Whaley Bridge

Whaley Bridge

 

June 18,2025 

WHALEY BRIDGE CANAL WHARF, GOYT VALLEY, TAXAL, TAXAL NICK, WINDGATHER ROCKS, DUNGE VALLEY GARDENS, ROUND KNOLL FARM, CLOUGH FARM, THE SWAN AT KETTLESHULME, HARDY GREEN, TODD BROOK, TODD BROOK RESERVOIR

 

Distance: 10.09 miles​  Ascent/descent: 1764ft

 

Difiiculty: Moderate. 

 

Weather: Hot & dry 

 

Walkers:  Andrew Blease, Alastair Cairns, Russell Spencer, Cliff Worthington.

 

Alternative walkers: Jock Rooney with Milly,  Tom Cunliffe with Daisy

 

Non Walking Drinkers: 

 

Apologies: Simon Williams, Dean Taylor, Mike Cassini, Micky Barratt, Julian Ross, Keith Welsh, Chris Owen

 

Leader: Andrew Blease, Diarist: Russell

 

Starting point: Canal Wharf Car Park, Tom Brads Croft Rd Whalley Bridge, SK23 7LX

 

Starting time: ​9.40am​​  Finishing time: 14.45pm appx

 

 

From the car park we walked across the bridge over the River Goyt and headed to the main road where we turned left. We followed the main road before turning right up Macclesfield Road. We walked for about ten minutes and took a footpath on the left, this led us through fields onto LingLongs Road, where we turned left. Walking for a short distance St James Church in Taxal appeared on our left, whereupon a small discussion about how campenology took place and it transpired that Mr Cairns senior was a one time campenologist.

(Did you know that capenology is the single most dangerous hobby activity in the UK. There are more injuries - pro rata - than any other activity, even rugby, according to the British Medical Journal - Ed)

 

Passing Taxal Church on our left we walked for 30 yards before entering a field on our right at a public footpath sign. Keeping to the right of the field we reached a gate, went through it with a drystone wall on our left, and continued uphill until we reached a track. Here we turned left and walked along the track until we reached a green public footpath sign indicating the way to Windgather Rocks on our right.

 

 

 

 

We climbed steeply up this path, passing a memorial tree to keen hiker Terry Lardner on our way up Taxal Nick to reach the drystone wall on Taxal Ridge. From Taxal Nick the distinct formation of Windgather Rocks was clearly visible and we proceeded towards them. We reached the summit of the cliffs which are often popular with rock-climbers literally learning the ropes.

 

 

 

 

 

 

We turned left along a track which led to a sheep fold on our right where we stopped for Pietime in its shelter. Exiting the sheep fold via a gate we turned left and walked along the minor road in the direction of Pym Chair. At a T-junction we turned right towards Salterford and headed downhill.

 

At a wooden public footpath sign we turned right over a broken wall and soon crossed a short ladder stile to head through a field. When we reached a farmhouse we walked right across its frontage and then turned left up a path to the right of the building.

 

After crossing a stile with a yellow arrow we passed a derelict farm building and followed a series of posts marked with yellow arrows which led us to two metal gates. These took us into Dunge Valley Gardens, a former nursery specialising in rhododendrons. 

 

After leaving the gardens we continued to a crossroads and went straight across into Clayholes Road. Bearing slightly left we passed Round Knoll Farm on our right and reached Clough Farm on our left. Next to its entrance was a wooden gate on the right which we walked through and headed left downhill through a copse. We then went through a field which we exited through a metal gate marked with a yellow arrow. After crossing a stone step stile we reached a track and swung right to the left of a farmhouse, ignoring two wooden stiles marked with yellow arrows. On reaching a crossroads we went forward, passing Stocks Bank Cottage on our right and turned left at a flight of steps to reach The Swan immediately on our left.

 

Sitting outside due to the hot weather, we joined Jock, Tom, Milly and Daisy for some much needed liquid 

 

 

 

 

Resuming our journey we crossed the road opposite the front door of the pub and walked through a garden centre to exit opposite a church. Here we turned right and then left into Kishfield Lane. This took us past Hardy Green on our left and Kishfield Croft on our right. Before reaching the bridge over Todd Brook (where previously we have stopped for lunch) we turned right over a wooden stile to enter a wood.

