Whitehough

March 4, 2015

WHITEHOUGH, CHINLEY, CRACKEN EDGE, PEEP O' DAY, MOUNT FAMINE, LAMB INN, MAYNESTONE ROAD, CHINLEY, OLD HALL INN AT WHITEHOUGH

Distance: 8 miles

Difficulty: Moderate Ascent/descent: 1,700 ft

Weather: Dull, cold but dry

Walkers: Peter Beal, Steve Courtney, Colin Davison, Laurie Fairman, Alan Hart, Jock Rooney and Tips, George Whaites

Apologies: Tom Cunliffe (knee), Micky Barrett (foot), John Jones (chest)

Leader: Fairman Diarist: Beal (adaptation of original work by Hart)

Starting point: Old Hall Inn at Whitehough, near Chinley

Starting time: 9.35am Finishing time: 1.50pm

Leaden skies and a cold northerly wind dominated throughout our circuit of Ashen Clough, the wide valley that stretches down from Peep O' Day to Chinley.

However, cheerful banter and an excellent halfway stop at the welcoming Lamb Inn made for a good day's walk enjoyed by our party of seven.

The early badinage centred on the previous week's excursion, during which Colin and Laurie appeared to be eager to pass responsibility to each other for a foray up the slopes of Kinder Low, leading to the group missing their planned drink stop at the distant Lamb Inn.

But this was soon forgotten - for at least a minute, before Laurie led the party first left, then right, then left again from the Old Mill car park before deciding on our route down the road towards Chinley.

We descended on the road to cross Black Brook before continuing up the slope to Chinley Village, past a block of apartrments at Squirrel Green, formerly the Squirrels pub and later the Princes Hotel (10 minutes).

At the bridge over the railway line, in front of the war memorial, we turned left in to Maynestone Road. The railway played a major role in Chapel's development, and in fact the village was named after the station - previously it was known as Maynestonefield or Four Lanes End. The station became a major junction on the Hope Valley line, and it was common in Victorian times to change trains here en route to Manchester, Sheffield or London.

We next turned left from the road up a narrow footpath (15 min) and crossed a stile to climb steeply through a field towards Cracken Edge. A short eroded path brought us to the crest of the slope, where at a fence we turned right along the flanks of Cracken Edge. We climbed steadily before turning left up a bridleway, which Laurie correctly surmised had been engineered for the use of workers at the extensive quarries, now disused, that stretch along the Edge.

At a junction of paths our parties split. Laurie led the main group straight on along a path across a badly-eroded slope that a few months before had been closed due to its state. It turned out there were no real problems, although it could prove tricky if descending.

Your diarist, Colin and George took a path up the hill to the left before swinging right along the top of the ridge towards the prominent landmark of Big Stone.

We dropped down towards the main track and passed on our right the partially-restored farmstead of Whiterakes before descending further to Peep O' Day, where our two groups were reunited and pie-time was declared (78 min).

After a 12-minute pause we continued to the nearby Glossop to Chapel road and turned left for 100 yards before taking a bridleway to the right next to a house. The track wound up past a small quarry before emerging at a larger bridleway (86 min).

Here we decided we were running ahead of schedule for our planned arrival at the Lamb Inn, so our leader agreed to a suggestion that we take in the heights of Mount Famine. We went straight ahead through a gate and followed the path to emerge at a saddle on the ridge linking Hayfield and the summit.

Here we turned right to a ladder stile (93 min) which we crossed to begin the shortish but very steep climb to the summit ridge. We reached the summit at 1552 feet with its splendid views (105 min) and dropped down to the track with the peak of South Head in front of us (113 min). Here we turned right and soon came to a metal gate, immediately after which we climbed a stone stile on the left to descend sharply.

We veered right to join a path across a field, joining a track leading down to a path that led to a makeshift gate and steps that brought us back to the Glossop to Chapel road a short distance from the Lamb Inn, which we reached - as correctly predicted by our leader - at 12 noon on the dot (133 min).

Pints of Cornish Knocker (£2.90) were consumed. Alan (aged 69 going on 15) could not resist the schoolboyish order of 'a pair of knockers please', which caused much schoolgirlish sniggering and giggling from the manageress, not herself in the first flush of youth to put it kindly.

Steve, the youngest of our members, caused further ribaldry by ordering an Old Man (jokes on a postcard please).

The only downside to this splendid establishment is that it appears to be the only watering hole known to us where you have to take your boots off to go for a pee.

Refreshed, we crossed again the main road and joined a track immediately opposite taking us down to the hamlet of Monk's Meadows. Here we turned left (138 min) and through a gate on to a path through four fields that could politely be described as quagmires and more accurately as Fifty Shades of S***.

Alan correctly pointed out that most of this is caused by irresponsible farmers letting livestock loose on perfectly good fields and churning it up to the detriment of country-lovers. It should be stopped.

At a final stile we turned right through a field above a brook where we took lunch on a mercifully-dry grassy knoll (153 min).

We crossed the brook by a stone footbridge and climbed up the hill to rejoin Maynestone Road (163 min). We turned left, reached the point at which earlier we had climbed to Cracken Edge and retraced our steps along the road to the Old Hall (191 min).

