www.pdwc.org Vol: 25 Issue 11 2 October 2011

CASTLETON via Hayfield Coaches leave Castleton at 5.30pm

FUTURE WALKS

Coach Walks 8.30am start : 5.30pm return Sun 16 Oct Great Langdale A: Kevin Poole B+: Colin Manning B: Phyl & Jim C: Bill Manning

8.30am start : 4.30pm return Sun 13 Nov Malham A: Allan Benson B+: Dave Thornton B: Colin Manning C: Stephen Watson

Thursday Car Walks 10.30am start Thurs 13 Oct Chipping B Walk with Dave Thornton Meet at the village car park 8 miles /12.9km climbing 400ft / 122m Starting at the main car park we head north to Burnslack via Windy Hill and Saddle End. Turning westwards we follow the track to Lickhurst and proceed to the road near Knot End. We now turn south to Higher Greystoneley along another track which we leave at Knot Hill to return to Chipping via Leagram Hall.

Thurs 10 Nov Glasson Dock B Walk with Sheila Marsh Meet at the Marina car park This easy 9 mile /14.5km walk with hardly any climbing takes us from the Marina onto the Lune Coastal Path which we eventually leave to pass through the hamlet of Stodday. We then join the towpath of the Lancaster Canal and follow this for several miles before reaching the canal branch leading back to Glasson.

Sunday Car Walks 10.30am start Sun 30 Oct Aglezarke B Walk with Margaret Oliver Meet at Horrobin Lane on the bridge Sun 30 Oct Garstang C Walk with Derek Lowe Meet at the main car park A 6 mile / 9.7km walk climbing 456ft / 139m. Parking is in the pay & display near the river and costs £2 30p for 6 hours (you never know!!). From the car park we follow the River Wyre to the viaduct, the old Pilling Pig Railway Line, where we cross over the river and follow field paths to Lingart Lane. We go past Higher Lingart Farm and cross the railway and the M6 motorway to reach Keepers Lane. There is a very muddy patch to cross at the end of this path but it cuts quite a lot off the distance. At the end of Keepers Lane we make for Burn's Farm where we once had a meal with Cyril Spiby. From Burn's Farm we make our way around Spoil Bank Wood to Birk's Farm. Lunch will be taken here. Afterwards we head across field paths to Barnacre Church to follow a path at the back of the church to reach a road which takes us over the motorway again to the remains of Greenhalgh Castle then, when we reach the main road at Garstang, we follow the river back to the car park. As usual I have arranged for there to be weather, HAVE A NICE DAY!

Sun 27 Nov Elswick B Walk with Tony Ingham Meet at the village hall, Roseacre Road Sun 27 Nov Charnock Richard C Walk with Derek Lowe Meet at the Bowling Green Derek’s Christmas Meal Walk

Please note – Walk details must be in 2 (TWO) weeks before each coach excursion.

Today’s Walks

Today’s starting points: 1. A: Hayfield 2. B: Chapel Milton 3. B+, C: Castleton

Mount Fam ine and the with Dave Colbert

Grade. A Distance 12½ miles / 20km Approx Climbing 2600ft / 800m The ‘Great Ridge’ divides the rolling limestone uplands of the White Peak to the south from the higher millstone grit country of the High Peak to the north. This walk will see us traverse the full length from to . We start from Hayfield, famous as the starting point for the mass trespass on in the 1930s, following the valley of the River Sett to eventually ascend Famine Hill (1,552ft / 473m), perhaps not an appropriate place to stop for butties. Continuing along the high ground we traverse the slightly higher South Hill before getting to ‘grips’ with (1,867ft / 569m) and its infinite wetness. A lengthy tramp then takes us south-east across the Manchester to Sheffield railway line deep underground in the 2 mile long before swinging round to Rushup Edge, a surprisingly narrow ridge for the . A short descent leads to a nick in the ridge and (1,696ft / 517m), known as the ‘Shivering Mountain’ given the propensity for its precipitous south-east face to slip on a frequent basis. One such landslip closed the main road from Chapel-en-le-Frith to Castleton permanently. Our traverse continues to , Back Tor and finally Lose Hill (1,562ft / 476m) before the descent to Castleton via Losehill Hall.

Mam Tor Ridge with Pete Stevens Grade B+ Distance 9½ miles / 15.3km Climbing 1350ft / 412m . Starting from Castleton (toilets available), we leave from the rear of the car park and follow Hollowford Road before turning east to pass Losehill Hall. From here we start our main ascent of the day (904ft / 276m) to the summit of Lose Hill at 1560ft (476m). Following the ridge we have a full 360° panorama on our way to Hollins Cross and on to Mam Tor at 1696ft (517m). We descend to Windy Knoll, passing Oxlow House, before turning east to join the Limestone Way and descend to Castleton through Cave Dale, a beautiful valley with limestone crags and castle remains, before returning to the coaches.

Chin ley Churn with Tony Ingham Grade B Distance 9 miles /14.5km Climbing1000ft / 305m

This is a linear walk starting when we leave the coaches at Chapel Milton on the A624 road. First, we follow the Peak Forest Tramway Trail westwards. There are several information boards along the way explaining the history of the Tramway. After just over 2 miles we reach Bugsworth Basin at the start of the Peak Forest Canal, which also has an interesting past. We continue westwards along the towpath of the canal before turning north for a short distance and then leaving it to go north east through open countryside to climb up to Over Hill Road. Here we turn south east along the road as far as a bridleway which we take to the north over Churn and Cracken Edge. After about 1½ miles we turn east to reach Peep O Day. Going north again we pass Phoside Farm (derelict) and Ridge Top on our way into Hayfield where we can get refreshments and look around as we await the coaches for the journey home. My dad was brought up in the Hayfield area in the 1920s as, rather more famously, was Arthur Lowe of Dad's Army.

Blue John Mines with Derek Lowe Grade C Distance 6 miles / 9.7km Climbing 500ft / 152m

We start our walk from the toilets as the coach will be parked nearby. We turn left onto the main road and walk to the end of the village where we turn right to make for Cavedale. We climb gradually up the gorge which will probably be wet. When we reach the top we will have a breather while you wait for your leader. We follow field paths across Old Moor and walled tracks until we reach Oxlow House where we turn right to walk down the road to Winnats Head Farm. We then follow field paths to Blue John Mine where we shall have lunch and a look around the shop after which we follow the track around and down the hill to the Treak Cliff Cavern. After a short break here we continue down the hill to reach the road where we turn left to make our way up to the Odin Mine and then it’s field paths all the way back to Castleton for well earned refreshments.

Please help to keep the coaches clean by removing muddy boots. Please check that you have all your belongings and take newspapers etc. away with you. Thank you.