Hartington

March 27, 2019.

HARTINGTON, HARTINGTON HALL YOUTH HOSTEL, BIGGIN DALE, PEASLAND ROCK, REYNARD’S CAVE, FISHPOND BANK, MILLDALE, THE GEORGE AT ALSTONEFIELD, GIPSY BANK, DOVE VALLEY, BERESFORD DALE, MORSON WOOD, THE CHARLES COTTON IN HARTINGTON

Distance: 9-10miles.

Difficulty: Mostly easy with one steep climb.

Weather: Cloudy and chilly but dry.

Walkers: Peter Beal, Andy Blease, Alastair Cairns with Daisy, Tom Cunliffe with Daisy, Hughie Hardiman, Alan Hart,  Chris Owen, Jock Rooney with Tip, Julian Ross.

Apologies: Mickey Barrett (car-less), George Dearsley (in Turkey), Lawrie Fairman (Arctic cruise), Mark Gibby (recovering from shoulder operation), George Whaites (supervising plumber)

Leader: Rooney. Diarist: Hart.

Starting point: Market Square, Hartington, Derbyshire.

Starting time: 10.02am. Finishing time: 2.48pm.

This walk started from one of the furthest flung points visited by the Wednesday Wanderers on the border of Derbyshire and Staffordshire. It was well worth the effort as we enjoyed the splendid scenery along the delightful Dove Valley.

A welcome bonus came in the form of two rounds of drinks from a pair of birthday boys. Chris was celebrating the 64th anniversary of his birth and Hughie his 55th. We wish them both many happy returns.

Heavy rainfall a week earlier had swollen the river but there was little in the way of mud as we wound our way along its banks in dry weather with a chilly wind. Despite the cloud there was clear visibility of the lovely landscape.

From the market square we walked uphill passing The Devonshire Arms on our right before turning right up Hall Bank (1min). This took us past Hartington Hall Youth Hostel on our left (6mins)

The hall is a Grade 2 listed 17^th Century manor house which was owned for three centuries by the Bateman family, who originated from Norfolk. Built in 1611 it was altered and extended in 1862. It opened as a youth hostel in 1934. Bonnie Prince Charlie was reported to have stayed at the hall in 1745 as he marched south from Scotland to raise support for his Jacobite Rebellion.

Immediately after passing the hall we turned right at a sign indicating Hulme End. We ignored a wooden public footpath sign on our left and headed diagonally right across a field before crossing a stone step stile and turning left along a lane (18mins). We forked right towards Biggin Dale (20mins).

After a steep descent down a rocky path we swung left into Biggin Dale and then swung right to follow the course of a footpath which soon became a babbling brook (40mins). A parallel path on the right side of the temporary brook enabled us to continue until we reached a cluster of handy rocks where we paused for pies and port (59mins).

Continuing we reached Peasland Rock (66mins) which has in the recent past been the home of a pair of peregrine falcons. We turned left, passing Reynard’s Cave on our left with the River Dove on our right. We exited Fishpond Bank (98mins), crossed a roadbridge and turned left with the Dove now on our left.

This brought us to the village of Milldale (109mins) where we turned right towards a car park for five yards, turned right again passing Polly’s Cottage on our left and after 10 yards we turned left up a narrow flight of steps leading into a field. After passing three curious bullocks we climbed steeply uphill, passing a herd of belted Galloway cattle, which looked like Newcastle United supporters in their black and white stripes.

As the hill levelled off we reached a lane and turned left (125mins), passing St Peter’s Church, Alstonefield, on our left to reach The George (128mins) for pints of Marstons’ Pedigree kindly provided by Chris and Hughie.

We turned left to leave the pub and soon turned right towards Lode Mill and Ashbourne before heading left at a public footpath sign along a gravel track (132mins). We turned right at a wooden public footpath sign with a yellow arrow and walked through gates to the right of a farm (138mins).

Beyond the farm we turned left at a yellow arrow and went through a wooden gate bearing a Peak Pilgrimage disc of yellow on a blue background.

This brought us to Gipsy Bank (146mins) where we stopped for lunch (148mins) before making our descent down to the Dove (153mins) which we crossed by a wooden footbridge. Turning left we now had the Dove on our left as we headed back for Hartington. We ignored a wooden footbridge on our left (179mins) and continued along the right bank of the Dove.

Then we crossed first a concrete footbridge on our leftimmediately followed by  a wooden one before turning right to enter Beresford Dale following a sign for Hartington (183mins). The Dove was now on our right but we crossed it by a wooden footbridge (186mins) and turned left so the river was on our left once more.

