High Lane

HIGH LANE, LYME PARK, BOW STONES, DISLEY

Distance: 9.95 miles; Avg. Walking Speed 2.68mph; Max Elevation 1419.18ft; Walking Time 3 hrs 43.56mins.

Difficulty: Moderate

Weather: Overcast with clear views but absolutely no rain.

A  Walkers, Lawrie Fairman, Julian Ross, John Laverick, Peter Morrall, George Whaites.

Apologies: Jock Rooney (working abroad), Colin Davison (holiday), Alan Hart (wimped out), Peter Beal (cruising in sunny Norway), George Dearsley (working abroad), Tom Cunliffe (????), Malcom Halley (recovering from dentist?) Mikey Barrett (on holiday)

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

Non-walking drinkers: Alan Hart (See special report)

Walking-non drinkers : Pete Morrell

Leader: Fairman  

Diarist: Laverick with contributions from Hart and Job

Starting Point: Car Park, Horse Shoe Inn, High Lane

Starting Time: 9.20am. Finishing Time: 2.20pm

First a word of apology for the delay in the receipt of this diary and if it is not to the usual high standard of my mentors Hart and Dearsley, I was foolish enough to volunteer to write and then remembered that English is my second language (been born in the north east) and I was finding more excuses than a virgin on her wedding night why I had no time to do it.

However I digress and to the diary……………………

The group gave Pete Morrell the usual warm welcome for new members to the group.

It started strangely with Pete M and myself turning up at Mr Hart`s in DRY with the sun trying to break through weather to be told he was not coming out to play because it was raining and would be raining really heavily that morning. George however had not heard the rain warning of the second coming of a biblical flood and turned up at the appointed hour in a car rather than an ark.

The walk started for five of the intrepid A Team ready to take on the elements from the car park of the Horse Shoe Inn, High Lane at 09:30 Hrs. crossing the A6 following the public footpath just above the Middlewood Road that leads onto the Middlewood Way which was followed along until the Boars Head in Higher Poynton. It was a wrench to pass the Boars Head without popping in unfortunately it was closed.

At the Boars head we turned off the Middlewood Way and turned right over the bridge on to Lyme Road following it up to the canal, over the canal  by the  marina and bearing right onward past Elm Wood on towards Haresteads Farm where we came across giant rabbits.

Where`s Alice ??

Wonderland....or Blunderland?

The walk continued uphill winding our way up past Windgather and through the West Gate in to Lyme Park and onward towards toward the big house. Picking up the Gritstone Trail up through Knights Low Wood where we passed a whole host of small children who were making more noise than their size allowed and they appeared to be building wood camps with not a sign of Elf and Safety in site.

 Pie Break was taken in the shelter of the wood, at this point Tom would have had something to say, not only did we have Pie Break early but we also had a full ten minutes!

Onward we pressed towards the summit to view the Bow Stones, not for the first time this month.

The Bowstones are a pair of Anglian cross shafts in Cheshire, England. Situated beside the old ridgeway between Disley and Macclesfield overlooking Lyme Park, the Cheshire Plain, the city of Manchester and the hills of the Peak District, they are a scheduled monument.

The western shaft is 1.22 metres high and tapers from circumference of 1.25m at the base to 0.86m at the top. The eastern shaft is 0.98m high and has a circumference of 1.27m. Both are decorated with interlaced carvings in a style that indicates a date of the 10th century or earlier. There is some later lettering engraved. Their round cross section and their erection as a pair is unusual for crosses of this era. 

They may have been moved their current location in the 16th century by Sir Piers Legh of Lyme Hall. Two stone cross heads on display at the hall may have originally surmounted the shafts.Local legend states that the name is derived from their use by Robin Hood and his men to re-string their bows.

Despite the rain that we had been promised, the views from the summit were magnificent and the mountains of Wales were clearly visible, even Manchester was a site to behold as we scoured the horizon for a rain cloud.

                                

                                                                         Dry as a desert.

On leaving the Bow Stones picked up the track, the Gritstone Trail, past Handley Barn, Dissop Head to the junction of Higher Lane and Mudhurst Lane where we turned left at Cock Knoll following the Gritstone Trail towards the East Gate of Lyme Park.

It was at this point our so far flawless Leader made a small mistake taking us past a lady on her knees bending over then taking us back past her again claiming he had made a mistake with his map reading, we should have turned right not left!

Onward we went following the Gritstone Trail along Green Lane with Higher Disley to our right.

One has to admire the farmer who has preserved the stile for the footpath passing through his field when the fence seems to have disappeared many years ago.

                                      

                                                                Mind the fence Pete.

Past Superman`s changing room on the left with the path to the Hanging Gate on the right onward we forged until the St Andrew`s Church was in sight and the smell of Unicorn from the Dandycock spurred us on.

We arrived at 12:20 Hrs have completed 7.61 miles.

Pete left us at this time to sort out a small problem at home, hence he became our first non drinking walker.

The Unicorn as usual was on fine form see prices in our special non walking drinker`s reporter.

After a suitable intake of ale to strengthen our resolve we set of once more to complete the walk and set off back towards the North Gate of Lyme Park retracing some of our steps along Red Lane ending back at the entrance kiosk (Park Gate) of Lyme Park.

Following the Bollinhurst Brook crossing the North Cheshire Way, crossed over the Hazel Grove to Disley railway line on to the LVI Trail joined on Coppice Lane to re-cross the railway further down the line turning right onto Chatsworth Road.

Keeping left behind the row of houses on Ashbourne Road, following the footpath, round the back of Haddon Close, turning left on to Hartington Road, right on to Alderdale Drive, then turning left on to the A6 and onwards to the end objective of a good pint in the Horse Shoe Inn after 2.64 miles and arriving as planned at 14:20 Hrs.

SPECIAL REPORTER ALAN HART

After wimping out of the A walk because of inaccurate weather forecasts, Alan arrived at The Dandy Cock at 12.20pm after catching a train from Hazel Grove to Disley.

As the rest of the group sallied forth on a route which ran parallel with the A6 to the south, Harty announced he would carry out a survey of pubs on the main road. His report made sad reading, following the excellent Robbies' cask bitter at The Dandy Cock at £2-70 a pint, with mild at £2-60.

