Tuesday 30 July 2024 - Around Alderley Edge

This was another of Tony Bowerman's 'Mysterious Cheshire' walks. Number 13. It starts from the National Trust Car Park on Alderley Edge, what3words: tulip.gentle.tried

The Wizard of Edge restaurant is currently closed, but the Tearoom is open.

This sign confirms that the pub is closed, but the Tearoom is thriving

After turning right in front of the tearooms, the path goes for a few hundred metres to reach a curve to the left, where stone steps after a 5mph sign lead up to the Engine Vein, where mining took place from Bronze Age times over 4000 years ago.

Before returning to the main track, I reached an area at the top of the Engine Vein, where the land is being allowed to collapse by way of natural processes.

A left turn back at the main path leads to a junction where a large sandstone block is known as the Golden Stone. Tony Bowerman's book provides more information on this and many more of the features encountered on this walk.

Here we follow the signs to Stormy Point, passing to the left of good views to parts of Greater Manchester and Derbyshire, where the Lyme Cage folly can be seen.

The rocky summit of Stormy Point is soon reached.

Mine entrances are blocked off within the slot like excavation known as the 'Devil's Grave'.

Our route continues ahead, past a knarly veteran tree.

 

The path descends (above) before rising to the summit of Saddle Bole (below).

After returning to Stormy Point, the lower of two paths is taken to reach a slab-sided stone trough.

A second trough, this one oval and carved from a single piece of sandstone, is just around the corner. This is the Holy Well.

The path soon reaches a planked section, followed by steep uphill steps just visible in the next picture.

At the top of the steps, we take the path to the right, then 10 metres further on the yellow path sign to the right is ignored in favour of a narrow path that leads steeply up to a well surfaced path along the lip of the edge.

This good path leads to Castle Rock, with more fine views across the Cheshire Plain and beyond.

Continuing briefly beside a fence, we double back at the first opportunity and soon descend down stone steps past two stone posts.

At the bottom of the slope we head left past a low overhang.

About 100 metres on, as the path starts to dip downhill, the Wizard's Well is reached.

Our route turns around here and goes back past the bottom of the stone steps and posts, along a path that runs below the Edge.

We continue along the path pictured above, passing the steps that descend to the Holy Well. A drystone wall is soon seen on the right. This denotes a walled off area containing a roofed reservoir. The wall is followed around a corner to the right, then we rise to the left to a mound surmounted by a plaque that denotes the Armada Beacon.

Continuing on beyond the Beacon, a path wide enough for wheelchairs leads back to the National Trust car park.

Here's the route, just 3.5km with 75 metres ascent. It took me around an hour, but you could savour this area by taking twice as long as that, especially if you have Tony's excellent book to hand..

Monday 9 August 2021 - Alderley Edge revisited

A visit from Ottawa parkrunner friends Linda and Keith triggered this morning walk around Alderley Edge. Our first walk for ages (12 July - must be a record!). Sue and Jenny came with me to the NT car park, from where - after watching the drizzle subside - we headed to the site of the Beacon, via the Engine Vein, pictured above. This former mining area used to be heavily eroded by visitors, but since being fenced off, it has grown wild again. There's a newly fenced off section where the tunnel is expected to collapse soon - the workings hereabouts have been fully explored and mapped, so there is no need to save these particular tunnels.

A little further on, beyond the Beacon site, we paused at several points to admire the views, which extend from the Welsh hills, over Jodrell Bank, across Greater Manchester to the South Pennines.

Eventually, after finding our way around the northern edge of the woodland, we crossed the Macclesfield Road via Mount Farm, and headed down Slade Lane to reach the track that is Hocker Lane, where the next two pictures were taken.

A right turn up Bradford Lane saw a continuation of the pleasant woodland, from which we eventually emerged at the main road near the Wizard cafe. Coffees etc went down well, then Linda and Keith moved on to nearby Styal, and the rest of us went home for lunch.

Here's the route we took - a very pleasant 9 km, taking exactly two hours.

It was good to see Linda and Keith - thanks to them for making the effort to meet up, and nice to get out for a walk after over a month.