Marston's Bitter was on form at £2.80 a pint. Sadly there were none of their many brands of cask ales leading themselves to smutty jokes, but Colin stepped in to the breach by ordering a pint of Directionless (£2.95). Much mirth ensued and further comment would be superfluous.

Pictures below by Colin

Next week's walk will start from the Ring o' Bells in Marple at 9.30 am. A refreshment stop is planned at the Dandy Cock in Disley at 12.15 pm, with a finish back at the Ring o' Bells at 2.15 pm.

Alan wishes it to be known that there is a quiz at Poynton Sports Club at 8pm on Friday, March 13, to which Wanderers are cordially invited. Teams are up to six people. Alan has devised and is presenting this quiz and indeed has drawn up the questions. Participants are advised to swot up on the French extentialist poets and (more likely) Manchester United (1927-2015).

Happy wandering.

Hayfield

Bizarrely, two rival diaries were submitted for this walk....

HAYFIELD,TUNSTEAD,KINDER RESEVOIR, MARPIECE WOOD, WHITE BROW, WILLIAMS CLOUGH, BRADSHAWS, UPPER HOUSE, BREAD CLOUGH, KINDER LOW, COLDWELL CLOUGH, KINDER LODGE HAYFIELD           Distance: 9 miles.

Difficulty: Moderate to HARD.

Weather: misty with cloud and later sunshine.

Walkers: Colin Davison, Laurie Fairman, Jock Rooney with Tips, Julian Ross and George Whaites Steve and Kieran Rooney.

B Walkers: Tony Job, and Ken Sparrow.

Apologies: Mickey Barrett (ankle injury), Peter Beal (in North Wales) and George Dearsley (in Turkey) Alan Hart and Tom Cunliffe (both on a cultural tour of York)

Leader: Davison. Diarist: Fairman

Starting point: Street parking at Hayfield.

Starting time: 9.45am. Finishing time: 2.00pm.

No day has more exemplified our motto than this day.
If I can remind you it is "firm of purpose, flexible in execution "
Or
"If you get lost don't let on, just make for the nearest pub"
The day started well, the rain stopped the hills shrouded in cloud
gave every indication that the gloom was temporary. Parking no
problem in Church Clough.We located Steve and Julian in Valley Way as we headed towards Kinder reservoir Soon we passed the empty (except for one hardy soul) camp site and
turned right up the hill your writer assuming wrongly that we were
heading for South Head. No such luck the leader had his heart set on walking round the reservoir to give the mist a chance to lift.

Thus we changed course (more of the consequences of this decision
later) up the hill to Tunstead house and a left to appropriately
named Hill houses
Following the path northwards we reached the path above Kinder
Reservoir at Marpiece Wood rising to White brow which skirted the
reservoir bringing us to the bottom of Williams Clough footbridge were
at 10.45am stopped for the tea/coffee break about 2.5 miles covered.
Sadly with no port to cheer us and no Tom to bully us we set off at
11.00am following the footpath to Blacks haws  and on to the brook
crossing at Upper House
Note at this stage we were following obvious footpaths, few of which
are rights of way so are not shown on our leaders floppy thing.
Then the CLIMB of the day up the hill above Bread Clough due south
past Kinder Low
Reaching the brow of the hill (see Colin’s photo) your writer was
dismayed to find that at 12.01pm the mist had lifted and across the moor
and a deep valley was the imposing sight of South Head and Famine
Ridge.
Why the dismay? Only that our objective - The Lamb Inn was the other
side of that 1300ft ridge some 4km distance as the crow flies but not
being crows (we did see a raven) I realised would be about 7km and
another very steep climb.
Our leader -bless him - was more concerned in ensuring the pies an
peas were ordered on his mobile and the rest headed for Edale Cross.
Finally your writer pursued him to get out the floppy thing and
offered the advice that it would take at least 1 1/2 hrs to reach the
Lamb pub and as it was now 12 20pm the pies would be pretty cold by the
time we got to Edale at about 3.30pm
Colin continued to catch up the others George and I went straight down
through the heather to pick up the bridle track leading to Coldwell
Clough. An awful rubble strewn bridle track. A real ankle turner.

Ah well we had had a lovely walk and your writer remembered the
Sportsman Inn would be open so we followed the road down to the Quarry
and eventually reached the Sportsman at 1.15pm. The Thwaites bitter at
£3 a pint tasted like the nectar of the gods

Finally we made it to Kinder Lodge pub, Edale at 2pm where Colin and Ken bought the
beer and we were served hot pies, mushy peas, chips, gravy and French
bread- marvellous - well done Colin and Ken

Perhaps Colin should concentrate on party organisation rather than
leading walks! Sorry couldn’t resist it - you still are an invaluable leader, Ms Davison

Next week in the true spirit of Wednesday Wanderers we will make another attempt to assault the Lamb Inn this time taking it by surprise from the west. Thus we will gather at the Old Hallcar park at 9.35am and if we find the Lamb return at about 2.15pm

Hayfield, Hill Houses, Booth, White Brow, Upper Moor, Kinder Low End, Oaken Clough, Coldwell Clough, Bowden Bridge, Hayfield

Distance: 9 miles.

Difficulty: Difficult.

Weather: Dry, cloud level about 1000ft until noon clearing to high clouds and sunshine.

Walkers: Steve Courtney , Colin Davison, Lawrie Fairman, Jock Rooney, Kieran Rooney & Tip, Julian Ross, George Whaites.