At the Ram's Head in Disley, our intrepid reporter sampled a pint of Adnams Kristal White wheat beer at £3-39. He said the overpriced beer was tasty but the pub suffered from delusions of grandeur as a posh restaurant which sold beer.

The same was true of the Red Lion at High Lane, although the Robbies' 1892 mild was in good form and reasonably priced at £2-65.

At the Dog and Partridge he found six choices of lager, which he was happy to refuse, and both barrels of cask bitters had run out the previous day. He declined the offer of a "smooth" alternative (as in chemical keg beer).

The Bull's Head, which was advertised as "a business opportunity", was shut. The Horseshoe offered a warm welcome and Unicorn cask bitter at £2-80 a pint.

SPECIAL REPORTER TONY JOB

Route: High Lane, Macc Canal, Romper, Roman Bridge, Goyt Way, Lower Cliff, Brook Bottom (Fox), New Mills bus stn., Newtown, and then 199 bus to High Lane. Path from Goyt Way up to Lower Cliff involved crossing barbed wire, not recommended. Bus connections from New Mills to Newtown not good, so we will not repeat the route from Fox onward.

Beer at The Fox was in fine condition.

Final word from Laverick

Next week's walk will start at 9.30am from The Cock at Whaley Bridge, calling at The Old Hall in Whitehough, Chinley, around 12.15pm and finishing back at The Cock around 2.20pm. 

Brabyns Park

BRABYNS PARK, MARPLE BRIDGE, HOLLYWOOD, MELLOR CHURCH, DEVONSHIRE ARMS AT MELLOR, SNAPE HEY FARM, MELLOR AND TOWNSCLIFFE GOLF COURSE, LINNET CLOUGH SCOUT CAMPSITE, ROMAN LAKES, PEAK FOREST CANAL, RING O’ BELLS AT MARPLE, MARPLE LOCKS AND NORFOLK ARMS AT MARPLE BRIDGE

Distance: 8 Miles.

Difficulty: Strenuous.

Weather: Cool and cloudy but dry.

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

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

Apologies: Mickey Barrett (hols), George Dearsley (w*^king in Istanbul), Lawrie Fairman (Riviera hols), Jock Rooney (w*^king in South Africa) and Julian Ross (no reason given but probably w*^king).

 Leader: Davison. Diarist: Hart.

Starting point: Brabyns Park at Marple Bridge.

Starting time: 9.32am. Finishing time: 2pm.

With starting time upon us, a car screeched to a halt and our leader for the day emerged spluttering protests about a change of venue.  He was under the illusion that a drunken conversation at the end of last week’s walk would be remembered in its entirety and that he would, therefore, not need to read the final paragraph of the diary WHICH FIRMLY STATED THAT THE WALK WOULD COMMENCE AT 9.30AM IN BRABYNS PARK.

Colin, you may recall, was returning on probation after his leadership qualities had been called into question as a result of a series of mistimings and misjudgements on earlier occasions.

Because he had not become aware of the clearly stated starting point until 9am, Colin had not prepared his walk and announced he would have to “wing it.” From past experience we rather feared this might be in the style of Icarus, but to give him credit we did reach our main targets (the two pubs) a few minutes ahead of schedule.

Colin’s love of hills involved us in another rollercoaster ride so although the walk was not long, it proved to be challenging.

After leaving the car park by walking back to the entrance and turning left, we crossed the River Goyt where a team of demolition men were working on a subsiding bank. Interestingly, one of these men supported by a safety harness and wearing a high-vis jacket, was trying to dislodge a massive rock above him.

We turned right at The Norfolk Arms up Town Street and then left up Hollins Lane, passing Marple Bridge United Reform Church on our left. Complaints about the first mile of the walk being purely along roads soon abated when, despite unseasonably dry weather, Colin found a succession of muddy paths and fields.

At the junction with Ley Lane we turned right (23mins) and then left at a public footpath sign (24mins). This took us up a gravel track for 30 yards and then we turned right, passing a row of cottages on our right.

We crossed a stile to turn right again and passed a pond on our right (28mins). We crossed a stile marked with a yellow arrow and then turned left down Hollywood Lane (34mins). Opposite Bridge House (35mins) we turned right across a wooden stile following a public footpath sign for Marple.

This brought us to a path between two drystone walls. We turned left at a wooden public footpath sign (41mins), crossed a wooden stile and followed a wooden public footpaths sign which pointed indistinctly in the direction of Longhurst Lane. On our right were a series of chicken coops which we surmised were for the purpose of breeding rare species. They were all fenced separately with chicken wire which Peter B decided were designed as “anti-hanky panky” to prevent cross-breeding.

Two ponds had been created on the right for ducks and geese, and to our left were a row of seven beehives. Somebody seemed to be emulating the much-loved sitcom “The Good Life.” We turned left at the beehives (48mins) along a path which took us through a gate and a stableyard (53mins), turning left at a public footpath sign towards Mellor Church (54mins).

St Thomas's Church, Mellor

After trudging up the steep hill to reach the historic church and graveyard, we were allowed no respite but herded along like American tourists “doing Europe.” There was deemed no time to catch our breath or even look at the replica of a Bronze Age house there as we plunged downhill again and after 100 yards turned right across a wooden stile (70mins).

After going through a gate and squeezing through a gap stile we turned left downhill (73mins) and emerged at a road with The Devonshire Arms on our right. Curly-top dismissed the idea of pausing for Pietime on the convenient benches outside the pub and pressed on across the road to follow a sign for Linnet Clough (77mins).

We turned left into Whetmorhurst Lane (82mins) and left again after 20 yards at a wooden public footpath sign which took us up a muddy path into a farmyard. After turning right through a gate (89mins) we stopped by a wall for our pie break (90mins). Not for the first time on our journeys, Tom disappeared from our sight (but sadly not our hearing) after borrowing some tissues.

We continued past Moorhead Cottage on our left, where Colin bought six free range eggs for £1, and turned right at a public footpath sign to go through Snape Hey Farm (96mins). Two wooden stiles brought us to Mellor and Townscliffe golf course (102mins) which we crossed along a right of way and then passed Linnet Clough scout camp on our right.

