Tuesday 5 November 2024 - Shutlingsloe

Today was one of those days when but for the advance planning we would probably have stayed at home. As it was, Graeme and Andy joined Sue and me for a familiar and enjoyable 12km stroll over Shutlingsloe from the Leather's Smithy, to Wildboarclough and back via the Hanging Gate Inn and the Gritstone Trail.

On the summit - cool and misty - three fell runners who were doing the 'Cheshire Three Peaks' - Tegg's Nose, Shutlingsloe and Shining Tor - appeared out of nowhere, the only people we saw out walking today. Photos of the respective groups were taken, and the jolly threesome set off towards Shining Tor.

We thought of another Andy, who last night said he would be able to spot us on the summit from his living room above Bury.

Once we were out of the cool breeze, we stopped for coffee and chocolate digestives. Here there was a good crop of assorted Wax Caps.

Down in Wildboarclough, despite the greyness of the day, autumn colours were most attractive.

There's a well marked path from the Crag Inn to Lower Nabbs. We thought of Sir Hugh (aka Conrad), a friend who has recently been having a few problems with stiles and gates, and we thought he might be able to negotiate this metal kissing gate without too much of an epic adventure.

There were more Wax Caps near here, and further on, as well as this pretty Petticoat Mottlegill that we left in situ.

It was good to see that the Hanging Gate has reopened, but not on a Tuesday.

So we continued onwards, eventually reaching the small ravine from which the steep exit brings you out at the Ridgegate Reservoir a few metres from the Leather's Smithy, which was inundated with customers today.

Tomato and basil soup went down well.

Here's the 12km route, with about 400 metres ascent, taking us a leisurely four hours or so.

Here's a sample of our findings, and there was also a bag of Meadow Wax Caps that made for an excellent starter.

Sunday 17 December 2023 - A Christmas Walk Around Shutlingsloe

Parking beside Ridgegate Reservoir on a Sunday morning isn't the easiest, but 16 or so of us managed to congregate outside the Leather's Smithy in time to start our walk roughly on time at 10 0'clock.

After a leisurely start around the reservoir, it was uphill all the way to the summit of Shutlingsloe.

After leaving the trees behind, we continued on to the final steep ascent, pausing at the stile shown below.

Then it was single file up the steep steps to the summit.

GS was missing, otherwise it was a good turnout. I was joined (L-R) by David, Phil, Roger, Graeme, Jill, Carol, Graham, Ruth, Tove, Anne, Tom, Sue, Ken and Sue. Keith was away bagging a sub-tump hill summit.

It was cool and breezy on top, so we found a sheltered spot a little lower down to enjoy our coffee and cake.

Returning initially the way we came, we soon turned onto the boggy path to the car park above Bollin Brook. This was conveniently frozen over on my most recent visit. Today the surface was loose but not as bad as I had expected. Trail shoes were adequate to avoid wet feet.

The surface soon firms up, and after the next stile it's easy going to the car park, with good views back to Shutlingsloe.

After a lovely woodland section, it's a steep climb up to the quiet lane to the chapel at Macclesfield Forest.

Before the road reaches the chapel, a left turn takes us steeply up a lane and back into the forest, where a trusty soul has left a decorated tree and some Christmas presents. We have encountered these before - it's a local tradition.

Soon we were re-joined by Keith, Sue and Phil, who had diverted to another sub-tump that I'd been up many times on my mountain bike, for a lovely walk through the moss clad trees of the forest.

A final pause near the finish was to finish off any remaining coffee and cake before reaching the haven of the Leather's Smithy.

No more pictures were taken, but Graeme went home and Andrew joined us for lunch in the pub. Quite a contrast to recent Xmas lunches in the Crispin, (other Christmas Walk reports are here) but perfectly acceptable in a hostelry where food delivery issues were making life quite challenging for the chefs. We had ordered six gammon, but on the third recount (there were lots of other parties) the chefs could only allocate us two of them. So four of our group switched to haddock. "Oh dear" said landlord John, "I'm not sure how many haddock we have left!"

It's actually good to see a busy, friendly pub. Our experience there was a good one and some of us will be back for a lunchtime soup in the New Year when business has calmed down.

