Tally-Ho! Point-to-Point 2022 23rd April 2022

 

St George’s Day was the chosen date for Cheshire Tally-Ho! Hare & Hounds running club’s end of season run, the Hartley Folly.

Traditionally a point-to-point, linear run, it’s somewhat longer in distance than the usual fortnightly trail runs.

This is the Club’s 150th year, but with Covid, nothing has (yet?) been done in the way of organising appropriate celebrations. The Hartley Folly would have to suffice.

Various routes were considered and all were recced, eventually, and with the (mostly) polite advice of some members, a 14 mile main route from Edale to New Mills Golf Club was settled on. A shorter, 7 miles from Chinley, route was planned for walkers and those who might struggle with the longer distance.

The routes were planned with public transport in mind, Edale, Chinley and New Mills were all on the same railway line, it was just a matter of driving to New Mills Golf Club, running (downhill!) to New Mills Central, and hopping on to the train to the chosen start point.

Our normal trails are marked with clumps of sawdust. On the morning of a run, one or two members (the hares) will lay a sawdust trail over an 8-ish mile cross country route. runners (the hounds) will then attempt to follow the trail – some more successfully than others.

The Hartley Folly is slightly different in that sawdust is generally not used, the hares rely on a route description …. although I put a few clumps of sawdust down where I felt there was potential for confusion.

Given the average age of our club runners, confusion goes with the territory.

On the day we were joined by guest runners, including members of New Mills Jolly Joggers – a really lovely bunch.

I was on the 10.17am train from NM Central, along with other runners. Some alighted at Chinley to take the shorter route, others at Edale. Les R travelled on the 1.16pm train, choosing to run the shorter route from Chinley.

Des W took an earlier train but arrived too early for refreshments at the tea stop at Peep o’ Day….Tally-Ho! is a very civilised trail running club!

Another group of runners took the 11.17am train, they varied the early part of their route by running up Grindsbrook onto Kinder Scout. They joined the main route before the tea stop – thus ensuring a rest & refuel break.

Our choice was the main route which started from Edale railway station, north to the Nags Head, then west along the Pennine Way, by Upper booth, to pass Lee Barn.

We were fortunate weather-wise, it was dry but chilly, thanks to a biting easterly wind - at least the wind was mostly behind us. 

We climbed (trotted?) up Jacob’s Ladder, it was here that we felt the full effect of our very own Beast From The East – thank heavens for Pertex!

The route levelled out (a bit), where the Pennine Way turned to head north Swine’s Back, we continued west to pass the easily missed Edale Cross. Then it was downhill by Oaken Clough and Coldwell Clough and soon joined a section of the Pennine Bridleway which delivered us part way to the Tea Stop at Peep o’ Day – but not before a stiff pull up the northern flank of Mount Famine.

The PBW went north, we went west, in search of tea, cakes, and other eatables and drinkables.

 We arrived at the Tea Stop to find Ian B already there, he’d decided to walk the entire original route that started in Hope…what a hero he is!

The Tea Stop was quite excellent! Tea, coffee, cordial, water, plenty seriously yummy things to eat – even Jelly Babies! Joules did us proud, making sure everyone had everything the needed.

The pièce de résistance was surely the gleaming white table cloth – sadly not so gleaming white by the time we’d finished.

I ate too much, I’m a sucker for a nice spread – not a good thing when there’s another 6-7 miles to go!

 

Leaving the Tea Stop we trotted north by Far Phoside then east to cross Chapel Road. It was the slightly uphill by Stubbs Farm, followed by a descent to rejoin the Pennine Bridleway just 200m north of where we’d previously left it.

Almost doubling back on ourselves we turned westwards, further descending to follow the course of the River Kinder – a river with an identity crisis.

Noting Hayfield’s Sportsman Inn, famous for being exactly when needed towards the end of a particularly tough trail run a couple of months ago, we carried on into the village of Hayfield, and then onto the Sett Valley Trail.

