Thursday 10 July 2025 - GM Ringway Trail Stage 8 - Broadbottom to Greenfield

On a hot sunny day, only Jeanette was missing from our original team of eight who plan to complete the 200 mile GM Ringway walk by the end of the year. Jeanette has been told she can only walk on the flat, so today's ascent statistic of around 700 metres foiled her wish to attend. Hopefully she will catch up, as will any of the others who have missed stages.

We soon left the roads as we ascended from Broadbottom on private roads and narrow lanes. A panoramic view incorporating Longdendale soon opened up. Click on these pictures for a better version/slideshow.

The Roman Fort of Melandra Castle will have to wait.

This friendly goat would I'm sure have swallowed anything it could lay its teeth on.

Two 'team' pictures were taken from the same point, in different directions (see header for the other one). Some bright spark (probably Roger) quipped "better take one now as we may not stay together".

Nice paths led gently uphill.

An elevenses break was taken, near good views down to Arnfield Reservoir and Glossop.

On we marched, into open country, gradually ascending to the high point of the entire GM Ringway route - a shade over 500 metres.

En route we (I) made a navigational error as we thought we were supposed to go straight ahead at a lone tree (Step 34 in the Stage notes). "The description is wrong" I concluded. However, reading it again in the clear light of day, the step by step description is accurate, albeit the wording of Steps 34 and 35 could be improved to avoid the error I made.

We continued on a lovely narrow path to the head of a valley where Sue spotted a stream and declared "lunch".

She then stripped off and took her mug of tea down to the stream for a bit of splashing about, returning with the news that it was a nice skinny dip, but her knickers had fallen into her mug of tea. Hmmm.

First signs of Viv's illness

The Rosebay Willowherb is coming into flower just now, and soon the moorland will look wonderful when the heather blooms.

During our lunch break it became clear that Viv was unwell. After lunch I reached the high point with Sue, Paul and Rick. Looking back, it looked as if Viv, ushered by Roger, would take up to another hour to reach this point. Rick had maps, so they continued as a threesome whilst I stayed to guide the other three, who had no maps, ("it's Martin's walk, he'll have maps"). Fair enough.

Roger and Viv eventually reached the high point, beyond which a tiring yomp over very rough ground drew us slowly closer to the Chew Valley escarpment path. We should have stayed to the left rather than trying to cut off a corner.

Once on the escarpment path, views towards our destination opened up, with Dove Stone Reservoir now in sight.

We met a mountain biker on the rocky escarpment path. No helmet, silly man. Chew Reservoir, when we reached it, looked rather short of water.

We had seen vehicles on our route ahead, and Sue, Rick and Paul could be seen high up on an alternative but more demanding route than the one down the road. Here was the reason - nine months of work on an overflow channel from a nearly empty reservoir.

By the time we reached the dam the vehicles had gone and work for the day had clearly finished, so we walked down the road. This was fortunate as I don't think Viv would have been able to manage the alternative route. Meanwhile a rescue helicopter was practising landing in a spot on our path where a few minutes earlier it could have been most useful for Viv. But we had decided not to make the call. Viv was nauseous and unable to eat or drink, but she was able to stumble on between frequent rests.

We walked down the empty road above Chew Brook, whilst the helicopter continued its exercises.

After a while we left the road at a gate and crossed the river via a sturdy bridge. Beyond this, views opened out ahead towards Greenfield and beyond.

Some of the heather was already in bloom.

The contouring path follows the course of a light railway or tramway that was used in the early 20th Century during the construction of the reservoir. It ducks in and out of woodland and is a lovely part of this stage's route. (See here.)

Dove Stones Reservoir was passed, but Viv declined the opportunity to descend to the car park as we were getting quite close to Greenfield. She felt she could get there, albeit with frequent rests.

Greenfield was now very close, and soon after the signpost pictured below, we emerged onto a quiet lane - Intake Lane - that led past posh housing with lots of 'Private' notices.

After crossing the main A635 road to Manchester, we returned to a woodland path that led over the River Tame and then up to Greenfield station, greeted by Viv with immense relief.