B walkers: Tony Job, Ken Sparrow, Geoff Spurell.

Apologies: Alan Hart (carousing with Cunliffe), Mickey Barrett (sore ankle), TomCunliffe (high jinx with Hart), John Jones (chest infection)

Leader: Fairman. Diarist: Davison.

Starting point: Valley Road, Hayfield.

Starting time: 9.41am. Finishing time: 2.08pm.

An alternative ‘Magnificent Seven’ set out in poor conditions for this walk and there were signs when we reached higher ground that we might be seeing the last of the snow for 2015. Most of it had already thawed and the few patches remaining could soon disappear if temperatures continue to rise.

Low cloud engendered our decision to stay low for as long as possible to give it time to lift and assess our situation as we went along. The Wanderer’s motto: ‘Firm in endeavour, flexible in execution’.

Sterling efforts by Kieran as back marker meant our group stayed largely together today until the usual impetuosity for the pub resulted in staggered arrivals at our first watering hole. But we finished in unison and joined the three-man B team at journey’s end.

With a glut of Birthdays occurring this week, the Wanderers were treated to Pies, Peas and Chips in addition to the customary Pint courtesy of Ken, Julian and your diarist.

We followed Valley Road up the river Sett past the quarry where the way becomes a footpath. Beyond the National Trust campsite at Bowden Bridge, the Kinder meets the Sett which we still followed to our right. 200 yards further on we turned hard left at a 4 way junction towards Hill Houses. The oldest cottage has a date of 1723 inscribed over its door.

The track continues along the contour to Booth then drops to meet the road to Farlands and Upper House where we turned left for a few yards then right through a gate to follow the path beside the river Kinder towards the Reservoir. Crossing the footbridge over the river, we passed through the little gate beside the waterworks and climbed the cobbled bridleway to White Brow.

Despite the low cloud, perhaps 100ft above us, the view across the water was still captivating. Having paused for breath and landscape appreciation, we continued along the side of the reservoir to William Clough where Pie Time was announced by our leader at 10.45am. Not for the first time, the absence of our portly chums enjoying themselves in York was noted with regret.

We crossed the stream by a footbridge and circuited the reservoir to our right. Having crossed the river Kinder and Upper Moor, we forded the stream at Broad Clough and headed straight up the steep ascent opposite to Kinder Low End.

As we climbed towards the base of the cloud layer, it began to part and shift as if to our will. Distant moors became visible and shafts of sunlight played across spurs of rock and heather. At our approach, the mists shrouding Kinder Low parted like ragged curtains. Your diarist fumbled for his camera and urged the Wanderers to group for a photo. But alas nature was not impressed and the curtains closed again to leave the vision a memory only.

Having made the climb, the next part of the path along the ridge to Oaken Clough (the bridleway up to Hollins Cross) was the most pleasant part. Where these meet at Stony Ford, we turned right to descend the bridleway which led us to Bowden Bridge. Here we turned left along the main road for about 400 yards to the Sportsman where we drank pints of Thwaite’s bitter.

Leaving the Sportsman we continued along the road to Hayfield where we turned left down the steps and across the Sett via the bridge. To the left of the Church, the path brought us to the bypass, which we crossed, then left through the car park to the Kinder Lodge. Here we met the ‘B’ team.

Next week’s walk will start from The Old Hall at a Whitehough at 9.30am, from where we will attempt to go via Chinley Churn to The Lamb at Chinley Head for about 12.20pm before finishing atThe Old Hall, at around 2.30pm.

Happy wandering !

Brabyns Park

BRABYNS PARK, MARPLE BRIDGE, MILL BROW, LUDWORTH MOOR, GUN FARM, ROBIN HOOD’S PICKING RODS, COWN EDGE, RINGSTONES FARM, SHILOH HALL FARM, HILL TOP FARM, THE DEVONSHIRE ARMS AT MELLOR, DAMSTEAD FARM, LINNET CLOUGH SCOUT CAMP, PRESCOTT OLD HALL FARM, RUINS OF MELLOR MILL, THE NORFOLK ARMS AT MARPLE BRIDGE

Distance: 11 miles.

Difficulty: Moderate.

Weather: Dry with cloud and sunshine.

Walkers: Tom Cunliffe, Colin Davison, Lawrie Fairman, Alan Hart, John Jones, Jock Rooney with Tips, Julian Ross and George Whaites.

B Walkers: Tony Job, Malcolm Smith and Ken Sparrow.

Apologies: Mickey Barrett (ankle injury), Peter Beal (in North Wales) and George Dearsley (in Turkey)

Leader: Davison. Diarist: Hart.

Starting point: Free car park at Brabyns Park, Marple Bridge.

Starting time: 9.34am. Finishing time: 2.50pm.

Those of us who complained in the early part of this walk about excessive use of roadways will have been reminded of the old adage: be careful what you wish for !

On the car journey to the starting point, our leader had already declared himself to be suffering from labyrinthitis  - an ear infection which causes deafness and affects the sense of balance. It also seems to cause people to go in the wrong direction.