Easy running on the flat to the outskirts of New Mills, then leaving the Sett Valley Trail, uphill via a few zig-zags on tarmac and farmland by Tanpits Farm, the hamlet of Whitle, and finally the Golf Club hove into view.

Our route was about 14 miles with 2500’ of ascent, all runnable….with care in some parts!

Showered, changed, and rehydrated, 46 sat down to an excellent 3 course dinner.

After our dinner Hon Pres Park got to his feet to address the throng, and he presented a bouquet of flowers to Joules in recognition and thanks for her considerable efforts at the Tea Stop. 

My Trail of the Season Trophy, 20/21

I rather belatedly received my Trail of the Season Trophy for the 20/21 season, but it was only in my hands for a short time before it was re-presented to the winners of the Trail of the Season for the 21/22 season. The story of my life!

The dining room slowly emptied as the runners, walkers and their guests got up to head for home at the end of what had been, for me, a perfect day.

A trio of itinerant musicians struck up some tunes, their efforts seemed speed the emptying of the dining room. I can’t think why….they were very good.

My thanks to everyone for helping me plan, helping me on the day, and by taking part, making the day such a success.

It would be remiss of me not to offer the club’s thanks to Kirsty and her staff at New Mills Golf Club, they looked after us superbly!

The main route:

The shorter route:

More photos here.

Thanks to everyone who sent me their photos, if there any more please send them to me and I’ll add them to the album.

  

Point-to-Point 2022, main route

Cheshire Hare & Hounds Tally-Ho!

Point-to-Point Hartley Folly 2022, main route: 14 miles / 2500’ ascent

New Mills Golf Club > New Mills Central > train to Edale > New Mills Golf Club

Route description:

MAP 1

Left (S), leaving New Mills Golf Club Car Park, downhill passing church on LHS, to New Mills and New Mills Central station.

Train to Edale, Departs New Mills Central: 9:17, 10:16, 11:16, 12:16, 13:16 etc.

Leave Edale station and turn Left to pass the Rambler Inn and the church, both on the LHS.

1) At the Old Nags Head, turn Left following the footpath signs: Pennine Way, Upper Booth, 1¼ miles

Pass through a gate (SK119859) to continue following the Pennine Way along a paved path.

Pass through another gate, the paving finishes, the path is now a well defined track, continue in the same direction, ie West.

At a clump of trees on the RHS, go through a gate continue ahead for about 50 yards where the path splits, take the path on the Left.

2) At some buildings (Upper Booth), follow the path, paasing through the buildings, to a T junction, Turn Right onto tarmac to cross a bridge over the River Noe – still following the Pennine Way.

3) Pass Lee Farm buildings on RHS, ignoring the ‘Residents only beyond this point’ sign,

4) Cross the packhorse bridge, take the R path indicating Jacobs Ladder….uphill.

Bear right and uphill, passing a cairn, keeping the valley bottom on RHS.

The path splits @ SK081862, leave the paved path, bearing L and uphill on a slightly stony path.

5) Do not turn up the Pennine Way, carry straight on along the well defined path., passing Edale Cross.

Cross a stream, stay on the well defined stony path, ignore path off to RHS to Hayfield via Tunstead Clough.

6) Downhill on stony path, through a gate, continue down the very stony track onto tarmac. Continue straight ahead, ignoring field track on RHS, and the tarmac road to the LHS.

MAP 2

Still descending, pass some buildings, to a split in the road, go Left along the bridleway which bears Left and starts to climb.

7) SP (Horseshoe) on LHS to follow bridlepath uphill. Mount Famine visible ahead.

Though a gate at the top of the hill, straight on, descending to go through another gate – continue straight on.

8) SK050854, go through a farm gate, turn Right then immediately Left. Note the sign ahead indicated left to South Head, 1 mile. Don’t go this way!

Go downhill, passing the small but still working quarry, then Left along the main Hayfield road.