Our group entered Roman Lakes Leisure Park (116mins) and crossed the Goyt by a road bridge before heading up steps on our left marked with a yellow arrow (118mins). This took us uphill to a footbridge across the Manchester-Sheffield railway line (122mins). At the top of a set of steps on the far side we turned left, crossed a main road and continued to climb uphill (127mins).

This brought us out at The Peak Forest Canal. This is a 15-mile waterway which was started in 1794, first used in 1796 and completed in 1805. The main shareholder was Samuel Oldknow and the principal engineer was Benjamin Outram. The Lower Peak Forest Canal runs from Dukinfield Junction, where it joins the Ashton Canal, to the foot of Marple’s 16 locks. The Upper Peak Forest Canal runs from Marple, where it is linked to the Macclesfield Canal, to Bugsworth Basin, from where a branch leads to the centre of Whaley Bridge.

The canal was another victim of the success of the railway system. In the 1920s the Peak Forest Tramways and Buggy Basin closed and by the 1960s the canal had become impassable. But after restoration work it was reopened in 1974 for the use of pleasure craft.

After joining the canal at Bridge 19 we walked along the towpath with the water on our right to reach its junction with The Macclesfield Canal at Bridge 1. We continued along the left bank until the first exit opposite The Ring O’ Bells (137mins).

Here the Robbies’ mild at £2-60 a pint and the bitter at £2-85 were deemed to be in excellent form. We drank in The Bell Room where a photo of the many men of Marple who fell during World War 1 was updated with a separate photo of Corporal Danny Winter, aged 18, who was killed in action in Afghanistan in 2009.

We rejoined the canal at Bridge 2 and walked along its right bank  before leaving at Bridge 3 to walk down Marple Locks, pausing for lunch on Lock 12 (142mins). 

Continuing we carried on along the canal until reaching Station Road (150mins). We crossed and joined the right bank of the canal, leaving it at Lock 7 and crossing a bridge over the Manchester-Sheffield line with Marple Station on our right (163mins).

On reaching a point overlooking a football pitch at Brabyns Park below us, we turned right (169mins) to return to our cars (172mins). After debooting, we joined the B walkers in The Norfolk Arms.

They had arrived at Brabyns Park by car and caught a bus to Shiloh Road, near Rowarth, from where they had walked to Mellor Church and the village of Hollywood before pausing for drinks in The George at Compstall. 

They had then walked back over the iron bridge through Brabyns Park, an estate of 95 acres.

The land had contained Brabyns Hall, built in the 1740s for Dr Henry Brabin, a local surgeon. During World War 1 it served as an auxiliary hospital and convalescent home for wounded soldiers. 

Iron Bridge

Its last owner was Miss Fanny Hudson, who died in 1941 aged 90, leaving the hall and estate to be bought by local councils.

There were plans to convert the hall into an art gallery, museum, library or assembly hall when it was bought in 1949. Three years later it was found to be riddled with dry rot and the hall was demolished.

Several cask beers brewed in Sheffield were available at The Norfolk Arms at £3 a pint.

Next week’s A walk will start at 9.30am from the car park of The Horseshoe on the A6 at High Lane, with a half-time stop at The Dandy Cock around 12.15pm before returning to The Horseshoe at about 2.20pm.

  

Poynton Pool

POYNTON POOL, PRINCES INCLINE, HOCKLEY, WARDSEND, MINERS’ ARMS AT WOOD LANES, MACCLESFIELD CANAL, EASTWOOD END CARAVAN PARK, WOODEND FARM, REDACRE HALL FARM, THE BOAR’S HEAD AT HIGHER POYNTON, MIDDLEWOOD WAY, ANSON ENGINE MUSEUM, PRINCES INCLINE AND THE BULL’S HEAD AT POYNTON

Distance: Nine miles.

Difficulty: Easy.

Weather: Cold but dry with sunny spells.

Walkers: Mickey Barrett, Tom Cunliffe*, Colin Davison, Malcolm Halley, Alan Hart and John Laverick.

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

Apologies: Peter Beal (hiking in Yorkshire dales), George Dearsley (w*^king), Jock Rooney (w*^king in South Africa), Julian Ross (w*^king indoors), George Whaites (visiting friends in Devon).

Leader: Hart. Diarist: Hart.

Starting point: Car park off Anglesey Drive next to Poynton Pool.

Starting time: 9.34am. Finishing time: 2.22pm.

We have seen the daffodils and the new-born lambs already. But a sure sign that spring is really on its way at last came with the unveiling of Malcolm’s knees. While the rest of our group were swathed in several layers of winter clothing, Malcolm was kitted out for the Costa del Sol in shorts which made the rest of us shiver. Southern softies are clearly tougher than they seem !

In the absence of our experienced leaders, Lawrie and Peter B, and with Colin still serving the last week of his suspension for previous follies, it fell to your diarist to set the route. As you know I do this with a freestyle approach which abhors any gadgets (compasses) or flappy things (maps).

Once again I am happy to report that this optimistic, shambolic method saw us through to a successful conclusion – although there was one early casualty beyond our control.*

After setting off along the bank of Poynton Pool, where we admired the swans, Canada geese, mallards, coots, waterhens, great-crested grebes and a heron, we walked along London Road North for 50 yards before turning left and then taking the footpath to the right of houses up Princes Incline.

When we reached the top at Towers Road (26mins), Tom received a phone call from wife Stella informing him that he had left The Lantern Pike at Little Hayfield with the keys to his pub’s various doors in his pocket. So he was obliged to abandon the hike, retrace his footsteps and drive back home. Stupid boy !

After crossing Towers Road diagonally, we took an unmade road leading to a footpath which brought us on to Davenport Golf Club’s grounds (36mins). We followed the right of way across a fariway and then turned right downhill to exit the club.

Opposite this exit was Anson Road, which we crossed into but took the path to the right leading over a stile into a field with stables on its left. We crossed a series of stiles which brought us out on Coppice Road (47mins). Opposite was a footpath leading to Coppice Boarding Kennels and Cattery.

We followed this path past the hidden Merton Hall on our right and kept straight on at a footpath crossroads. After passing some elegant houses on our right with woodland to our left in an area called Wardsend, we turned left at a public footpath sign down steps to a footbridge crossing a stream (61mins). At the far side we turned right and reached steps leading upwards to a lane.