The path took us through Morson Wood, which we exited (192mins) and followed the path left back into Hartington. We reached the main road (205mins) and turned right to reach our cars and de-boot (206mins).

The Devonshire Arms being closed, we opted for pints of Hartington bitter at £3-60 in the Charles Cotton Hotel, where we were joined on trestle tables outside by Alastair’s charming wife Janette.

Charles Cotton (1630-87) was an English poet and writer born in Alstonefield. He owned a fishing cottage by the River Dove near Hartington where he fished for trout and grayling with his pal Izaak Walton. Cotton helped Walton write his famous book The Compleat Angler.

                                                         The first four photos by Alan Hart

Photo by Hughie Hardiman

Next week’s walk will start at 9.40am from the car park of The Lantern Pike at Little Hayfield. Tom will lead us over Middle Moor to Williams Clough, site of the legendary Mass Trespass, from where we will climb up to Kinder Ridge. We will pass the Downfall before heading down towards Hayfield and calling for a livener in The Sportsman around 12.45pm. We aim to be back at The Lantern Pike for further refreshment at about 2.20pm.

Happy wandering !

Manchester

Alan Turing Memorial, UMIST, Vimto Park, St Peters Sq, Central Library,  Rochdale Canal, Guardian Telephone Exchange, St Anne’s Sq, Exchange Sq.  

Distance: 3.04 Kms or 1.8 miles, alternatively 4627 tc steps

Difficulty: Easy Peasy.

Weather:  Bright and warm

WW Walkers:  Andy Blease, Alastair Cairns, Tom Cunliffe, Terry Jowett, Chris Owen, Jock Rooney, George Whaites,  

Non-WW Walkers: 1 Brazilian, 2 Argentinians, and 3 of unknown origin

Apologies: Daisy 1 (impractical), Daisy 2 (not invited), Tips (unsure), George Dearsley (an elongated Turkish sabbatical), Alan Hart (taking part in a Ramblers effort), Mike Barrett (jet-lagged), Hugh Hardiman (sorting mother or filial duties if you prefer), Mark Gibby (under the knife at Stepping Hill), Alan Duckworth (hols), Peter Beal (further hols), Steve Kemp (not yet ready), Julian Ross (with breath taking brass-neckidness, he was unashamedly w?@king), et al.

Leader: Megan of the Free Manchester Walking Tours https://www.freetour.com/manchester/free-manchester-walking-tour 

Diarist: Tom Cunliffe

Starting point: From the Alan Turing Memorial in Sackville Gardens

Starting time: 11:00am. Finishing time: 2.15pm.

This was an alternative city centre walk to our usual walk around the Peak District, and took the form of a guided tour around the city centre of our beloved city.

It is not my intention to write an account of the 3hr history lesson we received, however, I think its fair to say that we were in total agreement which was understated in true Mancunian fashion: the guided tour was “alright”. Actually it was very good even though the free walk was funded by the generosity of the tour parties’ tips. Bravo and long may it continue.

Whilst the tour was undoubtedly informative and interesting (a few bits of misinformation here and there), the real fun began as Chris led the remaining WWs at break neck speed (Jock had to leave us at this stage), to take lunch at the Kabana (an upmarket curry in down-market surroundings), another splendid effort by these people.

Having filled us tummies, we felt the need to wash it down with a couple of slurps of beer……so we did, many times over. One by one the WW left the peloton to find their way home leaving my good self and Alastair to finish off in the White Hart Cheadle where we met a bloke who told us that he once held the door open for Nelson Mandela….make what you will of that snippet of bulldust.

Next weeks walk will start at 9:45 from the Town Square at Hartington, calling at; Biggin Hill, River Dove, Alstonfield in time for light refreshments at the George, then on to Gypsy Bank, Wolfscote Dale returning to our vehicles in Hartington for 2.15 and a finisher at the Devonshire. If you’re  a fan of quality cheeses may I suggest you visit the Hartington Creamery, marvellous selection.

