

Weather: Overcast but mainly dry with occasional light drizzle.

Walkers: Mickey Barrett, Tom Cunliffe, Colin Davison and Alan Hart, plus Tips.

B walkers: Lawrie Fairman, Tony Job, Peter Morrall, Ken Sparrow and Mike Walton.

Apologies: Peter Beal (narrow-boating), Nigel Crank (w*^king), George Dearsley (w*^king), John Laverick (funeral), Jock Rooney (supervising builder), Geoff Spurrell (hols), George Whaites (Spanish hols).

Leader: Davison. Diarist: Hart.

Starting point: Road near Angler’s Rest at Millers Dale, near Buxton.

Starting time: 9.56am. Finishing time: 2.30pm.

After a short delay while we waited for a bitch to arrive, Jock drove up and handed his border collie friend Tips to Colin. Jock was one of many apologists caused by a variety of circumstances, and the defection of Lawrie to the B team as a result of housemaid’s knee meant that they outnumbered the A team by 5-4.

The weather forecast predicted scattered showers, but we reached the halfway pub just in time to dodge one moderate shower shortly before noon, and then we observed a heavier one at 2.45pm from the shelter of our final watering hole.

Although we had been lucky to largely escape the rain, conditions underfoot were tricky with a combination of mud and limestone coated in algae. Tom was not a happy bunny, first swallowing a fly, then declaring his Perroni draught lager at The Devonshire Arms to be undrinkable, its replacement Guinness to be too warm, and the march through Monks Dale to be dreadful.

There is little doubt that the scenery in this part of the world, with wild orchids of purple and yellow adding a splash of colour to the green fields, is spectacular. Unfortunately, there is little chance to admire it on wet ground because you must concentrate on where you are placing your feet.

Wild flowers

More wild flowers

From the road leading to The Angler’s Rest, we walked up a flight of stairs opposite the water wheel to the main road, which we crossed and turned right, soon turning left uphill past Rock View. We turned sharply left at a wooden public footpath sign marked Limestone Way (4mins) and left again at a similar signpost to the right of a farmyard (8mins).

After going through one gate (14mins) we went through a second gate (21mins) and turned left. Our quartet crossed a lane and went straight ahead to the left of a cottage (33mins). Where the path divided we took the left fork (40mins).

Upon reaching a road we turned left into the hamlet of Wheston, turning right opposite Wheston Hall Farm (48mins) to follow a sign indicating Peak Forest three miles away.

By now, with 11am approaching, the talk turned once again to Tom’s urgent need to defecate. Some might say that discussion of bowel movements is a distasteful topic in any polite conversation, but especially as we were approaching Pietime. Your diarist couldn’t possibly comment. 

However, could he ask whether it is normal to be taken short in the countryside at the same time every week ? Answers on a postcard please.

On reaching a wooden footpath sign on our left (66mins), we followed a route slightly to the left of the road and headed through a field. After crossing the first of a series of stone step stiles leading to the road linking Sparrowpit with Chesterfield, we stopped for pies (70mins).

Continuing, we reached a wall in front of the road to Chesterfield (84mins), and turned left through a series of fields, trying to keep the road on our right. Eventually we turned right to emerge on the road with The Devonshire Arms in sight on our left (96mins).

Rain then began to fall but two minutes later we were beneath the smoker’s shelter at the back of the pub (98mins). It was 11.45am – 15 minutes before opening – but we had cause to thank the smoking ban which resulted in the creation of such covers and to Colin for mistiming our arrival by precisely the same margin as he had when leading us along the same route a year ago.

After leaving us standing outside while she attended to cleaning the floor, the landlady opened her doors at 12 noon sharp and Tom rushed past her with a dazzling display of speed in the direction of the toilets.

 Last time we called in The Devonshire the cask beer was cloudy and had to be sent back. This time they had run out, so Mickey and your diarist opted for bottles of Crabbies’ ginger beer at £2-50.