Friday 26 March 2021 - Wilmslow and Alderley Edge

Graeme and I started in rain today, on this third weekly stroll from his house in Wilmslow.

The rain soon eased and stopped, with a blue sky and fluffy clouds eventually taking over.

Near the top of Alderley Edge we passed this small trough, as we have done many times before. We wondered as to its provenance.

There was a clear view towards Manchester from the top of the edge. As usual you need to click on the image for a better version/slideshow.

Beyond these green fields are the M62 motorway and the cloud smothered summits of the South Pennines.

We made our way down Artists Lane and Welsh Row, where huge beech trees appear to be rooted to a small cliff edge.

There are many happy borders full of nodding daffodils. Graeme stopped to photograph this one, so I did likewise, but there were many more similar opportunities.

We finished in bright sunshine after a most pleasant morning's walk, refreshed by the warmth of spring and the beauty of the English countryside. There are worst places to have been Locked Down.

Here's today's 14 km route. It took us three and a half hours. The selection of paths from Graeme's house is almost a match for those from Bowland Climber's house in Longridge.

Covid restrictions are due to be relaxed next week, with groups of six being allowed outdoors, and travel a little way from home being acceptable. I've therefore produced a provisional programme of walks on which a very limited number of people (up to six) will be welcome. Do let me know if you fancy joining me on any of these outings. Details (and information about any changes) will appear here shortly.

All walks start at 10 am.
Thursday 1 April - 11 km around Thurstaston in the Wirral. Meet at the Wirral Way car park - SJ 239 834. Take a sandwich.

Friday 9 April - 10 km in Delamere Forest. Meet at Barnbridge Gates car park - SJ 542 716.

Friday 16 April - more Wirral walks - in the morning, an 8 km circuit from Burton. Meet by the Dee estuary in Burton - SJ 301 747. Then lunch. Then a 5 km walk around Thornton Hough, starting from Brimstage Hall Craft Centre - SJ 304 827.

Friday 23 April - 14 km based on a 'JJ' route - Park Moor and Spond Hill from Nelson Pit Car Park, Higher Poynton - SJ 945 834.

Friday 30 April - Around Longridge - a 12 km or so walk subject to BC's approval. Parking may be possible at SD 603 374 (watch this space).

Friday 18 December 2020 - Alderley Edge revisited

In fairly dreary weather, six of us (me, Sue, Graeme, Paul, Jeanette and Jenny) and Rufus the dog assembled at the National Trust car park by the Wizard cafe to enjoy a modest stroll in the environs of Alderley Edge.

I've written about this area many times before - there are already 18 postings with the 'Alderley Edge' label, so I don't propose to labour further in this entry.

The dull day made for difficulty in getting any decent pictures, but here are what I did manage to take. Click on any of them for a better image/slideshow.

Above, our socially distanced group on the corner of Bradford Lane and Hocker Lane.

Below, Rufus led the way along Hocker Lane.

A brook by Hocker Lane

We ventured briefly into Alderley Park, where Jeanette used to go running at lunch times when she worked for AstraZeneca. There are various ornamental ponds, etc, as well as Radnor Mere and some well used paths and a host of picnic tables, some of which are under cover. We enjoyed coffee and cake here, whilst it tried to rain.

We got back to Hocker Lane and headed towards Clinton Hill, where the next two pictures were taken.

On reaching the B5087, a busy road, we were presented with a home made sign discouraging use of the public footpath past Adders Moss Farm. Not wishing to upset the residents, albeit the use of the path would be harmless and legal, we took an alternative route along the road and then past Mount Farm, where no objection was made, though we had to negotiate slurry and a muck spreader.

We made it without mishap, apart from a short 'Martin's meander', to the environs of Alderley Edge, with Rufus doing the navigating after I'd been sacked for going the wrong way.

Back at the friendly cafe, we enjoyed takeaway coffees (thanks, Paul), and a line up of the reconstituted 'Three Musketeers' was captured on film.

Luckily, the picnic tables have been fitted with substantial covers to keep clients dry. This is the way of the current world - takeaway fare consumed outdoors under cover.

Here's today's route - rather less than 10 km, taking us two and a half hours.