Five Go Adventuring Again 7th Aug 2022

….An After Eights Production

The sun was beating down, although there was a freshness in the air as five walkers gathered at The Carrs car park, Styal, ready for a 9am (the one in the morning) bimble around the gentle paths and quiet lanes of Cheshire.

When we realised that other After Eights walkers weren’t going to be joining us because they’d stayed in bed or just couldn’t be mithered coming out on such a glorious morning, we hot-footed our way over the footbridge then headed SW through the housing estate (Wilmslow residents will likely object to this part of their town being so described.

Oh dear. How sad. What a shame.

We were soon away from the estate and walking through pleasant countryside, by Morley Green, Morley, and then to follow the River Bollin for a short while, before walking SW along the North Cheshire Way, which at this point runs alongside Manchester Airport’s runway.

 

 

Morley Green

Rounding the SW end of the runway, stopping occasionally to look at the stream of aircraft taking off, we found a nice spot to sit down, have a cuppa, demolish some scones, and watch yet more aircraft depart.

One the western side of the runway walk trundled NE to a nice spot where we could stop for a leisurely lunch consisting of another cuppa, butties, and more scones – I was determined I wouldn’t be taking them all home with me.

Leaving our sunny spot, we descended steeply down a track which took us back down to the River Bollin and soon the that magnificent piece of engineers, the River Bollin ‘Foot Tunnel’ under the runway.

A photo call was, er, called:

Kay and I had recced the route a couple of times with a view to minimising the amount of tarmac we’d have to use. We were quite successful , but it did mean that the we had to retrace our steps on a short section of the outward leg. No matter, it was less than a mile, and doing a route in the other direction is really like, well, another route.

Hennyway, back to Morley, then north to cross the busy A538 which delivered us nicely into the National Trust’s Styal estate.

Posing outside Quarry Bank Mill

 Cunning Mr Heron waiting for his tea

The heat of the day was begining to tell so the bench seat & straw bales outside Quarry Bank Mill offered a welcome rest for tired legs.

On the final leg now, following quiet paths through woodland that offered us welcome shade.

The paths became busier as we approached the car park – where I was hoping to be able to buy myself an ice cream. No such luck, oh well.

So that was it, we Famous Five had enjoyed a nice walk of just under ten miles, not far, but quite enough on such a hot day.

Me? I had a ball! Great fun, great company, lots of laughs, quite a few scones, a nice walk...and it didn't rain!

Thanks to everyone for turning up, not complaining, for eating my scones, and thanks to Kay who’s help was invaluable in planning, plotting, scheming, and for helping make it happen.

Where we went:

 

 

 

 

A bit of the Bollin Valley Way 1st Aug 2021

A short walk was called for by the After Eights Walkers. The Bollin Valley Way was only down the road from JJ Towers, so at 8.30am I met up with Kay to walk a small section of the route. Kay, an enthusiastic member of the After Eights.

We parked up just outside Styal, which rather conveniently sits on the River Bollin.

It was raining, not heavily, but enough to need a waterproof jacket.

Trundling eastwards, through The Carrs (a rather nice public park), we passed the local Junior Park Run being set up – it’s a popular one.

 L > R: Amy, the 42kg Wilma (who was Wendy), Kay

Kay met a dog, she likes dogs. A lot. This is Wilma, a rescue dog, formerly known as Wendy. Like so many labradors, she was very playful, energetic, and extremely sociable. And this particular labrador, at 42kg, was rather overweight – a legacy of her previous owner. Amy, her new owner who lived very locally, had got to grips with the situation and was getting Wilma out for two long walks each day. Although looking at Wilma’s energy levels I’m not too sure who was taking who for a walk!

Our route was easy to follow, there were plenty of Bollin Valley Way signs to follow – getting lost really wasn’t an option.

By now the rain had stopped, the sun was showing itself, and it was warming up. Waterproofs were put away.

We left the River Bollin for a short while, cutting through the grounds of the rather posh Mottram Hall Hotel (on public footpaths), battled though a Triffid infested path, before rejoining the river to return to our cars.

Mancunian lovers of proper beer may recognise the name above the arch

 

We covered around 8½ miles of very pleasant flatness, and were back at our cars around 3 hours after setting off. Nice.

I’ll repeat the route sometime soon (avoiding the Triffids), but as a run rather than a walk.

Thanks to Kay for joining me – maybe more After Eights will join us next time.

The route can be found here…..as long as Viewranger still works.     

Shutlingsloe…not 16th May 2021

…well not for everyone

Another little After Eights walk, led by Suzanne and one of her doggies.

The day was bright and clear, but with a promise of showers later in the day.

Our small group met up at Clough House car park, Wildboarclough, ready to leave at 9.30am.

I was pleasantly surprised to see Bridget at the car park, she was with a different walking group but we managed a quick chat before we went our separate ways.

 

We set off north, on tarmac, then to follow Clough Brook and around to Bottom-of-the –Oven.

