My nephew Toby was the only person to join me and Sue on our annual evening stroll up Shutlingsloe. We enjoyed a good 'catch-up' and some of the best weather we've had on this outing, though sadly the summit was engulfed in mist. The full moon shone through, and torches were needed only for the sharp descent from the windless summit, where we had enjoyed mint tea and chocolate caramel shortbread, but sadly no sing song.
That's it really. We saw one other person and none of us fell over. We adjourned for beers and a further hour's chat at the Leather's Smithy, during which Toby enquired as to the history of this annual tradition.
Here's what I wrote in 2013, and I've updated it for subsequent years:
This was what has become a ‘traditional’ pre Christmas romp up to the summit of Shutlingsloe, which is usually a bit breezy on top, but not sufficient to deter us from supping some hot drinks and handing round some cake before heading back down to Trentabank, and thence to the Leathers Smithy for a beer.
Tonight was one of the best we have had, both turnout and weather wise. Thirteen of us on a lovely moonlit night, so torches were completely superfluous. Views from the summit extended over the whole of Greater Manchester to Winter Hill. Children who used to whinge a little sprinted ahead, separating the group on descent as only the fittest could keep up with them. Well done, Andrew, Kate and Joe, and it was good to see my nephew Toby turn up from near Nantwich, and Graham B’s granddaughter was also most welcome. I hope she enjoyed it.
Altogether a very enjoyable and sociable little excursion, and there’s not much more to say, but below the photos which follow, by popular request, I’ve added a summary of the walks which have led to this minor event becoming a ‘tradition’ amongst a small group of family and friends. It’s interesting to see that people have only started to turn up in good numbers since I upset them by changing a venue that they had got used to seeing on the programme but until then hadn’t bothered to come along. The first of these evening walks up Shutlingsloe was in 2006, when Sue and I were joined by Andrew and Sheila. Only Andrew and I have attended all eight of the walks, and I’m amazed by the short period of time required to create a so-called ‘tradition’.
15 and 18/12/2020 - 11 attendees over two visits; warm but breezy on top.
20/12/2019 - 16 attendees, clear and cool - starlit but no moon.
21/12/2018 - 18 attendees, many from Wythenshawe parkrun, on a drizzly night
15/12/2017 - 8 attendees, frosty and slippery after early snow.
16/12/2016 - 18 attendees, misty and chilly.
18/12/2015 - 14 attendees, many from Wythenshawe parkrun, on a cool, misty evening.
18/12/2014 - 11 attendees on a calm, dry warm evening in between periods of rain.
17/12/2013 – 13 attendees, clear, calm and cool at Trentabank, ground frost higher up making the rocks and grass a little slithery.
18/12/2012 – 12 attendees, calm, misty on the summit.
20/12/2011 – 17 attendees, calm, cool and misty on the summit. I’d tried to break tradition by changing the venue to White Nancy, on 9/12/2011, when only three of us had attended, and a rebellious element had insisted on going up Shutlingsloe ‘as usual’. I was chastised for breaking with tradition, but it did give me a chance to write about the history of White Nancy.
20/12/2010 – 3 attendees, calm, moonlit, cold and snowy. We also went up on New Year’s Day.
3/12/2009 – 2 attendees, cold, icy on top. Just Andrew and me; no blog entry. North face plastered with snow; slippery on top. Lots of night cyclists.
10/12/2008 – 3 attendees, calm, clear and cold.
19/12/2007 – 3 attendees, calm, clear and icy.
5/12/2006 – 4 attendees, moonlit, calm.
[Hover mouse over the type in black, and click, for the links to reports, or from 2013 click on the date for the link.]