 

Ignoring paths to our right we kept Todd Brook in sight on our left until the path led us down to it. 

Ignoring the path closure and danger of death signs we made our way over a makeshift bridge to reach the far side where we went through a metal gate which had been broken open. 

We now walked with the sluice channel on our left and the reservoir on our right as we made our way back into Whaley Bridge. Surveying the low level of the reservoir and the now abundant foliage at the bottom, we noticed a deer surveying its surroundings and indifferent to the presence of ourselves. After passing Brookfield Pond on our left we arrived at the main road through Whaley Bridge and returned to our cars.

More photos of the walk below….

 

 

Next week’s walk will be the ‘Phallic Walk’, starting at the Soldier Dick pub, Furness Vale. SK23 7PH. Start time – 9.40am

 

Happy Wandering! 

 

Curbar Gap

 11th June 2025

CURBAR GAP, BASLOW EDGE, WELLINGTON’S MONUMENT, BIG MOOR, WHITE EDGE, GROUSE INN ON A625, FROGGATT EDGE, CURBAR EDGE

Distance: 8 miles Ascent/descent: 1,080ft

Difficulty: Easy (WHBW)

Weather: Bright

Walkers: Tom Cunliffe. Daisy Cunliffe, Mike Cassini, Chris Owen, Russ Spencer, Andy Blease, Keith Welsh, Mike Barratt and Simon Williams

 

Alternative walker: Jock Rooney with Milly

 

Apologies: everyone else

 

Leader: Cunliffe​​ Diarist: Cunliffe plagiarisedfrom Mr Beal’s Diary of 10th July 2024

 

Starting point: Curbar Gap

 

Starting time: 10.00am Finishing time: 2.30pm

 

 

 

This walk has been dubbed the route the Four Edges walk by our very own Peter Beale, taking in as it did Baslow Edge, White Edge, Froggatt Edge and CurbarEdge in a scenic circular trip from Curbar Gap.

 

White Edge is the least known of the edges, lacking any striking rock formations the others offer, or any reputation among the rock-climbing fraternity. But it is the highest at just over 1,200 feet and rewards the gentle climb with panoramic views over the Derbyshire and Yorkshire hills.

 

We met at the three lay-bys close to each other just below Curbar Gap and set off in the direction of Baslow Edge. We stayed a short distance away from the escarpment and after passing a lone prominent boulder took a track on the left which soon brought us to the gritstone cross of Wellington’s Monument

 

It is also noteworthy to mention that it was Mike Barratt’s birthday and round of drinks at our appointed water hole was most welcome by all.

   Curbar Edge

 

 

 

                                    

This modest edifice was erected to commemorate the Duke of Wellington’s 1815 victory at Waterloo by Dr Wrench, a local Army man. It was intended to complement a memorial to Admiral Nelson on Birchen Edge, just over a mile to the east.

 

At the time it seems the two monuments could have been seen from one another. But trees and bushes have obscured the Wellington memorial so it only becomes visible from close-up. Some of the fading lettering on the base can still be made out, with the words ‘Wellington. Born 1769 Died 1852. Erected in 1866 by E M Wrench.’

 

 

 

Birchen Edge

 

 

The monument proved to be an ideal spot for a group pic, however, Mr Owen had elected to hare off and was out of sight, as is his want.

 Nevertheless we went ahead with the pic ably assisted by a young lady who was also admiring the local views, she obliged by taking the pic. 

Leaving the monument we followed the track across the open moorland, passing highland cattle with two very young calves, and crossed the minor road that runs between Curbar and Chesterfield to the east.

 

We followed the path, vague in places where it had become overgrown, up a steady climb of around 400 feet to reach the trig point on White Edge, a short distance from which we declared pietime. 

 

Resuming, we continued along a more distinct path along the edge, towards the true top of the moor around half a mile distant at 1,204 feet. Splendid views were on all sides and the outskirts of Chesterfield and Sheffield could be made out to the east.

 

Around a mile-and-a-half from the top of the edge we reached a broken stone wall where a sign marked Grouse Inn pointed downhill to the left. We followed down a distinct track.

 

After a short, rocky stretch down through a copse we came to a field, on the other side of which was the Grouse Inn, across the A625. Chris was awaiting us and we were soon joined by Jock and Milly, who had walked along Froggatt Edge.