No shrinking violets

Despite the jeers of our comrades who accused us of “going all girly,” we agreed with the advertising campaign that it was “simply spiffing.”  After a long absence, Tom emerged from the gents looking lighter and with some colour in his cheeks. 

But his first taste of Peroni Italian lager soon took the smile off his face. The substitute draught Guinness he deemed to be not cold enough, so it was agreed that The Devonshire Arms should go on to a black list for not less than three decades.

Tom, happy, having emptied his bowels

Tom, glum, at the Peroni

Departing, we crossed the road opposite the pub and walked along a lane, passing a children’s playground on our left (102mins). We went over a stone step stile and through a farm marked “M.J.Barrett Construction” to make us wonder whether Mickey had added another acquisition to his business empire.

Continuing along the path through a series of fields, we saw examples of yellow and purple wild orchids and a blaze of bluebells in the woods to our left. After passing a sign for Hay Dale (129mins) we paused for lunch on a large rock. Resuming we followed the path until we reached a gate leading to a road (140mins).

Here we turned right along the road for 25 yards before turning left at a wooden public footpath sign, over a stone step stile. The route led us to a sign for Monks Dale (158mins) which we passed and continued along the path until it brought us into a wood comprising mostly hawthorn trees to the left of a river bed.

The mud and algae-covered limestone made conditions treacherous for more than a mile and we were relieved, after crossing a wooden footbridge to emerge unscathed from Monks Dale, descend a steep flight of steps and return to our cars (215mins).

After de-booting, we were soon enjoying  Adnams’ Southwold cask bitter or Wincle Brewery’s Life of Riley at £3 a pint. Jock arrived to claim Tips and join us, but at 2.50pm we were informed that any drinks ordered would have to be finished by 3pm when the pub closed.

Next week’s walk will start at 9.30am from the car park at Poynton Pool off Anglesey Drive. We shall be heading along the Ladybrook Trail into Lyme Park, passing The Cage and Lyme Hall before descending back to The Boar’s Head at Higher Poynton around 12.20pm. We will then continue our descent down Princes Incline, alongside Poynton Pool and return to the car park to de-boot before driving to The Bull’s Head, Poynton. We expect to arrive at 2.15pm.

 

Errwood Hall

ERRWOOD HALL CAR PARK, CROMFORD AND HIGH PEAK RAILWAY, BURBAGE EDGE, CAT AND FIDDLE, ERRWOOD RESERVOIR AND THE COCK AT WHALEY BRIDGE

Distance: Nine miles.

Difficulty: Mainly moderate but strenuous in parts.

Weather: Dry and cloudy with some sunshine but a cold wind.

Walkers: Peter Beal, Nigel Crank, Tom Cunliffe, Colin Davison, Lawrie Fairman, Alan Hart, John Laverick, Jock Rooney plus Tips, and Julian Ross.

B walkers: Tony Job and Mike Walton.

Apologies: Mickey Barrett (hols in South Lakes), George Dearsley (w*^king), Malc Halley (hols),Peter Morrall (abandoned), Ken Sparrow (hols) and George Whaites (hols in Spain).

Leaders: Fairman, Rooney and Beal. Diarist: Hart.

Starting point: Errwood Hall car park, overlooking Errwood Reservoir, near Whaley Bridge, Derbyshire.

Starting time: 9.46am. Finishing time: 2.17pm.

The start of the A walk was interrupted at its outset by the sound of sobbing down you diarist’s mobile phone. B walker Peter Morrall was weeping and wailing as he tried to relate the sad story of how he had turned up at Tony’s house to find that the master had left early, and then seen him sailing past The Kingfisher.

Despite Pete’s best efforts to flag him down they were like ships that pass in the night. Pete’s request for Tony’s mobile phone number was greeted with great hilarity by the A walkers, who know it to be not only immobile but permanently switched off.

How fortunate we are in the A team to be so well organised with no such misunderstandings !

The fate of the remnants of the B team remain unknown as we go to press, although Wally managed to get a message through at 1.15pm that they were enjoying Holts bitter in The Eagle at Buxton for £2 a pint.