We turned right for 20 yards then took a path on our left (65mins) which led us alongside fields to emerge at a road with The Miners Arms at Wood Lanes on our right (72mins). We walked past the pub (it wasn’t yet open) and turned left to cross the Middlewood Way by a road bridge and reach the Macclesfield Canal (78mins). Two benches were conveniently placed next to Bridge 18 for Pietime to be declared.

The building of the Macclesfield Canal was approved by Parliament in 1826. Construction, under principal engineer Thomas Telford, began in Bollington and was completed in 1831 at a cost of £320,000 raised by shareholders. The canal runs 26 miles from Marple, where it joins the Peak Forest Canal, through 12 locks at Bosley to the Hall Green branch of the Trent and Mersey Canal near Kidsgrove. It is one of six canals which form The Cheshire Ring.

It can accommodate boats 72 feet long and 7 feet wide. Although commercially successful initially, the arrival of railways led to its demise. In 1846 the canal was leased to the Sheffield, Ashton-under-Lyne and Manchester Railway. 

This became the Manchester, Sheffield and Lincolnshire Railway, which became the Great Central Railway, and finally, in 1922, ownership passed to the London and North Eastern Railway prior to nationalisation of the railways in 1948.

Barges continued to use the canal commercially until the 1960s, since when it has been used almost exclusively for pleasure craft.

Resuming after sharing our sandwiches with geese and ducks, we walked in the direction of Macclesfield with the canal on our left, passing Lyme View Marina and exiting over Bridge 19 (88mins) to the far side.

A public footpath marked with a yellow arrow took us through Eastwood End caravan park to Woodend Farm, where we turned right along a path and then left at another yellow arrow (93mins). We crossed a wooden stile and turned left (98mins). Another wooden stile brought us to a lane where we turned left towards Redacre Hall Farm.

We crossed a wooden stile to enter a field by a permissive path (111mins) which brought us back to the canal at Bridge 17. We crossed the bridge and turned right along the towpath (118mins), now heading in the direction of Marple. The canal became an aqueduct as it crossed the road from Poynton to Pott Shrigley beneath us.

This took us to Lord Vernon’s Wharf at Higher Poynton (133mins). We are indebted to Mr Barrett for the information that the word “wharf” is an acronym derived from the words “Wares House at River Front.”  You never stop learning when you’re a Wednesday Wanderer.#

We left the canal by turning left after the bridge and heading downhill past the public toilets at the Nelson Pit Museum, which gives a history of Poynton as a mining village. After crossing the road bridge over The Middlewood Way, we reached The Boar’s Head at Higher Poynton (141mins) seven minutes ahead of schedule.

This afforded some of us the rare chance of three quick pints of Black Sheep cask bitter at £2-93 a time before we resumed our journey. We went back to The Middlewood Way and headed along it in the direction of Marple before stopping for lunch at a bench (153mins). 

Continuing, we exited at the first opportunity by turning right and then going left over a road bridge. This brought us to Green Lane, where we turned right.

At a public footpath sign just before a house called Broad View (157mins), we turned left, passing the Anson Engine Museum on our left (160mins). This lies on the site of the old Anson colliery and is the result of a labour of love by Les Cawley and Geoff Challinor who began collecting old engines as a hobby. It contains a working display of early internal combustion engines for enthusiasts.

After passing the museum and a badger sett on our left, we reached Anson Road and turned right (165mins). At the bottom of Anson Road we crossed on to the drive leading to Davenport Golf Club and retraced our footsteps back to Princes Incline (192mins).

We walked downhill to reach London Road North (203mins), turned right and entered The Bull’s Head on our left (206mins).

Various cask bitters were in good form at £3 a pint, and Sally-Ann Bromley kindly provided two platters of sandwiches “as a goodwill gesture in the hope that we’ll see you again.” She certainly will.

The B walkers arrived some 40 minutes later, having assembled at Poynton Sports Club for a walk along the Ladybrook Valley to Bramhall Park. After refreshments in The Ladybrook at Bramhall, they had taken a circuitous route back which resulted in them completing some seven miles and “feeling knackered.”

Next week’s A walk will start from Brabyn’s Park at Marple Bridge at 9.30am where Colin will again attempt to lead us on a route which hopes to reach The Ring o’ Bells at Marple around 12.15 pm with final drinks at The Royal Scot, Marple Bridge, around 2.20pm.

Furness Vale

FURNESS VALE, THE DIPPING STONES, MOORSIDE GRANGE, THE BOWSTONES, LYME PARK, LANTERN WOOD, LYME HALL, LYME CAGE, THE DANDY COCK AT DISLEY, THE PEAK FOREST CANAL AND THE SOLDIER DICK AT FURNESS VALE

Distance: 9-10 miles.

Difficulty: Strenuous becoming easy.

Weather: Crisp and dry with blue skies and wintry sunshine.

Walkers: Micky Barrett, Peter Beal, Colin Davison, Malcolm Halley, Alan Hart, John Laverick and George Whaites.

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

Apologies: Tom Cunliffe (man-flu symptoms), George Dearsley (w*^king again), Lawrie Fairman (driving campervan to French Riviera), Jock Rooney (w*^king in South Africa) and Julian Ross (family hols).

Leader: Beal. Diarist: Hart.

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

Starting time: 9.33am.Finishing time: 2.18pm.

A late call from Tom reduced our numbers when he reported that he had awoken with a sore throat “and was sweating like a Scouser in a Job Centre.” 

Nevertheless we were left with a Magnificent Seven A walkers, and a record number of five B walkers created a Dirty Dozen back at our final watering hole.

Some of you may have noticed another theme developing with our choice of pubs, The Dandy Cock and The Soldier Dick. To complete the metaphor here follows the usual bo*^^*cks from your diarist .

Once again the weather gods were favourable to The Wednesday Wanderers, with a crisp, dry start in wintry sunshine. We also enjoyed minimal mud and excellent visibility.

From the Soldier Dick car park we turned right along the A6 for 30 yards, then turned right at The Imperial Palace. Lest there be confusion, this is a Chinese restaurant which has little in common with its namesake in Beijing.

