Topley Pike

Topley Pike

26 August 2017

TOPLEY PIKE, MONSAL TRAIL, WYE VALLEY, CHEE DALE, MILLER’S DALE, HIGHCLIFFE FARM, CHURCH INN AT CHELMORTON, TOPLEY PIKE QUARRY, WETHERSPOONS (WYE BRIDGE HOTEL) AT BUXTON

Distance: Ten miles.

Difficulty: Moderate apart from the arduous going.

Weather: Bright spells and rain

Walkers: Colin Davison, Chris Owen, Jock Rooney and Tip.

Apologies: Peter Beal (narrow-boating), Alastair Cairns (altered diary commitments), Tom Cunliffe (wimped out), George Dearsley (in Turkey), Mark Gibby (wimped out), Alan Hart (wimped out), Steve Kemp (whimped out), George Whaites (hip hop).

Leader: Rooney. Diarist: Davison.

Starting point: Unofficial lay-by on A6 next to entrance to Topley Pike Quarry.

Starting time: 09.47am. Finishing time: 2.25pm.

Woe, woe and thrice woe, this onerous task has fallen to our least able once again (and for the third time this year – you see what your diarist did there?).

However, it occurs to your diarist that he is not constrained by the search for verisimilitude in the way of professional scribes and academics. Rather, he will attempt to give the reader a flavour of the sojourn. If you can forgive the experts their inaccuracies due to incompetence, perhaps you can forgive the following for exuberance.

Not for the first time this year, our numbers were depleted by the faint hearted preferring domestic chores to fun with chums because the Met Office predicted above average precipitation.

Despite the dismal weather forecast, we were treated to a beautiful July day with only a little of the predicted rain and the sun shining from time to time on the impressive scenery around the Wye Valley and the hills overlooking. 

We called at one of our favourite traditional village pubs before ending the day in one of Britain’s cheapest hostelries.

On the nature front, we saw a water vole, a heron, a wagtail, a buzzard and a  dipper on a rock in the middle of the river. Glimpsed, but not verified, we may have spotted a brown bear and her cub padding through the undergrowth, no doubt attracted by the huge quantities of trout reputed in the river.

From our lay-by we crossed the A6 and turned right along the Monsal Trail. We climbed the steps to the disused railway line which we walked along passing through 3 tunnels until we reached the 4^th where we descended steps to a bridge over the river.

Crossing the river we turned right along the bank to stepping stones beneath high cliffs.

Safely over, we reached a broad bank where climbers were enjoying the challenge of the overhanging face

Distracted briefly by their skill and poise we continued up a steep climb over limestone rock made slick by the earlier rain.

Chris was fascinated by the water rising at Wormhill Spring and Jock explained that this was some of the finest and most expensive angling water in the country.

Shortly after, we were treated to a display of fly fishing by a local afficianado.

Jock decided that our normal route was too short and marched us on to Miller’s Dale. Emerging on the road, we turned right and braved speeding traffic for ½ mile to Long Lane on our left. We paused for pietime.

A long steep climb brought us to Highcliffe farm at the end of the track where we carried straight along the road to a crossroads and turned right following a sign for the Limestone way.

On the road we found that the fine weather had brought out more nature enthusiasts.

Crossing the A6 we followed a track beside the Waterloo Inn. This brought us to a gate where we rejoined our normal route. Following the track round a curve we crossed a step stile over the wall on our right. Diagonally across the field we reached a gate through which we joined another muddy track.

This took us through a farmyard and we went straight on at a gravel track. The track dog-legged straight on at a wooden public footpath sign marked Chelmorton alongside an abandoned rake. Through a stile we headed past a well where the path swung left into the village. The Church Inn was on our right.

Although rain had threatened moments before, the sky cleared and we were bathed in sunshine. However, we opted to sit inside drinking a variety of excellent cask bitters at £3-40 per pint

At this point your diarist discovered, on examination, that his clothing was inexplicably wet right down to his boxer shorts. The only exception were his feet in his newly acquired and very expensive Altberg boots and a small portion of his right sleeve close to the shoulder. Could this be attributed to the horizontal nature of the aqueous portion of the atmosphere encountered on the higher ground we had just crossed?

Continuing our walk we turned right downhill from the pub and right again at a wooden public footpaths sign. From here our path back was straight along a series of paths through fields which we entered and exited by a series of stiles and crossing a lane along the way.

Beyond a wooden stile there was a slippery descent of the steeper part of a periglacial valley before we levelled out and reached the right side of the quarry at Topley Pike. Here we saw some graphic illustrations to warn of the dangers of Quicksand and Electrocution before returning to our cars to de-boot.

We drove to the Wetherspoons (Wye Bridge House) in Buxton where we were joined by Jock’s son Sean and enjoyed Ruddles bitter at £1.99 per pint.

Next week’s walk, lead by Chris Owen, will start from The Robin Hood Buxton Rd, Congleton CW12 3PE (departure time 9.40am).  https://www.robinhoodcongleton.co.uk/ (The landlord, Carl, is happy for us to park in the carpark). A lunchtime libation will be taken at Wetherspoons  18 Swan Bank Congleton Cheshire CW12 1AH https://www.jdwetherspoon.com/pubs/all-pubs/england/cheshire/the-counting-house-congleton  around 12.20pm. We hope to return to the Robin Hood Inn by 2.30pm, where we are expected, for further refreshment.

