Furness Vale

FURNESS VALE, RINGSTONES CARAVAN PARK, BAILEY’S FARM, COCK KNOLL, LYME PARK, MONKHOUSE MEMORIAL, BOWSTONES, EAST LODGE, COCKHEAD, HIGHER DISLEY, DANDY COCK AT DISLEY, PEAK FOREST CANAL, SOLDIER DICK AT FURNESS VALE

Distance: Ten miles.

Difficulty: Moderate.

Weather: Dry, sunny start with occasional cloud and chilly wind later.

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

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

Non-walking drinker: Geoff Spurrell.

Apology: Mickey Barrett (having operation to repair leg)

Leader (or so he thought): Hart. Diarist: Hart.

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

Starting time: 9.32am. Finishing time: 2.20pm.

The Wednesday Wanderers suffered their first injury during your diarist’s memory when Tom was stricken with a painful blister to his right heel. Despite the various states of decrepitude of participants, immoderate drinking and shambolic organisation, this was my first experience in 14 years of a wounded comrade needing treatment.

Cometh the hour, cometh the man and Nurse John stepped forward with an emergency blister pack from his first aid kit. A field dressing was applied and Tom returned quickly to the front line. But when pints of Robbies’ excellent cask bitter at The Dandy Cock failed to revive him, he was put on a bus to receive some TLC back home from Stella Nightingale.

Because of uncertainty last week about who would be walking, and given the possibility that no recognised leaders would be present, your diarist was elected to plan a route.

But whereas we have some born leaders amongst our ranks (and many born followers), there are some leaders who find it impossible to follow without opting for a diversion here, a short cut there, or a complete re-working of the route. This is perfectly acceptable in an anarchic group such as ours so long as we all finish in the right pubs, and in this at least we were successful.

From the pub car park we turned right and right again at The Imperial Palace Chinese restaurant to begin our long ascent of Bowstones. We climbed straight uphill before turning right at the entrance to Ringstones Caravan Park (8mins). The path then took us between a farmhouse and some stables (13mins) to an open gate, which we passed through and turned right, keeping a drystone wall on our right (15mins)

Crossing a wooden stile (28mins) we reached a road (where a local landmark, The Murder Stone, lay 400 yards to our right). Instead of going there again to gaze at the spot where a trader was battered to death 200 years ago, we turned left for 40 yards before turning right over a stone step stile to continue along a path uphill. This brought us to a wooden stile on our right (35mins), just short of The Dipping Stones, where goods and money were reputed to be swopped during the 17th Century Great Plague.

We crossed it then came to a stone step stile (43mins) and a ladder stile (46mins), keeping a drystone wall on our left and the former Moorside Hotel on our right. It was at this point, with Tom and your diarist leading, that the seven of us split into three separate groups.

Peter and Colin veered to the right, where the latter made inquiries of a gardener about the number of inmates now staying at the former hotel since its conversion at great expense to a home for wayward children. The answer was two – one boy and one girl – who came out on cue to kick a ball against a wall. Judging by the number of vehicles parked outside the building, the children appeared to be outnumbered 20-1 by staff.

Lawrie meanwhile led George and John to the left of the path being taken by his leader, shouting that your diarist was going the wrong way. Despite my attempts to assure him that Tom and I were on the right path, Lawrie insisted on following a route which Colin had led us on a year ago. This had led to barbed wire, a wide stream and heartache.

As history repeated itself, Tom and I had crossed the stream by a bridge, followed a public footpath sign into a field and passed a series of signs which led via stiles and gates to a stone step stile into Lyme Park (68mins). Here we waited for our colleagues to catch us up while Tom wandered into nearby trees to prove that bears are not the only mammals who defacate in the woods. In the background was the unmistakeable call of the curlew.

The missing quintet never arrived because they had joined forces to go left along the road we had crossed and made their way to Bowstones without entering the park. W eventually continued towards Bowstones from inside the park, passing the Monkhouse Memorial en route (78mins). Just short of Bowstones, we met the others who were about to embark on Pietime (84mins)

After tales and green mac had been exchanged, we headed downhill through the park until we reached a drystone wall and the entrance to woods (97mins). This was where our route would have taken us past Lyme Hall and Lyme Cage to the entrance hut, into Red Lane and to The Dandy Cock in a previously-measured 45 minutes.