Happy Wandering

Disley

March 14, 2019

WHITE HORSE AT DISLEY,  GREEN LANE, MILLENNIUM WOOD, BLACK ROCKS, SEVEN SPRINGS CAMP, MOORWOOD FARM, SOLDIER DICK PUB AT FURNESS VALE, PEAK FOREST CANAL, WHITE HORSE

Distance: 8 miles

Difficulty: Easy

Weather: Strong winds, some slight rain at first, then dry

Walkers: Peter Beal, Chris Owen

Alternative walkers: Colin Davison, Laurie Fairman

B walkers: George Fraser, Tony Job, Geoff Spurrell, Barry Williams

Non- walking drinker: Alan Hart

 Apologies (known or rumoured): Tom Cunliffe (Morocco), Mark Gibby and Hughie Harriman (monitoring Cheltenham racing), Alistair Cairns (wandering in Keswick, later changed to Eskdale valley), George Dearsley (Turkey)

Leader: Beal Diarist: Beal

Starting point: White Horse at Disley

Starting time: 9.40am Finishing time: 2.06pm

Forecasts of strong wind and heavy rain clearly affected today's turn-out, leaving only your diarist and Chris to fly the flag for the A-walkers. Our recuperating colleagues Laurie and Colin, together with four of the B-walkers, were more resilient and chose to ignore the dire predictions of stormy weather, which as so often failed to be as bad as feared.

We can only assume those who failed to show had sound excuses, such as washing their hair, manicurists' appointments, or returning their overdue library books.

The A walk was close to not happening at all, as Chris belatedly realised he was waiting for his colleagues not at the White Horse, but at the nearby White Lion on the A6. He arrived at the correct venue just as your diarist was debating whether to change in to his boots to venture out on a solo expedition or return home to his duvet - a moral dilemma that was happily narrowly avoided.

We left the pub and turned up Ring o'Bells lane, past a building that was once a pub of that name and the old Disley Quaker Meeting House. With Disley Church on our right, we briefly joined Red Lane, before swinging left near the vicarage in to Green Lane.

The metalled lane became a rougher track after around half-a-mile, near the point at which a house on the right now proclaimed itself as Disley Kennels, with a field of half-a-dozen  alpacas opposite now advertising Alpaca Trekking. A quick Google search revealed 40-minute walks with the beasts are available for such groups as hen parties. I think the RSPCA should be informed.

The track became a footpath, which descended to a track, opposite which was the protected area of Millennium Wood. We entered this and soon emerged on Mudhurst Lane, the high-level road linking Disley with the Macclesfield Road.

We turned right and after 150 yards scaled a stile on the left, with the rocky crest of Whaley Moor, known as Black Rocks, ahead of us. The path led through boggy ground before rising on the short climb to the ridge, where the wind was at its strongest.

We turned sharp left to follow the ridge, which descended to a muddy pasture and farmyard, which we crossed to reach the High Disley to Whaley Bridge minor road. We took a narrow path immediately opposite that emerged at Seven Springs Camp outdoor activity centre.

We turned right just past the buildings and took a path through fields with the busy A6 road far below us on our left. We reached the buildings of Moorwood Farm, crossed a track and climbed another marked footpath to the right, leading us on to a track and another set of fields.

As we began to descend towards Furness Vale we inexplicably lost the footpath and had to climb a fence and two gates to reach the A6 200 yards from the Soldier Dick pub to our right.

We had to wait a minute before the noon opening time and a pint of Wainwright that Chris and your diarist pronounced undrinkable and requested be replaced - one of the hazards of arriving early at pubs and getting the first pints of the day.

Laurie and Colin arrived almost immediately, having completed a walk of six miles from Colin's house in High Lane, through Lyme Park and crossing to Buxton Old Road to descend to Furness Vale.

As Chris and your diarist were preparing to leave B-walkers George, Geoff, Tony and Barry arrived, having left from Disley and followed the line of the Peak Forest canal to Furness Vale.

We crossed the A6 from the pub and took a track between houses immediately opposite that passed under the Buxton rail line and swung left to emerge on Marsh Lane  below the level crossing.

We turned left, crossed the bridge over the canal, and turned left along the towpath with Furness Vale Marina on our left. We followed the canal for two miles until reaching a swing bridge, which we crossed and bore left up a lane which soon emerged next to the Dandy Cock pub in Disley, a short distance from the White Horse.

Here we found not only Alan waiting for us, but the landlady and four of her friends lavishly dressed as if for Ladies' Day, noisly following Cheltenham on the TV and indulging in a frenzy of online betting. We sat quietly and enjoyed pints of Robinson's Dizzy Blonde (£3-30).

                                                    Pictures by Colin Davison

Your diarist tenders his apologies for next week. He will be in the Lakes.

