Pym Chair – Shining Tor circular 18th April 2021

A short walk on a nice day, in good company.

The day started with a bad decision to entrust the route to the start to Google maps – it took us on a most fiddly, twisty and messy route….although it may have shaved 30 seconds on my usual route.

Whatever. At 9am (the one in the morning) two doggies and 6 walkers met at the Pym Chair Car Park. This is a group of friends known as The After Eights, and led by Suzanne and her doggies. Joules is one of those friends, hence our attendance. 

The great dryness we've been enjoying of late provided me with the opportunity to test ride my new Salomon XT Inari Trail running shoes.

The weather forecast was good but it was a little chilly as we set off south on the mostly paved path over Cat Tor and then to Shining Tor.

The going was good, and whilst the path wasn’t exactly quiet, it certainly wasn’t overly busy.

It was a different story at Shining Tor, for here it really was busy – lots of folk stopping to eat their butties, take in the lovely views, or just having a breather.

We took the opportunity to sit down for a quick coffee whilst soaking up the sun. It was by now really quite warm, layers were being shed, left, right and centre.

 

There good views of Windgather Rocks, White Nancy, Shutlinsloe & Macclesfield Forest, and Bowstones. And That Manchester.

Leaving the crowds behind, we descended, west, to follow a path north to the delightfully named Thursbitch, the ruin of what must once have been a substantial building.

The path here was a bit rough, but it was good and dry underfoot. Soon we were on a good farm track, then proper tarmac, to arrive at Jenkin Chapel – and butty time. You can read a bit about this interesting place of worship here.

The chapel is still in use, although services are only held once a month.

 

A peak through the chapel window.

It was then a short but rather steep walk back to the car park.

We drove home without the aid of Google maps!

Where we went (clockwise):

 

About 6 miles with 1000’ of ascent. 

Oh, and the Salomon XT Inari Trail Running shoes: they were generally comfortable although I had a bit of a heel rub by the end of the walk. and they had those bloody stupid pull-laces. They're going to be changed for proper laces before I use them again. Other than that: good.

 

 

Edale to Chinley 16th April 2021

It was a very last minute decision to hit the hills: at 6.50am I jumped out of bed, 50 minutes later I was running for the train (my first time on public transport for over a year) to head to Edale.

The trains were very quiet, the few passengers on board were, apart from one, wearing facemasks.

By 10am I was heading south to climb up the the heady heights of Mam Tor and Rushup Edge. The sky was blue, the sun shone strongly, but it was chilly – I kept my Velez on for most of the rest of the day.

I initially mis-read this as 'Hardenough Clough'

 

Looking back to Mam Tor from Rushup Edge

 

Not part of the nice view

The views from Rushup Edge were good, apart from a couple of dog-poo bags on the footpath. There’s no excuse for this kind of couldn’t care-lessness, it’s just abdicating reponsibility to the non-existent Dog-Poo Bag Fairy. What sort of people do this?

At the west end of Rushup Edge I headed north up the Pennine Bridleway. I found a nice spot just south of Roych Clough for my lunch – this was the only time I took my Velez off.

For Judith

I followed the PBW to a point just west of South Head where I turned downhill to eventually arrive in Chinley. 15 minutes later my train arrived, I was back home in the late afternoon – just in time for tea.

It was good.

The trains south, beyond Manchester Airport, still aren’t running due to Covid-19, but when they do I’ve got a few routes on my to-do list, including a walk home from Holmes Chapel – I need to get some miles in my legs!

Where I went today: 

Around 9 miles with 1650’ of ascent.

 

Mobberley 8, Covid-19 Edition 2021

Good Friday came round again and it was time for a solitary and socially distanced ride to, and around the closed pubs of Mobberley.

The day had dawned dry, bright, and pretty damned cold – but there was no wind so the cycling was easy.

This ‘event’ is usually attended by 100 or so cyclists, but in these days of Covid-19 restrictions this just couldn’t be.

In spite of restrictions, other cyclists had a similar idea to me, by the time I’d arrived at the Plough & Flail at around 11.45am, I’d ‘collected’ Pat and Vanessa en-route. Other cyclists had beaten us to it.

The former Stag Inn

There was just enough time for a photo call and a beer when it was time to head out to the Stag at Warford. The Stag, a one time excellent pub, closed it’s doors for the last time some years ago. In spite of various promises to re-open, it looks like it’s being converted to offices.

Still, a quick beer was quaffed as a mark of respect.

The Frozen Mop was next, followed by the Bird in Hand – a Sam Smith’s pub that Humphrey Smith had closed a long time before Covid-19, for reasons best known to himself.

The Bird in Hand....anyone want a job?

A sign in the pub window advertised for someone to run the pub. I don’t think there’ll be many applicants, most folk I know want at least SOME job security.

The Bull’s Head & Roebuck were next, along with a couple of pints of Cheshire Cat. The Roebuck has become a village shop, selling lovely pies. And beer. No photos I'm afraid, I was too busy eating my butties.

The sun continued to shine brightly – and almost hotly. Not bad for an early spring day.

The Church Inn, preceded the once excellent Chapel House, now a private house, but still sporting the pub sign.

The former Chapel house, now a private house

 The last pub of the day was the Railway, a former Greenall’s house. This pub is unusual in that it has retained it’s bowling green – so many pubs have converted their greens to beer gardens – or car parks.

 The Railway rather unwillingly hosts a music and singing session at the end of the ‘Eight’, it’s proved popular with customers and M8ers alike, but for some reason this enthusiasm isn’t shared by the pub management. 

 With no pub to play in this year those remaining headed for the Manchester-bound platform of Mobberley station. A few tunes were knocked out, no singing though, before we all began our responsibly distanced journeys to our respective homes.

And we all lived happily ever after.

 

Lyme Park, sans Mountain Rescue

After my last, abortive, trip to Lyme Park, a re-match was in order.

I met up with Kay at Nelson Pit, Higher Poynton, on a lovely early spring morning: birds singing, sun shining – all that sort of thing.

 

We wandered into Lyme Park by the usual back door and, passing the location of the Mountain Rescue call-out a couple of weeks earlier, headed up to Bowstones.

Walkers and runners were out and about, taking advantage of the glorious weather, as we were - although Kay was keen to be out whatever the weather.

I’d arranged a radio sked with John, G6LCS, in Weaverham, a straight line distance of 22+ miles. I was using my Baofeng U5R handheld, John chopped and changed – switching from his Baofeng into a half-decent aerial, and his FT817. John also had linear amplifiers, allowing him to run 20 watts or so.

John was a decent signal, but he struggled to hear my 5 watts.  The GB3MN 2m repeater was poorly, although we managed to chat using GB3MR on 70cms. Both repeaters are located at Bowstones. An interesting exercise! 

The Bowstones, with the repeater aerials in the background.

Kay and I headed south over Sponds Hill where we sat down for lunch with a view, but the cold wind didn’t encourage and hanging about.

Kay at lunch

For Rob

Pott Shriggley is home to an artist (sculptist? sculpturist?) who produces most magnificent metal sculptures, it's always worth spending a little time looking at some of the exhibits:

We soon hit tarmac, and walked towards Pott Shrigley, to eventually gain the towpath of the Macclesfield Canal which delivered us safely back to Nelson Pit and our cars. 

So that was it, a lovely little walk in good company. Nice. Very, very nice. 

Where we went:

9 miles with 1300ft of ascent – according to Viewranger.