As we set off, Peter B pointed to Goytsclough quarry where one of Poynton’s most celebrated sons started work in 1670. Thomas Pickford’s lands in the Adlington and Poynton area had been sequestered by the Parliamentarians at the end of the English Civil War because he had “co-operated” with the Royalists.

Mr Pickford later bought the quarry and used its limestone to repair roads. The business expanded until trains of up to 50 packhorses would carry slabs of stone from the quarry in specially-crafted panniers. Instead of returning empty, the shrewd Poyntonian arranged for his horses to carry goods to towns and villages on their way back to the quarry.

He thus diversified to become a carrier. By the 18^th century, his descendant James Pickford was known as the London-Manchester waggoner, charging customers a halfpenny a mile per cwt in the summer and three-farthings in the winter. Pickfords’ haulage and removal business is now one of the biggest in the UK with a multi-million pound turnover. 

From the car park, we turned right along the lane with Errwood Reservoir on our left. We turned left off the lane (5mins) to follow a footpath which first went down to the water’s edge and then ascended steeply (18mins) back to the lane, leading to mumblings in the lower ranks.

We descended again (23mins), this time to more purpose, as we crossed the pack horse bridge, climbed up the far side and followed a wooden footpath sign for Errwood (25mins). By this time Jock had replaced Lawrie as leader in an apparently bloodless coup.

Our bearded septuagenarian was striding out like a teenager as he and Tom broke away from the pack to set a fierce pace, following another sign for Errwood by turning left at a junction (47mins) and reaching the entrance to a tunnel which once took trains from the Cromford and High Peak railways under the hills for 500 yards. Here (75mins) we stopped for pietime.

Resuming we turned sharp left uphill with the tunnel on our left below before heading across open moorland to plunge down to a gate on our right (80mins). This time Peter B was leading as we went through the gate and up a steep hill with a wall on our left. This brought us to the Trig Point at Burbage Edge (95mins) after a gruelling climb.

After admiring the view of Buxton below us to our left, we continued to keep the wall to our left until the sight of the Cat and Fiddle could be seen to our right in the distance. We turned right (106mins) and aimed for the pub which proved to be deceptively further away than it looked.

After some zigging and zagging forwards and left, we reached a wooden stile and turned right (115mins). This brought us uphill to a road (148mins) where we turned right and reached The Cat and Fiddle on the left (151mins).

The pub is owned by Robinsons, but the new occupants were awaiting a delivery so we were obliged to try the Dizzy Blonde or the Elbow cask bitter at £3-20 a pint. It was in good form and the vault was surprisingly busy while the larger rooms were unoccupied.

From the pub we turned right to retrace our journey on the opposite side of the road until we reached a wooden public footpath sign and turned right (156mins). We bore right following a sign towards Shining Tor and Errwood (159mins) and began the steady descent down to the reservoir, stopping by a wall for lunch (168mins) and reaching our cars to deboot (195mins).

From Errwood we drove to The Cock at Whaley Bridge, where the Robinsons’ cask bitter was cloudy and had to be returned. We seemed destined to be deprived of our intake of Robbies, and so we opted once more for the Dizzy Blonde, this time at a more agreeable £2-80 a pint.

Next week’s walk will start at 9.55am from The Angler’s Rest at Millers Dale, near Buxton. We expect to arrive at The Devonshire Arms, Peak Forest, around 12.15pm and return to the Angler’s Rest by 2.45pm.

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.

Bollington

BOLLINGTON, WHITE NANCY, RAINOW

Distance: 8.5 miles

Difficulty: Easy

Weather: Overcast, showers, sunshine later.

Walkers: Alan Hart, John Laverick, Colin Davison, George Whaites, George Dearsley, Lawrie Fairman, Nigel Crank,

Apologies: Jock Rooney (wo^ki*g), Peter Beal (cruising), Tom Cunliffe (wo^ki*g), Julian Ross (dentist)

B Walkers: Geoff Spurrell, Tony Job, Mike Walton, Pete Morrall

Leader: Fairman Diarist: Dearsley

Starting Point: Main car park, Bollington

Starting Time: 9.30am. Finishing Time: 1.50pm

The Wanderers welcomed yet another new member, Nigel Crank, who has spent the last 27 years living abroad in Switzerland and latterly Portugal.

