Rowarth

LITTLE MILL ROWARTH, KNARRS FARM, BURNT HILL, CARR MEADOW, PARK HALL, LANTERN PIKE INN AT LITTLE HAYFIELD, THORNSETT, HIGHER HARTHILL FARM, ROWARTH

Distance: 11.31 Kms or 7 miles, alternatively 15869 tc steps

Difficulty: Mostly easy but with one stiffish climb.

Weather:  Bit of a chill, around Zero degrees but pleasant since lots of sunshine, blue skies and no wind.

Walkers: Alastair Cairns, Tom Cunliffe, Allan Duckworth (Stinky New Boy), Chris Owen, Mark Gibby, Julian Ross

Apologies: George Dearsley, George Whaites (fog and mist in Worsley), Alan Hart (mincing in Barbados), Mike Barrett (swanning round South Africa), Hugh Hardiman (visiting mother), Peter Beal (wintering in Las Palmas), Steve Kemp et al

Secondments: Colin Davison, Laurie Fairman – seconded to the Knacard Amblers

Leader and Diarist: Tom Cunliffe.

Starting point: Little Mill at Rowarth.

Starting time: 10:00am. Finishing time: 2.30pm.

Sadly your diarist wasn’t able to bring Daisy along to join us as the Veterinary Practice in Glossop has issued a warning about a recent case of Alabama Dog Rot in the area, a deadly disease with no known cure. If you want to know more click on this link: https://www.countryfile.com/news/guide-to-alabama-rot-dog-disease-how-to-spot-the-signs-and-protect-your-dog/ 

Our departure time was originally set for 9:40, however, the challenging weather appears to have been more challenging to some than others as everyone arrived on time except Mr Gibby, who made his appearance 20 minutes late. Mr Gibby may be a miscreant but he’s our miscreant and so he was permitted to join us so long as he promised not to show us pictures of his recent colonic irrigation procedure (or what ever it was he had) or give us any horse racing tips. He acquiesced.

Today we welcome some new blood in the form of stinky new boy – one Allan Duckworth, a Macc Lad colleague of Chris who’d had the dubious pleasure of managing Chris during part of his footballing career.  Allan enjoyed his wander and our company so much he signed up for our forthcoming Polish trip organised by Tom’s Unrivalled Rambling Destinations. Our touring group now stands at 13 (unlucky or what?).

Weather wise it couldn’t be better, a cloudless sky with bright, gleaming sunshine, coolish temperatures and no wind made for a very pleasant wander.  There was snow all around us and in the words of a famous King “the snow lay round about deep and crisp and even” If you know the identity of this famous King, bravo and answers on a post card please.

 So we set off clad in multi layers of warm clothing trying to warm up after our extended wait. The route we took is the reverse (clockwise) of the walk we typically start from the Lantern Pike in an anti-clockwise direction. At 11:00 am Pie Time was declared at the footbridge, which crosses the Sett River at Carr Meadow. Continuing along the path up hill and before reaching the Shooting Cabin, we came across a track on the right which took us down to Park hall Woods.  

Reaching the Lantern pike at 12:01 our hearts sank as the front door was closed, as we stood around thinking about our next move, Chris (landlady), opened the front door and welcomed us. Phew!We were our served our drinks of choice and our group re-convened around the coal fire. Five minutes later Laurie and Colin joined us. Their amble had started in Hayfield, up over twenty trees then down to Little Hayfield and the Lantern Pike.

It was noted, with much dismay, as I looked around and observed that only three out the eight WW were drinking beer (and very good beer is was too). As your diarist sat there listening to a whole host of excuses/reasons why they were drinking lime and soda I couldn’t help but think about Bob Dylan “Oh the times they are a changing”!

Readying ourselves for the final leg to our starting point, we left the pub and headed down hill along Clough Lane, passing Clough Mill on our right we entered Primrose Lane and picked up the footpath at the end of the lane. 

We carried on ignoring the left fork to the giggle-gaggle emerging on to Stich Lane. Heading up hill and turning right down a metalled road which turned in to rough rack heading down hill to the Little Mill. 

