Light in the Darkness

I was pleased recently when artist Russell Bedson contacted me to ask permission to base a painting on one of my very early blog photos from October 2007. (I started the blog in September 2007.)

The resultant print that he sent me in thanks has now been framed and placed in our living room. It looks better than it shows in the above photo.

Russell's work can be found here.

The original photo, shown below and included in this posting, has already been used for a naming ceremony. It's interesting that the only picture I've taken that has been used (to the best of my knowledge) by others has now been used twice, though some of my photos, and Sue's, have gained awards in Austrian Alpine Club photo contests.

Thank you, Russ.

Tuesday 9 January 2024 - A Danebridge Circuit

Our first proper walk of the year. A familiar circuit from Danebridge in glaring sunshine and a frosty easterly. Sue and I gave Paul, Jeanette and Rufus a lift, and Graeme swelled the numbers to five plus a dog. Yesterday's email to 'Short Walkers' was worthwhile. For the moment there is no walks programme, but we will try to take advantage of good weather and notify folk accordingly, as in this case.

Anyway, heavy traffic for us kept Graeme waiting and delayed our start to around 10:30.

Sue soon delayed us further by pausing for a photo shoot of some Jelly Ear fungi.

We emerged from the woods to bright sunshine and a view to our first objective, Hanging Stone, discernible in the picture below, above the standing stone.

There are a couple of plaques in memory of soldiers and dogs on this giant tooth.

Sunny views across fields and moorland to the distinctive hump of Shutlingsloe.

Looking into the cold wind and the sun, a view to Tittesworth Reservoir, beyond the Roaches, near Leek.

In the other direction, a view towards the Cat & Fiddle and Shining Tor.

After the slog along the Back Forest path to Roach End, where in summer an ice cream van is often in attendance, we descended into the Dane Valley and welcome elevenses in a more sheltered spot.

We soon reached Lud's Church, by two directions through the woods, and as usual we admired this remarkable chasm. New boards have thankfully provided respite from the knee deep mud that we encountered on our last visit.

 

I've written about Lud's Church before - the link is here. Or more specifically here.

A zigzag path then took us to the Dane Valley for a few km, all the way back to Danebridge, leaving the river to continue its convoluted path towards the Weaver Navigation at Northwich.

Out of the woods, a sunny spot for lunch before the final 2 km back to the cars.

Here's the view from the bridge.

And here's our route - 10.7 km, with 250 metres ascent, taking 3.5 hours including a couple of breaks.

Thanks for your company, everyone, that was a most pleasurable outing.

Friday 13 January 2023 - A Danebridge Circuit

I chose this popular destination for the first of a new 2023 series of Friday morning walks. We've been here many times before - some reports are here, with full historic details and much better photos than today's.

A new sign (above) welcomes visitors to Wincle, but just up the road the Ship Inn has shut up shop. That's a shame.

Anyway, today the weather was very dull, but the expected rain held off until after we had finished.

Wincle Brewery is still going strong, and we looked back to that as we crossed the bridge from Cheshire into Staffordshire.

A steep little ginnel leads up to a path that pops out onto a field in view of our first objective, the Hanging Stone.

Soon we were on top of the stone, admiring views to Shutlingsloe, and across Cheshire in the other direction.

Jenny and I went to the top of the stone whilst Richard and Sue looked on.

We then took the high path that leads to the Roaches. Looking back you can see the Hanging Stone, and Shutlingsloe.

Ahead, Tittesworth Reservoir, with the Roaches to the left of the prominent trees.

After a while we reached the road, beyond which the Roaches lie, and beside which there's often an ice cream van. But not today, although there were quite a few walkers out and about. It's a popular spot.

Elevenses, with lots of shortbread, were taken in the depths of Back Forest, beside the path to Lud's Church.

We missed the turn that leads to the top of the chasm, but today we were quite happy to enter from the bottom. It was muddy. Below the carefully positioned branch on which Jenny is manoeuvreing, the water is knee deep. Another visitor demonstrated that - mud up to his thighs! 