Coincidentally, many of the Wanderers would be catching a plane to Portugal the following day for some continental perambulation.

A keen skier, Nigel’s initiation to our Wednesday ramble was nevertheless a somewhat arduous one, asking him to climb to White Nancy and get soaked in a shower in the first hour.

Hopefully he will be back.

Having stocked up with the famous pies from F Smith’s, the local pie shop, our group moved off along the main street, past the church and eventually onto Cow Lane.

We were met by a South American looking gentleman on a bicycle, wearing tight fitting lycra, who attempted to enter into conversation with us.

There were entirely unsubstantiated suspicions that he might have been carrying some white powder, talcum obviously to prevent chapped inner thighs.

Waving the hombre farewell, we squeezed through the familiar stone stile and up some steps.

This is the Wanderers’ traditional route to White Nancy, which we reached by 10am.

Soon afterwards the rain, which the BBC website had adamantly insisted would not happen, began to fall, to the chagrin of Mr Hart, especially.

                                     It’s grim up North. Rain and wind during the first part of our walk

We took the usual path for a few hundred yards and then headed down hill to the main road, where we turned right and within a hundred yards or so swung left up some stone steps.

We crossed a number of fields and on reaching a metalled road turned right. This turned out to be Bull Hill Lane.

At the top is a T-junction and there we turned left.

There were further stone steps on the right and a sign denoting the Gritstone Trail.

This trail actually links Disley all the way to Kidsgrove, Staffordshire.

At 10.42am Pie Time was declared.

As if to show off to our newest recruit, Mr Fairman led us to not one but two fully operational picnic tables and in the absence of Tom Cunliffe a full  12 minutes of mastication was enjoyed.

I’m indebted to m’learned friend Mr Laverick, the application on whose smart phone informed him that to that point we had covered 2.8 miles at an average speed of 2.26 mph.

Our elevation had increased by 1000 feet and we had reached a high point of 1,288 feet.

We set off again at 10.54am, going through a gate and crossing a field as if heading for the 11 o’clock point.

We went over a stile and found ourselves on a road, where we turned left, passing Windy Way Animal Sanctuary on our left.

The sanctuary is part of the Windy Way Trust, initially a group of animal loving friends who formed into an organisation and gained charitable status in February 2005.

We joined a road and turned right.

A mere 50 yards further on we turned left and then diverted off the path to the left.

We went through a gate and turned sharp left.

At 11.25am the rain, which had stopped, began again.

We passed some tastefully renovated farm buildings, turned into dwellings and went over a stile to our left.

Our route took us to the Robin Hood which we reached at 12.01pm.

By now we had completed 5.8 miles with a maximum elevation of 1400 feet.

The B Walkers were not far behind us.

They had started in Bollington, headed along the High Street and walked via Kerridge to the hostelry.

The B Walkers’ exact route was shrouded in a fog of obfuscation and there was a scurrilous allegation that much of it may have involved bus travel.

Mr Walton, whose mobile phone has the same application as Mr Laverick’s, hinted that the B Walkers’ average speed had been around 25 mph, as he had not turned it off on public transport.

In the absence of a steward’s inquiry the allegation was left on file.

Meanwhile Black Sheep was £3 and Cheshire Cat £3.05

We left the pub at 12.55pm and turned right into Stocks Lane.

Traditionally we have taken the Virgin’s Path to the cars.

But today we went a different route.

We stopped for lunch at 12.59pm, setting off again at 1.08pm.

We turned left at Lower House Farm, which has a lot of history.

In fact if you would like to mug up on the history of the village of Rainow you can do so here.

http://www.rainow.org/TheStoryOfRainowRedux.pdf

For our final stretch the sun came out and we enjoyed the kind of weather one might expect in May. My photograph includes a pointer to White Nancy on the skyline.