Here's our route - about 21km with 700 metres ascent, taking over 7 hours. Sue, Rick and Paul were a good hour ahead of us, despite taking an extra half hour or so by virtue of the diversion they faced at Chew Reservoir.

We now have a four week break (catch-up time) to Thursday 7 August, when the 'flier' for stage 9 is:
GM Ringway Trail - Stage 9 - Greenfield Station to Newhey. Meet at 10:22 at Greenfield Station for this ninth 21km stage of the 20 stage circuit of Greater Manchester.
Arrive on the 10:00 from Piccadilly to Greenfield.
Return by Metrolink service from Newhey. 

Later: on Friday 11 July, Viv reported that she was feeling much better. Hopefully she will soon be fully recovered.

Monday 7 July 2025 - WirrOrleans Jazz Band at Eagley Jazz Club

The WirrOrleans Jazz Band

Another great night of Jazz at Eagley, with the band from the Wirral featuring (L-R):
Howard Worthington (bass), guest John Hallam (reeds), making a welcome return, John Blackman (drums), Phil Lucas (trumpet), Andrew MacKenzie (trombone & vocals) and Mal Horne (guitar and banjo).

A great evening, fantastic value for a tenner, and happily very well attended, the failed 'lunchtime' experiment having been consigned to history.

July 4 to 6, 2025 - A Bit Of Running

Here are Jan, me, Paul and Andy after Saturday's parkrun at gloomy Fletcher Moss (Wythenshawe having been cancelled).

That followed an energetic session on Friday evening for me and Sue, when we took part in the second Sale Sizzler 5km race of the season. There was rain in the air - in contrast to the first race, so my camera was left behind. Anyway, our times were quicker - 28:17 for me in position 390 out of 402 finishers, and Sue came home in position 337 in a good time of 23:48. It's very much a race, and despite my best time for a while, there were very few finishers after me and I was last in my age group. The hazards of old age...!

Full results are here.

During the Sizzler, I noticed that we passed a new fence and gate across the parkrun course. Luckily the bottleneck it may cause is towards the end of the lap (ie half way round the 5km route).

On to Saturday, Sue travelled to Trentham Park to join 870 other runners on their excellent one lap course. She managed 25:34, in position 132, and was the first of many in her age group and in the top ten age related position. Well done.

Meanwhile, on a very overcast morning, I took a very gentle 31:49 at Fletcher Moss, finishing in position 311 out of 441 starters. What a contrast with the race the previous evening!

Here's the field by the start.

Jeanette, despite nursing a long-term injury, turned up in a flash new car with har walking poles.

It's a bit of a squeeze for 440 people at the start, where I started at the back with Jeanette.

Jan, Paul and Andy dashed round and finished well ahead.

Jeanette wisely took it very easy.

Full results are here.

I was sensible on Sunday and simply volunteered at the Wythenshawe Community run, taking care of the 2km turnaround point.

Here's the leader, Andrew, who came storming past.

Some of the 79 runners carry on to run 5km, others turn around for the 2km route. The following are just a few pictures taken at this point.

All very jolly, despite a bit of drizzle.

Tuesday 1 July 2025 - GM Ringway Trail Stage 7 - Marple to Broadbottom

Shown above is the high point of Stage 7 of the GM Ringway Trail, the Cenotaph in Werneth Low Country Park. On a warm, overcast day Sue and I were joined by Rick, Steve, Paul and Rufus. Jeanette and Viv are nursing injuries, and Roger was in Bridlington. They will all try to catch up.

We started with the same train as the one we used for Stage 6 - the 10:18 from Piccadilly on the New Mills line. As usual, the train was precisely on time, and this time we disembarked at Marple.

An overgrown path soon took us past the tennis courts and through a wood, to reach the Peak Forest Canal towpath alongside the Marple Lock Flight.

At the bottom of the Flight a bridge is crossed to reach the Marple Aqueduct, a magnificent structure dating from 1794.