Next week's off-the-wall wander is a Manchester city centre walk, its an allegedly free walk so long as the guide is tipped (they ask for £8 pp but at the end of the day I suppose it’s optional?). This walk is rated No1 by Tripadvisor click on this link for more:

https://www.visitmanchester.com/things-to-see-and-do/tours-and-sightseeing/tours-and-tour-guides/free-manchester-walking-tours-p366081 

We meet at the Alan Turing statue located in Sackville Gardens opposite Chez Cafe at 11:00am with the tour lasting 3-3.5 hrs including a 15 min break at some point. The walk finishes at Exchange Sq which makes it handy for our first slurp of the day at the Oyster Pub. The organisers say that the walk goes ahead come what may so unless there is a nuclear attack just check the weather forecast etc. 

if you are coming but for reasons best known to yourself arrive late you can call me (Tom)  on 07729052183 for directions to catch up. 

So, if you want a leisurely and pleasant walk around our city centre with your chums and at the same time learn something that you didn’t know that you didn’t know or perhaps learn something you thought you knew but didn’t really know then we’ll see you at said statue

Happy wandering!

Sutton Hall

March 6, 2019.

SUTTON HALL, COP MEADOW, SUTTON RESERVOIR, MACCLESFIELD CANAL, BOSLEY LOCKS, NORTH RODE MANOR, RODE GREEN, HARRINGTON ARMS AT GAWSWORTH, GAWSWORTH HALL, DANE MOSS NATURE RESERVE, MACCLESFIELD CANAL AND SUTTON HALL

Distance: 9-10 miles.

Difficulty: Easy.

Weather: Cloudy, mainly dry with a brief shower and some light drizzle.

Walkers: Peter Beal, Andy Blease, Alastair Cairns, Tom Cunliffe with Daisy, Alan Duckworth, Alan Hart, Chris Owen, Jock Rooney with Tip, George Whaites and Lee Whittaker.

Recovering invalids: Colin Davison and Lawrie Fairman.

Apologies: Mickey Barrett (Antipodean hols), George Dearsley (in Turkey), Mark Gibby (having endoscopy), Hughie Hardiman (filial duties), Julian Ross (paternal duties)

Leader: Owen. Diarist: Hart.

Starting point: Sutton Hall car park, Sutton, near Macclesfield.

Starting time: 9.45am. Finishing time: 2.45pm.

Forecasts of showers throughout the day failed to deter another large group of Wednesday Wanderers, who, unlike last week, were not attracted by the promise of free food and drink. In fact we stayed mainly dry, dodging one soaking by the popular pastime of sheltering in a pub, and finishing our walk moments before rain of biblical proportions fell on the Macclesfield area.

En route we encountered our first lambs of spring and a host of golden daffodils while learning some history of our Industrial Revolution.

We also welcomed back to our ranks Lee Whittaker, making his annual appearance, and Andy Blease, who recovered from a blistered toe during his debut last week. Another relative newcomer, Alan Duckworth, left us shortly after Pietime at Bosley Locks so he could fly to Thailand later in the day.

We wish him bon voyage and we also send our best wishes to Mark Gibby, who was having an endoscopy to check his digestive problems. In the past Mark has also had a colonoscopy and informs me he prefers it down his throat rather than up his rectum (not the precise word he used). We should also spare a thought for another wounded comrade, Steve Kemp, and hope he, too, is on the road to recovery.

From the car park of Sutton Hall, once the ancestral home of Lord Lucan, we walked to the end of the drive and turned left, turning left again to cross a wooden stile by the side of a green public footpath sign (9mins). We exited this field over a similar stile and turned left, passing a cottage ironically named “(Still) The Old Poor House.” (14mins)

Chris led us right at Cop Meadow (18mins) where, at the end of the road we followed a green public footpath sign for Bishops Clough (21mins). We went through two kissing gates to walk along the right side of a stream, then went left over a bridge and turned immediately right so the stream was now on our right (27mins)

A kissing gate (29mins) and a wooden footbridge (31mins) brought us to a main road which we crossed to follow a footpath to the left of Sutton Reservoir – a lake which is also known locally as Turk’s Head Reservoir. At its end we swung left down a bank and left the footpath by a metal kissing gate to reach a main road.

We dog-legged left and right to cross the road and Bridge 48A to reach the bank of the Macclesfield Canal. We turned left (45mins) with the water on our left and began a two-mile walk along the towpath, under five bridges before arriving at Bosley Locks (93mins).