Our route for more than an hour was a steady slog uphill, passing The Dipping Stones on our left. Legend has it that these large rocks, with two scooped out sections in their middles, were used for purchasing food in 1665 at the time of the great plague. 

Villagers where the epidemic was rife were discouraged from trading . But at The Dipping Stones, food was left on trust, and paid for with money left in vinegar in the dips in the rocks so it was germ-free.

Beyond The Dipping Stones we reached a road (56mins) where we turned left and then right (57mins) at a public footpath sign marked to Bowstonegate and Lyme Park. This path continued uphill until we made our first descent of the day with Moorside Grange on our right.

Moorside Grange

This former hotel, once owned by The Hilton Group and by Stakis, has a checkered history. It was the “love-nest” where Manchester United manager Tommy Docherty was caught enjoying a secret tryst with the wife of Old Trafford physiotherapist Lawrie Brown. 

After their illicit affair had been exposed by the tabloids, United fans enlivened the next home game with chants of “He’s up Mrs Brown: he’s up Mrs Brown. Eee-aye-addio, He’s up Mrs Brown.” That proved the final straw and The Doc was sacked.

It was also the venue chosen by Coronation Street actress Pat Phoenix to hold a party, paid for by The Sunday People, to say farewell to her cast colleagues after 20 years of playing femme fatale Elsie Tanner. 

In recent years a succession of entrepreneurs tried and failed to make it pay. Even the hiring of Peter B’s daughter as a waitress failed to halt the slide.

Local people objected to plans to convert the hotel into a retirement home. They were successful and instead it is to become a residential home for wayward juveniles. (Be careful what you wish for).

We crossed Mudhurst Lane (62mins) and continued our ascent following a wooden footpath sign for Bowstones passing Dissop Head Farm. The final section of our climb presented us with stunning views in every direction. We could see the highest points of three counties at Kinder (Derbyshire), Cheeks Hill (Staffordshire) and Shining Tor (Cheshire).

The Bowstones themselves are two shafts of late Saxon crosses which were probably landmarks or boundary stones as well as objects of devotion. Local legend has it that if you walk between the stones you will become pregnant (This only applies to women, I was assured).

The Bowstones

After crossing a wooden stile to enter Lyme Park, we paused for Pietime (85mins). Continuing, we kept a drystone wall on our right and passed a memorial to Allan Monkhouse, the playwright, novelist and literary editor of the Manchester Guardian, who was born in Disley and loved these hills.

The memorial to Allan and his wife Dorothy was erected by their children, who clearly followed their father’s liberal leanings. Patrick Monkhouse (1904-81) was a Guardian journalist and a member of the Peak Park Planning Board; Rachel Natzir (1905-85) was a district county councillor and chairman of the governors of Styal Prison; John Monkhouse (1908-90) was a headmaster; and Elizabeth Monkhouse (1912-2011) was a lecturer and president of the Workers’ Education Association.

There was no mention of the black sheep of the family, Bob Monkhouse. He once told his stand-up audience: “When I told my parents I wanted to be a comedian, they just laughed. Well nobody’s laughing now.”

As we continued with the wall on our right, Lyme Hall appeared below us on our left. The building, now managed by The National Trust, is the largest in Cheshire. It is at the heart of a 1,300 acres estate in the Peak District National Park.

The estate was granted to Sir Thomas Danyers in 1346 by Edward 111 for his services to The Black Prince at The Battle of Crecy. It was passed to his granddaughter Margaret, who married Piers Legh in 1388. The Legh family then held it for more than 500 years until it was taken over by The NT in 1946.

Lyme Hall dates from the late 16^th Century with modifications in the 18^th and 19^th centuries which give it a predominantly Palladian and Baroque style with other fashionable influences added.

Historians among you may be interested to know that the original Piers Legh, who was granted his coat of arms by King Richard 11 in 1397, was executed two years later by Richard’s rival, Henry Bolingbroke. But his son, Sir Piers Legh 11, fought with Henry V at Agincourt. When he was wounded, Sir Piers’ loyal mastiff stood over him and protected his master for several hours as the battle raged.

The mastiff’s reward was to return to Disley and become the founder of Lyme Hall mastiffs, which were bred at the hall and kept separate from other strains until their purity died out at the beginning of the 20^th Century.

But I digress. We ignored a ladder stile ahead and turned left, again keeping the drystone wall on our right until we reach a step stone stile and crossed it into a wood (99mins). We passed The Lantern (106mins) on our left and exited Lantern Wood.

Here we encountered a stag party in full swing. A herd of some 40 red deer had congregated a few yards to our right and were totally unmoved by our emergence from the trees. However the sight of a wheezing jogger bearing down on them caused the deer to trot away.

Our group mustered for the final major ascent up to Lyme Cage (122mins), a former hunting lodge and gamekeeper’s cottage which was also used as a jail to hold poachers. The first structure in 1580 was knocked down and rebuilt in 1737.

The sundial on its wall had not been advanced to British Summer Time, as we had the previous weekend. The motto above it advised “Vive Hodie,” which, as all you Latin scholars will know, means “Live Today.”

We turned right downhill in the direction of Disley, reaching the park’s entrance hut from the exiting direction, and turned right. This took us to the gate leaving the park and into Red Lane (137mins). After a short climb, we headed downhill into Disley, crossed the A6 and reached The Dandy Cock (152mins). The Robbies’ cask bitter here at £2-65 was deemed to be in excellent form.

After a leisurely two-pint stop, we continued by turning right out of the pub and immediately right again down Hollinwood Lane before turning left into Sherbrooke Road (158mins). We reached the Peak Forest Canal and turned right along its right bank (160mins). At Bridge 20 we switched to the left bank (163mins) and stopped at a bench for lunch (164mins).

After passing the Carr swing bridge (197mins) and Furness Vale marina, we left the canal at Bridge 31, turning right (205mins) past The Crossings pub on our left. We turned right along the A6 for a few  yards, then crossed to The Soldier Dick car park to de-boot (209mins).