9) Cross the road to Peep o’ Day…and, at 7 miles in, the Tea Stop for tea, cake, coffee, water, cake, crisps, and cake. And maybe a 5 minute sit-down.

Uphill to pass Peep o’ Day, then through a gate / cross a stile, then through a gate on the RHS to follow the path indicated by the PNFP Sign No5, to Birch Vale & Hayfield via Phoside.

Follow the path, faintly visible on the ground, under the power cables, to go through a gate. The path now has a drystone wall on the RHS, a fence on the LHS.

Go through another gate into open fields (hill on the LHS), continue, descending to follow a sunken path to go through a gate into Far Phoside, a house with a frog problem.

Continue downhill on a good track, at the point where the track bends to the Right, Turn Left over the stile in the wall.

Ahead and slightly downhill to the Right to cross a footbridge over a stream.

10) Continue ahead, slightly Right and uphill, following the direction arrows to go through a gate with a FP sign, continue uphill to another FP sign by a gate at the busy Hayfield to Chapel-en-le-Frith road.

Cross the road then follow a grassy footpath, uphill, to go through a garden (Public Right of Way), follow the footpath sign directing you to the right of a brick built shed.

Go through a gate on the LHS and go around the buildings, to exit at a lane at SK042864.

Cross over onto a track indicated as a Right of Way, continue ahead to climb slightly uphill to a farm track junction, Turn Left and uphill onto the concreted track – farm buildings visible ahead.

The track deteriorates to a stony track, pass the Public Bridleway sign, continue uphill to pass through a gate with an adjacent stile.

11) Take the track to the Left, ignoring the field track off to the right, keeping the fence to your Left, passing the redundant gate posts. At the end of the fence continue uphill to through a gate at the RHS of the trees visible ahead, noting the bench seat close to the gate.

Follow the path downhill, indicated by the rough bridleway sign, stay on the path as it bends L, then R, and becomes quite stony as it descends steeply.

Follow the path signed ‘PBW’ (Pennine Bridleway) round an acute bend Left, ignoring the gate at the crown of the bend, continue downhill.

Note the Hayfield Camping & Caravan Site on your RHS as descend further, down to the river.

Keeping the river on your RHS continue ahead into the centre of Hayfield.

12) Turn Right and downhill at a junction, and towards the church.

Turn Left at the church to cross the main road to follow the Sett Valley Trail, noting (maybe calling into) 13) the wonderful Sett Valley Café.

14) Cross the next road that crosses the Sett Valley Trail at an angle, note the proposed new housing development on the LHS.

A mile after the Sett valley Café, cross over Watford Bridge with industrial units on RHS.

15) Turn R up the far side of the first industrial unit (FLOWGUARD), keeping a blue fence on LHS.

At the end of the unit turn R down to the road, then turn L onto Watford Bridge Road @ S.F. Boxing & Fitness on LHS.

Cross bridge over the river, turn R.

Uphill slightly, turn L up Watford Road, which soon bends L.

Continue up the road, Turn first R @ FP sign ‘Watford Lane’.

16) Just before pylons, where the track widens slightly, opposite a large house (WILL HEY FARM) on RHS, Turn L, through a gate (not very easy to see, but it’s definitely there) and uphill, keeping closely to the drystone wall on your LHS.

Note the building over on your LHS that has a large solar panel array on the roof.

Turn L at the trees ahead, crossing the wall using a wall stile, continue, keeping the drystone wall on your RHS.

In about 15 yards, on RHS, at the end of the drystone wall, by a power pole, cross a stile, turn left, uphill on a track.

Continue uphill, cross a farm road, cross a stile immediately ahead, then uphill to go through a gate in the top RH corner of the field.

Follow the wall up to go through the farm gate, cross the road to a well-surfaced farm road that climbs up and soon deteriorates into a rougher, stony track. Note the hamlet of Whitle visible ahead.