Happy wandering.

Bradwell

July 19, 2017.

THE WHITE HART AT BRADWELL, LITTLE HUCKLOW, DIRTLOW RAKE PIT, PEVERIL CASTLE VICINITY, GOOSEHILL, THE BULL’S HEAD AT CASTLETON, HOPE CEMENT FACTORY, ST BARNABAS’S CHURCH, BRADWELL, AND THE OLD HALL AT HOPE

Distance: Seven miles.

Difficulty: Easy after early climb.

Weather: Dry and warm but mostly cloudy.

Walkers: Colin Davison, Lawrie Fairman, Mark Gibby, Alan Hart, Steve Kemp and Jock Rooney with Tip.

Apologies: Mickey Barrett, Peter Beal (narrow-boating), Alastair Cairns (walking in Northumberland), Tom Cunliffe, George Dearsley (in Turkey), Hughie Harriman, Chris Owen (hols) and George Whaites (eve of hip operation)

Leader: Davison. Diarist: Hart.

Starting point: Road outside The White Hart at Bradwell, near Hope, Derbyshire.

Starting time: 9.55am. Finishing time: 2.02pm.

After the dizzy heights of 12 A walkers and three dogs last week, our numbers fell to six and one dog for this week’s hike. Predictably, one of the absentees was Tom, who suggested the walk. There is a pattern developing here !

There was also a parting of the ways when leader Colin unilaterally decided to change the venue of the first watering hole in Castleton. Instead of calling for a bracer in Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese, as agreed the week before, our leader opted for The Bull’s Head, a charmless establishment selling Robbies’ Unicorn at an eye-watering £3-70 a pint.

Jock and Tip voted with their six feet and walked to The George instead. We can only hope that the B team had not made a special effort to meet us in the Cheese which we totally by-passed.

As I write this report on Thursday morning, George Whaites is scheduled to have his long-delayed hip operation and I am sure you would all want to join me in wishing him a speedy recovery.

From the road where we had parked we headed uphill and turned left up a flight of steps by the side of a wooden public footpath sign (1min). We crossed two lanes (5 and 7mins) before forking left uphill (9mins). This brought us to a metal kissing gate through which we reached a lane (13mins)

We turned right and then immediately left at a wooden public footpath sign to a path which brought us over a stile made of concrete (25mins) into a field with a drystone wall on our left. We crossed a stone step stile (26mins)and turned right along a lane until we reached a road, where we turned left (27mins)

Happy Walkers

At a sign for Little Hucklow we turned right (33mins) and then went left at a wooden public footpath sign into a field (36mins). We aimed for a wooden marker post and continued to the corner of the field where a wooden stile was marked with a yellow arrow (43mins)

We crossed a stone step stile into a field with a drystone wall on our right (46mins) and squeezed through a gap stile (60mins). Tip, now suffering from middle-age spread, had to be lifted over the obstruction and we were grateful for Tom’s absence.

Tip

After crossing one wooden stile (63mins) we crossed another which brought us to a gravel track (67mins) where we paused for pies and port.

The track overlooked Dirtlow Rake Pit at its junction with the Long Rake fault lines which were mined for limestone over the centuries.

Resuming we turned right along the gravel track and turned left over a wooden stile (76mins) into a field with a drystone wall on our right. The path continued over another wooden stile (79mins) until we reached a rocky footpath (86mins). We crossed this and headed uphill to go through an open gateway (88mins)

This was the start of a long descent into Castleton, passing close to Peveril Castle without being able to see it behind a copse of trees.

Peveril Castle is an 11^th Century ruin. It was the main settlement of the feudal barony of William Peverel, founded sometime between The Norman Conquest in 1066 and the survey documented in the Domesday Book of 1086. At the end of the 14^th Century the barony was granted to John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster. He had little use for the castle and ordered some of its materials to be stripped and reused, leading to its rapid decline.

In the 19^th Century Sir Walter Scott featured the castle in his novel, Peveril of the Peak, which was a name given to a well-known pub in the centre of Manchester. The castle is a Grade 1 listed building in the care of English Heritage.

We reached the outskirts of Castleton (107mins) and exited Goosehill (109mins) over the River Noe, heading left before The Little Shop to emerge at Cross Street. We headed uphill but Colin immediately stopped at The Bull’s Head on the left and declared it to be our first watering hole (119mins). Jock was not amused, taking Tip and his custom elsewhere before rejoining us for the final lap of our journey.

Turning left out of The Bull’s Head, we crossed the road and went right up Castle Street (120mins), passing The George on our right and the parish church on our left. We turned left into Market Place and then headed left downhill before stopping for lunch (130mins)

Continuing we turned left at a bridle-path (131mins), passing the rear of Hope Cement Works (137mins), crossing a road and following a path marked Footpath and Bridleway (142mins). We reached a lane and turned left (147mins)

This brought us to Town Lane, (152mins) where we continued downhill to reach the main road (154mins). We turned right, passing Bradwell Post Office on our right, through a set of traffic lights and St Barnabas’s Church on our left (159mins) before reaching our cars (162mins)

After de-booting we drove to The Old Hall at Hope. This started life in 1719 at The Old Stone Daggers, later changing its name to The Cross Daggers before assuming its current name in 1873.