After quaffing a variety of liquids served in glasses and ceramic we departed

Next week’s wander will start from the road opposite the Wincle Brewery in Danebridge at 9:30am

  

Happy wandering !

                                                                               Pictures by Colin

Pictures by Tom

Rained off!

January 16th  2019.

Diarist: Tom and Daisy

Our plan was to convene at the Little Mill at Rowarth at 9:30am returning around 2:00pm. In the end the walk was postponed until next Wednesday 23rd.

In the words of the immortal Rabbie Burns  “the best-laid schemes o’ Mice an’ Men gang aft agley” and so it proved a truism as our planned walk was thwarted by the inclement weather, as one by one the A walkers decided to absence themselves.

However, the so-called A Team, whose reputation is now in tatters, were upstaged by the newly formed “Knacard Team,”  a collection invalids and convalescents, who duly met at Colin’s house and had a joyous walk in Disley and its environs. Bravo!

Details of next week's walk below....

BREAKING NEWS (by Alan Hart).  I think it the attendance of Lawrie Fairman among the ranks of the depleted A team should also be recorded.

Perhaps the blog would want to fall short of mentioning this was yet another example in a lengthening list of occasions when Tom has organised an event, only to fail to attend himself.

For the record the B team also had a walk in which Tony Job, Geoff Spurrell and Barry Williams participated. It involved a bus ride from Hazel Grove to Newtown; a walk to the Soldier Dick at Furness Vale; a walk to Whaley Bridge for pies; and a bus ride back to The Rising Sun in Hazel Grove for final pints. 

Before

After

Next week’s walk

So to remind you chaps – Next Weeks walk will start from The Little Mill at Rowarth at 9:40 with half time refreshments at the Lantern Pike returning to the Little Mill for 2:00ish

Happy Wandering

Dean Row

January 9, 2019.

DEAN ROW, HANDFORTH, VICAR FARM, BOLLIN VALLEY TRAIL, MOTTRAM HALL GOLF COURSE, BULLS HEAD AT MOTTRAM ST ANDREW, LEGH OLD HALL, WOODEND FARM HOUSE, LOWER GADHOLE FARM, THE ADMIRAL RODNEY AT PRESTBURY, BOLLIN VALLEY TRAIL, PRESTBURY WATER TREATMENT PLANT AND THE UNICORN AT DEAN ROW

Distance: 9-10 miles.

Difficulty: Easy.

Weather: Frosty, sunny start, remaining dry.

Walkers: Tom Cunliffe with Daisy, Colin Davison, Lawrie Fairman, Hughie Hardiman, Alan Hart, Chris Owen, Julian Ross and George Whaites.

B walkers: Phil Burslem, George Fraser, Tony Job, Terry Jowett, Geoff Spurrell and Barry Williams.

Apologies: Mickey Barrett (Antipodean hols), Peter Beal (La Palma hols), Alastair Cairns (w*^king), George Dearsley (in Turkey), Mark Gibby (medical tests) and Jock Rooney (unhappy with chosen route)

 Leaders: Various. Diarist: Hart.

Starting point: Rear car park of The Unicorn at Dean Row, Handforth, Wilmslow.

Starting time: 9.39am. Finishing time: 2.35pm.

A cold and frosty morning gave way to wintry sunshine and the best sort of weather we could expect at this time of the year. Despite pessimistic forecasts from some quarters there were no muddy patches to avoid and a handsome turnout – if one can use that adjective in the circumstances.

Entertainment was provided by Daisy, who gave a passable imitation of Bambi on a frozen pond; by a lady golfer who made Tom an offer he found hard to refuse; and by Julian, who managed to arrest an escaping dog whose owner seemed reluctant to have him returned: more of these tales later.

We also enjoyed pints of excellent cask bitter in a traditional British pub, and further refreshment in an old but refurbished inn where we were served by a glamorous barmaid with an exotic East European accent.

The chosen route, which was predominantly flat, had the added advantage of encouraging our recovering comrades to join us. As an added bonus we encountered our chums from the B team at both watering holes to swap yarns.