The B-teamers had arrived some five minutes earlier, having driven to High Lane, from where they walked to The Romper at Marple Ridge and along the Peak Forest Canal. They diverted to The Queens Arms at Newtown, New Mills, for a livener and strolled along the Goyt Valley before returning to the canal for the same route as the A team to The Soldier Dick, a journey totalling five miles.

Next week’s walk will begin at 9.30am from the Poynton Pool car park off Anglesey Drive, Poynton, heading up Princes Incline for the Macclesfield Canal, then towards Pott Shrigley to enter the other side of Lyme Park before dropping back down to The Boar’s Head, Higher Poynton, around 12.15pm. We expect to finish the walk at the Bull’s Head, Poynton, around 2.20pm.

Little Hayfield

LITTLE HAYFIELD, CALICO TRAIL, RIVER SETT, HAYFIELD, SNAKE PASS TRAIL, MIDDLE MOOR, CARR MEADOW, CHUNAL MOOR, MATLEY MOOR, KNARRS FARM, KINGS CLOUGH HEAD FARM, LITTLE MILL AT ROWARTH, CLOUGH MILL AND LANTERN PIKE AT LITTLE HAYFIELD

Distance: Nine miles.

Difficulty: Easy.

Weather: Occasional snow showers mingled with blue skies and sunshine.

Walkers: Mickey Barrett, Peter Beal, Tom Cunliffe, Malcolm Halley, Alan Hart and John Laverick.

B walkers: Tony Job, Peter Morrall and Geoff Spurrell.

Apologies: George Dearsley (w*^king), Lawrie Fairman (proper poorly), Jock Rooney (w*^king in South Africa, Julian Ross (w*^king at home), Ken Sparrow (domestic duties), Colin Davison (Brittany) and George Whaites.

Leader: Beal. Diarist: Hart.

Starting point: Car park of The Lantern Pike, Little Hayfield.

Starting time: 10.02am Finishing time: 2.40pm.

Despite the official arrival of spring, the weather conditions were still wintry with The Peak District under a blanket of snow. Consequently the proposed venue of Errwood Reservoir car park was transferred to Little Hayfield, where conditions were deemed to be more conducive to walking.

Lawrie’s wife Wendy had informed your diarist that our Geordie boy was suffering from reflux problems and was unable to come out to play. It was therefore agreed that Peter B should take over the mantle of leader as a local lad who understands the mysteries of maps.

The change involved a delayed start while your diarist rang around informing people of the new venue.

The list of apologies shows that three of our regulars were w*^king, a disgusting habit that most of us gave up years ago, so our numbers were down from the record levels of recent weeks. Those who did sally forth were rewarded with a mixture of sunshine and snow showers.

                                                               Kinder with its white mantle

                

From the Lantern Pike we turned right and then right again after 100 yards into Slack Lane. We went left (4mins) at a public footpath sign which was the start of The Calico Trail. This took us through theMay Queen playing fields and over the River Sett (15mins) near the start of the Sett Valley Trail.

We crossed Market Street to the right of The Pack Horse (20mins) and passed shops which had undergone a retrospective for filming a new six-part series called “The Village” starting on BBC next Sunday

Arthur Lowe's plaque. I wonder who lived here???   Don’t tell him Pike!

The series, starring Maxine Peake and John Simm, and written by Bafta-winner Peter Moffatt, begins in 1914 when the first bus to stop in the village arrives to great excitement. It continues to tell the story of succeeding generations to present day. It has been filmed in Hayfield and Chapel-en-le-Frith.

The television theme continued when we passed a row of terraced cottages on our left which overlooked Hayfield Cricket Club. On the wall was a blue plaque erected by Derbyshire County Council dedicated to Arthur Lowe (1915-1982), who was born and raised in one of the cottages. He was known and loved by millions in his role as Captain Mainwaring in the BBC sitcom “Dad’s Army.”

Although this was featured on the plaque, no mention was made of an earlier part he played with distinction which brought him to the attention of TV audiences. From 1961 until 1966 he appeared in Coronation Street as the pompous shopkeeper and lay preacher Leonard Swindley.

His biographer reveals that Lowe despised Corrie but even when he left the show it was to appear in a spin-off from the soap entitled “Pardon The Expression,” which was Swindley’s catchphrase.

Lowe started his acting career with the Manchester Repertory Company earning £5 a week, later appearing in West End musicals “Call Me Madam”, “Pal Joey” and “The Pyjama Game.”

He also had a small part in the movie classic “Kind Hearts and Coronets” (1949) in which he played a reporter from Tit Bits magazine !

Dad’s Army ran from 1968-1977, and between filming Lowe continued to tread the boards with his actress wife Joan. When they toured coastal theatres, the couple used an 1885 former steam yacht called Amazon, which they had bought as a houseboat and converted into a sea-going vessel, as their floating base.

Lowe also appeared in movies, performing in a surreal film by Spike Milligan called “The Bed Sitting Room,” (1969) in which he mutated into a parrot; as a drunken butler opposite Peter O’Toole in “The Ruling Class,” (1972); and as one of Vincent Price’s victims in the horror film “Theatre of Blood” (1973).

Lowe also played Micawber in the BBC serialisation of “David Copperfield” and provided several voices for the children’s “Mr Men” series, which he also narrated.

He was a heavy smoker and his favourite tipple was gin and ginger ale with a slice of cucumber. In later years, he became an alcoholic, suffering a stroke in his dressing room at The Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham, where he was appearing with Joan in a tour of “Home At Seven.”

Lowe died the next day, aged 66. Surprisingly his wife Joan did not attend his low-key funeral because she was appearing in “Home At Seven” in Belfast and felt “the show must go on.”

In his youth, Lowe had been a member of Hayfield Cricket Club. During the hugely successful run of Dad’s Army he recruited his cast colleagues to appear in a charity match which was attended by thousands of fans. The ageing Private Godfrey fielded at third slip in an armchair. Happy days.

After passing the plaque we turned left at a public bridleway at the start of the Snake Pass trail (28mins). Thus began a steady ascent which took us on to Middle Moor. Before we reached the distinctive white shooting lodge, we turned left following a signpost towards Glossop (58mins).

                                                                   A bridge too far?