Next week’s walk will start at 9.45am from the layby near the entrance to the cement works at Topley Pike, on the A6 road out of Buxton opposite the Wye Valley car park at the start of the Monsal Trail. We will head along the valley before passing the Anglers’ Rest and The Waterloo to reach The Church Inn at Chelmorton about 12.15pm. We expect to return to our cars at about 2.15pm and drive to the Wetherspoons’ Wye Valley House Hotel in Buxton around 2.30pm.

Happy wandering !

Bollington

July 12, 2017.

BOLLINGTON, THE COTTON TREE, THE POACHERS, HEDGE ROW, HEYSHEAD COTTAGE, HARROP WOOD, ANDREW’S NOB, SPONDS HILL, BIRCHENCLIFFE FARM, COFFEE TAVERN, SKELLORN STUD, THE MINERS ARMS AT WOOD LANE ENDS, ADLINGTON, MACCLESFIELD CANAL, BOLLINGTON RECREATION GROUND, THE VALE AT BOLLINGTON

Distance: 10 miles.

Difficulty: Moderate.

Weather: Dry and warm with blue skies and fluffy white clouds.

A walkers: Greg Barrett, Mickey Barrett, Alastair Cairns with Daisy, Tom Cunliffe, Colin Davison, Lawrie Fairman, Mark Gibby, Hughie Harriman with Coco, Alan Hart, Steve Kemp and George Whaites.

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

Apologies: Peter Beal (narrow-boating), George Dearsley (in Turkey) and Chris Owen (hols)

Leader: Fairman. Diarist: Hart.

Starting point: Road outside The Vale, Bollington.

Starting time: 9.34am. Finishing time: 2.27pm.

We had a bumper turnout of 18 Wednesday Wanderers for the start of The Marching Season and a new route expertly planned by Lawrie. He  was tasked with finding a way from Bollington to The Miners Arms at Adlington which would take three hours and a return trip which would last a little over an hour.

His years of experience enabled us to reach both destinations at the designated times, linking up with the B-teamers at both hostelries. There were none of the dramas of last week and once again we enjoyed fine sunny weather and magnificent views.

The seven-strong B team began their walk, after a few false starts, along the Macclesfield Canal in the opposite direction from that taken by their A team comrades on the return leg. They came back to Bollington by bus.

The day had commenced with the unmasking of pole thief Tom Cunliffe, who handed over the stolen property. Last week he had created a mystery when Steve went back for his forgotten pole only to find it missing and a similar pole in its place. This turned out to be Tom’s, who had unwittingly picked up Steve’s pole in error. The conclusive evidence was teeth marks on the handle where one of Steve’s dogs had bitten it.

The traumatic experiences which followed have clearly failed to make an impression on Steve, who set off from Pietime without his pole once again. Perhaps at the start of each walk we should appoint a designated carer to look after Steve’s pole.

There was a welcome return to our group of Mickey’s son Greg, who has been piloting planes from the Naples area of Italy, from George W, who is still awaiting a hip operation, and a debut for another of our canine friends.  Coco, a three-year-old cockerpoo bitch, is owned by Hughie’s sister. She is the product of the mating of a cocker spaniel and a poodle (Coco: not Hughie’s sister)

After joining forces with the B team at The Miners Arms, Jock defected to the A team with Tip, so we finished our journey with a dozen A-teamers and three bitches.

From our meeting place outside The Vale, we walked back towards the town centre and turned left into Bollington Recreation Ground. We walked with the Bollin on our right and crossed it by a bridge leading to steps which took us to the main road, where we turned left.

This took us through the town in the direction of Pott Shrigley, passing The Cotton Tree (12mins) and The Poachers (16mins) on our right before forking left towards Pott Shrigley (18mins). At Hedge Row (21mins) we turned right passing the former Country Cafe on our right and the former Cheshire Hunt pub on our left.

When we reached a gateway guarded by two stone monkeys, we kept left (29mins) and passed Heyshead Cottage on our left (31mins). We went through a wooden gate marked with a yellow arrow (37mins), crossed a wooden stile (44mins) and entered Harrop Wood.

Ignoring a green public footpath sign pointing left (51mins) we forked left shortly afterwards to reach and cross a wooden stile (52mins). We crossed another wooden stile (54mins) and our route took us first to the left of a paddock and then between two paddocks before turning left with a farmhouse on our right (61mins)

We then headed right uphill along a gravel track with Andrew’s Nob on our left. We reached a road (72mins), turned left and immediately right at a wooden public footpath sign just before the sign for Pott Shrigley (73mins). We ascended the path until we reached a broken drystone wall where we paused for pies and port (82mins). Tom, who had taken a 200-yard lead, dined alone.

From our vantage point we had magnificent views of Croker Hill and White Nancy to our left and the city of Manchester ahead in the middle distance with Winter Hill just visible behind it.

Continuing we saw the Trig Point at Sponds Hill on our left (88mins) and we were heading for Bowstones, but turned left away from the main path and walked alongside a barbed wire fence on our left (91mins). This brought us to a wooden stile marked with a yellow arrow where we turned left (96mins).

