Friday 14 August 2020 - Manley Common and the Sandstone Trail

 

Last Friday's regular stroll found Sue, Graeme, Paul S and me congregating at Barnbridge Gates car park in Delamere Forest, for a 14 km circuit featuring the Sandstone Trail.

 

Social distancing was very briefly 'parked', for a self-timed picture on the edge of the forest.

 

From the same spot, we noticed that harvest time is approaching.

 

 

Forest paths led north, around the area known as the New Pale, which is a relic from Delamere's history as a hunting forest. The forest was created to protect game for the king's hunt and relied on strict forest laws enforced by the Master Forester.

 

In later centuries it became increasingly difficult to protect the game as forest lands gave way to agriculture. As a result, forest enclosures were built in an attempt to preserve the deer. The oval shaped New Pale is thought to have originated in this way and dates from around 1617.

 

Deer were finally wiped out in Delamere during the Civil War (1642 - 51), and plans to reintroduce them never came to fruition.

 

 

Recent rain / sunshine / rain / sunshine.... had caused some of the paths to be overgrown with brambles and nettles, so by the time we reached Riley Bank, we were covered in scratches and stings.

 

The path down from Riley Bank to join the Sandstone Trail near Ridgeway was rather more forgiving. 

 

 

Beyond Ridgeway, the rest of our walk back to Barnbridge Gates followed the well signposted route of the Sandstone Trail.

 

 

On a hot day, these cows were cooling down nicely, even if they were contaminating their drinking water with effluent.

 

 

On the only significant bit of tarmac of the day, thankfully with a much needed pavement, we passed St John's, Manley, where traffic noise may sometimes distract from the sermon.

 

 

After that, the Sandstone Trail takes to narrow footpaths lined at this time of year with Rosebay and other varieties of Willowherb.

 

 

We encountered very few other people, all morning - mainly just occasional dog walkers. Even the Sandstone Trail, a National Trail that might be expected to be heavily used, had very few 'customers' today, so more scratches and stings were picked up on the narrow paths.

 

 

At the end of the path shown above, we encountered a sign...

 

 

It was lunchtime, and we had only about 3 km to go, so who could resist the temptation?

 

Not us.

 

 

Stonehouse Farm B&B has a few picnic tables in a giant field and served us, rather glumly it has to be said, bacon and sausage butties, pots of tea, and a soft drink and cake for Paul.

 

It was an excellent place to pause, and a lovely surprise on this occasion.

 

 

 

There followed an easy walk back along the Sandstone Trail through Delamere Forest to the well used car park. This is a mecca for mountain bikers and walkers, and parking - if you can find a space - is free.

 

Here's today's route - about 14 km with 200 metres ascent (ie virtually flat). [Click on the image for a clearer version.]

 

 

Next week we will meet at the same spot (10am, Friday 21 August) and follow the Sandstone Trail by way of a southerly loop, with - I'm pleased to say - a very small diversion near the end of the walk that will take us past Stonehouse Farm, though I can't promise a repeat of today's lovely weather for a picnic lunch.

 

Well, that was another fine outing. Thanks for coming along, everyone.

Lockdown 2020 (continued)

 

Lockdown continues. Life is restricted, but not without pleasures. The Bridgewater Canal, early in the morning, was a delight to run or cycle beside this week, the above picture being taken near the Bay Malton (long closed), on one of my regular bike rides.

 

Below, King George V Pool in Altrincham is as full of weed as ever. The coots seem overwhelmed by it. I jogged around it in Wednesday afternoon's heat, on my way for coffee in Stamford Park with Paul B - very pleasant but not as comfortable as Paul's garden , just round the corner, would have been. Not allowed though. I surprised Andrew and Joe and friends, fishing in the pool (do they ever catch anything?) whilst awaiting their A Level results. (Later - success - they both got the highest grades available and are into their chosen Universities. Well done them, even if they didn't catch any fish.)

 

 

The jungle that masquerades as our garden continues to mature, with JJ's tomato plants heading to obscure the view from our living room window.

 

 

 

We visited Mike and Sarah in Didsbury yesterday, on a bike ride, keeping our distance at the edge of their abode - all is well and their garden could soon look like ours?!

 

As we are unable to see our grandchildren except on neutral ground, we cycled to meet them today at Tatton Park, where we went for a bike ride with them whilst their mum looked after Rocko - Simon's nervous dog.

 

It rained, so shelter was sought under a tree.

 

 

 

I tried to introduce J and J to the names of some birds. I think they recognise 'Swan', and just in case this posting ever comes to their attention, I'll name some of the others in this photo as Mallards, Coots, Canada Geese and (diving) Great Crested Grebes.

 

 

Then we turned around and went back to find mummy and Rocko. On the way we bumped into Joe's dad, on a 20 mile run. He chatted for a while, then sped off. In this next picture, you can make out the screen for the drive-in cinema; we went last Sunday. An interesting experience...

 

 

Q: "When can we come and stay at your house?"

A: "We don't know. And we are afraid we've had to cancel next weekend's trip to Center Parcs."

 

But if those are our only problems, we are doing well. Our thoughts are with those more seriously affected by the pandemic.