We reached the cars at 1.50pm. Your diarist was sadly unable to join in the post walk frolics at the Dog and Partridge.

Next week’s walk will start from the Farmers Arms in Poynton, starting at 9.30am.  If you’re wondering where the apostrophe is even the pub’s own website has omitted it.

http://www.farmersarmspoynton.co.uk/

At the moment our putative leader Mr Laverick has not had time to work out where the half time stop will be but it could be the Boars Head or the Horse Shoe. Doubtless a plan will emerge from the uncertainty.

Whaley Bridge

WHALEY BRIDGE, THROSTLEDALE, SILK HILL FARM, BUGSWORTH BASIN, BRIERLEY GREEN, COTE BANK, CHINLEY CHURN, PEEP O DAY, VORPOSTEN FARM, THE ALDERS FARM, CHINLEY, THE OLD HALL AT WHITEHOUGH, PEAK FOREST TRAMWAY, THE PEAK FOREST CANAL, WHALEY BRIDGE BASIN AND THE COCK AT WHALEY BRIDGE

Distance: 11 miles.

Difficulty: Strenuous start; easy finish.

Weather: Blue skies and sunshine.

Walkers: Tom Cunliffe, Lawrie Fairman, Malcolm Halley, Alan Hart, Julian Ross, John Laverick and George Whaites.

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

Apologies: Micky Barrett (driving son to Oxford), Peter Beal (cruising Norwegian fjords), George Dearsley (w*^king), Jock Rooney (w*^king in South Africa).

Leader: Fairman. Diarist: Hart.

Starting point: Car park of The Cock, Whaley Bridge.

Starting time: 9.33am. Finishing time: 2.25pm.

A beautiful sunny day, magnificent Peak District scenery and stimulating, intelligent conversation. What more could a man want? And in the words of Meatloaf: two out of three ain’t bad.

The cold wind which had blighted some dry sunny days of late finally lost its bite, so we started the merry month of May with perfect walking conditions. Visibility was excellent as well so we were rewarded for our gruelling gradual ascent of Chinley Churn with some stunning views of the surrounding landscape.

From the car park we turned right towards Whaley Bridge town centre and then immediately right after the railway bridge to head up to the disused Cromford and High Peak railway line, where we turned left. We then turned right up Bings Lane (3mins) and right again at a narrow passage on our right marked with an easily-missed public footpath sign (4mins).

We reached a road and turned left uphill (6mins), heading left at a stone step stile marked with a wooden public footpath sign (11mins). This led us via two ladder stiles through Throstledale. After crossing a stone step stile (19mins) we entered a field, keeping a drystone wall to our left.

Exiting the field in its left corner, we turned right up a lane (23mins) passing Silk Hill Farm on our left. We went through the village of Bugsworth and crossed the roadbridge over the A6 (28mins) and passed a sundial on our left which had not been advanced to British Summer Time. Ahead was Bugsworth Canal Basin.

Buggy Basin, as it is known locally, is the head of navigation of the Peak Forest Canal. It was the largest and busiest inland port in Britain’s narrow canal system, and the only one to survive intact. As reported in last month’s diary, the 14-mile long Peak Forest Canal from Dukinfield to Bugsworth was engineered by Benjamin Outram.

Construction of the six-mile Peak Forest Tramway in 1795-6 linked the basin to the limestone and gritstone quarries which littered the area. Bugsworth thrived commercially until railway technology superseded canals.

We crossed to the far side of the basin and walked to the left of The Navigation Inn, a 200-year-old pub once owned by actress Pat Phoenix, before she became a soap legend as Coronation Street sex symbol Elsie Tanner.

After passing Buxworth Primary School on our right and Buxworth Basin Station on our left we reached cottages at Brierley Green where we turned left at a public footpath sign (37mins). Taking the right fork in the well-trodden path, we aimed for the Union Flag flying from Cote Bank.