After travelling for more than a mile on tarmac we were then led along a series of muddy paths and through boggy fields as our leader once again tried in vain to convert what he saw on his map into reality. It was unkindly suggested that if you gave Colin a stick with a mirror on it, he would be unable to find his own bottom. (This was not the precise wording)

As a consequence of our perambulations we often went off-piste in search of the correct paths, so it is not possible (nor would we wish to) instruct future generations how to copy our route. What follows, therefore, is a vague description of how we came to reach both our main targets more than half an hour behind schedule after travelling further than anticipated.

Brabyns park is Marple’s largest and was once the estate attached to Brabyns Hall. It was opened to the public in 1947.

From its car park we went right, returning to the main road from Marple, and turned left before crossing the road and turning right with The Norfolk Arms on our left. This took us past The Royal Scot and we turned left up Hollins Lane (6mins)

After passing St Mary’s RC Church on our left we reached Ley Lane and turned right (25mins) This took us past The Hare and Hounds at Mill Brow on our left (29mins) and Sycamore Farm on our right. Shortly after the farm we turned left (33mins) to leave tarmac for the first time by following a wooden public footpath sign into a field.

A yellow arrow informed us we were walking along Cown Edge Way. We followed another sign for Cown Edge via Ludworth Moor and passed Hollywoods Cottage on our left (41mins) We followed a green public footpath sign for Cown Edge and reached a lane where we turned right (47mins) Then we turned left up a rocky path, ignoring a wooden public footpath sign on our right.

This led us to a farmyard where we carried straight on (59mins) We had already spotted a kestrel seeking to gain height for a hunting expedition and now we reached marshy ground where three snipe took off ahead of us. We meandered in various directions before reaching what appeared to be a flat tombstone just in front of a wooden stile. It was a memorial to Charles Heathcote (1944-2006)

After crossing the stile we walked through Gun Farm (77mins), passing a dead sheep as we exited by going through a metal gate into a field. Here we stopped (86mins) for pies and, for some of us, Crabbies’ green ginger mac.

From the field we headed diagonally left, crossed a ladder stile (96mins) and turned right. This brought us to two large stones known as Robin Hood’s Picking Stones (101mins).

These are twin Saxon cross shafts, once called the Maidenstones. Legend says that name comes from the days when young men came to pick their wives from a gathering of local girls. (No internet dating in those days). It is believed they may have been used as ancient boundary markers but the Robin Hood connection has been lost in the mists of time.

We continued along the path past the stones and turned right through a gate (106mins) This took us through a farm which we exited by a gate (111mins) before crossing a wooden stile (119mins) We ignored a path on our right and carried straight on but then veered off to the right and back to a gate leading into a farm

We went to the left of the farm (128mins), crossed a footbridge (134mins) and through a gate towards Ringstones Farm (136mins) We turned left, reached a road (145mins) and turned right. This brought us to The Childrens Inn.

Built in the 17^th Century as a coaching inn, it was converted into a holiday property for children in 1926 and is managed by Girl Guiding, Stockport.

We turned left opposite the building by crossing a wooden and stone step stile into a field and following the public footpath sign right. We followed a white arrow to the right of a farmhouse (151mins) and reached the former Moorfield Arms (153mins)

This was the pub where Frank Dudley celebrated his 90^th birthday, but it is now closed and a planning application has been made to build four houses here.

We passed Shiloh Hall Farm, built in 1729, on our right (158mins)and turned right through a gate to follow a green public footpath sign (161mins) We crossed a wooden stile (162mins), a stone step stile (164mins) and another stone step stile to reach a lane (167mins) where we turned right. This brought us to another lane where we turned right again (168mins), passing Hill Top Farm on our right.

We reached a road and turned right (172mins) to reach The Oddfellows Arms (176mins) It came as no surprise to your diarist to find in closed, so we reverted to our back-up plan which was to continue downhill to The Devonshire Arms at Mellor (181mins). There we joined the B walkers, including debutant Malcolm Smith, a friend of Ken.

Julian, in anticipation of his 54^th birthday, insisted on buying a round of Robbies’ bitter at £3-20 and mild at £3-10. There was little resistance and we wish him many happy returns.

From the front door of the pub it is possible to cross the road and be at Linnet Clough scout camp after a 15-minute stroll. We chose to turn right downhill and arrived at the camp 41 minutes later ! To reach it we turned right and walked downhill for 200 yards before turning left at a public footpath sign which led down a flight of steps (185mins)

We passed two ponds on our left and headed uphill over a stone step stile to reach a lane. Turning right downhill (190mins) we then turned right again at a wooden public footpath sign (192mins) We swung left passing Damstead Farm on our left (199mins) then paused for lunch (210mins)

Resuming we crossed a footbridge over a stream and passed a go-kart track to reach the outward bound centre at Linnet Clough (215mins) We turned right to follow the bridleway to Marple Bridge (216mins) This took us past Prescott Old Hall Farm on our left (227mins) and the old mill lodge known as North Lake on our right.

We turned right into Bottoms Mill Road (231mins) where the ruins of Mellor Mill were being excavated by an archaeological  dig on our right. Mellor Mill was built by Samuel Oldknow after he bought the Bottoms Hall Estate in 1788. He diverted the course of the River Goyt to power the machinery in what was the largest cotton spinning mill of its time. It employed thousands of workers over several generations until it was destroyed in a spectacular fire in 1892.

We continued along Bottoms Mill Road until it changed its name to Low Lea Road (235mins). At the end of the road (245mins) we turned left, passing The Royal Scot on our right before arriving at long last at The Norfolk Arms (247mins) where a variety of cask beers were available.