16 July 1989 - Alta Via 2 - Day 2 - Passo Rodella to Camp near Rif Puez

Camp near Passo Rodella (note that I've had difficulty in placing the images correctly with regard to the text in this posting - Ed)

 

Sunday 16 July (Diarist: John)

7:00 reveille for a 8:35 start! Sunny. Down from campsite to road, then on to path up to Peitlerscharte (2361 metres) (aka Forcella della Putia). Stop for a brew.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Follow the paint SW along route 3 to Kreuzkofeljoch, plus a detour to Rifugio Genova. Up along route 3 (one route finding error) along the top of Medalges Alpe for lunch on some steepish grass at about 12:30.

 

 

 

 

Set off at about 13:15. Hard work ahead. No surface water except for a small spring. Gain height gently to arrive at the bottom of Forcella della Roa.

 

Zigzags up scree. Some late, slushy, gritty snow. Reach the top of the Forcella at 14:30.

 

Hang around for 30 minutes for Laurie and Martin W. Then down on the other side of pass along route 3 to pick up AV2 in a rocky corrie.

 

 

 

Follow route through boulders and scree to more zigzags leading to the top of Forcella Forces de Sielles (2512 metres). We are at the top of the pass, but Laurie and Martin are still at the bottom.

 

 

 

Set off NE then E, first along a ridge with fixed ropes (and a 4-year old with his parents), then above scree, then over cliffs and down to the pastures of Puez Alp. Very green grass, damp soil, but no surface water. To make things worse, we can hear running water higher up. Continue, and come across a stream, which determines where we are to pitch our tents.

Descend from path to find a fairly level pitch near the edge of the alp. Also, a convenient stream. 17:00.

Laurie and Martin decide to forgo a visit to Rifugio Puez  and arrive at 18:00. Campsite is at over 2400 metres. Hope a) no high winds, b) no storms.

 

 

 

 

 Here's our route - 16 km, with 1300 metres of ascent. 

 

Next Day

Back to the start 

TGO Challenge - Wild Camps (No 26: 16 May 2010)

 

The plan for this day was just a bit too ambitious, so after climbing a couple of Corbetts, Sgurr Ghiughsachain and Stob a'Bhealach an Sgriodain, I found myself at a decision point on Meall Mor.

 

Slippery scrambles over two more Corbetts in dodgy weather didn't appeal, so I took the long, undulating ridge walk to Druim Leathad, setting up camp at about 450 metres at NM988694 (Sron a'Chorra Bhuilg).

 

There were good views to Loch Linnhe and Inverscaddle Bay.

 

 

The following morning dawned bright and sunny. It was soon hot in the tent.

 

Easter 1972 - A Trip to Skye

 

Here's a trip with a few photos but no diary entry. I'll do my best to remember it, and Mike may provide some additional comments that I'll add later.

 

I'm pretty sure it was Easter 1972, and we probably travelled up to the Loch Lomond area on the Thursday or Friday. I'll assume Thursday. I would guess that the top picture was taken the following morning, 31 March, possibly at the Ardlui campsite by Loch Lomond.

 

My companion was my schoolmate Mike, who has appeared previously on these pages as 'Poor Michael', my hapless mate on the rather inclement TGO Challenge of 2011, and on an earlier 'training' walk in the Lake District. 

 

I think the next picture was probably taken looking back to the Ben More range, site of my first Munro 'bag' in 1968, from north of Crianlarich.

 

 

We were traveling in my first car, a 1964 Mini 850. I had it from 1971 to about 1976, and took the mileage from 30,000 to 100,000 before crashing it. At this point in 1972 the passenger floor leaked, so I'd waterproofed it using a unique blend of glass fibre and the old metal 'Marvel' tins. This worked a treat, but didn't stop the leak into the car. On this trip, Mike found the water level in his footwell steadily rising as we progressed north in the rain. Eventually he found a pan with which to bale out. Unfortunately the sliding window didn't open wide enough, and he managed to empty the pan all over himself. When I got home I drilled a hole in the floor of the car.

 

 

We headed north, through Glencoe.

 

 

 

 

We stopped at the War Memorial, and admired the view towards Ben Nevis.

 

 

By the time we reached Loch Cluanie, we were ready for a walk. So we headed up the Five Sisters ridge, aiming for Sgurr an Fhuarain.

 

 

 

 

 

We didn't reach the summit, but it was a good walk in the mountains. Here's a panorama constructed from the last two images - a fine view - click on the image...

 

  

Then we headed onto Skye, and the single track road (most were single track then) to Glenbrittle, pausing on the way at a viewpoint.

 

 

The next day (Saturday?), I think we must have toured around on a dreich day, during which we undertook a short coastal walk and I took just one picture.

 

 

Then on Sunday we enjoyed a walk in the Cuillins, heading up Coire Lagan. We set off from where we were camped, at Glenbrittle. I think there were others in the party, whom we met up with at Glenbrittle, but I can't recall who they might have been.

 

 

Mike is on the left in the next picture, next to an unidentified friend.

 

 

We gradually worked our way up into Coire Lagan.

 

 

 

 

 

There were rocky views all around, but when we turned around we were still some way off reaching the ridge, which in the next picture is dominated by the In Pin.

 

 

Here, we are looking back down into Coire Lagan.

 

 

The next two pictures were taken in the direction of Sgurr Alasdair, with the Great Stone Shoot looking formidable.

 

 

 

Whilst I've been up that since, on this occasion we were happy to reverse our steps and head back to camp, from where I presume (in the absence of evidence to the contrary) we headed back home the following day, Monday, in time for work on Tuesday.

 

 

I must have dropped Mike off somewhere. Perhaps his memory is better than mine - I'll add his comments, if any, in due course.