This was the start of a long descent  during which we lost and found Coco who was bouncing in a nearby field like a springbok foal. We reached a gravel road (122mins) and turned left, then right at a public bridleway (126mins). This took us past Birchencliffe Farm on our right (133mins) to a road (140mins), where we turned right and passed The Coffee Tavern on our right.

We went left at a green public footpath sign(142mins), through a kissing gate (143mins) and headed diagonally right through a field, which we exited via  a stile in the corner marked with a yellow arrow (147mins). We turned left at another stile and carried straight on at a third stile to leave Skellhorn Stud, passing a field of horses on our left which included a newly-born foal. The downhill path brought us to a winding point on the Macclesfield Canal where we headed left and crossed it by a roadbridge (155mins).

The Macclesfield Canal is one of six making up the Cheshire Ring. It is 26 miles long, starting from Marple Junction where it joins the Upper Peak Forest Canal, heads south descending 12 locks within a mile at Bosley, continuing through Congleton to join the Trent and Mersey Canal. It was built from December, 1826 to the autumn of 1829 under the supervision of Thomas Telford.

On the far side of the bridge we swung left down to crossroads (158mins) and spotted the B team sitting outside The Miners Arms to our right on Wood Lane North, Adlington, in bright sunshine. We joined them  (159mins) and tried the Doombar which was deemed unsatisfactory. Pints of Miners Arms cask bitter went down better.

While the B team started mustering for the imminent arrival of their bus, the A team which now included Jock and Tip retraced our footsteps back to Lyme View Marina, turning right with the canal on our left (162mins). After Bridge 20 we stopped at a bench for lunch (178mins). Resuming we continued until we reached a sign for the Recreation Ground on our right (212mins)

We turned right to enter the ground (214mins) and crossed the River Bollin by the same bridge we had crossed nearly five hours earlier. We exited the recreation ground and turned right to walk down to The Vale (220mins) for a variety of cask bitter options, including a light session beer called  White Nancy. The B team were already there suitably refreshed.

Next week’s walk will start at 9.50am on the road outside the White Hart pub in Bradwell, near Castleton. We expect to reach the Cheshire Cheese in Castleton around 12.20pm for a bracer and return to our cars about 2.20pm. We will then drive to the Old Hall at Hope for a final pint around 2.30pm.

Happy wandering !

Danebridge

July 5, 2017.

DANEBRIDGE, THE SHIP AT WINCLE, WHITELEE FARM, WINCLE GRANGE , JON LENDANAN FARM, LOWER MINN END FARM, HUGBRIDGE WATER TREATMENT WORKS, GRITSTONE TRAIL.CHURNET VALLEY RAILWAY LINE (DISUSED), KNOTT INN AT RUSHTON SPENCER, THE ROYAL OAK AT RUSHTON SPENCER, WORMHILL FARM, DANE VALLEY, PINGLE COTTAGE AND WINCLE BREWERY

Distance: 9 miles.

Difficulty: Easy.

Weather: Cloudy start giving way to sunshine and blue skies.

A walkers: Mickey Barrett, Tom Cunliffe, Lawrie Fairman, Mark Gibby, Hughie Harriman, Alan Hart, Steve Kemp with Archie and Bertie, and Chris Owen.

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

Apologies: Peter Beal (narrow-boating), Alastair Cairns (house repairs), Colin Davison (French Alps holiday), George Dearsley (in Turkey)

Leader: Fairman. Diarist: Hart.

Starting point: Roadway at Danebridge, Wincle, Macclesfield.

Starting time: 9.40am. Finishing time: 2.23pm.

A good turn-out, perfect walking weather and an attractive new route across the borders of Cheshire And Staffordshire: what could possibly go wrong ? Well almost everything as it transpired.

When Steve forgot his state-of-the-art walking pole at Pietime and decided to go back for it, there was no hint of the series of events which would then unfold to prevent him from catching up with us. It was a classic illustration of the theory that the gods laugh when they hear mere mortals making plans.

The fact that our first watering hole at the Knott Inn was not open was our first hint that Plan B was beginning to unravel. The discovery that we were by now in a black hole for mobile signals exacerbated the situation. Add to this the fact that Lawrie, during a brief break from the airwave silence, had directed Steve to The Holly Bush instead of The Royal Oak, and you will understand how we once again looked as though we were taking part in an episode of Last of the Summer Wine.

Even when Steve staggered into sight, an hour late after completing 14miles, there was another twist to the tale. Chris was still out there looking for Steve and we were unable to tell him that the prodigal had returned. It remains to be seen whether Archie and Bertie will volunteer for future walks after their ordeal.

From Danebridge we walked uphill, passing The Ship at Wincle on our right before turning left along a path towards Whitelee Farm (6mins). This took us past Bagstones Farm on our right and into Wincle Grange (24mins), described as an “environmentally sensitive farm” by the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Fisheries.

After passing through a gate marked with a yellow arrow at the opposite side of the farmyard we crossed a series of wooden stiles. This often involved the Labradors having to be lifted over by hand. (This is something which George Whaites might like to consider as he waits for his hip operation: Tom need not apply)

Imagine our disappointment when Lawrie announced we had gone the wrong way and had to retrace our footsteps over these stiles !

