Martin’s Muddy Meander

12 miles from the Leathers Smithy

Timperley Taxis, aka Martin & Sue, collected Long Suffering Rick and me on what was forecast to be the driest day of the weekend – not difficult, the previous day had been more than a little damp. A muddy walk was expected – and a muddy walk is wot we got.

Martin had put the word out that he was doing this walk and it was pleasing that around 14 walkers turned out to endure enjoy it. Unfortunately he’d left his paper maps at home but as this was quite familiar territory it really wasn’t a problem – he had his very clever phone with him anyway….we only took a few wrong turns!

We set off walking south from Ridgegate Reservoir, following a section of the Gritstone Trail. Not much mud…yet.

Along the Gritstone Trail towards Croker Hill we had grand views over the Cheshire Plain:

Looking west to Jodrell Bank Radio Telescope

The mudlessness wasn’t to last, I was glad of my PacerPoles when we eventually hit the slippy, slimy brown stuff.

First climb of the day

Following the slutch

Leaving the Gritstone Trail just before the comms tower on Sutton Common, we headed west and downhill to our lunch spot.

The plan was to have lunch at the picnic tables of the closed Fool’s Nook boozer but it wasn’t possible. A pleasant spot (ie not too muddy) was found by the Macclesfield Canal swing bridge, just across the road from the pub.

Martin

Then followed 3 miles of relatively easy walking, north, along the Macc Canal towpath.

Slutch on the Macclesfield Canal Towpath….

….then not much slutch at all. Swing bridge close to Lyme Green.

Then it started to rain, just a little earlier than the BBC had predicted. I was a bit worried that I might not have had my wetlegs with me, I’d just grabbed my bag without checking before setting out. No need to worry, they were lurking amongst the usual detritus that gathers at the bottom of a well-used pack.

Approaching Macclesfield aka Silk Town, famous for, er, silk.

Sue modelling the latest rainwear

Wellies may have been a better option…

…or a mud sledge

 

Judith sprinting up the last climb of the day

Where we went:

12-ish miles with around 1600’ of upness. And some mud. Non-FitBit steps: 25,400.

A grand day out – thanks to Timperley Taxis for organising it, arranging for good company and for providing yummy shortbread.

Martin has a far more detailed account here – along with much better photographs. In fact the quality of Martin’s images has got me considering a better quality compact camera. My Lumix DMC-SZ3 does the job but I could do with a compact with a better sensor and lens. Time to start looking again.