Here a plaque informed us that the Macclesfield Canal, which was completed in 1831, was 26 miles long linking the Peak Forest Canal at Marple with the Trent and Mersey Canal at Kidsgrove. Designed by Thomas Telford and engineered by William Crosley, the 12 locks at Bosley adjust the height of the canal by 200 feet.

After pietime, accompanied by a choice of rhubarb or damson gin kindly supplied by Chris, we turned right along the road and crossed a bridge over the main Manchester-London railway line to enter Park Road. This led us to a gate leading to North Rode Manor (100mins). We followed the path with a lake on our right before turning left through a gate (104mins)

This took us through a field of handsome Highland cattle who stared at us benignly while keeping a watchful eye on Tip and Daisy. We reached a path and turned right (109mins) along it to go through a farmyard and enter a field by a metal gate next to a wooden stile (118mins). We exited the field by another metal gate next to a wooden stile, reached a road and turned right (121mins), passing Swallow Cottage in the hamlet of Rode Green.

Turning left at a metal kissing gate (123mins) we entered a field where we saw a flock of sheep with their recently-born lambs. The path led us through a series of gates and stiles, between two ponds and in the direction of the tower at Gawsworth Parish Church. We reached a lane (157mins), turned left and reached the Harrington Arms on our right (159mins)  

Colin and Lawrie were sitting outside at a wooden table as this traditional Robbies’ pub was packed inside with a cycling group having their regular monthly lunch. Our two colleagues left as light drizzle turned to rain while the rest of us took shelter inside the standing-room-only hostelry. The Dizzy Blonde cask bitter at £3-40 was in excellent condition.

Suitably refreshed we went back uphill towards the church, passing it and Gawsworth Old Hall on our right. To the left of the hall was a statue of Sir Robert Peel.

The statue was bought at the end of World War 11 by the owner, Raymond Richards, whose son is the current owner of the hall. It had been the home in the 16th and 17th Centuries of the Fitton family and in the summer months it stages open air concerts and plays on a lakeside lawn, while guests bring hampers filled with their own food and drink.

Peel’s statue was bought from Peel Park, Salford, where Sir Robert, was the MP. Born in Bury, he served as Home Secretary under the Duke of Wellington.  He was twice Prime Minster in 1834 and 1841. Although a Conservative Member of Parliament, Peel often introduced liberal policies which he had previously opposed.

The son of a wealthy textile manufacturer, he gained double firsts in classics and maths at Oxford before being elected at the age of 21. He reformed working hours for women and children in factories; repealed the Corn Laws to make food cheaper; ended laws which penalised Roman Catholics; and cut tariffs to stimulate trade (As a temporary measure to replace lost revenue he introduced income tax at a rate of 3%)

But Peel (1788-1850) is best remembered for founding the police force, and giving them their nicknames of “bobbies” or “peelers.”

After passing the church, the hall and a fisheries on our right we went through a metal kissing gate to enter the right side of a field. We exited the field by a similar gate and reached a road where we turned left (185mins). Where the road swung left we reached the start of a public footpath and paused for lunch (190mins)

Continuing we followed the footpath and turned right towards Dane Moss Nature Reserve (193mins). A flight of steps took us over the main railway line (203mins) and back to the Macclesfield Canal by Bridge 47 (206mins). We turned left with the water on our right and left at Bridge 44 (230mins)

A left turn took us back to the entrance to Sutton Hall, where we de-booted and chose from a selection of cask ales in the cosy atmosphere of this excellent pub-restaurant.

I regret to inform you that The Robin Hood in Rainow no longer opens on Wednesday lunchtimes so future walks from Bollington will need to be planned with this in mind.

Details of next week's walk below.

B Team Walk

Walkers: Tony Job, Terry Jowett, Ken Sparrow, Geoff Spurrell and Barry Williams.

Phil Burslem (awaiting a new knee), has had the op postponed for a second time. First postponement was because of an emergency situation at Wrightington hospital, the second was a blamed on a poorly surgeon. Op now deferred to last week in March. Walk this week was a triumph for careful planning. We caught the 9.44 am 394 bus from the Rising Sun to Marple, and walked through the park to the canal, across the viaduct to Chadkirk and after elevenses, to the Hare and Hounds at Otterspool for Hyde’s Original. After a beer break and another walk via Marple Hall school, we hit the Marple road to board a 383 bus for Marple  centre,though it could have been either of two buses due within 5 minutes. Lunch was taken in the sun outside The Bulls Head, followed by Robinson’s inside. There is no 394 bus back to the Rising Sun at 2.14, so we got the 3.14, and arrived back at Hazel Grove for the heaviest shower of the day.