Instead Colin insisted we should turn right and follow him along a route which he claimed was shorter. His journey took us through Cockhead, and I will make no further comment. Suffice to say that Tom, after Nurse Jones’ speedy treatment, was obliged to walk an extra half mile on his injured foot. Colin’s “short-cut” eventually took 63 minutes, including the three-minutes injury time, and he blamed our delayed arrival on Tom for not walking quickly enough.

What follows is Colin’s route. We crossed a ladder stile and turned right along a grass path (110mins). After crossing a wooden stile to turn left and walk along a wall just inside a wood we squeezed through a gap stile (113mins). We then headed diagonally left to cross a wooden stile (117mins) and reached a pebbled track where we turned right (118mins). To our left were a large herd of deer between us and Bollinhurst Reservoir in the distance.

We exited the park by East Lodge (124mins) and joined The Gritstone Trail. We followed a diversion to the left side of an unsafe bridge (130mins) and turned left at a kissing gate to continue to follow The Gritstone Trail (133mins). This route took us through a metal gate (137mins) and past a red phone box in which Clark Kent had just turned into Superman (141mins).

After ignoring the first footpath sign on our right we turned right at the second, marked with a yellow arrow (147mins), which led us through a scrapyard. We exited by a wooden stile and turned left along a path (152mins). We emerged by the sign for the Ring o’ Bells pub, which is now a Quaker meeting house.

By turning right (154mins) we reached The White Horse on our right at the end of Ring o’ Bells Lane, turned left and then went right at The Ram’s Head along the main road. We crossed to the far side of the A6 to reach The Dandy Cock (160mins). Tom hobbled in two minutes later.

The Unicorn was in fine fettle at £2-90 a pint, but Tom was clearly unfit to continue. We last saw him waiting at the bus stop as we turned right out of the pub entrance and immediately right again to head downhill. Colin and John chose a different route.

The main quartet walked under the Manchester-Buxton railway line and ignored Hagg Bank Lane on our left. We turned left into Sherbrooke Road (162mins) which brought us to the bank of the Peak Forest Canal (165mins). We walked along a path on the right bank until we reached Bridge 26 where we crossed over to the far side (169mins). After continuing along the left bank for a few yards we stopped for lunch at a bench (170mins).

Continuing, we passed the Swizzels-Matlow factory at New Mills on our left (189mins) and the Furness Vale Marina on our right (206mins) before reaching Bridge 31 (213mins). From here Peter led us on a new route back to the A6 underneath the railway line and back to The Soldier Dick car park (216mins).

Next week’s walk will start at 9.50am at Ye Olde Bowling Green Inn at Gore Lane, Bradwell, (turn right off the B6187 through Hope opposite The Travellers’ Rest). For those using sat-nav the postcode is S33 9JQ. Colin will be leading the walk and he anticipates we will reach The Cheshire Cheese at Castleton around 12.30pm. He aims to finish back at The Bowling Green around 2.20pm.

Happy wandering !

Photographs by John Jones

I

Bollington Valley

March 18, 2015.

THE UNICORN AT DEAN ROW, BOLLIN VALLEY, MOTTRAM GOLF COURSE, THE BULL’S HEAD AT MOTTRAM ST ANDREW, LEGH OLD HALL, WOODEND FARM, LOWER GADHOLE FARM, THE ADMIRAL RODNEY AT PRESTBURY, PRESTBURY SEWAGE WORKS AND THE DAVENPORT ARMS (THIEF’S NECK) AT WOODFORD

Distance: Ten miles.

Difficulty: Easy.

Weather: Chilly misty start with warm sunshine later.

Walkers: Steve Courtney, Tom Cunliffe, Lawrie Fairman, Alan Hart, Julian Ross and George Whaites.

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

Non-walking drinker: Geoff Spurrell.

Apologies: Peter Beal (Walking near Robin Hood’s Bay), Colin Davison (visiting friends in Mumbles) and Jock Rooney (in Isle of Man).

Leader: Fairman. Diarist: Hart.

Starting point: Car park of The Unicorn at Dean Row, Handforth.

Starting time: 9.25am. Finishing time: 2.17pm.

A cold misty morning saw us setting off in hats, scarves and gloves, but within an hour the sun had appeared and these garments were quickly stowed away. By the time we reached The Admiral Rodney 130 minutes later, we were able to sit outside in the beer garden on what had become a lovely spring day.

