Tegg’s Nose 16th Oct 2020

An email popped into my inbox inviting me to join Martin & Sue on their Friday walks, the first walk being from Tegg’s Nose, situated in one of the lumpier bits of Cheshire.

It wasn’t a very warm nor bright morning but it was good and dry.

I’d left home in good time but a Road Closed sign upset my plans although after much re-routing I eventually arrived at the visitor centre car park to be greeted by a party of 5, all waiting (fairly) patiently for me.

I’d chosen to walk in and old pair of North Face Hedgehog shoes that had long since ceased to be waterproof – but they are comfortable.

Martin, being the man with the map, set off at a leisurely pace and we all trouped after him.

Looking NW towards Manchester

 Martin & Sue, Paul and Graeme I’d met before, but not Cary – although our paths have almost certainly crossed at a Park Run – where he’d have shot past me. 

First stop was to examine the old quarry machinery that had benefitted from a coat of paint since my last visit – it’s colourful appearance brought to mind a child’s playground.

Sue toying with the idea of a ropeless abseil

On a clear day the views from Tegg’s Nose are expansive. Good too. Jodrell Bank Radio Telescope, in all it’s bright-white glory, was prominent on the Cheshire Plain.

Martin, our glorious leader - the man with the map

For Alan R. And Dawn

 

Time for Tiffin, Shortbread...and some peculiar tea

Martin led us steeply downhill toward Langley and a tour of three reservoirs: Tegg’s Nose, Bottoms, and Ridgegate – where we stopped for sit down, coffee, (slightly) milk flavoured washing-up water, and goodies to eat: Sue’s highly addictive shortbread, and my contribution, home-made Tiffin.

This building that was once home to a Walter Whiston Bullock who fought at Gallipoli and the Somme, before finally meeting his end at Passchendaele after leading a successful attack to capure a German concrete shelter where 100 prisoners were taken and eight machine guns captured. Walter was killed later that same day. He was 34 and was subsequently awared the Distinguished Conduct Medal.

 

No idea

Suitably refreshed and refuelled we headed North-east(ish)into Macclesfield Forest, reputed to be frequented by Nastrond, Selina Place and Grimnir. I read about it in a book so it must be true.

Lovely autumn colours

Continuing north we cross the busy main road at Walker Barn, a check point on the Bullock Smithy Hike, more northerly stuff followed until we hit the Gritstone Trail, where we turned abruptly left, to follow the Way’s signs for the last mile or so back to our cars.

We’d been out for around 3½ hours – which considering our leisurely pace was just about right.

Thanks to Martin for inviting me along and leading the walk – and to Sue, Cary, Graeme and Paul for their good company.

Martin’s rather truer story of the morning’s fun.

Where we went:

 

Tally-Ho! from Chinley Sat 10th Oct 2020

The Old Hall in Chinley is rapidly becoming a Club favourite. Located in superb running country, it serves excellent food along with a wide range of well kept, proper beers.

 

 The Old Hall, Chinley

As with last year’s trail from here, the trail layers were Ade, and the man with the money, Tony.

I opted for an early start but was surprised to find some runners had arrived before me. I set off first, leaving the earlier arrivals to chat and get themselves ready for the rigours of the run.

I headed off west, initially on tarmac following the clumps of sawdust down hill to cross the road bridge over the raging Black Brook. It wasn’t long before Hon Prez Park caught me up, we stuck together for the rest of the run.

Photo nicked from Big Ian, because mine was rubbish,

We left the road to climb, running north along Cracken Edge, keeping to the east of Chinley Churn. It was cloudy but dry and we enjoyed good views all around.

 

Passing through some old quarry workings, and scaring the living daylights out some sheep, we could clearly see Mount Famine and South Head, hills that we’d soon be ‘running’ up. We descended to Peep-O’-Day which had just come into view. 

The crossing of the busy A624 marked the start of our climb over Mount Famine. We came across a couple of mountain bikers who were cycling the Pennine Bridleway:

 

Kinder Downfall could be seen doing what Kinder Downfall should: the water was flowing down, not up. We descended the to cross the familiar Pennine Bridleway, and then began a bit of a tug up to the top of South Head, where the wind was very, er, windy.

Summit Cairn, South Head

Heading off South Head

Trail!

The descent from South Head was magnificent. The ground was dry and it was very runnable.

It was now more or less downhill all the way back – but following the trail was tricky at times – leading us through a garden (it was a P.R.O.W.) and going through various, almost hidden, little snickets and ginnels.