Photos by Alan Hart

This is a statue of Robert Peel outside Gawsworth Hall.

Highland Bull

Daisy and Tip lead the way along the Macclesfield Canal towpath

Next week’s walk will start at 9.30am from the car park of The White Horse at Disley with the aim of heading up through Lyme Park to reach The Soldier Dick at Furness Vale around noon to knock the froth off a couple of pints. We intend to return along the Peak Forest Canal for a final pint in The White Horse at about 2.15pm.

Happy wandering !  

Poynton

February 27, 2019.

POYNTON SPORTS CLUB, PRINCES INCLINE, MACCLESFIELD CANAL, LADYBROOK TRAIL, MANCHESTER-BUXTON RAILWAY LINE, LYME PARK, LORD VERNON WHARF, MACCLESFIELD CANAL, THE MINERS ARMS AT ADLINGTON, HIGHER POYNTON, HOCKLEY, PARK LANE AND THE KINGFISHER (WETHERSPOONS) AT POYNTON

Distance: 10 miles.

Difficulty: Easy.

Weather: Warm with blue skies and sunshine.

Walkers: Andy Blease,  Alastair Cairns, Tom Cunliffe, Alan Duckworth, Mark Gibby, Hughie Hardiman, Alan Hart, Mark Kean, Chris Owen, Jock Rooney with Tip, and George Whaites.

Recovering invalids: Colin Davison and Lawrie Fairman.

B team walkers: Tony Job, Ken Sparrow, Geoff Spurrell and Barry Williams.

Non-walking drinker (and birthday boy): Terry Jowett.

Apologies: Mickey Barrett (Antipodean hols), George Dearsley (in Turkey), Julian Ross (mending door hinge)

Leader and diarist: Hart.

Starting point: Poynton Sports Club Car Park.

Starting time: 9.37am. Finishing time: 2.05pm.

Birthday boy Terry Jowett had a bumper turnout for this walk. Whether it was the glorious unseasonably warm weather or the promise of free food and drink at the end is a matter of speculation.The assembly of 13 walkers at the start might have been deemed unlucky by those of a suspicious nature, and so it proved.

Terry’s generous offer to treat us to chilli, rice and chips back at the Sports Club after the walk had to be cancelled because of a belated problem affecting the caterer. But the Wednesday Wanderers’ motto – Firm of Purpose: Flexible in Design – came into play. A switch of the final venue left us hungry but not thirsty as Terry bought drinks all round. We wish him many happy returns of his 73rd birthday on Friday.

There was also an unexpected reunion for debutant walker Andy Blease and relative newcomer Mark Kean. Andy had been hoping to be introduced to the group by his mate Julian, who was unable to attend. But he was surprised to find Keano among our numbers. Keano was best man at Andy’s wedding !

From the car park we set off at a spirited pace on the understanding that Colin and Lawrie would take a slightly shorter and more leisurely route. We turned right along London Road North and right again at Woodside Lane before taking the left fork at the start of the new houses to head up Princes Incline.

This took us past Towers Yard Farm on our left and Davenport Golf Club on our right before we crossed Middlewood Road (29mins). We followed Prince Road across the bridge over The Middlewood Way to reach the Macclefield Canal (37mins). Here we turned left with the waterway on our right until we reached Bridge 13 (43mins)

Turning left and left again to cross the bridge we reached a colourfully-decorated and extended World War 11 pillbox and we left by the side of it to reach the opposite bank of the canal with the water now on our left. After passing a few moored barges we turned right following a green public footpath sign for Lyme Park (45mins)

We were now on the Ladybrook Trail which took us over stiles, across wooden footbridges, over ladder stiles, across the Manchester-Buxton railway line and through a tunnel under it until we reached Lyme Park itself (70mins). When we reached the entrance hut (73mins) we broke into two separate groups as six walkers opted to climb uphill to Lyme Cage while the other five followed the road before turning right to reach picnic tables for Pietime (93mins)

Suitably refreshed with port and damson gin kindly provided by Chris, we continued by circling to the left of the lake and following the lane which swung right. After a brief uphill section this then levelled off and we made a gradual descent out of the park, eventually reaching Lord Vernon’s Wharf by Bridge 15 (124mins)

We now swung right to go under the bridge and walked in the direction of Macclesfield with the canal of that name on our left. When we reached Lyme Marina at Bridge 18 (150mins) we left the towpath by a kissing gate on the right which led to a lane downhill. This soon brought us to Wood Lane North where we turned right with The Miners Arms on our left (152mins)

I regret to inform you that this pub is another example of a missing apostrophe. It has changed hands several times in recent years as a procession of licencees have tried to operate a successful business. Perhaps potential customers have been put off by the sloppy grammar.