From The Unicorn car park we turned right for 100 yards and then turned right again at the roundabout. After 200 yards we turned right yet again at a public footpath sign and followed the track to Vicar Farm. Ducks and geese scattered as we walked through the farmyard and crossed a wooden stile before heading right downhill.

As we swung left at the end of a copse of trees on our left Daisy decided to drink some water on a frozen pond. As a miniature poodle Daisy is a lightweight but the ice was melting and in she went. We waited in vain for Tom to plunge into the icy waters and rescue the maiden in distress. Instead he urged Daisy to rescue herself with words of encouragement. Although unscathed she was soon shivering and Tom spent half an hour thawing her out inside a pouch he created in his coat.

On reaching a palatial rebuilt farmhouse on our left, we turned right following yellow arrows and emerged through a metal kissing gate at a road next to a bridge over the River Bollin. We turned right over the bridge and immediately left at a sign marked Bollin Valley Way. This took us along the right bank of the river, up a flight of steps and across a farm-track.

A wide path with hedges each side took us to the left of a mansion and towards Mottram Hall Golf Course. Soon after we entered the grounds a woman shouted “Fore” and her golf ball landed a few yards from Tom. He pointed to where the ball had landed under a tree. “Can you put it in a nice place for me ?”, the lady inquired to a round of sniggers.

The public footpath kept us to the left edge of the course, passing a soccer training pitch and at one stage leaving the ground to walk by the side of a wood before we re-entered the grounds and crossed the course. We exited the grounds to the right of a substantial cottage and followed a lane down to a main road.

We crossed with The Bulls Head pub on our left and went down Priest Lane for 50 yards before turning left at a sign for Rose Cottage. After 20 yards we turned left again at a wooden public footpath sign and followed paths leading through bushes, over stiles and to the left of a pretty pink cottage before reaching a flight of steps where we paused for pies, port and humbugs (99mins)

Resuming we walked for 20 yards and turned left back to the main road. Diagonally opposite to the left we followed a driveway which took us past Legh Old Hall on the left. At the end of this cul de sac there was a yellow arrow on a passage on our left which led through a field. We crossed a stile on our left marked with a yellow arrow and crossed fields to emerge at Woodland Farm House (116mins)

We walked to the right of the building and swung right again at Lower Gadhole Farm  where the public footpath led us through a series of paddocks and stables. We proceeded to reach a bridge over the River Bollin (130mins), which we crossed and turned right along the Bollin Vally Way.

As we reached the outskirts of Prestbury, a dog trailing a lead sprinted past us and for once Julian made an effective tackle and a citizen’s arrest. The pursuing owner, far from being grateful for the intervention, grumbled about the dog being “a bloody nuisance” and took the proffered lead without a word of thanks.

We continued into Prestbury, turning left at The Village Club and entering the rear of The Admiral Rodney on our right (139mins). The six B-teamers were already in situ having commandeered the best seats in the house. We joined them for excellent pints of Robbies’ Unicorn at £3-60 and a friendly welcome from the landlord.

Some of the Latin scholars among our group pondered the inscription Non Generant Aquilae Columbas on the pub wall. This means “Eagles do not breed doves” and was the motto of HMS Rodney, the Nelson-class battleship which, like the pub, was named after one of our famous sea lords.

Built at the Cammell Laird shipyard in Birkenhead and launched in 1925, she weighed 33,000 tons, was 710 feet long and capable of 23 knots (26mph). Her finest hour came in May, 1941, when she played a major role in sinking the feared German battleship Bismarck some 400 miles off the French coast at Brest. HMS Rodney was sold for scrap in 1948.

Leaving our pals behind, we continued by retracing our steps back to the right bank of the River Bollin. Instead of re-crossing the bridge we carried along the picturesque riverbank. The sylvan scene on our left was soon in sharp contrast to the sight on our right of the Prestbury Water Treatment Plant, which covers some 600 yards in length.

We noted that the rotating sprinklers above the tanks were motionless – something of a rarity in a sewage farm.