Here's our route - 10.5km with 350 metres ascent, the walk taking 3.5 hours. In a break with tradition, there was no afternoon walk other than that back to our randomly parked cars.

Any ideas for next year?

Tuesday 5 December 2023 - Shutlingsloe

                                         Ridgegate Reservoir and Tegg's Nose

On a dull morning I parked by Ridgegate Reservoir and enjoyed a brisk(ish) circuit in Macclesfield Forest, featuring Shutlingsloe. I've been here many times before - see here for some of those visits, so today's record is just by way of annotated pictures. Click on any image to access a slideshow.

After rounding the reservoir, with its resident cormorants busy drying their wings, the path winds upwards through the forest above Trentabank

Just beyond the forest limits, remnants of a recent snowstorm lined the path

I was catching up with another group who were ambling to the summit

From the summit, a view across Wildboarclough to Shining Tor, capped by mist

A brisk, cold breeze ensured that visits to the summit were fairly short

I soon returned to the stile at the foot of the final climb, with the other group just ahead

I took the path that is normally very boggy but which was frozen solid today, whilst the other group returned to the good track at the edge of the forest.
Here's my view back from the stile that maks the end of the boggy ground

A coffee break was taken in view of the three nearby reservoirs

Sunlight beamed down on my view ahead to lesser heights

The view towards the Cat and Fiddle indicated some vaguely unpleasant conditions in that direction

Some highland cattle had to brave knee deep mud to access their winter provisions

The path back through Macclesfield Forest is delightful

I soon reached the Leather's Smithy - very busy today, and had a brief chat with John before making my way home

Today's walk was 10.5km, with 375 metres ascent, taking 2 hours 40 minutes,

including a couple of coffee breaks

Friday 3 February 2023 - Shutlingsloe

We've been up Shutlingsloe many times. It wasn't only the summit that was in cloud today - you can see from the pictures below, taken near Ridgegate Reservoir, that the predicted fine weather hadn't transpired.

"Never mind", we agreed, whilst watching a cormorant trying to dry out on a post in the middle of the lake.

Looking back to the Leather's Smithy

Forest paths led inexorably uphill, with the trees clothed in mist.

Paul, Jeanette and Rufus were our only companions today, others having fallen by the way due to illness. Paul was proudly showing off his new blue boots.

There wasn't much to see on top. Rufus found the smells more interesting than the view.

So we went back down to find a sheltered spot for elevenses, just before a boggy section past Buxtors Hill.

"Look this way, Rufus."

"Look at the camera, everyone!"

The picture of the day would have been the one of Jeanette's stride into knee deep mud. But I missed it.

Eventually we crossed the road and passed the upper car park, before descending to woodland where some of the conifers have been cleared.

A steep pull up Toot Hill brought us out at the familiar chapel in the hamlet of Macclesfield Forest. This is a refreshment stop when we do the excellent 'Big Macc Ramble' bike ride.

A steep ascent along the bike route took us into lovely mixed woodland for the rest of the morning's walk.

United Utilities seem to be getting tetchy about mountain bike usage. The track you can see below - and above (our path) would seem perfectly suitable for mountain bikes, but who am I to judge? Anyway, there are plenty of tracks in this forest that mountain bikes can use - if perhaps not the most exciting ones.

Sue then spotted some lichen. What would she do if there was nothing to challenge her identification skills!

Rough speckled shield lichen

After a final few metres on the only tarmac of the morning, we adjourned happily to the Leather's Smithy, and four bowls of really tasty caramelised cauliflower with truffles soup.
 

Others were also enjoying the food. An executive decision was agreed upon and made. A table for up to 20 people was booked for 1:30pm on Sunday 17 December 2023 - a change after several years of going to the Crispin in Great Longstone, and a bit easier to reach for those living in the Manchester area. Book your space now! (Further details nearer the time, obviously, but I'm happy with this - we'll start walking at 10:00 and follow the route taken today. Just for a change, there will be no planned afternoon walk.)

Here's the route - 10.5km with 400 metres of ascent, taking us 3 hours including breaks.