Next week’s walk will start at 9.40am from Valley Road, Hayfield, calling at The Lamb in Chinley around 12.15pm. It is anticipated that the walk will finish about 2.20pm, followed by pies, peas and pints at The Kinder Lodge, Hayfield, at 2.30 pm in a triple celebration of birthdays for Julian, Ken and Colin.

Would those intending to attend please let Colin know not later than the night before so he can instruct the caterers.

Happy wandering !

Whaley Bridge

February 11, 2015.

WHALEY BRIDGE, CROMFORD AND HIGH PEAK RAILWAY LINE (DISUSED), ST JAMES CHURCH, TAXAL, OVERTON HALL FARM, WINDGATHER ROCKS, PYM CHAIR, FERNILEE RESERVOIR, THE SHADY OAK AT FERNILEE, SHALL CROSS AND THE WHITE HART AT WHALEY BRIDGE

Distance: 10 miles.

Difficulty: Moderate.

Weather: Dry, mostly cloudy with occasional sunshine.

Walkers: Peter Beal, Tom Cunliffe, Colin Davison, Lawrie Fairman, Alan Hart, John Jones and George Whaites.

B walkers: Tony Job and Ken Sparrow.

Apologies: Mickey Barrett (sore ankle), Jock Rooney (sore back) and Julian Ross (now w*^king four days a month).

Leader: Fairman. Diarist: Hart.

Starting point: Canal Street Free Car Park, Whaley Bridge.

Starting time: 9.38am. Finishing time: 2.37pm.

The Magnificent Seven set out in ideal conditions for this walk and there were signs when we reached higher ground that we might be seeing the last of the snow for 2015. Most of it had already thawed and the remainder could soon disappear if temperatures continue to rise.

Different walking paces, and a slightly different route, resulted in staggered arrivals at our first watering hole by the A team. But we finished in unison and joined the two-man B team at journey’s end.

En route we had seen a pair of llamas, heard the carpentry work of a woodpecker and the warbling of a songthrush, and been ambushed by a motley pack of dogs, of which more later.

From the car park we exited via a swing bridge over the River Goyt to follow the route of the former Cromford and High Peak railway line. In days of yore this had brought quarried stone from the hills down to Whaley Bridge Basin at the start of the Peak Forest Canal for further transportation  by barge.

Our path took us past a pair of curious llamas in a field on our left and a shrine to a young man called Steven O’Riordan, who went missing after being last seen at that point in 2011. After diverting briefly to the main road, passing The Cock and then returning to the path, we continued until just before the start of the Shallcross Incline Greenway to follow a wooden public footpath sign on our right.

This brought us to a children’s playground, which we crossed to enter a passageway leading to a road. We turned right and descended to the end of Mevril Road and crossed the main road (23mins) to follow the path indicated by a wooden public footpath sign.

This led to a footbridge over the Goyt (28mins) and a steep climb to reach St James Church at Taxal on our right. Here we turned left (32mins) and ignored our usual route over a stile immediately on our right, continuing along the lane. This took us past Overton Hall Farm on our right (51mins).

We crossed a lane (57mins) and followed a wooden public footpath sign which took us uphill to a four-way junction of footpaths. The route ahead led to Blackhillgate Farm, but we turned left and then right over a ladder stile to take a path on the right of a wood (64mins)

As we made our way through the wood with a drystone wall on our right, a pack of seven dogs came running towards us. There was some snarling and baring of teeth (by John) as the animals abandoned their two dog-walkers and rushed towards us. There was a massive Tibetan mastiff, a German Shepherd, a bulldog, two Labradors, a Jack Russell and a seventh dog of unknown parentage.

Our intrepid demeanour and stiff upper lips were enough to dissuade them from any violence on this occasion although John rightly informed the dog-walkers that animals on a public footpath should be kept under proper control.

When we exited the wood (70mins) we turned left uphill towards Windgather Rocks which we reached (77mins) and walked along the ridge until we came to a sheltered sheep fold where we stopped for Pietime (82mins)

Your diarist’s attempt to produce a flask of port was thwarted by the fact that he had failed to swap back the flask for a camera he had taken on holiday the week before. A sobering lack of thought !

Continuing afterwards, we left the path to walk along the road to the plaque for Pym Chair (102mins) This was the name given to a group of rocks where, according to legend, either a highwayman or a priest came to rob or preach to passers-by.

Our original plan had been to turn right towards Saltersford and thence through Dunge Valley to Kettleshulme for refreshment at The Swan. However the majority chose another option of turning left towards Buxton and having a livener in The Shady Oak at Fernilee. We all headed downhill in the direction of Buxton with John remarking how he had fond memories of walking in this area many years ago, knowing the terrain, as he put it, “like the back of my hand”.

This was the source of some amusement later when he took the wrong path, leading a gullible Tom on a short cut which enabled them to reach the pub ten minutes later than anyone else.

Your diarist and the other four had descended beyond the dam dividing Fernilee and Errwood reservoirs (134mins) and on the far side turning left at a wooden public footpath sign (137mins) This led down to a path with Fernilee Reservoir on its left. At the end of the lake (156mins) we swung right and then left to head uphill to a main road (162mins)

A left turn brought us to The Shady Oak on our right (171mins) Apart from bringing us amusement with his late arrival, John also brought another smile to our faces by buying a round of drinks to mark his birthday. Many happy returns.