After passing the treatment works we paused for lunch (169mins) before continuing to a footbridge (173mins) on our left which we used to cross the Bollin and re-enter Mottram Golf Course. From here we once again retraced our footsteps back to The Unicorn car park to deboot (225mins)

Inside the guest cask ale, Rambler, from the Wincle Brewery, was £3-63 and served by a bubbly blonde barmaid with a dazzling smile and the sort of accent which sent James Bond weak at the knees.  

Next week’s walk will start at 9.40am from The Little Mill Inn at Rowarth. Tom will lead the troops to The Lantern Pike at Little Hayfield, where he was the landlord until two years ago. He expects to arrive around 12.10pm for a bracer and return to The Little Mill Inn for a final slurp at about 2.30pm.

Happy wandering !

Furness Vale

January 2, 2019.

THE SOLDIER DICK AT FURNESS VALE, RINGSTONE CARAVAN PARK, THE DIPPING STONES ON WHALEY MOOR, COCK KNOLL, LYME PARK, LYME CAGE, PARKGATE, RED LANE, ST MARY’S PARISH CHURCH AT DISLEY, THE DANDY COCK AT DISLEY, HAGG BANK, THE PEAK FOREST CANAL, SWIZZELS-MATLOW FACTORY AT NEW MILLS, FURNESS VALE MARINA AND THE SOLDIER DICK

Distance: 8 miles.

Difficulty: Easy after initial steady climb.

Weather: Dry and bright but chilly.

Walkers: Peter Beal *, Tom Cunliffe with Daisy, Mark Gibby and Alan Hart.

Apologies: Mickey Barrett (Australian hols), Alastair Cairns (hiking in Lake District), George Dearsley (in Turkey), Hughie Hardiman (filial duties), Julian Ross (taking down Xmas decorations !!), George Whaites.

Leader and diarist: Hart.

Starting point: Car park of The Soldier Dick on A6 at Furness Vale.

Starting time: 9.36am. Finishing time: 2.25pm.

The festive season appeared to have taken its toll on the numbers participating in this walk, with only three starters and four finishers, of which more later. Some apologies for absence were more acceptable than others and some members were simply absent. One suspects constitutional fragility might be responsible as a result of over-indulgence.

Those who did assemble were rewarded with exceptionally fine weather, with wintry sunshine, good visibility, little wind and temperatures above freezing point. In the absence of regular leaders our options were restricted, which is why we chose what has become known as The Phallic Route. Starting at The Soldier Dick we made a steady climb south-west towards Lyme Park before dropping down to The Dandy Cock in Disley for a bracer before returning along The Peak Forest Canal towpath to The Soldier Dick at Furness Vale.

As we strolled across the Derbyshire-Cheshire borders we saw glimpses of history over the centuries before enjoying excellent pints of cask bitter or, in the case of Mark, lime and soda and coffee. During the last leg of our journey we met Peter, who had been freed from domestic duties and had skilfully planned to intercept and join us for our final pints.

From The Soldier Dick we headed towards Buxton for 50 yards before turning right past The Imperial Chinese restaurant into Yeardsley Lane. This was the start of a long and steady climb towards Lyme Park. We swung right at the entrance to Ringstones Caravan Park (9mins) and after the lane swung left we went to the right of a farm, passing stables as we went through a metal gate (15mins)

As we entered a field we turned right, keeping a drystone wall on our right, and crossing a wooden stile to reach a road (29mins). To our right was The Murder Stone, the scene of a 19^th Century robbery in which three men killed a merchant they had followed from Whaley Bridge. One was caught in Macclesfield, and hanged himself while in custody. A second was arrested as he tried to board a ship in Liverpool. He was convicted and hanged. The third robber is still at large !

Instead of making a half-mile diversion to visit the stone commemorating the incident, we turned left for 50 yards and then went right by a gate with a sign demanding “No Sledging.” This confused Tom who thought it was an instruction to Aussie cricketers.

We followed the sign for Bowstones and Lyme Park and reached a wooden stile on our right (39mins). We chose not to continue for a further 50 yards to inspect The Dipping Stones which had been used during the 17^th Century when Bubonic Plague was sweeping Europe for the exchange of food for money. The stones had been carved to create indentations where coins from those in infected areas could be left soaked in vinegar to protect those in unaffected areas who left food.