Here, Sue took the opportunity to identify some fungi. She spotted two 'new ones'.

Mossy Maze Polypore

Jelly Spot Fungus

A turn towards Gradbach took us down to the River Dane, for a pleasant meander back to Danebridge.

If you follow the link to previous visits, you can see how the view of this landslip has changed over the years.

The muddy field just before reaching the bridge didn't seem as muddy as usual, despite our having had lots of rain in recent days.

Here's our route - over 10km, with around 300 metres ascent, taking us a little over 3 hours.

What an excellent way to spend a morning. And if you fancy joining me on a future stroll, the current list is here:

27 January - Longridge Fell - a 12km circuit from Hurst Green village hall (SD 685 381). Meet at 10:00.

3 February - Shutlingsloe - a 10km circuit from the Leather's Smithy. Park beside Ridgegate Reservoir in the marked spaces, SJ 953 715. Start at 10:00.

10 February - The Wells of Silverdale - a 10km circuit from Leighton Moss Bird Reserve Visitor Centre - SD 476 750. Meet at cafe 10:00. Bring lunch.

17 February - A 10km circuit from Bollington via White Nancy and the Saddle of Kerridge. Meet at Adlington Road Car Park in Bollington (SJ 930 780), at 10:00.

24 February - Coniston Old Man and Dow Crag - a classic 9km circuit starting from the end of the Walna Scar Road (SD 288 970) at 10:30.

31 July 2020 - Hanging Stone and Lud's Church

 

This is a familiar walk, referred to on these pages numerous times, with a history of the places we pass, notably Lud's Church, if you scroll down this link.

 

I was joined by Paul S and Graeme, on what turned out to be a perfect day. You might surmise that from the colour of the sky. I'll just go through a few photos in this posting - you may prefer to click on an image and scroll through the slideshow.

 

We strolled up to Hanging Stone via the erratic in the field below Hangingstone Farm.

 

 

There are fine views back past Wincle.

 

 

It's a steep but short pull up to Hanging Stone.

 

 

There are good views over the Cheshire/Staffordshire countryside.

 

 

The panorama to the north encompasses the distinct summit of Shutlingsloe.
 

 

We enjoyed elevenses above High Forest.

 

 

Approaching Roach End, we admired the view across to the Roaches, that we didn't visit today.

 

 

Mr Whippy served us from his usual position at Roach End. Sadly the 'Mr Whippy' who served folk here for many years died recently (you can see some of the wreaths behind the van), so it's a new chap at the window.

 

 

From Roach End, a good path leads to and through Back Forest, where the trees were dappled with sunlight today.

 

 

 

Lud's Church was, like most of today's paths, quite busy, but we managed to keep a good distance from people at all times, being conscious that the 'release' of Lockdown went into reverse gear overnight for those of us who live in Greater Manchester.

 

 

 

 

A stop in an idyllic spot beside the River Dane was followed by the delightful walk beside the river all the way back to Danebridge.

 

 

You can hardly see that this is the site of a landslide pictured in other reports on this walking route.

 

 

The Covid virus will have put paid, for the time being, to any letting out of this beautifully restored house.

 

 

 

As we neared the eponymous bridge, we encountered a few family groups picnicking and playing in the river.

 

 

This tree is just about clinging on to the side of the path, near the bridge.

 

 

The brewery, pictured below, was doing a good trade, and we relished a cold beer or three in the sunshine before heading off home.

 

 

Thanks for your company, Graeme and Paul. We won't get much better conditions for this walk, which today displayed the English countryside at its very best. A beautiful route.

 

Allow four hours for the 11 km route - it's pictured in this link. We didn't go over the Roaches today - that makes it more of a full day's walk.

 

Later: here are three more pictures from Graeme, featuring ice creams and a most welcome socially distanced beer outside the wonderful Danebridge Brewery.