Looking down from the aqueduct to the River Goyt

We descended to go under the aqueduct and its neighbouring railway viaduct.

A steep walk through a field to Watermeetings Lane brought us good views back to the huge arches above which trains and canal boats operate.

The usually muddy path through a farmyard was bone dry as we crossed more fields to reach a woodland path beside the River Etherow, shortly before that river joins the River Goyt.

After passing new housing and a row of dilapidated terraced properties we arrived at Etherow Country Park where the coffees and large portions of cake went down well. (Steve doesn't do cafes.)

We then took a path anticlockwise around the lake, managing to avoid being mugged by the Canada Geese. Some elderly gentlemen were engaged in a radio controlled yacht race at the nearby Sailing Club.

The path runs alongside the sad remains of Compstall Mill. Built about 200 years ago, the mill was powered by water from the River Etherow and at its height it employed around 800 workers, many of whom lived in the custom built terraced houses in Compstall.

I first came across the mill in the 1980s, by which time it had been divided into industrial units of varying sizes. I was involved in one that restored pinball machines.

Since then it looks as if the mill has not flourished, and it was gutted by fire in 2024. I don't know what happens next.

On the other hand, Etherow Country Park does appeat to be flourishing. We walked alongside the lake, past water lilies, Canada geese, Mallards, and young Mandarin ducks, as far as the impressive weir that was involved in powering the mill.

Up to now, I had no need to refer to the step by step guidance notes, as this is a path walked many times from the time in the 1980's when my children were taken on walks to Marple and to Styal, amongst other locations, one in a pushchair, the other in a papoose. So I know the paths up to step 47 out of 152 steps for this particular route.

At the furthest point along the Country Park we reached a spot behind a brick building that offers 'a lovely view over the water'.

Returning to the vicinity of the cafe, we left the country park and passed some houses that, in contrast to those beside the main road, have been modernised into attractive bijou residences.

From here, the route  ascended relentlessly past the Andrew Arms and along lanes and footpaths, some overgrown with nettles, brambles, and wild raspberries, up to Werneth Low Golf Club.

Views into the Peak District were limited on this muggy, gloomy day.

The route followed a path through the cobbles at smart Beacom Farm.

That's Bleaklow in the distance, Kinder Scout having disappeared for good. Winter Hill was visible in another direction.

                                                 

 

Today was not the best for flower pictures for several reasons, but I did spot this clump of St. John's Wort.

There are lots of waymarked footpaths in Greater Manchester and Cheshire. We followed the GM Ringway ones across the golf club, where we found a suitable spot for lunch.

We briefly looked around for a GM Ringway path marker by a red telephone box. Then as well as a marker we found this signpost.

On reaching the Werneth Low Cenotaph, we admired the view down to Mottram and elsewhere.

Then the path undulated for a while before taking a left turn alongside a grassy field to enter a surprisingly dark wood.

Good paths led us all the way to Hodgefold, where our friend Dave has a house. Sue and Dave and I used to take turns cooking for each other once a week back in the 1990's, rotating between our houses and keeping to a rule that it must be a dish that we've never cooked before. Whilst time has moved on, Sue and I both have fond memories of those culinary sessions.

Soon after Hodgefold we passed the Hodge Lane Dye Vats. A plaque announces that they were opened in 1805, closed in 1916, and re-opened in 1987. Since when they have obviously closed again.

Turning left up a path to the left of some houses, our final ascent of the day brought us to Broadbottom station, where we didn't have to wait long for a 4 pm train on the Glossop line back to Piccadilly.

Here's today's excellent route - 15km, with nearly 400 metres ascent, taking us four and a half hours.

Here's the plan for Stage 8:
Thursday 10 July

GM Ringway Trail - Stage 8 - Broadbottom Station to Greenfield. Meet at 10:24 at Broadbottom Station for this eighth 19km stage of the 20 stage circuit of Greater Manchester.
Arrive on the 10:03 from Piccadilly to Broadbottom.
Return by regular (every 30 minutes) service from Greenfield.