Monday 6 October 2025 - GM Ringway Trail Stage 5 - Middlewood to Strines (2)

Sue and I walked this stage in June. My diary entry is here. Out of our initial team of eight, that left just Paul and Jeanette absent from the register for Stage 5, a failure that was rectified today.

I'll make this entry brief, offering just a few of the highlights. Travel was just as we took in June, and it was equally efficient.

After being dropped off at 11:20 we made our way from Middlewood to the Macclesfield Canal, which we crossed at an eccentric garden,with a paddle boarder coming past at quite a pace.

More woodland led past the outskirts of Disley.

Houses by the Bollinhurst Brook tributory in the Ladybrook Valley seemed to have extensive gardens.

Sunlight filtered through the foliage, and numerous fungi were seen, together with the mosses and lichens that 'bloom' at this time of year.

Shaggy Scalycap

Brown Birch Bolete

Sheathed Woodtuft

Honey Mushroom?

Approaching Crow Wood, there's evidence of an industrial past in the grounds of Lyme Park.

After passing more fungi we entered the picnic area next to the Timber Yard Café. Time for lunch.

The route then headed up past Lyme Hall and on up the slope to The Cage.

Rufus inspected one of the erratics (boulders left by retreating glaciers) as the slope levelled out.

The view extended right across Greater Manchester, with Winter Hill, which we will climb on Stage 14, visible to the right of the next picture.

Descending from The Cage to the main A6 road, we passed a boy racer.

After a steep climb we accidentally walked into someone's garden. The granddaughter looked petrified.

Soon afterwards, Disley Golf Club offered a toilet (golfers only) and was closed for refreshments. We concluded that this was not the main clubhouse.

A tall chimney appeared to be the sole remnant of an industrial past, above a decrepit farm.

Just below the chimney, a herd of goats with GPS trackers were some of the cutist and friendliest we had ever seen.

The former 'Romper' pub, now a private house, was a prelude to fine views towards the Peak Distict, before we descended though an avenue of trees to the Peak Forest Canal.

I have seen this contraption, which allows access to a farm, in use. It works well.

A left turn from the canal takes us down through a millennium wood to cross Strines Road and descend further to cross the River Goyt and pass Bruce's clock, the pigeon loft, and the Mill Pond, on which cormorants were drying their wings.

After trying to absorb some of Strines' rich history we made our way up to the station, for the 3:37 to Piccadilly (with a reminder as to our 'Trail').

That was 13km, with 250 metres ascent, taking about 4 hours. An excellent walk.

Note that we have changed the date for Stage 16 (Wigan to Leigh) from Thursday 20 November to Wednesday 19 November.

Sunday 5 October 2025 - The Wilmslow Autumn Sprint Triathlon

Before the swim

Sue had entered the full Sprint Triathlon - swim/bike/run, and Richard and Jenny had entered the Aquabike Sprint. They don't like running. I was 'Support', which mainly involved sitting with coffee in the café, guarding valuables whilst the others exhausted themselves. I also took a few photos.

The ten o'clock start suited us, it was an early start time - the staggered start lasted until after noon, by which time it was raining hard.

Jenny was taking part in an effort to raise money for Aquabox, a worthy charity for which she raised around £1,000. Further donations will be welcome.

It was hard to get a good viewing spot at the pool, especially as when I did manage that, two lifeguards managed to completely block my view. So I missed Sue and Richard in the pool, but I did spot Jenny as she set off on the 16 length (400 metres) swim.

Outside, the racks of bikes indicated that our trio were amongst the earlier starters on the event in which around 400 took part.

The roads weren't closed, but traffic was quiet, as Sue flew around the 24km bike course. Apparently it was very well marshalled.

At the start/finish of the bike ride a very officious volunteer was demanding accuracy as to the mounting and dismounting of the cyclists.

Sue, above, was first in our group, and would have set off on her run by the time Richard flew in with his bike, to conclude his Aquabike event.

Jenny was next. Here she is on the course, and then finishing.

Meanwhile, Sue was running around the two lap, 6.3km, running course.

She finished inside 34 minutes - a good time.

Jenny undertook a Photoshoot for Aquabox.

Then once Sue had recovered the trio posed for the camera again.

We adjourned to Styal Mill for lunch, and eventually the results were made public and for our trio they are shown below. An excellent event, enjoyed by all.