We lost about 15 minutes before we found a path to our left which went down and crossed Shell Brook, before we climbed up to a massive metal gate which we later learned had been built at a height to restrain a herd of deer (62mins). Another high gate was negotiated (65mins) and three more gates of metal or wooden construction before we reached a junction outside Jon Lendanan Farm where we paused for pies, port and damson gin (79mins)

The farmer, who breeds spaniels, chatted to us and explained the gates we had passed protected fields occupied by a herd of deer. We resumed by turning left downhill and Steve, critically, forgothis walking pole. We passed a sign for Bosley Minns Shires on our left (86mins) and Lower Minn End Farm on our right (96mins) before Steve realised he was pole-less.

He reclaimed Bertie from Lawrie’s care and returned with both dogs to retrieve his pole, having been given a direct route to follow us to the Knot Inn, where we were proposing to stop for a livener. The seven remaining members of the group walked on, taking a short cut over a wooden stile (103mins), through a field and to an open gate which led to the main road between Leek and Macclesfield .

We crossed the road and turned left (107mins) passing Hugbridge Water Treatment Works on our right (111mins) and crossing the River Dane to enter Staffordshire. We turned right at a metal kissing gate marked Gritstone Trail (113mins), and went under a bridge built to support the Churnet Valley Railway Line (116mins)

The Churnet Valley Line ran for 27 miles from North Rode in Cheshire to Uttoxeter in East Staffordshire. It had 14 stations and carried both goods and passengers. Work started in September, 1847, and was completed less than two years later in July, 1849, at a cost of £330,000. It closed in 1988.

After walking under the bridge we turned sharp left, up a flight of steps and reached the disused line, where we turned right (117mins). We emerged at a road next to The Knott Inn (131mins) and encountered our next challenge. Al though the pub looked ready for customers, the former landlady was supervising furniture being loaded into a van.

She advised us that the pub was closed and would remain so until new licensees were found. She also pointed out the route to the next pub, The Royal Oak, which was on the main road a quarter of a mile away. Unfortunately Lawrie got it into his head that we were going to The Holly Bush and managed to pass this misinformation on to Steve before the mobile signals disappeared.

We walked along the lane at the back of the Knott Inn, which was the continuation of the disused railway line and followed a sign for Rushton Spencer and Best Lane. This brought us to a sign which advised us to turn left (123mins) to reach The Royal Oak 200 yards away. The path led us through a field of cattle back to the main road at a point opposite The Royal Oak (128mins)

The IPA cask bitter was in good form at £3-30 a pint, and we took our refreshment at tables in the garden at the rear of the pub. A friendly barmaid offered to use the landline to put us through to Steve. It was impossible to hear much from Steve but we gathered that he had become unhappy at taking the two dogs along a main road and would try to find his way back to The Wincle Brewery.

Thus reassured we sallied forth by turning left out of the beer garden and heading uphill past Rushton Church of England Primary School on our left. When we reached a red pillar box (135mins) we turned left passing Wormhough and Wormhill Farms on our left (138mins). At a fork we headed right downhill and stopped for lunch by the side of the path (145mins)

Resuming we headed back and retraced our footsteps once again to reach a bridge (159mins). We crossed a wooden stile with the bridge on our right, passing a cottage on our left and going through a wooden kissing gate (172mins). Turning left over a footbridge we crossed the Dane (177mins) and turned right.

This brought us through a wooden gate marked with a yellow arrow (188mins), passing Pingle Cottage on our left (190mins) and a number of trout farm anglers before we reached Wincle Brewery on our left for pints of cask beer straight from the barrel at £3.

Next week’s walk will start at 9.30am from the road outside The Vale pub at 29-31 Adlington Rd, Bollington SK10 5JT. We intend to make our way to The Miners’ Arms at Wood Lane Ends, Adlington, for 12.15pm, for a bracer before returning to The Vale around 2.15pm. NB: The Vale closes at 3pm on weekdays.

Happy wandering !

Allgreave

June 28, 2014.

ALLGREAVE, EAGLE AND CHILD, QUARNOCK, GRADBACH HOTEL, BACK FOREST WOOD, LUD’S CHURCH, HANGING STONE, WINCLE BREWERY AT DANEBRIDGE, CLOUGH BROOK COTTAGE AND THE ROSE AND CROWN AT ALLGREAVE

Distance: 8 miles.

Difficulty: Easy.

Weather: Continuous rain, light, medium and heavy at times

Walkers: Laurie Fairman, Chris Owen, Jock Rooney and Tips, Mikey Barrett and friend Dave Walmsley

B walkers: Not out due to rain

Apologies: Everybody else

Leaders: Fairman. Diarist: Fairman.

Starting point: Car park of The Rose and Crown at Allgreave, Wildboarclough.

Starting time: 9.36am. Finishing time: 1.30pm.

The attendance as can be seen was very thin – the forecast was perfectly correct unfortunately it rained all day. Perhaps the dull weather can account for the moaning that was apparent. (Come back Colin at least yours are genuine). Before we started Jock had a go, wondering why we going to the banned pub with a landlady that tries to sell him food! Later he even complained about the noise of my waterproofs.