Apart from the usual earthy humour, it was an opportunity for us to convene with nature as we passed fields of snowdrops and daffodils, saw the intricacy of spiders’ webs highlighted by the early morning dew, observed a crow scaring off a buzzard twice its size, and saw flocks of ewes on the verge of producing their spring lambs.

We also walked through a field occupied by three donkeys overlooked from an adjoining garden by aherd of giraffes, of which more later.

Last but by no means least, we enjoyed pints of well-kept Robinsons’ Unicorn cask bitter at two traditional pubs.

From the car park we walked to the front of the pub and turned right along the main road. As we did so, we saw a banner proclaiming “Save The Unicorn. Say No to Hickory’s Smokehouse.”  Your diarist was left to wonder whether this was part of an election campaign by The Green Party. Following the extinction of the dodo and the sabre-tooth tiger, were they seeking to preserve this mythical creature. After her shambolic radio interview, nothing about their chairman Natalie Bennett would surprise us.

At the roundabout we turned right again and right for a third time at a green public footpath sign (6mins) pointing down a farm track. We negotiated the farmyard, passing its buildings and turning left to cross a wooden stile (10mins). From here we crossed two more wooden stiles, passing a pond on our left and reaching a kissing gate (21mins)

After passing through a metal gate we turned immediately right and followed a wooden public footpath sign for the Bollin Valley Way (22mins) This brought us to a road (29mins) where we turned right across a bridge over the Bollin and then left on the far side of the bridge to take a path marked with a yellow arrow which ran along the right bank of the river.

By following the yellow arrows we were directed through paths and the left side of a garden to enterMottram Hall Golf Club (34mins). We skirted the left side of the course, turning left at a soccer practice pitch and following the path to the right of a wood before re-entering the course by crossing a wooden stile on our right (54mins) and following a path behind a green.

The path led us to a sign informing us we were on the North Cheshire Way. As we walked through a copse, we took a left fork and followed a path with the trees on our right. We exited the golf club by a wooden kissing gate (61mins) and turned right down a lane (62mins)

We emerged nearly opposite The Bull’s Head (which is still missing its apostrophe) and crossed into Priest Lane (69mins). After 50 yards we turned left at a post marked with a yellow arrow (70mins) and followed a trail through shrubs and over two wooden stiles. We emerged from the shrubbery and walked between a large attractive white house on our left followed by a pretty thatched cottage to our right before pausing at a handy flight of wide steps for Pietime (80mins).

Resuming, we turned left up a stony track to reach a main road which we crossed and entered the drive of Legh Coach House (82mins). We passed Legh Old Hall on our left. This was built in the late 16th Century and renovated in the 17th. It is a Grade 2 listed building. After passing it we turned left at a yellow arrow along a path leading to a gate into a field (86mins)

We headed for the left hand corner and crossed a wooden stile to exit the field. We were surprised to learn later that the B-teamers had gone up to their fetlocks in mud crossing this same field half an hour afterwards whereas we had emerged unscathed. Another of life’s mysteries.

After crossing the stile we reached a road to the right of Woodend Farm (94mins) and headed down a gravel track to the right of the large house. This brought us to Lower Gadhole Farm where we turned right (96mins) and crossed two wooden footbridges over a stream and a ditch (101mins).

We went through a wooden kissing gate and turned left, exiting a field by a wooden stile and walking along tarmac to cross the Bollin by a concrete bridge (107mins). We turned right with the river on our right and passed a soccer pitch on our right (111mins) just before we entered Prestbury. After passing The Village Club on our left we turned left and reached the back of the pub (116mins). Was this The Rear Admiral Rodney, I hear you ask.

By now the sun was not exactly beating down but was generating enough heat for us to be happy to sit outside in the beer garden. Here Tom gave us more details about the news that he had put his pub’s lease up for sale for £50,000. The Lantern Pike’s annual rental of £23,000 is fixed for five years and we hope this lovely old pub will fall into a safe pair of hands after the hard work put in by Tom and Stella to make the business thrive.

We were drinking excellent pints of Robbies’ at £3-10 as Tom’s plans unfolded. Before we finished our second pints, the B team arrived with their tale of woe about a muddy field.

Continuing our round trip, we retraced our footsteps back to the concrete bridge across the Bollin. Instead of crossing it we turned right through a metal kissing gate (126mins). We traced the right bank of the Bollin, passing the enormous Prestbury Sewage Works on our right and causing one wag to remark that the villagers must be really full of it.