We crossed the stile and proceeded across Whaley Moor, going over a stone step stile (46mins), a ladder stile (52mins) and a footbridge (61mins) to reach a road. We crossed this and followed a green footpath sign which led us towards Cock Knoll and Lyme Park. After crossing another road and two wooden stiles we reached a drystone wall (76mins)

Here we climbed a stone step stile and immediately turned right over a ladder stile to enter a wood inside Lyme Park where we paused for Pietime. Tragically your diarist had failed to replenish his supply of port and scarcely had enough to provide a thimbleful for himself.

We continued through the wood, exiting via a ladder stile (83mins) and then headed for Lyme Cage. In the 19^th Century this was used as a hunting lodge and also contained a cell where poachers could be detained. We reached the cage (105mins) and admired the panoramic views before turning right along the ridge before dropping down towards the entrance hut.

We walked to the right of the hut and exited through a gate into Red Lane (122mins). At a fork (133mins) we turned right to visit the grounds of  St Mary’s Church, Disley.

 The original church was intended as a chantry chapel for the fifth Sir Piers Legh of Lyme. It was built between 1527 and 1558 but he died before completion. The graves containing the bodies of several generations of the Legh family, who owned Lyme Hall and its park for six centuries, are on a mound to the right of the cemetery. Inside the church itself is a floor memorial to Joseph Watson, the park keeper at Lyme for 64 years, who died in 1753 aged 104.

We exited the churchyard back into Red Lane and turned right to reach the A6, where we turned right towards Buxton. After 100 yards we reached The Dandy Cock on our left (134mins) and enjoyed pints of Robbies’ Unicorn cask bitter at £3-20.

Suitably refreshed we turned right out of the door of the pub and right again down Hollinwood Lane past Hagg Bank Allotments on our left before turning left at Sherbrooke Road (140mins). This led us to the right bank of The Peak Forest Canal where we turned right (142mins). On reaching Bridge 26 we crossed to the left bank and stopped at a bench for lunch (147mins)

Continuing we soon spotted a familiar figure walking towards us. Peter did a swift about-turn and joined us as we passed the Swizzels-Matlow sweet factory at New Mills on our left (167mins). We passed Peter’s narrow-boat, Hot Metal, at Furness Vale Marina before exiting the canal at Bridge 31 (192mins) and turning right over the canal.

We turned right again at the first road and followed a footpath sign on our left to follow a path under the Manchester-Buxton railway line which brought us out opposite The Soldier Dick (195mins). The Wainwrights’ cask bitter at £3-10 was in top form.

In the hope of encouraging some of our ailing comrades to join us, next week’s easy walk will start at 9.30am from the rear car park of The Unicorn at Dean Row, Handforth. We aim to reach The Admiral Rodney at Prestbury for a livener around noon before returning to The Unicorn at about 2.15pm.

Happy wandering !  

Poynton Pool

December 19, 2018.

POYNTON POOL, MIDDLEWOOD WAY, MACCLESFIELD CANAL, THE BOAR'S HEAD AT HIGHER POYNTON, DAVENPORT GOLF COURSE, PRINCES INCLINE AND THE KINGFISHER WETHERSPOONS AT POYNTON

Distance: 4-7 miles.

Difficulty: Easy.

Weather: Dry and mild.

Walkers: Peter Beal, Alastair Cairns, Colin Davison, Lawrie Fairman, Mark Gibby, Alan Hart, Tony Job, John Jones, Terry Jowett, Chris Owen, Jock Rooney with Tip, Ken Sparrow, Geoff Spurrell, George Whaites and Barry Williams.

Apologies: Mickey Barrett, George Dearsley and Hughie Hardiman.

Leaders: Various. Diarist: Hart.

Starting point: 68, London Road North, Poynton.

Starting time: 10am onwards. Finishing time: 2pm onwards.

For the second week of traditional seasonal celebrations we were rewarded with fine weather and a large turn-out. This annual fixture, starting with bacon butties, mince pies and mulled wine from your diarist's house, has always been slightly chaotic and anarchic. This was no exception.

