Monday 17 November 2025 - Lantern Pike from Marple Bridge - A Bike Ride - plus bits

Paul and Greg kindly invited me to join them on an outing of about 24 km with 600 metres ascent, from the Brabyns Park car park in Marple Bridge at 10:30 on Monday 17 November.

It was a cool morning and Paul had been waiting for a while so he was a bit cold. We were all pleased, after about 50 metres of cycling, to find ourselves outside Libby's Café. Coffee and croissants. Excellent.

Once we got going, it was a short, steep pull out of Marple Bridge and over the top to Roman Lakes, then a pleasant undulating ride to Strines, from where our path rose steeply and I pushed rather than cycle, which the others bravely did. 

The light was lovely as I rose through the woods and reached more level ground where I took the picture above before heading on upwards.

We emerged in bright sunshine at the Fox Inn, where two scarecrows were taking a late morning break..

There were good views across the valley to the Marple area.

Posing for pictures near the Fox Inn

Our off-road route took us above New Mills, past Thornsett, to Birch Vale. Here we joined the Pennine Bridleway and a very steep climb. Even Paul and Greg had to briefly dismount. Otherwise they were managing well, and seemed quite happy to wait every now and then for me to appear. On this section I chatted at length with a couple who were in the area on grandparenting duties, with time to climb Lantern Pike before school pick-up duties.

This path up the Pennine Bridleway near Birch Vale is steeper than it looks!

Eventually we reached a high point near the summit of Lantern Pike (which we didn't visit), and descended briefly to the picnic spot that Paul and Greg have used in the past. It was fenced off with 'No Entry' signs. So we free wheeled a bit further down and enjoyed our lunch in a field near Blackshaw Farm.

On this sunny but cool day there were quite a few folk about, on foot and on bikes. I envied the electric bikes as they serenely passed me as I was stumbling along.

 Thanks for waiting, guys.

We proceeded on a mixture of tarmac and earth, to re-join our outward route half way between Strines and Roman Lakes, after some vicious descents made quite difficult by the glaring low sun that was at times literally blinding. At a ford near Rowarth I think Paul and Greg may have got wet feet. I may be slow, but I managed to keep dry feet there. They remained warm and dry, whilst others may have likened theirs to blocks of ice!

The sun was shining nicely on the viaduct at Strawberry Hill, from where it was an easy ride back to the car park.

Here's our route - familiar to Paul and Greg, so no navigational skills required - it's about 24 km with 600 metres ascent, taking us about 3½ hours, maybe half an hour longer than usual due to my slow pace.

An excellent outing in lovely weather.

Before we go - a few catch-up pictures that don't warrant separate postings:

De Quincey Park on 14 November

Wythenshawe parkrun #640 on 15 November - views from the rear

I did pass a few folk, to finish in position 206 out of 260 finishers. Full results are here.

It was good to see our neighbour, Darina, and her daughter Ruqayyah, volunteering at the run. 'D' is on the right below.

Later on 15 November, a visit from Mike and Sarah and Isabella for lunch.
It was good to see Isabella enjoying last year's Christmas present.

Oyster fungus on a sycamore tree in Pickering Lodge Park on 18 November

- supposedly edible and tasty

Friday 15 July 2011 – Lantern Pike

Tonight seven stalwarts of our evening walks congregated in The Pack Horse in Hayfield, under gathering skies. Rain was expected, but only JJ had wimped out, leaving two Richards, Notchy, Nightbird and Diana to brave the elements with Sue and me.

In the event, the rain just about held off, and what drove us indoors in the end were the voracious insects that ganged up on us after the walk as we sat outside The Pack Horse in a bid to enjoy our post walk refreshments.

Our 9km route with 350 metres ascent is shown below.  It’s an excellent summer evening’s excursion, or a short morning or afternoon’s stroll, taking around 2½ hours.

We started down a lane by the Post Office opposite the Pack Horse, then along a path to Swallow House Lane.  The metalled road took us all the way to a row of cottages known as Cliff Villas, shortly beyond which, at Windy Knowle House, a bridleway leads up towards Lantern Pike.  For those with an aversion to tarmac or with few minutes more, you may prefer to walk along the Sett Valley Trail from Hayfield, leaving it at the head of a small reservoir to walk uphill and join our route.

After entering open moorland, a thin path to the left leads immediately up to the 373 metre summit of Lantern Pike.  Here, the assembled masses enjoyed a few bottles of beer on the warm evening. (See header image.)

The views from here are extensive, but with rain imminent it was rather dull tonight.  However, I did manage to capture the view down to Hayfield; Kinder Scout is away to the left, with South Head and Chinley Churn in view.

From the summit, we dropped down to the lower path and took the obvious route north, to Blackshaw Farm, where a right turn led us all the way down, past several idyllic looking properties that were for sale, to the main Glossop Road.

Turning left, we braved the main road for 400 metres before heading into open country once more at Carr Meadow.  Ancient and modern signs directed us towards Edale.  Notchy dashed off worriedly to look for a bridge.

Following Notchy’s inadvertent directions (he had been pointing towards the bridge) we found the good path that heads south east across the moor to a path junction near a white shooting cabin surrounded by railings.

By now the troops were beginning to flag.  Some were asleep on their feet, others were just pretending to be zombies.  Revival CCS was handed out to minimise the risk of casualties.

A sharp right turn, along the path intersected by Notchy’s head, put us on the Snake Path back to Hayfield, which after a few hundred metres follows the left branch where a minor path heads off to the west.

Before we knew it we were on the outskirts of town.  It’s traditional on such evening walks for Sue to befriend a needy nag.  Tonight was no exception.

So, that was a jolly walk!  We all returned to the pub for a beer and a blather in the balmy, not to say ‘moist’ summer air.  Unfortunately the midges drove us straight back inside where we could lounge in the plush chairs of the refurbished tart known as The Pack Horse.

9km, 350 metres ascent, very easy to follow route, 2½ hours.

The next evening walk is on Thursday 28 July:
”Another adventure with Notchy - Deepest Cheshire (2) - starting at 7.30 pm from The Golden Pheasant, Plumley Moor Road, Plumley - SJ 722 753.   7.95 km with 36 metres of ascent, but not all at once.”
All are welcome.