The English Pale Ale was in excellent form and Tom declared it to be “a snip” at £3-40 a pint.

On leaving the pub we turned right and immediately right again to head uphill to Elnor Lane (173mins) We turned left downhill and reached Shall Cross (179mins) where we stopped for lunch.

Shall Cross is an 8th Century stone relic dedicated to St Paulius, Archbishop of York. When the Danes invaded the area they called it a shacklecross because of its resemblance to the shackle pin on a horse-drawn cart. It stood at this site for 1,000 years, although the cross stone on top of the square-chamfered end disappeared during the Danish invasion.

In the 19th Century it was moved to Fernilee Hall before being returned to its original site.

Continuing after lunch, we proceeded down Elnor Lane before turning left into Shallcross Road (181mins) On the right (182mins) was Shallcross Incline Greenway, the continuation of the disused Cromford and High Peak Railway line.

A plaque there informed us that this was once the site of Shallcross Hall, a three-storey Georgian house overlooking the Goyt Valley. It was built in 1691 and survived until 1967 when it was demolished after a fire. It had been the home of John Shallcross, who became High Sheriff of Derbyshire.

When we exited the Greenway we retraced our former footsteps along the disused railway line to reach the centre of Whaley Bridge and the White Hart (209mins) Pints of Blonde Witch at £3-30 were in good form.

Next week’s walk will start from Brabyns Park Car Park at Marple Bridge at 9.30am, from where we will attempt to go via Cown Edge to The Oddfellows at Mellor for about 12.20pm before finishing at The Norfolk Arms, Marple Bridge, at around 2.15pm.

Photos below by Tom Cunliffe

The following week (February 25) there will be a triple birthday celebration marked with pies, peas and pints at the Kinder Lodge, Hayfield, courtesy of Colin, Ken and Julian. Would those planning to attend please inform Colin (07889-998528) not less than the night beforehand so he can inform the caterers ?

Happy wandering !

Little Hayfield

February 4, 2015

LITTLE HAYFIELD, PARK HALL, MIDDLE MOOR, CARR MEADOW, HOLLINGWORTH HEAD,  KNARRS FARM, MATLEY MOOR, LITTLE MILL AT ROWARTH, LANESIDE FARM, LANTERN PIKE RIDGE, LANTERN PIKE INN AT LITTLE HAYFIELD

Distance: 8 miles​Ascent/descent: 1,755 ft

Difficulty: Moderate, tricky in snow and ice

Weather: Cold but sunny and clear

Walkers: Peter Beal, Colin Davison, George Whaites

Apologies: Micky Barrett, Tom Cunliffe, Julian Ross (all in a meeting), Laurie Fairman (Spain), Alan Hart (domestic chores following Benidorm trip), Jock Rooney (dodgy back)

Non-walking drinker: Hart

Leader: None needed​Diarist: Beal

Starting time: 9.40am​Finishing time: 2.20pm

Various commitments restricted the number of Wanderers to three, which was a great shame as the small band enjoyed blue skies, sometimes warm sunshine, and spectacular views of the snow-covered Dark Peak, and in particular the Kinder Scout plateau.

The paths underfoot bore testimony to the freeze that has now had the area in its grip for a week, resulting in some stretches of walking on firm snow, but in others on treacherous ice that claimed one of our number as its victim.

We completed a familiar circuit of the Hollingworth Clough Valley from the Lantern Pike Inn in Little Hayfield, leaving at least one of our party to muse that it was not the first time that landlord Tom had masterminded a route only to stage a no-show. His absence however was more than compensated for by a large bowl of chips.

We turned right from the pub and after a short distance crossed the Hayfield-Glossop road to enter the grounds of Park Hall, a wooded estate formerly the home of local-boy-made-good Joseph Hague, who started life as an itinerant boy pedlar, wandering the hills with his goods in a basket or on his back, until he made enough to buy a donkey.

In 1716 Hague went to London and made his fortune from imported cotton. It was also suggested a fair bit of his fortune came from the sale of loincloths to West African tribes in exchange for slaves. When he was 80 he bought Park Hall and became a country gentleman and benefactor. His bust is in Hayfield Church nearby.

A track took us through the estate to a gate (10min) and out on to Middle Moor, where a sign told us that work was still ongoing to rid the moorland of rampant rhodedendrons threatening the heather habitat.

We carried on up a narrow and eroded track through the heather, emerging on the Snake Path, which links Hayfield with the Snake Inn pub on the Glossop-Sheffield road(30min).

Here we turned left on the frozen but well-defined track and soon reached two white shooting cabins occasionally used by grouse hunters(40min).

We turned left over a wooden bridge spanning an area of bog and continued over the open moor, soon dropping down to cross a pronounced clough (60min). We dropped down on an eroded path covered in snow and ice to reach a bridge over Hollingworth Clough at Carr Meadow(70min).

We slanted right up a concessionary path not marked on the Ordnance Survey maps and on reaching a small quarry, whose materials are used for local drystone-walling, we declared pie-time (79min). In the absence of Tom and mainly because of the warm sunshine this lasted an unprecedented 18 minutes.