This led us to Carr Meadow and a wooden bridge over a stream called Hollingworth Clough. On the far side in the lee of the wind, we stopped for Pietime at 11.30am (88mins). Resuming, we turned right uphill on to Chunal Moor and reached the road between Hayfield and Glossop (115mins). We crossed it and followed the sign for Charlesworth.

After cresting a hill we turned left at a public footpath sign (122mins). As we turned we passed an intriguing wheelie bin which was tied with a strap marked “Girls On Tour” and a black feather boa. The path led us on to Mattley Moor.

Just before Knarrs Farm we turned right, crossed a stone step stile, and turned left (124mins). Another stile brought us to a road, where we turned left downhill (136mins). Passing Kings Clough Head Farm on our right (145mins) we crossed a stream and forked left (150mins).

Ignoring the first footbridge on our left we continued then crossed the second. After fording the stream to reach its left bank again, we turned left over a wooden stile marked with a yellow arrow (158mins).      

                                             “Pie times over you’ve had your 30 seconds!”

The path brought us out by a red phone box where we turned left for a few yards and then right to follow a public footpath sign by the side of large stone in the wall which was inscribed: “Sunday school for children of all denominations 1824.”

This path brought us to the Little Mill Inn at Rowarth (162mins) where the Banks bitter at £2-75 was not to everyone’s taste. This did not prevent a second pint from being consumed.

Leaving the Little Mill, we turned right uphill, passing the giant watermill on our right. Where the lane forked we went right (173mins) and continued a gradual climb until we went through a gate and turned immediately right (192mins). This route took us along the shoulder of the hill called Lantern Pike as we dropped down to the pub of that name, passing Clough Mill and w*^king George.

The pub was the third site of TV interest of the day, for it was here in 1960 that Tony Warren penned the early episodes of Coronation Street, while renting a house in Little Hayfield. One of the parts was for a character called Elsie Tanner which he had written for a local actress named Pat Phoenix.

Here the Timothy Taylor Landlord was deemed to be in fine form, as it should be at £3-22 a pint, and Tom kindly laid on a liberal supply of chips to sustain us.

We later learned that the B team had caught a bus to The Ram’s Head at Disley from where they had walked uphill into Lyme Park, past Lyme Hall and down to Higher Poynton, crossing the Macclefield Canal en route. After drinks in The Boar’s Head, they had then walked to Wilfred Wood Wetherspoons in Hazel Grove for further refreshment at the end of a walk of around five miles.

Next week’s A walk will start at 9.30am from The Soldier Dick at Furness Vale, with a midway livener at The Dandy Cock, Disley, around 12.15pm and an anticipated 2.15pm finish back at The Soldier Dick.  

Whaley Bridge

March 20th, 2013.

WHALEY BRIDGE AND ENVIRONS

Distance: 10.7 miles

Difficulty: Strenuous

Weather: Chilly, light snow, occasional sun

Walkers: Pete Beal, George Whaites, George Dearsley, Alan Hart, John Laverick, Jock Rooney and Tips, Colin Davison, Tom Cunliffe, Lawrie Fairman, Micky Barrett

Apologies: Julian Ross (decorating), Malc Halley (Corfu), Ken Sparrow (seeking advice on his balance, physical not financial), Geoff Spurrell (returning from holiday)

B Walkers: Tony Job, Pete Morrall (making his debut)

Leader: Fairman Diarist: Dearsley

Starting Point: The Cock, Whaley Bridge

Starting Time: 9.34am. Finishing Time: 2.37pm

Oh what a grey day, to misquote Larry Grayson.

However, the Wanderers’ inestimable bonhomie rose above the persistent, if light, falling snowflakes and slate grey sky to record an impressive 10.7 miles, at least according to Mr Cunliffe’s new-fangled gadget.

We have used the Cock as a starting point so many times your diarist has omitted to research Whaley Bridge itself. The name of Whaley Bridge comes from the ancient crossing place of the River Goyt which was used by the Romans for their road from Buxton to Manchester.

It was later a key point on the major route south from Manchester to London and was a main crossing from Cheshire to Derbyshire.

The road ran from Stockport over Jacksons Edge from High Lane, through Disley by the Rams Head and straight up the hill through Higher Disley, Longside and Stoneheads, where the old posting house can still be seen.

 It then came down Whaley Lane passing directly in front of the Jodrell Arms and straight on down Bridge Street.

 Going over the Goyt on the original Whaley Bridge the road then turned right and ran next to the river passing in front of the White Hart, which is now the back, and then up Old Road to Horwich End.

The route then continued along Elnor Lane south to Wythen Lache and along the Roman road past White Hall to Coldsprings and Buxton. The local road from Chapel over Eccles Pike joined this road on Old Road near the Drill Hall.

We left the Cock and turned left as usual, taking the immediate left turn and soon finding ourselves on the newly renovated Shallcross Incline.

At the end of the path we turned left and at the end of that road, right.

This brought us to a Y-junction and we took a path on the left. This was Elnor Lane.

In true Wanderers’ tradition we were on an early and demanding climb.

By 10.04am the path had evened out. But after only 75 yards of horizontal we had to climb again, following a path to the left which required us to negotiate a five-bar gate.

By 10.16am we had reached the summit. But our joy soon turned to anxiety as confusion – generated as usual by Mr Davison - abounded over which path to take.

After two minutes of map consulting we veered right across open countryside and down a valley.

                                           “Have you got it the right way up” (as the actress said to the bishop).

This brought us onto a road where we turned left and at 10.40am we began a descent.

We past Whitehall (as the sign said) or White Hall, as it is sometimes written, on our right. This appears to be an outward bound centre.

We took a path to the left, following a sign saying “via Combs to Chapel-en-le-Frith”.

At 10.52 Pie Time was declared and despite the butty-less Mr Cunliffe’s urgings we enjoyed a full 10 minutes of feasting. We set off at 11.02am and by 11.25am had reached a road and a sign which said “Combs”.

We turned right past a large pond on our right.

This brought us to an impressive barn conversion with some rather aggressive signs about sticking to paths. We dutifully turned right and began an ascent.

At 11.40am the sun came out, albeit briefly.

We turned left over a railway bridge and then immediately right which brought us along the side of the rail line which took us to Chapel railway station.