 

Mikey B provided the drinks and we responded by singing a rather moving rendition of Happy Birthday. 

 

Under way again after a 60-minute break, we turned right down the main road for a few hundred yards, taking a footpath sign to Froggatt Edge on the left at a lay-by. This soon led to the start of Froggatt Edge, where we swung left to follow it and then Curbar Edge for just over two miles of mainly level walking before reaching a sign on our right which took us down through a woodland back to our cars. 

 

Next week’s wander will commence from Whaley Bridge Canal Wharf SK23 7LX meeting at 9:40. 

Our route will take us through Taxal Nick, Windgather Rocks, DungeValley gardens, The Swan at Kettleshulme, Hardy Green, Todd brook Res. Car park. This walk may be viewed by visiting a previous diary by clicking on:  

http://wwanderers.blogspot.com/2023/09/whaley-bridge.html

Mobberley

 4th June 2025

Mobberley to Alderley Edge

Distance: 12.4 miles Total ascent/descent: 1,200t

Difficulty: Easyish

Weather: Largely sunny. Mild

Walkers: Julian Ross, Mike Cassini, Russell Spencer, Keith Welsh, Steve Brearly, Simon

Williams, Cliff Worthington, Chris Owens

Apologies: Dean Taylor (Holiday),Tom Cunliffe ( knee), Mark Enright (Not Known), Alisair Cairns (In Ecosse), James (Working, Greg Owens (Holiday)

Alternate walker: Jock Rooney with Milly & Tom Cunliffe With Daisy Non-walking

drinkers: Jonny Hart & Andrew Blease

Leader: Simon and Cliff Diarist: Simon

Starting point: Simon’s house, Beechfield, Faulkners Lane, Mobberley, WA16 7AL

Starting time: 9.40am Finishing time: 1.30 pm

Minutes before today’s walk we were shocked to here the sad news that Alan passed away during the night. We decided to proceed with the walk as planed, as Alan would have wanted us to enjoy the fresh air, good weather and banter between friends. 

Alan will be greatly missed, a truly lovely kind gentleman with a fascinating collection of lifetime stories.

This was a repeat of a new walk Cliff and I put together and was executed only a few

weeks ago. Once again Simon Catering Services Limited put on bacon balm’s (We do weddings, christenings and parties also).

The walk itself is largely flat except the sharp accent to Alderley Edge.

We set off turning left out of Simon’s driveway along Faulkners Lane passing the now closed Frozen Mop pub and Antrobus Hall before turning left into Ancoats Lane and again left into Noahs Arc Lane which we followed until emerging on Warford lane. 

Here we turned right and after about 100 yards we turned through a gate on our left to cross Wilmslow Golf course.

Leaving the golf course we emerged into a large field which this week we walked around until we reached the large oak tree, rather than cutting across as the crop of grass feed was rather long. At the tree we went through a gate into a further field. 

Keeping to the right of this field we turned right though a wooden gate. Going straight through two further fields we emerged on Foden Lane where we turned left. This took us to Chelford Road where we tuned left which led us over the Alderley bypass. 

We then turned right onto Chorley Hall

Lane which took us into Alderley Edge village. We crossed the main Road and continuedup Chapel Road which becomes Mottram Road. After passing Alderley cricket club on our left, we turned right up Squirrels Leap which leads to a footpath that leads up to the Edge.

Pie time was called at the top of the edge. Thereafter, we followed along the edge along a clear pathway which emerged onto Swiss Hill, took us down to the cricket club. We retraced our steps to Chelford Road. After the bypass, we turned right through a kissing gate, walked down a hill to a small bridge over a stream and up the other side. 

We turned right though a large field which brough us to the previously mention large tree where we retraced out step back to Faukners Lane. Collecting our cars from my house we drove to the Bulls Head in Mobberley where we were met by Tom, Jock and Alan’s son Jonny. 

A number of Alan’s close friends joined us to

toast our great friend.

Next weeks walk will start from the lay-by Curber Edge at 9.55. We will make our way over to Wellingtons monument, White Edge reaching the Grouse by 12.30. Then Froggat Edge, Curber Edge, back to the lay-by at around 2.40.