The refreshed Wanderers continued up the track to emerge at a stile at Hollingworth Head on the Hayfield-Glossop road(92min). We crossed the road and continued opposite along the minor road to Charlesworth known locally as the Monks' Road.

A short distance along here Colin led us off on a short track to one side to reveal a hollowed-out stone, almost covered in snow and undergrowth, but with a small sign declaring it to be the "Abbott's Chair".

Research reveals this was probably the socket base of a former monastic cross - the Charlesworth Cross. It was a boundary cross built by the monks of Basingwerk Abbey in North Wales, who were given the manor of Glossop by Henry 11. The monks, who gained a market charter for Glossop in 1290, used the road to reach Hayfield and surrounding villages. They eventually leased all of Glossopdale to the Earls of Shrewsbury.

A short distance further on we took a track to the left. At a fork we bore right and came to snowbound Knarrs Farm (102min). Here a stile to the right of the farmstead took us in to a field, where we carried on downhill to another stile and crossed another field to bring us out at a ramshackle barn on a minor lane(113min).

We turned left downhill here, past Kings Clough Head Farm on the right, and reached the end of the tarmac (124min). We went through a gate on to a track and reached a stream forded with the help of large stones while Colin waited expectantly, camera poised, for either your diarist or George to fall in.

With a bitterly disappointed Colin we bore left to follow the stream over normally boggy, but now largely frozen, ground before reaching a bridge on the left, which we crossed on to a farm track. We turned right through a ford and took a stile on the left along a path which brought us soon to the remote hamlet of Rowarth. We turned left then immediately right down an enclosed path which brought us past some cottages on the right to emerge opposite the Little Mill Inn (150min).

Fears that the pub might not be open because of the freeze were dispelled when the cheery Scottish manager told us that the local beer-loving farmers had ensured the lane that links it to the outside world had it cleared within hours of the snow falling.

He was looking after the pub while the tenants were on holiday. He responded to Colin's good-natured banter about frugal Scotsman by telling him: "You know what a Yorkshireman is - he's a Scotsman without his wallet." His Jennings' Cockle Warmer was £3-15 a pint.

We left and turned right to take the road to Laneside Farm (156min), where we continued up a rocky track, the bottom stretches of which were coated with ice. It was here that George took a tumble - an incident captured on camera by a gleeful Colin in no less than three images.

We continued up the track until it levelled out and reached a junction (176min), where we turned sharp left to reach a gate at the end of the Lantern Pike ridge (186min). From here we enjoyed magnificent views of the snow-clad Kinder plateau reflecting the sun.

We continued along the ridge and, where it dropped down to a gate leading the summit of the Pike, bore left to reach a stile, which we crossed to descend a path with Hey Wood on our left. This soon brought us to a stile in front of a  cottage (226min) and we took another stile immediately to the left to drop down through a snow-covered field to Clough Mill (231min). From here a short walk up the lane brought us to the Lantern Pike Inn at 2.20pm (236min).

Tom was still absent but Stella looked after us with pints of Theakston's Black Bull Bitter (£3-20) and a huge welcoming bowl of excellent chips.

Photos below by Colin Davison

Next week's walk will start at 9.35am at the Peak Forest canal basin in Whaley Bridge. There is a free car park alongside. Refreshments will be taken en route at the Swan at Kettleshulme around 12.15pm and back at the White Hart in Whaley at 2.15pm.

Bollington

BOLLINGTON, WHITE NANCY, KERRIDGE, BULL HILL LANE, WALKER BARN, GUNSHAW HOLLOW, BERRISTAL ROAD,  THORNSETT FARM, ROBIN HOOD AT RAINOW, OAKENBANK, DOG AND PARTRIDGE AT RAINOW.

Distance: 8 miles​​Ascent/descent: 1650 ft

Difficulty: Moderate

Weather: Cold and windy with occasional snow and hail showers

Walkers: Peter Beal. Tom Cunliffe, Colin Davison, Laurie Fairman, George Whaites

Apologies: Micky Barrett (dodgy foot), Alan Hart (Benidorm), Jock Rooney (dodgy back), Julian Ross (w^*king)

Leaders: Davison and Fairman

Starting point: Free car park opposite Spinners' Arms, Bollington

Starting time: 9.40 am​Finishing time: 2.15pm

Lashing rain and fierce winds earlier in the morning failed to deter the five Wanderers who arrived at Bollington and escaped with nothing worse than occasional snow and hail showers, although one of which it has to be said was particularly vicious.

The wet underfoot conditions made going tricky at times and three of our number went base over apex at various points in the walk.

Our original plan to ascend Charles Head and follow the exposed concessionary ridge path over Broad Moss was abandoned in view of the wind and the weather forecast.

Instead we decided to follow a more sheltered route which however started with an ascent to White Nancy and Kerridge.

We commenced with our customary visit to Smith's Orgasmic Pie Shop (all pies £1-35) and continued up the road to turn right into Church Street past the Tullis Russell factory. We then took a left turn up the steep Lord Street. At the top we continued straight on up a flight of stone steps, through a gate and followed a stone-flagged path with occasional flights of steps, climbing steadily.

We reached a road and immediately took a track to the left past Redway House, which Laurie informed us used to be the Redway Inn. Research shows it closed its doors finally in 2003.