Here we turned left past the car park and down the hill. Only a few short weeks ago we were here struggling in deep snow to turn our cars around.

                                                                        50 Shades of Grey

At the bottom of the road leading to the station we went straight over into Alston Road.

This brought us to the main road in Chapel, where we crossed and entered the Roebuck at 12.19pm.

By Mr Cunliffe’s machine we had walked 7.44 miles, although some Wanderers disputed this. Our Pie Time had been taken at an altitude of 1044 feet after 4.25 miles.

At the Roebuck Black Sheep was £2.80 and Tetley’s Mild £2.45.

At 1.33pm we were joined by the B Walkers who had started at the Cock and clocked up four miles trekking up the Goyt Valley to Fernilee, going left at the Royal Oak and then taking a bus to Chapel.

Talk then turned to the travails of Mike “Wally” Walton.

Some Wanderers may have been shocked to receive an e mail from Wally which I publish in full below (with all the grammatical errors).

I'm sorry i didn't informing you, my family and I came down here to Manila Philippines for a short trip, unfortunately we got mugged at the park of the hotel where we stayed. all money, credit card and cell phones were stolen off us but luckily for us we still have our passports with us.

We've been to the embassy and the Police here but they're not helping issues and our flight leaves in few hours from now but we're having problems settling the hotel bills and the hotel manager won't let us leave until we settle the bills, I will appreciate whatever you can afford to assist me with,I promise to refund it to you as soon as I arrive home.

Of course, even had this e mail NOT been an obvious hoax, none of the Wanderers would have been foolish enough to respond.

However, it transpires that Wally’s misfortune had been to have had his computer “cloned” in Sri Lanka.

The cunning cyber bandits then wiped all his contacts not only from his laptop but from his home computer too.

Wally, who was due to combine business with pleasure on his trip, was left like an internet Billy No Mates.

Mr Hart suggested the Wanderers might hold a competition with a prize for the best limerick about the incident, the first the of which should be

“When Wally went off to Sri Lanka….”

One can only surmise what the final word might be.

We left the pub at 1.10pm, turning right into Eccles Road. We carried straight on until we reached open countryside.

At 1.50pm lunch was declared. Mr Cunliffe’s gadget claimed we had done 9.11 miles and were now at an altitude of 1019 feet.

We set off again at 1.57pm, reaching a road where we turned left.

We passed Hilltop Cottage on the right.

Then on the left we passed an impressive Ollerenshaw Hall.

                                                                         Ollerenshaw Hall

  Ollerenshaw Hall

One owner was a businessman called Mr Thornhill who had made his fortune as a carrier in Stockport

In 1822, Thornhill purchased Ollerenshaw Hall for £8000 together with 170 acres and retired from the business. 

Thornhill was described as a man of penurious and parsimonious habits whilst also rather ostentatious.

He was a man with a kind disposition who employed large numbers of local people at Ollerenshaw, who would otherwise have been out of work. Parsimony however, was exhibited in the smallness of their wages.

Thornhill had a curious way of dealing with his labourers. He would make them work in a line and call them to work or rest by sounding a horn. 

Thornhill was also said to have peculiar religious notions involving communion with the spirits of the departed. He was a Methodist of "The New Connection".

In November 1839, at the age of 47, Thornhill married a Miss Barlow, 40, who was heiress to a sum of about £10,000.

His wife had a "temper and disposition not calculated to make him at all happy".

They were said to have a shocking terrible life from violent wrangling and quarrelling.

From his wife or her mother "he never got a sixpence", but only an old bad note (a debt presumably) for £300 from the old lady who thought that he, if anybody, could get it settled.

He managed to retrieve about £170 of it, the remainder being lost.

In May 1841 a legacy of £250 was left to his wife and together they went to the solicitors to collect it.

The sum was produce with a receipt which she duly signed. Thornhill, however, refused to sign unless he got the money. Relenting, she said that he might have half but he still refused.

A dreadful row ensued in which “shocking language” was used by both sides. Ultimately she dashed the pen through her name and the inheritance was never received by either party.

In their quarrels, both Thornhill and his wife frequently talked of divorce and in 1842 she left him.

He contemplated a suit against his mother in law to recover a portion of his wife's £10000 inheritance.

A bill was subsequently prepared by solicitors but in June she took it into her head to return to the hall.

Thornhill decided to drop the proceedings on account of her violence. In December she left home again, not to return until shortly before his death in 1845.

On one occasion, he had his wife sit with him all night long in the coal cellar. At one time he mistook a log of wood for a devil and would have shot at it. At another time he was beset by twelve devils, went out and fired a pistol twelve times after which he was pacified saying he had "killed all the devils".

In his will, Thornhill left between £30,000 and £40,000 to his brother Jonathan to whom he was dotingly attached. His wife was to receive just £5.

The inheritance had also been promised to cousin Walter Thornhill on condition that he live on the estate. Walter challenged the will on grounds of insanity and the jury found in his favour.

By contrast, in February  1916 Ollerenshaw was home to Emily Moon Kerr  (Founder of the Tipperary League, which operated a number of "Tipperary Rooms",  temperance clubs for women).

I also found this on a message board

In the 1950's when Ollerenshaw Hall was derelict for a few years I went round the hall (without permission of course) and in one of the bedrooms was the biggest pile of empty beer,wine and spirit bottles. The pile was enormous and even though the years have passed I can still remember the pile. I did inspect and look for returnable bottles because in those days there was 3d on bottles. Unfortunately there were none.

                                                           Mr Davison puts the Ham into Hamlet

We swung right and then left over a stile. We came onto a road and turned right.

We were now on the outskirts of Whaley Bridge.

After 50 yards we turned right again down a narrow lane with high walls on each side.

This was Bings Road. At the bottom we turned left.

Within a minute or two (at 2.37pm) we were back at the cars.

After de-booting we entered the Cock, where Unicorn was £2.70. Had the Chancellor’s penny been removed?

                                                                    Our Pie Time stop

The B Walkers had done another two miles.

Next week’s walk will start at 9.40am from the top car park at Errwood Reservoir (the car park is apparently called Errwood Hall).

The half-way point will be the Cat and Fiddle and we will finish with a drink at the Cock, Whaley Bridge. Your diarist may be working.