There was a welcome return to the fold by John Jones, who had not developed a noticeable sailor's roll since he opted for the life of a jolly jack tar on his narrowboat.

In contrast there was the end of an era at our first watering hole, The Boar's Head, where Gordon Yoxall had departed after two decades as landlord. Gordon will be sadly missed for the quality of his home-cooked food which saw the pub packed every lunchtime.

On this occasion the vault was packed with Wednesday Wanderers, but the lounge was sparsely populated. We were given a warm welcome but it was ironical, in this technicological age, that neither the barmaid, nor the chef, nor the landlord possessed sufficient expertise to be able to turn off the TV !

After our unusual breakfasts of butties, pies and wine, we formed into separate groups, heading off in different directions at different times with one firm purpose in mind – to reach The Boar's Head shortly after it opened at noon.

Nobody will be surprised to learn that despite setting off last after clearing up, your diarist was first through the pub door a nano-second after it opened. It is to the credit of the new incumbents that the Black Sheep bitter at £3-20 was in fine fettle from the first pint.

Once again we departed in various factions and directions as we headed for the Kingfisher Wetherspoons for our final pints of the afternoon. Nobody could complain about the price (from  £1-99 for Ruddles) or the variety of the cask bitters available.

But was it really necessary to inform Jock he must not leave his gentle collie Tip tied up outside the pub ? There may be good and widely-accepted reasons for barring dogs from inside pubs where the provision of meals is important. So at Wetherspoons in Poynton you cannot bring your pets inside or leave them outside. Your views on a postcard please.

As next Wednesday falls on Boxing Day there will be no organised walk for the Wednesday Wanderers, although individuals may of course make private arrangements with their chums.

There will, however, be the usual walk on Tuesday, New Year's Day, from Poynton Sports Club car park at 10.30am. This is the day when not only the gentle sex but other family members and friends are invited to join us for a return walk to The Miners Arms at Wood Lane Ends, Adlington, and where any spare mince pies, yule logs and tins of dates are shared around.

Happy wandering !

Torkington

December 12, 2018.

TORKINGTON PARK, HAZEL GROVE GOLF COURSE, OAKFIELD FARM, MIDDLEWOOD WAY, MACCLESFIELD CANAL, MARPLE RIDGE, CLOUGH BRIDGE, PEAK FOREST CANAL, BARLOW WOOD, GOYT VALLEY, ROMAN BRIDGE, ROMAN LAKES, MELLOR MILL, BEECHWOOD MANOR, RING O’ BELLS AT MARPLE, MACCLESFIELD CANAL, MARPLE GOLF COURSE, STOCKPORT GOLF COURSE, TORKINGTON MANOR AND THE THREE TUNNES AT HAZEL GROVE

Distance: Eight miles.

Difficulty: Easy.

Weather: Dry with cloud and sunshine.

Walkers: Peter Beal, Alastair Cairns, Tom Cunliffe, Mark Gibby, Alan Hart, Chris Owen, Jock Rooney, Julian Ross, George Whaites.

B walkers: Phil Burslem, Tony Job, Ken Sparrow, Geoff Spurrell, Barry Williams, Terry Jowett.

Recovering invalids: Colin Davison, Lawrie Fairman, Steve Kemp.

Non-walking drinkers: George Dearsley, Hughie Hardiman, Charlie Yates.

Apologies: Mickey Barrett (hols), George Fraser (watching nativity play), Mark Kean (supervising resurfacing of driveway)

Leader: Beal. Diarist: Hart.

Starting point: Free car park at Torkington Park, Hazel Grove.

Starting time: 9.48am. Finishing time: 2.15pm.

Unseasonably mild weather produced a record number of Wednesday Wanderers for our annual Christmas lunch outing. There were also a record number of categories as the fit, the lame, and the mentally retarded joined forces to celebrate Yuletide.

Only one absentee allowed religion to creep into the festivities as the rest entered into the true spirit of Christmas with excessive eating and drinking.