We followed the concrete track before taking a steep path to the right, following a rocky staircase to emerge at White Nancy (28min).

Some mystery surrounds this 18-foot high sandstone monument, built in 1817 by John Gaskell Jr of North End Farm, whose family lived at nearby Ingersley Hall.

Local folklore has it, perhaps because of the date, that work on it started to commemorate Wellington's victory at Waterloo. But in fact the structure, now Grade 11 listed, once boasted a doorway and interior with benches and a stone table. So Mr Gaskell could have had it erected merely as a folly or summerhouse.

It's name is perceived locally to come from the carthorse which led the team used to transport building materials up the hill. But a more mundane explanation is that it was named after one of his daughters.

Whichever is true, he did not call it White Nancy - in fact until 1925 the structure remained unpainted in any colour.

Our visit found it enhanced with a giant red poppy to mark last year's Centenary Remembrance and the fourth verse of RL Binyon's poem For the Fallen (the verse that starts "They shall grow not old"...etc.)

We sheltered in the lee of the monument for some minutes in the vain hope that the snowclouds looming over Macclesfield would somehow blow away but eventually girded our loins and headed amid snow flurries south along Kerridge, a 1,000-foot high imposing ridge. 

Following the route of the Gritstone Trail, the 35-mile-long route linkng Disley with Kidsgrove, we continued with a wall on our right, then our left, then right again, before reaching a Gritstone Trail sign pointing left down towards Rainow (48 min).

We followed this parth briefly before striking right on a muddy path along the flank of Kerridge, before descending to reach the B5470 Whaley Bridge to Macclesfield road just south of Rainow (73 min).

We turned briefly right towards Macclesfield before taking a stile (one of what seemed like a record number on this walk) on the left. This brought us quickly to the tarmac of Bull Hill Lane, where at a handily-placed wall outside the converted farmhouse of Carlofold pie-time was declared (78 min). There was sadly no port as Mr Hart was otherwise detained in the sunny climes of Benidorm. How he would have wished to be here instead.

A mere 9 minutes later the sergeant-major-like tones of Tom Cunliffe urged us onwards and we continued up the lane to its junction with the A537 Buxton to Macclesfield Road, where we turned left then immediately right over a stile in to a field. Somewhere round here loud and merciless laughter from Tom announced that Colin had become the first faller of the day. He was followed not too long after by Laurie.

We were on the Gritstone Trail again here, on a path that would have brought us shortly to Tegg's Nose Country Park. But at the top of the first field we turned left (92 min), along a wall (more stiles), emerging at two cottages called Brink Farm, where the first of our party were confronted by three noisy, bad tempered dogs - only one of them on a lead - before they were called off by their surly owner.

We continued along a track to soon reach the Buxton to Macclesfield road again (101 min). Here we turned right along the pavement and reached Walker Barn, one of whose buildings used to be the Setter Dog pub.

Research failed to reveal when this shut but it was certainly open as recently as nine years ago.

Here we took a stile on the left and dropped down through fields in to Gunshaw Hollow (110 min). At the bottom we took a path to the left, running above the stream and with the main road above us on the left. Here your diarist took an unseen tumble to which he owned up afterwards.

The path took us through Horder Farm, briefly along a track, then down a path to the left where three fields further on we reached Berristal Road, a former farm track now metalled and serving the works at Lamaload Reservoir a mile to the east (124 min).

We crossed this and dropped in to the valley of the River Dean, which emerges from the reservoir and flows towards Bollington. We followed a path uphill to the left and skirted buildings at Thornsett Farm to join a track.

Ahead of us we could see the roof of the Methodist Chapel that marked our goal of the Robin Hood pub opposite, on the Whaley to Macclesfield road. The only beer on offer was Jennings Cumberland (£3-15), which was pronounced as of indifferent quality. Tom's sandwich - albeit with extra chips - took an eternity to arrive, served by the solitary member of staff, so some members of the party were forced to have a second pint.

It was the general opinion, shared by our expert on such matters, Tom, that the evidence was that this establishment might not be long for this world.

Leaving the pub we eschewed our normal route to Bollington along the Virgin's Path and instead turned right along the lane at the rear of the pub, soon to reach its junction with Oakenbank Lane on the left (181 mins). We turned up the lane and after a short distance had a brief lunch stop in the lee of a drystone wall.

The fine if muddy track brought us to the hamlet of Oakenbank, where it became tarmac, and dropped us down to a minor road at a three-way junction.

Here a brief but fierce hailstorm was blowing directly in to our faces and we were glad ro reach our objective of the Poachers pub (198 min). Sadly relief was not to be had here - the lights inside were blazing in a welcoming way but the door had just shut at a rather unseemly 2.06pm

We continued in improving weather down to Bollington and reached the car park at 2.15 pm. Laurie and George departed for home and warmth while your temporary diarist and Tom and Colin sought the shelter of the Dog and Partridge, where Robinson's Dizzy Blonde and Unicorn Bitter were both £2-80.

Photos below by Colin Davison

Next week's walk will start at the Lantern Pike Inn at Little Hayfield at 9.40am. We intend to walk over Chunal and stop for refreshment at the Little Mill Inn at Rowarth at around 12.15 pm, returning to the Lantern Pike at 2.15pm. Tom will be providing free beer for all those partcipating. There will also be a competition to guess which bit of this paragraph I just made up.