At the point where the the track bends to the R, go through a gate on your LHS, to follow a fenced path for approx 100 metres to go through a gate, then ahead on the R, follow the path indicated ‘Bower House Farm, Walkers’.

Through the farm yard, through another gate, then follow the drystone walled path, indicated by a footpath sign.

Golfers may now be visible ahead….watch out for errant flying golf balls!

Enter the golf course by a stile next to a gate, continue ahead, keeping the wall to your RHS.

17) Follow the yellow topped posts, indicating the footpath, to New Mills Golf Club which is clearly visible ahead.

 

Point-to-Point 2022, short route

Cheshire Hare & Hounds Tally-Ho!

Point-to-Point Hartley Folly 2022, walkers / short route: 7 miles / 1200’ ascent: Saturday 23rd April 2022

Route description:

New Mills Golf Club > New Mills Central > train to Chinley > New Mills Golf Club

Left (S), leaving New Mills Golf Club Car Park, downhill passing church on LHS, to New Mills and New Mills Central station.

Train to Chinley, Departs New Mills Central: 9:17, 10:16, 11:16, 12:16, 13:16 etc.

Leave Chinley station by the footbridge, continue ahead to turn R @ ‘T’ junction: Lower Lane, noting ‘Chinley Bar & Lounge’ opposite.

1) At the top of a rise in the road, and when the ‘Buxworth’ sign comes into view ahead, turn R (SK036824) to cross the railway line by a footbridge indicated ‘Public Footpath, Local Nature Reserve’.

Follow the good path & steps uphill into a park by an Information / Noticeboard, continue uphill to exit the park by another Information Board at a road.

L on the road, follow the road uphill as it bends to the right.

Pass Dry Clough Farm on RHS, still climbing.

2) At the top of the hill, pass the entrance to Throstle Bank Farm on your RHS, continue a little further, and slightly downhill, to turn R up a signed Public Bridleway.

Pass through a farm gate, continue uphill.

3) Pass through another farm gate (SK030837), continue climbing, the gradient is now easier.

The wide track soon narrows, although it’s still a bridleway. Chinley Churn in on your RHS.

Pass through a single gate at SK032842, continue straight on, keeping the drystone wall on your LHS.

4) Continue ahead on the path, leaving the drystone wall on your LHS, path descends slightly to go through a single gate (SK034850), continue ahead, slightly to the left, ignoring the path off to the R (to Peep o’ Day).

Keep straight on, path descends further to a small wood (behind a drystone wall) on your RHS @ SK033859. Continue ahead and downhill, ignoring the track on your RHS, keeping the wood on your RHS.

Descend to go through a gate at SK030863, noting the aerial mast over to your Left.

5) Continue straight on and steeply downhill to cross the main road at Birch Vale, then to the Bus Stop and the road sign ‘Station Road’ to descend further down an almost hidden footpath to the Sett Valley Trail.

6) L onto the Sett Valley Trail, following the sign ‘New Mills 1½ miles’.

7) Cross a road, noting the very excellent Sett Valley Café (purveyors of tea, coffee, and highly delicious cakes) on your RHS.

Cross the road that crosses the Sett Valley Trail at an angle, note the proposed new housing development on the LHS.

A mile after the Sett Valley Café, cross over Watford Bridge with industrial units on RHS.

8) After the first industrial unit (FLOWGUARD), turn R along a footpath, blue fence on LHS, industrial unit on RHS.

At the end of the unit turn R down to the road, then turn L onto Watford Bridge Road @ S.F. Boxing & Fitness on LHS.

Cross bridge over the river, turn R.

Uphill slightly, turn L up Watford Road, which soon bends L.

Continue up the road, Turn first R @ FP sign ‘Watford Lane’.

9) Just before pylons, where the track widens slightly, opposite a large house (WILL HEY FARM) on RHS, turn L through a gate (not very easy to see, but it’s definitely there), and uphill, keeping closely to the drystone wall on your LHS.

Note the building over on your LHS that has a large solar panel array on the roof.