I confess it was my idea mainly because it is the only pub open between Congleton and Buxton (apart from the Ship) on the A54. They welcomed us to use the car park and it opened up good walks otherwise inaccessible if you want a beer. I thought they deserved a second chance. How opinions change? Below is a quote from Alan’s report of the walk in Sept 10^th 2014

“They also missed out on a bit of history, a bit of poetry and a warm welcome from lovely Luda, the new landlady of The Rose and Crown.”

From the pub car park we turned left following a sign for Quarnock. The wind was blowing straight into our faces the temperature reminiscent of winter (10C) and the rain continuous. At this point it was Mickey’s turn for a moan asking if we had to walk on tarmac!

These were the only animals enjoying the day

This was the start of a long, gradual climb which took us past Midgeley Farm on our right (5mins), a herd of alpacas grazing in a field on our left, past Helmsley Farm on our right (19mins) and a cottage on our left which was once a pub called The Eagle and Child (24mins).

This was one of the first country pubs, built in 1738, to fall victim to the breathalyser laws which no doubt saved lives but also killed off many historic hostelries in the heart of the countryside – the law of unintended consequences.

Continuing gently uphill, on our right we passed Burn’t Cliff Top (28mins) and reached Midgeley Gate Barn, where we turned right at a green public footpath sign (31mins). This led us through a farmyard which we exited by a stone step stile marked with a yellow arrow (33mins). With a drystone wall on our right we carried on until we soon crossed it by another stone step stile marked with a yellow arrow.

After a few yards downhill we headed right to follow a path which plunged steeply through ferns, heading toward the former Gradbach Youth Hostel. We crossed a footbridge over the River Dane to reach it (42mins).

The hostel, which was once a silk mill, was converted into an outdoor education centre by Newcastle-under-Lyme College, Staffs.

However it now appears to have been taken over by a commercial company (Gradbach Investments ) with a view to being a hotel (of sorts). They don’t have a licence but have applied for one. They have also constructed a substantial outside eating area along the riverside (R.Dane) and are open Sat and Sunday at 10am. Room prices in July from £100

Outside the front of the building was a wooden signpost pointing to Lud’s Church, Danebridge and The Roaches. The route was straightforward until we reached a stone step stile leading ahead, while the path swept left. We crossed the stile and a footbridge (54mins) to head uphill into Back Forest Wood.

We did not take the footpath to Lud’s Church, wet and tricky at the best of times, but turned left to follow the sign for The Roaches. A fairly steep and occasionally slippery climb took up to a clearing above Black Brook. Here we followed the path up to Roache End.( 70 mins)

Even though it was only 10.45 am pie time was taken in the lee of a dry stone wall as shelter against a strong wet easterly wind. Chris providing a warming drink of damson gin under the view of Bearstone Rock

                                    

We crossed a stone step stile on our right to enter a field (99mins) and the well trodden path took us to Hanging Stone (106mins). This distinctive rock stands on Back Forest Ridge, overlooking Swythamley Hall, home of the Brocklehurst family who owned The Roaches estate until the death of the last in line in 1978.

Below it are two plaques. The earlier one reads:

Beneath this rock on August 1, 1874, was buried Burke, a noble mastiff black and tan.

Faithful as woman, braver than man

A gun and a ramble his heart’s desire

With the friend of his life

The Swythamley squire.

The later one is a memorial to Lt-Col Henry Courtney Brocklehurst, of the 10^th Royal Hussars, a pilot with the Royal Flying Corps from 1916-18 and Game Warden of The Sudan. Born 1888 Swythamley and killed on active service in Burma on commando in June, 1942.

From Hanging Stone we walked steeply downhill to a gravel path where we turned right (115mins). After 80 yards we turned left over a wooden stile (116mins) and followed a wooden public footpath sign for Danebridge. Another wooden stile took us downhill through a wood (121mins). We reached a path and turned left (126mins).

The path brought us out on a road where we turned right, crossed the Dane and entered The Wincle Brewery on our left (129mins). Locally-brewed cask bitter, The Wincle Waller, was bought for £3.00 a pint and enjoyed on picnic tables under an open marquee, where we were joined by two very wet Land’s End to John  O Groat’s walkers. They were doing it in 2 week stages. They left Mow Cap (all 3 pubs now closed) this morning and were heading for Buxton tonight.

                                          

Leaving with some reluctance, we turned right uphill, passing The Ship at Wincle and turning right at a public footpath sign just beyond its car park (133mins). We entered a field and left it by a wooden stile to head through a copse (138mins). We crossed a wooden footbridge and exited the copse by a wooden stile.

Our quintet kept to the left side of a field before crossing a stone step stile on our left to go through a farmyard (144mins) and turned right along a lane. We went through a gate, turned left and then left again at another wooden gate (145mins).

This brought us to a kissing gate, but no stopping for lunch which had been consumed in the shelter of the marquee). We passed Clough Brook Cottage on our right (155mins) and reached a road (156mins). We turned right, crossed the Dane and headed uphill (162mins).

One our left was a whitewashed cottage which had been built in 1746 and then the Allgreave Methodist Church. The steep climb ended when the road turned sharply left and The Rose and Crown was on our right (166mins).