There was also a cameo performance from Jose, the Portuguese chef, who did a magnificent reprise of Manuel from Fawlty Towers. When he emerged from the kitchen to apologise for the delays experienced by some diners, he earned a round of applause which would have been even louder if he had concluded: “I know nothing.”

We were delighted to be joined at the final watering hole by George Dearsley, our blogsite founder, who has now made his home in Turkey and was paying a visit to Blighty. It was also great to see Steve Kemp again. He was looking remarkably chirpy after his recent medical problems.

Peter had devised a route to Marple which was basically flat because of the absence of hills between there and Hazel Grove. On these occasions timing is the first priority and we were able to arrive on time for the meal even if the meal was not on time for us. In defence of the catering department it has to be said that some of our group would make Basil Fawlty appear normal.

From the car park we left via a soccer pitch and a series of alleys which led us through suburban streets until we followed a footpath which went through a tunnel beneath the Hope Valley railway line (11mins). We turned left up a lane which led us into Hazel Grove golf course and past its clubhouse (17mins)

We left the grounds (27mins) and turned left towards Oakfield Farm. This path brought us to the Middlewood Way where we turned left (30mins) towards Marple before turning right up steps to cross a wooden stile (37mins). We crossed two wooden stiles (41mins), a main road (47mins) and the Macclesfield Canal (52mins)

After walking through two metal gates and crossing a wooden stile we reached Kitling Ridge, apartments which had until recently been a pub called The Romper at Marple Ridge. We passed the building on our left and as the road swung left we carried on into Hollinwood Lane (70mins). At a drystone wall we stopped for pies and port (74mins)

Resuming we crossed the Peak Forest Canal by Clough Bridge (78mins) and took a path to the right of the towpath which swung away from the waterway on our left. We crossed a main road (82mins) and headed downhill through Barlow Wood to cross Roman Bridge over the River Goyt (87mins)

On the far bank we turned left, passing Roman Lakes to reach the site of a once mighty mill at Bottoms Mill Road (102mins)

Mellor Mill was built between 1790 and 1793 by Samuel Oldknow, a Stockport-based businessman. Constructed in Palladian style it was six storeys high and 400 feet long. The Goyt was diverted to power its looms, providing employment for hundreds of local men, women and children. It was destroyed by fire in 1892. Oldknow (1756-1828) was a principal promoter of the Peak Forest Canal and Tramway which supplied limestone and coal to a battery of limekilns he built in Marple.

We passed the remains of the mill on our right as we carried on past Bottoms Mill Road, passing Beechwood Manor on our right (110mins) and crossing into Oldknow Road (112mins). This brought us to the towpath at the side of the Peak Forest Canal. We walked along it, with the canal on our left to Bridge 1 where it joins the Macclesfield Canal.

We left the canal at this bridge to reach the Ring O’ Bells pub (121mins) on schedule at 12.03pm. The Robbie’s Unicorn cask bitter went down well and, in Jock’s case, often.

Continuing we returned to the Macclesfield Canal, walking along the towpath to its right, and leaving after Bridge 4 to enter Marple Golf Course (134mins). After crossing The Middlewood Way (148mins) we entered Stockport Golf Course, emerging to pass Torkington Manor (183mins).

From there we walked along Torkington Road to reach Torkington Park and de-boot (206mins) before heading along the A6 towards Stockport and reaching The Three Tunnes on our left. Unhappily the late arrival of another group a few minutes ahead of us had the knock-on effect of delaying our meals and creating a measure of panic in the kitchen.

Next week’s walk will start from my house, 68, London Road North, Poynton, after the traditional breakfast of bacon sandwiches, mince pies and mulled wine. This will take place between 9 and 10am. Can I ask drivers to park in Poynton Pool car park at the end of my road to avoid congestion ?

We will be walking on a route aiming to reach The Boar’s Head at Higher Poynton shortly after noon, and finishing at The Kingfisher Wetherspoons around 2.15pm. Unfortunately dogs are not allowed so Tom, Alastair and Jock may wish to leave their bitches at home.

Happy wandering !