For once we did not stop for lunch next to the treatment plant but carried on past it and took a right fork through a metal kissing gate with the river to our left (146mins).When we reached a wooden footbridge (150mins) we paused for lunch. Resuming, we headed uphill towards a farm, which we first passed and then returned to after Lawrie had consulted his map.

We then noticed that yellow arrow markers had been removed from the farm gate (165mins) which we now walked through and turned left through a five-barred wooden gate (166mins). After crossing a wooden stile marked with a yellow arrow (169mins) we walked around a pond on our right and then headed left over a wooden stile marked with a yellow arrow on our left (174mins)

This took us into a field occupied by three friendly (ie hungry) donkeys. On our left was a huge house which had life-sized models of four giraffes in its garden. This was the home of “Henshaws Happy Hens,” so the giraffe connection seems a little unclear. We exited the property via a gravel drive and reached a road where we turned left (179mins)

After 50 yards we followed a wooden public footpath sign on our left towards Mill Lane through a metal kissing gate. We crossed a wooden stile with a yellow arrow pointing right (187mins) which we followed. This took us back to the road and the bridge over the Bollin which we had crossed earlier (191mins).

We now retraced our footsteps through the first farmyard of our journey, where some walkers bought free-range hen and duck eggs from the farmer. We continued  back to our cars (218mins) where we de-booted and drove to The Davenport Arms for more Robbies’ bitter at £3-35 a pint.

Next week’s walk will start at 9.35am from The Soldier Dick on the A6 at Furness Vale. We intend to walk to Bowstones and then descend through Lyme Park to Disley for a livener in The Dandy Cock around 12.15pm. From there we will walk along the Peak Forest Canal back to Furness Vale for further refreshment in The Soldier Dick at about 2.15pm.

Happy wandering !

Marple

March 11, 2015.

MARPLE, MACCLESFIELD CANAL, HIGHER POYNTON, LYME PARK, LYME CAGE, ST MARY’S CHURCH AT DISLEY, THE DANDY COCK AT DISLEY, PEAK FOREST CANAL, THE RING O’ BELLS AT MARPLE

Distance: 8 miles.

Difficulty: Easy.

Weather: Dry and Sunny at start with chill wind and rain later.

Walkers: Steve Courtney, Colin Davison, Lawrie Fairman, Alan Hart, Jock Rooney with Tips, George Whaites.

Apology: Peter Beal (walking in Lake District), Tom Cunliffe (knee problem).

Leader: Fairman. Diarist: Hart.

Starting point: Roads outside Ring O’ Bells pub, Marple.

Starting time: 9.33am. Finishing times: 2.20-2.40pm.

What had seemed at first sight to be a straightforward walk became anything but for a variety of unrelated reasons. There was no sign of trouble ahead as we set off in tepid wintry sunshine with a cool breeze in our faces.

Things started to disintegrate when George received a message from Lesley that their daughter was ill and had been taken to hospital. He decided at Higher Poynton to make his way back to your diarist’s house where his car was parked and assist with babysitting duties back at his home. Happily the patient was later responding well to treatment and expected to return home in 24 hours.

After pausing for refreshment and receiving a round of drinks to celebrate Steve’s birthday, we made our way to the Peak Forest Canal for a simple walk along the right bank back to our final watering hole. But workmen strengthening the canal bank with girders had closed the towpath in several places with no indication of an alternative route.

To make matters worse, rain which had been forecast to start at 2pm arrived 45 minutes early, While your diarist was putting on his “magic” waterproofs, he and Jock became detached from the trio ahead. We sought guidance from Tips, but in such circumstances a bloodhound would have been more useful than a collie. Our efforts to find our way back to the canal were successful, only to discoveranother section of the towpath closed for repair work, obliging us to return to the road we had left and arrive at the pub some 20 minutes behind our advance party.

Once again we had proved the old adage: if anything can go wrong it will.

From the front of the Ring O’ Bells we crossed the road and descended the spiralling cobbles on our left to reach the right bank of the Macclesfield Canal at Bridge 2. This was the start of a flat walk for more than an hour as we passed under the A6 (40mins) at Hazel Grove and continued to Lord Vernon’s Wharf at Higher Poynton (67mins) where George departed on his errand of mercy.

