The Roaches and Lud’s Church (14th October)

Saturday 14th October, with Harry.

 Lovely sunrise, swallowed rapidly by mist, which then flowed pink from time to time - all in half an hour or so. Temperature rather colder. 

The weather brightened rapidly, so we got ourselves organised and on the road. 

Great walk from Upper Hulme Paddock Farm Tea room (park in lay-by opposite) We arrived just after 9. and and were walking at 9.16.

Over the Roaches via path from the road, below Hen Cloud. 

We reached the trig point just after 10 am.

A convenient bench was a good place to stop for coffee at Roach End. 

then along the ridge following signs to  Swythamley.

Later we turned down into Back Forest to Lud’s Church.  

. 

We followed the path back to Roach End again,

and decided to walk along the ridge once more, rather than take the road.

We paused for lunch with a view.  Soon afterwards came a few drops of rain and a rainbow,

Not long after we reached low ground there was a mighty hailstorm.

Somewhere between 8 and 9 miles,with around 1200 feet of climbing. Great combo walk. We decided to head ‘home’ rather than to the Tea room, as we were soaking. 

 

It has hailed again since we got back, so I’ve rinsed out my soaking socks, and stuffed my boots with old newspapers. Tomorrow we head for ‘home home’. Reluctantly. 

Errwood Reservoir to Shining Tor - 12th October

 Thursday 12th October, with Harry.

We parked in the car park towards the northern end of the reservoir, and walked south towards the ruins of Errwood Hall.

We didn’t visit them on the way up, but followed the path steeply up the shoulder of the hill, until it flattened out a bit, and we came to the signpost for Shining Tor.

Shutlingsloe

We chatted to a woman walking, and recommended Chrome Hill. Then at the summit cairn, we met four women from Leeds who were on a walking holiday, and wanted their photo taken together.

We had coffee and scone on the benches at top of Shining Tor. This is the highest hill in present day Cheshire at 559 metres (1834 feet). We could see Shutlingsloe and Sutton Common Radio Tower to the south (ish). 

Shutlingsloe and the radio tower

The path continues along to Cat’s Tor, paved most of the way, and keeping to the ridge.

I wonder if it was an old packhorse trail, though the stones are not as old as that.

https://all-geo.org/metageologist/2014/10/paths-across-the-cheshire-peak/

The Cheshire/Derbyshire border is also Alan Garner country.  Folklore, magic and history. I had not realised that Thursbitch was a) a real place or b) so close to Shining Tor. 

http://alangarner.atspace.org/votd.html

Enough of that for now. We continue via Cat’s Tor and Oldgate Nick to the road, which we follow downhill for a short distance before picking up a path to the right.

This climbs Foxlow Edge and then goes downhill to a path by woodland, leading down to Shooter’s Clough Bridge.

We decide on a detour to the ruins of Errwood Hall for old times’ sake.

The hall is being repaired - because of ‘anti-social behaviour/ vandalism’, according to the Goyt Valley website. At one time raves were held there.

http://www.whaleybridge.net/localhistory/errwood.html

In total we walked 7.5 miles and climbed a bit over 1100 feet in much better weather than when we were last here in October 2017.

Rudyard Lake (10th October)

 

Tuesday 10th October 2023.

On a fine morning, after a couple of less than inspiring days, we headed for Rudyard Lake, a place I had seen from the main road many times, but never visited. It is very close to Leek and Macclesfield.

Coffee at the visitor centre cafe was our first priority, and it seemed to be a place of pilgrimage for many of the local dog walkers too.

We walked round anti-clockwise, following a very pleasant track, with a decent surface. Views of the water are good almost the whole way round.

The first section runs alongside the miniature railway track, and past the sea scouts hut. 

At the northern end of the lake, we turned left (west), crossing a bridge. 

After this the path is tarmac covered for a fair way, before the path branches off to the left, alongside a magnificent row of trees (linden?) and we walk uphill. There are beech trees and at least one sweet chestnut tree further on, with its ridged bark, leaves like open hands, and spiky nut cases.

We saw grebes, a robin, ducks and some other birds, as well as the occasional squirrel. A few cows/ bullocks were grazing near the folly-like building of Cliffe Park Hall. 

The woodland track emerges on a private road with several houses. Some appear to be holiday lets, others have permanent residents. All have lovely waterside situations. 

We soon arrived at Rudyard village, and we picked up lunch of a tuna sandwich at the visitor centre where we had parked.

We drove back via Flash and Wildboarclough.