We were given a warm welcome by Luda, the formidable Estonian busty blonde landlady who used to be mine hostess at the nearby Hanging Gate pub. As luck would have it the guest beer on sale for a whopping £3-60 a pint was what could only be described as a very dark mild from a Midland brewery  (Parkgate) .Bitter was 3.50 a pint

Next week’s walk will start at 9.35am from Dane bridge, park down by the bridge the upper spaces are now reserved for residents. We hope to be led to the Knot Inn at Rushton Spencer for a livener between noon and 12.30pm before returning to the Wincle brewery around 2.15pm.

Eyam

June 21, 2017.

EYAM, DIPPING STONES, STONEY MIDDLETON, COOMBDALE, BLACK HARRY GATE, CAVENDISH MILL, HOUSLEY, HOME FARM, THE BULLS HEAD AT FOOLOW, LINENDALE, THE MINERS ARMS AT EYAM

Distance: 7-8 miles.

Difficulty: Easy.

Weather: Hot and dry with cloud and sunshine.

Walkers: Mickey Barrett, Colin Davison, Lawrie Fairman, Alan Hart, Steve Kemp with Bertie and Archie, Chris Owen, and Jock Rooney with Tip.

Apologies: Peter Beal (narrow-boating), Alastair Cairns (drainage problems), Tom Cunliffe (builders’ visit), George Dearsley (in Turkey), Mark Gibby (in Kent)

Leader: Fairman. Diarist: Hart.

Starting point: Free main public car park in Eyam, Derbyshire.

Starting time: 9.56am. Finishing time: 2.01pm.

On the day of the Summer Solstice we had two more canine debutants and the return of our prodigal sailor. Mickey made it a return to remember with the purchase of a round of drinks to celebrate his 67^th birthday. We wish him many more.

We also welcomed Steve’s two Labradors, black Bertie, and the younger golden coloured Archie. Steve was assisted in their supervision by Lawrie, who is fresh from his Father’s Day “treat” of a walk to the top of Snowden. This was a considerable achievement for a man who turns 82 next month. A walk along Derbyshire’s pretty but modest hills must have seemed tame by comparison.

It came as no surprise to learn that Tom, who had recommended this walk, cried off as is his custom on such occasions. He missed some lovely scenery, two country pubs and a lively political debate between Chris (somewhat to the left of Lenin) and Jock (somewhat to the right of Genghis Khan)

It started from the historical village of Eyam, which famously isolated itself when bubonic plague broke out in 1665. The tragic deaths of entire families has been recorded in previous reports. There are so many sad signs showing visitors where the victims lived and where they were buried that your diarist thought “the plaque village” would be a more appropriate title.

We set off from a footpath at the back of the car park and carried straight on where the footpaths divided (3mins). This brought us through the outskirts of Eyam to Church Street, where we turned left (7mins) and then right into The Lydgate (8mins)

A steady climb took us past The Dipping Stones (19mins), where 352 years ago the villagers had left money in a cleft in the rock filled with antiseptic vinegar. Neighbouring villagers would later leave food in exchange for the sanitised coins.

We dropped downhill to the edge of Stoney Middleton (25mins) and reached the main road opposite The Moon Inn (30mins). We crossed and passed The Moon on our left to climb High Street before turning left into Eaton Fold (33mins)

After taking a path through a wooden gate marked with a yellow arrow we turned left at a wooden gate (38mins) and followed the beaten path through fields passing through a kissing gate (39mins) and a wooden stile on our left (43mins). This brought us across a stream, where the dogs cooled down, to a tarmac road where we turned right to climb up Coombdale.

We stopped at a pair of wooden stiles which marked a crossroads for pies and port (74mins). Chris not only added his own blend of sloe gin but provided slices of chocolate orange for the group. This prompted Lawrie to ask if this counted as two towards his “five a day.”

Resuming we went through a wooden gate (77mins) and turned right soon afterwards at a public bridleway known as Black Harry Gate (78mins).

Black Harry was an 18^th Century highwayman who preyed on merchants travelling between Stoney Middleton and Wardlow.  He was caught at Wardlow Cop by Castleton’s Bow Street Runners. He was sentenced to be hung, drawn and quartered and his remains were displayed in a gibbet at Wardlow Mires.

The bridleway emerged at a tarmac lane where we turned left (96mins) and passed a sign for Cavendish Mill (100mins) where purple orchids were growing at the roadside next to the industrial buildings. Soon after passing the mill we turned right at a wooden public footpath sign for Housley (105mins).

This took us through a copse and two wooden gates before we reached a main road (123mins). We turned left and then right after 30 yards to follow the sign for Foolow. At a T-junction we turned left again (127mins), passing Home Farm on our right (130mins) and reaching The Bulls Head in front of us (132mins).

We enjoyed £3-60 pints of Golden Eagle and Black Sheep provided by birthday boy Mickey at a bench where we could find shade outside. When your diarist bemoaned the lack of an apostrophe in The Bull’s Head, both on its sign and menus, he was told by the barman that if he had been properly educated he would know an apostrophe was not required !

Suitably refreshed we turned left downhill following a sign for Eyam and Grindleford. We turned right at a wooden public footpath sign (134mins) and attracted the attention of a herd of cattle whose menacing movements were soon put to rout.