Here disaster struck: one of the walkers, who professed that this was her first walk, had a little dog with her. We entered a field of sheep and lambs….the dog wasn’t on a lead – you can guess the rest.

I’d had surgery a few days before and was trying to take it easy, I dropped my pack and ran as fast as I could after the errant dog – who was only following her instincts.

The dog, “she’s never done that before”, was chasing a sheep and it’s two lambs, uphill and down dale….the poor things must have been terrified. I managed to catch the dog and return it to it’s owner – who then decided it would be a wise move for her to abandon the walk.

It was indeed wise.

We continued, minus one dog and one walker: following tracks into Macclesfield Forest, but not before a pleasant sit-down and tiffin share at Forest Chapel.

We passed the closed Leathers Smithy pub, then around the southern edges of Ridgegate Reservoir. We could see over to the layby on the north side of the reservoir, it was crammed with cars.

Shutlingsloe soon came into view, some took the easy climb to the top, others chose the lower route around the eastern side.

 

Then it started to rain, this is England after all, an English walk without rain well, it just wouldn’t be right.

The rain proved little more than a shower, an April Shower – in May. The weather *has* been rather unseasonable.

Crag Hall

A couple of girls stopped us, they were trying to find Three Shires Head by following a route description. They had no map or compass. They photographed my map, I hope they found their way.

We were soon back at the car park. We’d had a very pleasant stroll, marred only by the unwelcome doggy incident.

Where we went:

8½ miles with, according to Viewranger, 1400ft of ascent….I’m not sure about that though.

 

 

Hale – Knutsford Circular 30th April 2021

Kay, a regular with the After Eights walking group, was keen to do a slightly longer walk than the group usually do. She’d proved her mettle on a 10 mile Peak District walk some weeks earlier so I had no hesitation in suggesting this little bimble to her.

We left Hale at around 9am, it was bright and fresh (= cool), and joined the footpath heading east, that more or less followed the course of the R Bollin, under the M56, past the golf club, through Rossmill, and out almost as far as Castle Mill.

It was now getting rather warm – although we were moving at a fair old lick. Time to take a layer off.

Climbing out of the Bollin Valley, we followed a short stretch of tarmac to pick up more footpaths to eventually go under Manchester Airport’s Runway 2 via the rather magnificent River Bollin Culvert.

River Bollin Culvert, under Runway 2

For Helen H, aka 'Bat Lady'

 

One of the few planes seen that day

After a gawp at the tunnel, we wandered SW(ish) alongside the runway to eventually roll up around the back of Mobberley…where we we treated to hailstones and snow. Nice.

Waterproofs were quickly donned, and we were off – no time to linger. Well not for long anyway.

Crossing the Chester - Manchester line

A short stretch of tarmac took us, via a brief stop to say hello to friends Brian and Linda who live on this route, to a quiet and secluded entrance into Tatton Park. It’s one of those places that you’re unlikely to know where it is unless you know it’s there. If you know what I mean.

Kay posing by Tatton Mere

Prior to WW1 this area was cleared of trees to allow aircraft to take off and land. 

It was later used as a landing zone for No1 Parachute Training School in WW2

Tatton Deer

North through the park, initially following the eastern side of Tatton Mere, then to the No 1 Parachute Training School memorial….where we stopped for butties and a brew.

As I munched my butties, and Kay chomped on her ever-so healthy Rivita, we watched a plane come into land at Manchester Airport. Only the 5th or 6th plane we’d seen all day – testament to continuing Covid-19 travel restrictions.

Suitably fed and watered, we marched on, passing Tatton Hall and exiting the park by the Home Farm entrance (exit?) on the Tatton Mile. Which isn’t a mile at all.

Next came Rostherne, reached by following a Church Path, which is defined as  'A path, often crossing fields and designated as a customary right of way, leading or shortening the way to a parish church’.

There. Don’t tell me this blog isn’t educational. Even if the rest of the content is appalling. 

Kay and Rostherne's Village Pump

St Mary's Church, Rostherne

Another brief break, this time in the churchyard of Rostherne’s St Mary’s Church. The church is Grade 1 listed, and a church existed here as far back as 1188. So it’s a bit old.

Off again – Kay had ants in her pants and wanted to get moving.

Rostherne Mere

We followed the concessionary path around Rostherne Mere, which exists on the ground but doesn’t appear on the OS map. The path, not Rostherne Mere.

More tarmac followed, until we took to paths to take us back to the M56.

All was well until….

We weren’t going to let a little thing like a life-threateningly dangerous bridge put us off. Apart from anything else we were only a couple of miles from our cars, and we were damned if we were going to follow some airy-fairy footpath diversion….of which we saw no sign anyway.

We scrambled over the barrier, avoided falling into the river, and over the next barrier to safety.

 

A footbridge over the busy M56 (easy to see the effect of relaxing the Covid-19 lockdown) and more footpaths took us back into Hale and our cars.

‘Twas a good day out, I needed the exercise (I always need exercise), and Kay got her longer walk in: win – win!

Where we went:

Around 18 miles of Cheshire flat(ish)ness.