Lose Hill

December 5, 2018

LOSE HILL

OLD HALL HOTEL  AT HOPE, EDALE ROAD, LOSE HILL FARM, LOSE HILL, BACK TOR, HOLLINS CROSS, CHESHIRE CHEESE INN AT CASTLETON, PEAKSHOLE WATER, OLD HALL HOTEL

Distance: 7 miles​Ascent/descent: 1,227 ft

Difficulty: Easy

Weather: Persistent rain and thick mist

Walkers: Peter Beal, Chris Owen

Apologies: Alan Hart (weather forecast), Mark Gibby and Hughie Harriman (unspecified but probably same), Laurie Fairman and Steve Kemp (hors de combat), George Dearsley (Turkey)

Leader: Beal​Diarist: Beal

Starting point: Road junction at Old Hall Hotel, Hope

Starting time: 9.47am​Finishing time: 1.30pm

Often the most rewarding days in the hills are those on which the direst of weather forecasts are confounded and the cloud and mists clear to reveal scenic vistas. Sadly, this was not to be one of those.

The rain persisted for the duration and the thick mist refused to shift, leaving views non-existent.

Nevertheless, your dynamic duo - who were both rather surprised to find they were not the sole Wanderer to have turned out - enjoyed a convivial excursion.

We walked up the minor road to Edale with the Old Hall on our right and shortly after Hope School took a signed footpath on the left. This threaded its way through the fields via a succession of stiles and gates, across a railway line, and finally reached Lose Hill Farm.

We skirted the farm buildings on the right and began the stiffish climb to the 1,562ft summit of Lose Hill.

My trusty Peak District Companion tells me that local legend has it that Lose Hill and neighbouring Win Hill were named after a series of battles between rival kings Edwin of Northumbria and Penda of Mercia in 632. Another version puts Edwin in the ring with King Cuicholm of Wessex. Anyway the winning army (Penda beat Edwin but Edwin beat Cuicholm) camped on Win Hill and the losers camped across the way.

Historians think this is probably total rubbish and that Win means wind and Lose (pronounced loose) means either free land or pigsties.

Reaching the summit, we were able to inspect the stone-mounted viewfinder, indicating 73 features, that was the first of its kind in the Peak District when positioned in 1948.

Views being nil, we pressed on west along what is known as the Great Ridge, having Lose Hill at one end and Mam Tor at the other. We crossed the rocky promontory of Back Tor, followed by a short,sharp descent and reached the depression in the ridge at Hollins Cross.

This marks the point at which the ancient coffin trail crosses the ridge - used by villagers in Edale to take their dead to Castleton churchyard for burial until the time their own chapel was consecrated in 1634.

We decided against continuing along the ridge to the mist-shrouded Mam Tor and turned left to descend the steep trrack towards Castleton. Much of this has now been covered with flagstones to combat severe erosion.  

We reached Castleton village two hours and 13 minutes after starting, and gained the welcome shelter, and hot wood-burner, of the Cheshire Cheese, where Moonshine bitter, from Sheffield's Abbeydale Brewery, was £3-65.

Leaving the pub, we turned right and soon took a path on the right, taking us along the banks of Peakshole Water, the stream that emerges from Castleton's Peak Cavern, known locally and even in official Victorian guidebooks as the Devil's Arse. On the same theme, posters in the village were spotted advertising the headline act at a local fundraiser in the village hall as the marvellously-named The Fabulous Thunderbottom Brothers.

The path took us over a succession of fields, crossing the railway line leading to the Hope Valley cement works, and soon after to a minor road, where we turned left to reach Hope village. at an early 1.30pm - largely due to skipping pietime and a lunch stop in the continuing rain.

Chris had to depart for a medical appointment, leaving your diarist to enjoy a pint of Wainwright's (£3-60) in front of a roaring log fire in the Old Hall, where he partially dried out.

Next week's walk will incorporate our Christmas lunch at The Three Tunnes in Hazel Grove.The start will be at 9.45am at the (free) car park at Torkington Park, Hazel Grove, near the Rising Sun junction on the A6. We will aim to reach the Ring o' Bells at Marple at noon, returning to Torkington by 2pm. The pub is less than a ten-minute walk from the car park. Alan will be contacting us soon about menu preferences.

Happy wandering!