As we neared the drystone wall ahead, your diarist pointed out a stone step stile which he had the temerity to suggest might be the best route. This suggestion was dismissed by our leader and derided by Tom, who reminded your scribe of his abysmal failings as a walk leader.

Ten minutes later, after taking advice from a woman hanging out her washing, Lawrie returned to the stone step stile and the correct route. Opposite the stone step stile was a wooden stile which led towards the flagpole in the garden of Cote Bank. We then ascended a flight of steps (56mins).

We went through a gate and turned right downhill (65mins) for 100 yards before turning left over a wooden stile at a public footpath sign (67mins). This was the start of a steady climb up Chinley Churn and its much-quarried promontory, Cracken Edge. After being diverted to the summit by a path closure following erosion, we paused for pies near the peak (87mins).

Our reward after the climb was well worth the effort.

Stunning views

Continuing, we passed a bench dedicated to Shirley Fidler (102mins) and had our attention drawn by our leader to the sight of a wheatear. These tiny songbirds, weighing less than an ounce, fly nearly 20,000 miles each year as they migrate from sub-Saharan Africa to their Arctic breeding grounds.

Moments later we saw another spectacular flier – an A380 Airbus, currently the world’s largest passenger plane which began service in 2007. This huge plane, of which 101 models are now flying, typically carries 525 passengers in first, business and economy, but is capable of carrying 853 passengers in economy only.

We left Chinley Churn by a gate (112mins) and headed gradually downhill to the impressive house called Peep o Day. The building was once used as a place of worship. It may be interesting to note that the Peep o Day Boys was a secret Protestant organisation active in Ireland in the 1780s and 1790s, which is believed to be the precursor of The Orange Order. They gained their name through their habit of calling on opponents at the first crack of dawn.

After reaching the road (123mins) we turned left for 100 yards before turning right at a public bridleway (126mins). We headed uphill and then turned right (129mins) to follow a wooden public footpath sign marked South Head.

We passed to the right of Vorposten Farm, which translates from German to The Outpost (141mins), and carried straight on until we reached a main road (159mins). After crossing the road and a wooden stile on the far side we kept going, passing The Alder Farm (169mins) and going through a tunnel beneath the Buxton-Manchester railway line (176mins).

Our group emerged at the end of Alders Lane and turned right (177mins) passing the Turnpike Chapel on our right on our way to Green Lane (181mins) where we turned left. We carried straight on following the sign for Whitehough and reached the Old Hall (189mins).

It was warm enough to sit outside with our pints of Marstons’ cask bitter in good form at a bargain £2-60 (Could we ever have imagined calling a £2-60 pint a bargain ? Ed).

Resuming, we walked downhill until we reached the route of the Peak Forest Tramway (192mins) and turned left. After stopping for lunch at a bridge over a stream on our right (202mins) we carried on and once again reached Buggy Basin. This time we passed the Navigation Inn on our right (213mins) and continued along the towpath with the Whaley Bridge branch of the canal on our left.

Using footbridge 37, we crossed to the other bank (225mins) and proceeded to Whaley Bridge Basin (234mins). By carrying straight on ahead, we passed Tom Brads Croft car park and rejoined the disused Cromford and High Peak railway route, passing Bings Road on our left and The Shepherd’s Arms on our right.

Retracing our footsteps we dropped back to the main road by the side of the railway bridge, turned left and reached our cars (240mins).

We were joined in The Cock belatedly by the B-teamers, who had missed their bus from Tunstead Milton. They had caught a bus originally at Torkington Park to Doveholes, from where they had walked through Martinside and passed Eaves Hall on their way to The Roebuck at Chapel-en-le-Frith. After pints of Tetleys and Black Sheep at £2-70, they had arrived at Tunstead Milton via Lydgate, a journey totalling just under six miles.

Next week’s walk will start from the free car park opposite The Spinners Arms in Bollington at 9.30am. We will be seeking to mount White Nancy before performing a figure-eight route around Rainow, reaching the Robin Hood in that village around 12.30pm. We anticipate returning to deboot and drive 250 yards to The Dog and Partridge, arriving about 2