Here we joined Colin and Lawrie, who had arrived a little earlier, to sit in the sunshine at tables outside, enjoying pints of Wainwrights or, in some sad cases, glasses of lime and soda. Colin, sporting a waistcoat and brown fedora, had turned back the fashion clock by several decades.

Continuing our perambulations we turned left to pass the pub car park and climbed a stile on our left to follow a footpath which took us between fields until it reached a T junction at a lane (165mins). Here we turned right for 20 yards before going left and following a winding path which brought us to a wooden footbridge.

The Wednesday Wanderers stop for pie time in Lyme Park

pic by Alan Hart

We crossed this and reached a road with a green public footpath sign opposite us (171mins). We followed this over a wooden stile marked with a yellow arrow, going over two further wooden stiles to enter and exit two fields. Another wooden stile took us across a road (179mins) and past allotments on either side of our path.

After turning right at a green public footpath sign we turned left at a path which headed towards the distinctive steeple of St George’s Church, Poynton. We headed left through a field (185mins) and reached Coppice Road by the side of a shop called Timeless Brides. Here we turned right (187mins and headed downhill to reach the start of Park Lane at its junction with Towers Road at Hockley (191mins)

Our journey then took us past Poynton’s main commercial road, with its wide array of shops, pub, club, wine bars, supermarket and restaurants. At the end of Park Lane at the double roundabout we turned left, soon reaching The Kingfisher Wetherspoons on our right (207mins). Here we enjoyed a selection of cask ales costing less than £2 a pint.

Next week’s walk will start at 9.45am from the car park of Sutton Hall, Sutton, Macclesfield, aiming to reach The Harrington Arms at Gawsworth around 12.30pm for a bracer. We expect to return to Sutton Hall for a final drink at about 2.30pm.

Happy wandering !

Topley Pike

February 20,  2019.

TOPLEY PIKE, WYE VALLEY MONSAL TRAIL, BLACKWELL MILL, CHEEDALE, CHEE TOR, BLACKWELL HALL FARM, FIVE WELLS FARM, BANK PIT SPRING (ILLY WILLY WATER), THE CHURCH INN AT CHELMORTON, SHEPLEY FARM, DEEP DALE, TOPLEY PIKE QUARRY

Distance: 8 miles.

Difficulty: Moderate with one strenuous climb.

Weather: Mainly cloudy and dry.

Walkers: Alastair Cairns, Tom Cunliffe with Daisy, Alan Duckworth, Alan Hart, John Jones, Chris Owen and George Whaites.

Invalid walkers: Colin Davison and Lawrie Fairman.

Apologies: Mickey Barrett (Antipodean hols) ,Peter Beal (walking in Lake District), George Dearsley (in Turkey), Mark Gibby (frozen shoulder), Hughie Hardiman (filial duties), Julian Ross (celebrating birthday with wife)

Leader: Cunliffe. Diarist: Hart.

Starting point: Lay-by next to entrance to Topley Pike Quarry, three miles south east of Buxton.

Starting time: 9.50am. Finishing time: 2.33pm.

Forecasts of rain failed to materialise so The Magnificent Seven who turned out for this walk were rewarded with some spectacular views in ideal weather conditions. Overnight rain had left a film of water on top of the limestone rocks strewn along the pathways and a heightened sense of vigilance prevailed after an early faller.

Chris slipped on a highly polished step as we walked along the Wye Valley and was saved from serious injury by his rucksack, which broke the fall. This alerted us all to the perils and the only other victim was George, who, while carefully checking where he was putting his feet, banged his head on an overhanging rock. It is hard not to laugh at such misfortunes and we must all try harder.

My apologies to those who read last week’s report and looked forward to helping Julian to celebrate his birthday during this one. Inexplicably he chose to spend the day with his wife Dee instead of his real friends. Nonetheless we wish him many happy returns.

The good news is that next week Terry Jowett is celebrating his imminent birthday by laying on chilli, rice and chips at Poynton Sports Club at the end of the walk. He has asked me to invite all Wednesday Wanderers to join him for the meal at 2.30pm.