Turn L at the trees ahead, crossing a stone wall stile, continue, keeping the drystone wall on your RHS.

In about 15 yards, on RHS, at the end of the drystone wall, by a power pole, cross a stile, turn left, uphill on a track.

Continue uphill, cross a farm road, cross a stile immediately ahead, then uphill to go through a gate in the top RH corner of the field.

Follow the wall up to go through the farm gate, cross the road to a well-surfaced farm road that climbs up and soon deteriorates into a rougher, stony track. Note the hamlet of Whitle visible ahead.

At the point where the the track bends to the R, go through a gate on your LHS, to follow a fenced path for approx 100 metres to go through a gate, then ahead on the R, follow the path indicated ‘Bower House Farm, Walkers’.

Through the farm yard, through another gate, then follow the drystone walled path, indicated by a footpath sign.

Golfers may now be visible ahead….watch out for errant flying golf balls!

Enter the golf course by a stile next to a gate, continue ahead, keeping the wall to your RHS.

10) Follow the yellow topped posts, indicating the footpath, to New Mills Golf Club which is clearly visible ahead.

 

Hope to New Mills recce

The Cheshire Tally-Ho! Hare & Hounds Club is a trail running club – rather an old one at that: we’re the second oldest running club in the country, being formed in 1872 –the oldest club being Thames Hare & Hounds. The Club’s well documented history makes for fascinating reading – a précis can be found here. 

Anyroadup, at the end of each season the Club hosts a longer than normal run, a Point-to-Point, aka The Hartley Folly, to which friends and family are invited to take part.

Covid successfully scuppered plans for the P2P in 2020 and 2021, but this year it’s going to happen.

The Plan was to run from Hope in Derbyshire, to New Mills in High Peak – a reconnoitre walk or two was in order:

Under blue skies and warm sunshine I met up with Vinny at New Mills station. This was shorts & T shirt weather – hard to believe we were still in March.

We hopped on the train to Hope, just in time to walk back to NM.

 Lose Hill, from the side of Win Hill

Leaving the station we headed north (and uphill), skirting Win Hill, then dropping down to the Hope Valley before climbing up to the heady heights of Lose Hill almost the highest point on the route. I didn’t quite need oxygen – it was a close run thing though.

We sat at the top for a few minutes, slurping coffee, whilst soaking in the beautiful view. 

Vinny, waiting for me. Again.

 

Mam Tor being buzzed by paragliders - loads of them

Turning west, we followed the ridge: Hollins Cross > Mam Tor > Lord’s Seat (this WAS the highest point on the route) > down to the road at the west end of Rushup Edge where we turned north along the Pennine Bridleway.

Rushup Edge attracted a huge number of paragliders - attracted by the great conditions.  

The point where the PBW leaves Rushup Edge was the intended tea stop.Tally-Ho! like a nice cup of tea. And cake if there’s any available….which there will be. Obv.

Towards South Head

We continued up by South Head and down to Peep o’ Day to the last climb of the day, up to the northern bit of the Chinley Churn ridge.

Respite followed: downhill to what was once the excellent Grouse Inn in Birch Vale (now sadly a private house), then west along the near as dammit flat Sett Valley Trail, passing by the lovely Sett Valley Cafe (excellent cakes!) back into New Mills.

Sett Valley Cafe

Back to where we started: New Mills Central

Conclusion: too far, and too hard. To clarify, the distance was fine, as was the terrain – it was just the combination of the two.

A rethink is being rethunk and Plan B is coming together.

Thanks ever so much to Vinny for coming along, being such good company, and helping judge the route.

Plan B will be along shortly.

Where we went:

18+ miles, with far more ascent than is good for a chap.

Interesting (disconcerting?) that the OS app measured this route as 15.5 miles. 

When I recorded it using my Garmin Etrex30 it came out at 18+ miles. Plotting the route on a couple of other navigation apps gave me a distance of 17.4 miles. 

More photos here.