We then went through a series of wooden gates and stone step stiles taking us along an easily-defined trodden path through Linendale, where we stopped for lunch on a grassy bank (142mins). Continuing we followed a wooden public footpath sign for Eyam (147mins) which took us through another series of gates, stiles and alleyways until we reached the end of New Close back in the village (168mins)

We turned left into Church Street, passing Eyam Post Office on our right and turned right up Hawkhill Road (169mins) and reached the car park on our right to de-boot (171mins) before driving to the Miners Arms – no apostrophe there either !  No wonder the country is on its knees.

Next week’s walk will start at 9.35am from the car park of The Rose and Crown at Algreave, near Macclesfield. We expect to reach The Wincle Brewery at Danebridge around 12.15pm, returning to The Rose and Crown for further refreshment at about 2.15pm.

Happy wandering !    

Old Glossop

Old Glossop 14 June 2017

OLD GLOSSOP, GLOSSOP LOW, LONGDENDALE TRAIL, HADFIELD, PADFIELD

Distance: 10 miles

Difficulty: Moderate

Weather: Warm and sunny

Walkers: Colin Davison, Alastair Cairns with Daisy, Tom Cunliffe, Mark Gibby, Hughie ?, Steve Kemp, Chris Owen

Apologies: Alan Hart (overslept), Peter Beal (cruising),

B Walkers: please see blog

Leader: Davison, Diarist: Davison

Starting Point: The Wheatsheaf, Old Glossop

Starting Time: 9.45am. Finishing Time: 2.30pm

I have found a new diarist to plagiarise. One worthy of my low cunning. Will he spot his own inimitable hand?

We welcomed a new member to our midst. Mark brought along his friend Hughie. Youth and a military fitness programme ensured he did not experience the difficulties our tyro members have faced on this particular walk. 

Another professional note taker, I see him as a potential diarist. Can you tell how much I hate this job when it falls to me?

The BBC’s weather forecast was spot on: sun, sun, sun, rather different from our last visit.

However, the Wanderers who braved these torrid conditions enjoyed a challenging walk, good company and fine ale.

The clement weather made note-taking easy. I hope you will forgive your diarist if this account is shorter than usual because he didn’t take any.

We went up Blackshaw Road and through some flats on the right to pick up a trail that led past some farm buildings.

There has been more work here since our last visit 3 years ago.The collection of fowl just beyond the mill lodge now includes a couple of emus.

We continued as far as possible along the road, up a slope and then climbed a stile on the left. Swineshaw reservoir was below us to the left.

Through Blackshaw Farm we began a long ascent towards Glossop Low, with an area called Peaknaze Moor in the distance to our left. We paused at the second gate to regroup.

2014 Wet, wet, wet

The climb to the top was quite taxing, especially in the heat and windless conditions.

Pie Time was declared at 10.50am and taken in a rather decrepit stone built erection, which at one time was – we guessed – a shelter for grouse shooters or Shooting Box. The plastic chairs are no longer there, but the stone window ledges made fine seats. Chris handed out Toblerone and Sloe gin.

The party relaxed in the sunshine and bonhommie. Even though Tom was with us we didn’t finish Pie Time early, such was the conviviality of the moment. Immediately below is a picture taken the time before last that we visited this refuge….and immediately below that the scenario from our last visit.

                                        

                                                                 Pie Time 2013

It ain’t half cold, mum. 2014

In January 2013 the valleys were full of cloud and mist and we were unable to see anything. This time we could appreciate the wonderful vista, albeit with the wind blowing rain and sleet into our eyes.

Our descent took in part of the Pennine Way, a National Trail running 431 km (268 miles) from Edale, in the Derbyshire Peak District, through the Yorkshire Dales and the Northumberland National Park, ending at Kirk Yetholm, just inside the Scottish border.

The path runs along the Pennine hills, sometimes described as the "backbone of England".

The track itself was easy enough though Tom complained that it hurt his​ knees.

But finally we reached the bottom and crossed a main road to join the Trans Pennine Trail turning left at a sign which read “Hadfield 3 miles”.

Walkers

Daisy the Dog

Longdendale Valley

"Bet he's got a bird brain," said the emu.

Emu....but no Rod Hull.

This, is also part of the Longdendale Trail. The trek into Hadfield is flat and without a great deal to observe. But we were just glad of the shade and  reach the Anchor pub by 12.41pm.

Tetley’s bitter was £2.95 per pint.

At 1.25pm we left the pub, turned right and proceeded down Railway Street to the railway station. We passed the station, crossed the road and took a ginnel on the left which brought us to Temple Street.

This took us past the Peels Arms pub. Climbing the hill, we turned left at the top where the main road turned to the right.

We took ​the second path on the right over fields. We negotiated a series of stiles, passed the graveyard where we have spent many happy hours playing Laurie Bingo (finding the grave of someone who died older than Laurie is now). It’s getting so difficult these days that it’s losing it’s popularity. Archive photo below from 2014.

                                          

The path then passed through the garden of a cottage with a big woodworking shop behind. We crossed the Woodhead road and through fields. We were soon walking along the opposite side of Swineshaw Reservoir to our outwards path, crossing fields that are normally muddy and wet but today were dry and fragrant with manure. This brought us to a descent through woodland and the road we had originally taken out of Old Glossop.

Next week’s walk will start from the main car park Eyam at 9.50am. The Bull at Foolow is our half way stop and we will visit the familiar Miners’ Arms at the end of our walk.

Happy Wandering.

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