On arrival at one of our favourite pubs for a livener, we were joined at The Church Inn, Chelmorton, by our wounded comrades, Colin and Lawrie, who had arrived by a different route from Taddington and Flash. This account, following the directions of our hike on July 18 last year, covers the journey of the larger main group.

From the Topley Pike Quarry lay-by we crossed the A6 and turned right through the Wyedale Monsal Trail car park to reach the right bank of the River Wye.

The Monsal Trail was formed from a section of the Manchester, Buxton, Matlock and Midlands Junction Railway, built by Midlands Railway in 1863 to link Manchester with London. It closed in 1968 but 8.5 miles of the track were reopened in 1981 for use by hikers, cyclists and horse-riders.

It starts at Topley Pike junction in Wye Dale and runs to Coombs Viaduct one mile south-east of Bakewell. It follows the Wye Valley through Blackwell Mill, Millers Dale, Cressbrook, Monsal Dale, Great Longstone, Hassop and Bakwell, using six tunnels.

After passing the Blackwell Mill Cycle Hire shop on our right we crossed a footbridge over the Wye following a Pennine Bridleway sign for Wormhill (15mins) and turned right along a path into Chee Dale with the Wye on our right. After Chris had his stumble, leaving him shaken but not stirred, George suffered a bang on the head as we crossed a row of stepping stones next to a cliff wall.

Wednesday Wanderers shrug off these misfortunes and we continued along the path, at one point crossing a wooden footbridge to the right bank (40mins) and then crossing another back to the left (42mins). A third wooden footbridge on our right took us across a tributary of the Wye (58mins) and we reached another footbridge with a wooden footpath sign pointing across it to Blackwell (70mins). Here we paused for pies, port and damson wine kindly provided by Chris.

After crossing the footbridge on our right we began a long ascent of Chee Tor, once an Iron Age fortress with commanding views over two valleys. After stopping to admire the views and catch our collective breath we turned left at the drystone wall ahead of us until we reached a five-barred wooden gate (86mins).

We turned right through this and headed for the right corner of a field before turning right and then left through a seven-barred metal gate (94mins). Yellow arrows guided us along a lane through Blackwell Hall Farm  (101mins) and we swung left beyond the farm to reach a main road (104mins)

Crossing this we were following a sign for Priestcliffe and Taddington until we reached a stone step stile and a wooden public footpath sign on our right (106mins). We crossed the stile and walked through a field until we reached a main road (113mins)

We went straight on over a stone step stile to enter a spinney with a path alongside a drystone wall on our left. We exited the copse by another stone step stile (114mins) and proceeded through a field which we left via a stone step stile to reach a farm track (120mins). We followed the track right until we reached a path on our right just before a metal gate.

The path led us through Five Wells Farm (131mins) beyond which we swung left along a lane. At the end of this track we dog-legged left and right to follow a wooden public footpath sign for Chelmorton (135mins). This led us down to Bank Pit Spring on our right (144mins), which a plaque informed us was known locally in bygone days as Illy Willy Water.

In the past it has been impossible to find a volunteer to taste the water to seek an explanation for its unusual name. But on this occasion Corporal Jones sprang forward and declared it to be delicious. We look forward to his report of any symptoms next week if he is still with us.

Fifty yards beyond the spring we reached The Church Inn at Chelmorton on our right (145mins) where we enjoyed a selection of cask beers including Marstons’ Pedigree which were priced from £3-40 to £3-70 a pint. Tom was outraged to discover that the sign awarding the pub the Wednesday Wanderers’ seal of approval had been removed from the premises.

On leaving the pub we turned right and after 50 yards turned right towards Shepley Farm. However the disappearance of a wooden public footpath sign which used to indicate the way caused some confusion, followed by to-ing and fro-ing which added some ten minutes to our journey time.

Once we had established we were heading the right way the route back was straightforward: a straight line – apart from a dog-leg right and left (169mins) - through fields and gates and over stiles. We paused for lunch by the side of a drystone wall (178mins) before crossing a wooden stile prior to the steep descent into Deep Dale (186mins)

When we reached level ground we were walking along a path to the right of the fenced off quarry and reached our cars (199mins). Nobody seemed interested in having a final pint at Wetherspoons in Buxton as planned.

Next week’s walk will start at 9.30am from Poynton Sports Club car park. Because there is considerable doubt about the opening hours of The Boar’s Head at Higher Poynton, we will be heading to The Miners Arms at Lane Ends, Adlington, to knock the froth off a couple around 12.15pm before returning to the club at about 2.15pm.

Happy wandering !