The flooded path alongside the sewage farm caused a little concern…..was this the waste outflow? Worse, could it have been the overflowing intake?

Whatever….we continued west along the old Tramway, now a pleasant path, and on final approach to the Old Hall.

Cracken Edge from the  pub

Covid-19 restrictions meant we couldn’t use the tin bath so runners had to make the best of it. I took a flask of hot water and had a quick wash down at my car in the pub car park, others made their own arrangements for removing the worst of the crud. I wasn't too muddy - mainly thanks to the flooded path we'd just run through:

Not too muddy - thanks to the flooded path we'd just run through

Joe was shielding so wasn’t able to stay for the meal. The Warrington lads were under orders from Boris deWaffle Johnson not to mix with the likes of the rest of the Club so they enjoyed a rehydrating pint or two whilst sat outside the pub before heading off and leaving the rest of the runners to enjoy a very fine dinner of steak pudding followed by, er, pudding. Ade didn’t have the steak pudding. Obv.

Then it was time to go time – but not before the Hon Sec made it known that we had lost another venue, the Crag at Wildboarclough. Plans are in hand to replace it with another venue, but in these difficult times finding a pub that is able to accommodate us is no easy task….even assuming pubs aren’t ordered to close, which right now looks very iffy.

Anyroadup. It was a great day, Joe, as always, proved to be the best of company. The route really couldn’t have been better, and the pub, well….tremendous.

Oh, and nobody overtook us….a first!

 Nothing to do with the run, but I always find these railway arches, on the road into Chinley, to be quite striking - the evening sun illuminated them beautifully:

Windy Bottom Tally-Ho! 26th Sept 2020

Here we go again….

The Trail Layers, me and Whitehead, ably accompanied by Ade, met at 11am on the appointed day in the large and already quite full car park of New Mills Golf Club.

Loaded up with more sawdust than very loaded-up trail layers, we set off west on a stony track to descend to Brook Bottom. 

Fortunately, and depending on your point of view, the Fox Inn (Robinson’s) was yet to open. With no excuse to stop we descended further, following the initially very stony Goyt Way / Midshires Way, to Strines and it’s cobbled road – treacherously slippy in the wet. Don’t ask me how I know…

Windy Bottom Farm

Windy Bottom Farm Audience

River Goyt

Heading NW and along a good track that ran (?) parallel to the railway line and the R Goyt, passing the delightfully named Windy Bottom Farm, Strawberry Hill, Roman Lakes, and then the last of the bottoms of this route, Bottoms Hall.

Bottoms Hall

Roman Lakes: Closed

A climb up Old Hall Lane took us by Linnet Clough Reservoir and another climb to join a nice track to Linnet Clough Scout Camp Site, temporarily closed due to Covid-19 precautions.

We laid sawdust on the still open public footpaths through the campsite, giving us a good insight to modern day Scout activities. How times change.

Mellor marked the beginning of the return leg of our route, we headed south, skirting the Mellor Golf Course before turning East along Black Lane, a track open to motor vehicles.

 Geoff in trail-laying mode, followed by Ade

 

Geoff & Ade at The Cross

The curious sight of a large crucifix, sited by the 327m spot height was too good an opportunity to miss, so we trundled up, scattering sawdust as we went.

A crucifix was first erected by Marple & District Council of Churches in 1970, and replaced with this very substantial affair in 2018.

Curiously, the cross isn't marked on the current 1:25k OS map, but it does appear on the 1:50k.

Crossing Mellor Moor and continuing to the end of the long straight track we turned SE-ish along the delightfully named and very runnable Primrose Lane.

A stony / rocky descent to cross a minor road and then more footpath running followed. At last we head West, via the hamlet of Whitle and then final approach to the Golf Club, tea, coffee, dinner...and fizzy beer.

Whitle's centre piece

 8.5 miles of running appeared to be well received by the 20 or so runners who attended, although the good weather probably helped colour the opinions of many. 

The Golf Club allowed us to used their changing rooms and showers, sensibly limited to a maximum of two at a time, although few took advantage of the facility.

Indifferent and not very hot meals followed, but stomachs were filled. The choice of Farmers Chicken, Fish & Chips, and a vegetarian option was, on reflection, a bad choice. A better choice would have been the more usual no choice – other than having a vegetarian option.

The beer was fizzy. I may have already mentioned that.

Whatever, it was a good day out and members seemed happy that we return to the venue in the, hopefully Covid-19 free, future. 

Where we went:

8.5 miles, 1260’ ascent. Max / min elevation: 1070’ / 300’

 

(Note that some of the photos were from the recce)