We crossed Bridge 15 here to head uphill towards Lyme Park, reaching the entrance gate opposite the aptly-named “Windgather.” This five-bedroomed property is empty and on the market for £600,000. Despite protestations about the blustery conditions from one of our number, who was sporting a bouffant curly grey hairstyle, but who shall remain nameless, our leader declared we were stopping here for pies and ginger mac (86mins)

Continuing, we aimed towards the lake near the National Trust cafe in Lyme Park and then took the path uphill to Lyme Cage (114mins). From here, with its magnificent panoramic views, the only way was down and we descended towards the entrance hut before turning right to exit via the east gate (129mins)

This took us on to Red Lane, which we walked up and then down, bearing right to go through the churchyard of St Mary’s, Disley (142mins)

This Anglican church is Grade 2 listed by English Heritage. It was originally intended as a chantry chapel for the fifth Sir Piers Legh of Lyme in the early 16th Century, but he died before its completion. This is hardly surprising as it took 31 years to complete between 1527-58.

Parish registers begin in 1591. It was restored in the 19th Century, although the original 16th roof was retained. It is constructed of camber beam and richly moulded and decorated with bosses, angels and crows’ feet.

It contains memorials to the Legh family. There is also a floor memorial to Joseph Watson, a park keeper at Lyme for more than 64 years who died in 1753 at the astonishing age of 104 !

Exiting the churchyard we went down cobblestones to reach the A6, where we turned right and crossed the road where The Dandy Cock was on our left (147mins) Here we toasted the anniversary of Steve’s birth 57 years earlier and congratulated him for being in such good shape for a man approaching middle age.

After drinking to his health in Robbies’ Unicorn bitter at £2-90 a pint, we left the pub turning right and immediately right again downhill under the Manchester-Buxton line railway bridge and into Hagg Bank Lane (150mins)

Our route should have taken us to Higgins Clough Swing Bridge, but one of our group knew a quicker way.  (I wonder whether you can guess who this was). So Lawrie was persuaded to ignore the right turn and carry on towards Wood End Lift Bridge, which was closed for repairs. We were obliged to back-track to the swing bridge (164mins), cross it and turn left along the right bank of the Peak Forest Canal.

By now light drizzle had become light rain and we were stopped for lunch under the shelter of Bridge 23 (180mins) Resuming, we found our way ahead blocked at Bridge 22 for more repairs and were obliged to leave the towpath with no diversion signs to guide us. We went left over the bridge and headed uphill, turning right at a road marked for Hawk Green and Hazel Grove (190mins)

We turned right out of Turf Lea (195mins) and it was at this point your diarist and Jock became detached from the trio who knew the way. A phone call to Colin went unanswered because he had turned it on to mute mode for a bridge match the previous evening !

After taking a footpath down to the canal, only to find the towpath blocked by further repair work, the abandoned stragglers returned to the road and reached the Ring o’ Bells(235mins).

Next week’s walk will start from the rear car park of The Unicorn, at Dean Row, Handforth, at 9.30am. Our aim will be to reach The Admiral Rodney at Prestbury around noon for a bracer and then return to The Unicorn around 2pm and head for The Davenport Arms (known locally as the Thief’s Neck) at 2.10pm.

Happy wandering !

Whitehough

March 4, 2015

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

Distance: 8 miles

Difficulty: Moderate Ascent/descent: 1,700 ft

Weather: Dull, cold but dry

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

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

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

Starting point: Old Hall Inn at Whitehough, near Chinley

Starting time: 9.35am Finishing time: 1.50pm

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Pictures below by Colin

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

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

Happy wandering.

Hayfield

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

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

Difficulty: Moderate to HARD.

Weather: misty with cloud and later sunshine.

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

B Walkers: Tony Job, and Ken Sparrow.

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

Leader: Davison. Diarist: Fairman

Starting point: Street parking at Hayfield.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Distance: 9 miles.

Difficulty: Difficult.

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

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

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

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

Leader: Fairman. Diarist: Davison.

Starting point: Valley Road, Hayfield.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Happy wandering !

Brabyns Park

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

Distance: 11 miles.

Difficulty: Moderate.

Weather: Dry with cloud and sunshine.

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

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

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

Leader: Davison. Diarist: Hart.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Happy wandering !

Whaley Bridge

February 11, 2015.

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

Distance: 10 miles.

Difficulty: Moderate.

Weather: Dry, mostly cloudy with occasional sunshine.

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

B walkers: Tony Job and Ken Sparrow.

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

Leader: Fairman. Diarist: Hart.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Photos below by Tom Cunliffe

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

Happy wandering !