Werneth Low 29 August 2012

When I awoke to the sound of heavy rain against the window on Wednesday morning, my first thought was "why on earth did I volunteer us to stand in for Denise when she told us she would not be able to lead the walk?" My second thought was "I wonder whether I can find an excuse to miss it and let Geoff lead it!)

However during the day the weather improved and I checked the BBC Weather to find that the evening forecast for Romiley was rain turning dryer. The forecast for Hyde was slightly better, but which is Werneth Low? It is in the middle.







Anyway it did not seem too bad when we set off early to try and park near to The Grapes. But there were cars everywhere! Were all these people coming on our walk? No, a notice revealed that there was a choir meeting in Gee Cross Community Hall (Gareth Malone has a lot to answer for!)

Clutching our cagoules we met everyone outside the
pub and set off, fairly briskly as we knew there would
not be much daylight. I opted to stay at the back to count people (36 and 2 dogs) and to let Geoff lead the walk.
But the weather stayed fine so there was no need for me to drop back to wait in the pub. 

We headed up to Lower Higham and the War Memorial
at Hackingknife, stopping briefly to look at the views across to Manchester and beyond before continuing up and across Werneth Low to the top of Joel Lane. Then
we walked along the footpath beside the road, passing the Hare & Hounds and down past Birches farm where we turned right to walk back down to Gee Cross and The Grapes.
 

Only a short walk to finish the season but it did not rain and we did not need torches.

As Geoff & I walked back to the car at the end of the evening it was starting to rain. At home as we watched some of the Opening Ceremony for the Paralympics I heard heavy rain against the window, the day ending as it started!

Sue T

Rick and Helens 25th Anniversary walk 22 August 2012

A big thank you to everybody that came to walk and celebrate our 25th wedding anniversary on Wednesday 22nd August and thank you for the presents and cards which were most unexpected. 

The weather was looking decidedly dodgy early evening but fortunately it settled down and turned into a clear evening. 

From my head count I believe we managed 22 and a dog which ain't bad for a midweek walk in the foothills of Kinder, following the Snake path past 20 trees up to the shooting cabin on Middle Moor and cutting down to Kinder Reservoir Dam. Down the steep cobbled track  and along the opposite side of the river, through the campsite and down into Hayfield. 

I had shortened the walk to take in the failing light as we move toward autumn and we reached the Royal Hotel in Hayfield by twilight. I hope you all enjoyed the evening as much as we did

Rick and Helen.

Mellor Moor 15th August 2012

After a showery day the weather cleared up and 22 people ventured out including a appearance from SWOG royalty.

The walk started at the Devenshire Arms and proceeded at a swift pace to a track between Mellor church and Mellor church where panoramic views of Manchester and the Cheshire plains were viewed.We walked across fields and over stiles to shiloe road and proceeded across tracks along the top of Mellor Moor to a crossroad where it is rumoured a witch is buried.

Before we lost some members we swiftly moved on to the only trig point on Mellor moor where we paused to take in the views of kinder before moving to Mellor Cross which is a tribute to John Wesley (founder of Methodism).We then moved from one spirit world to another in the Devenshire Arms. 

Daisy Nook Walk. 18th July

Twenty made the short car ride up the motorway to Daisy Nook and with luck the rain clouds kept away.

The sun was out but not enough to dry the muddy patches, I never disappoint anyone on the walk!  Some nice flat bits but a few up and downs to keep the heart pumping as we went along. Maybe the hills were to close together but we are a walking group.  Part way round most members noticed that we been doing figure of eight walk and most lost their sense of direction.

We had two new members who came along and  they signed up with Sue in the pub later on.

Total distance of the walk was  7.10km in 1hour 48 mins  and the leader did a 5km run before the start

Wood Mine Alderley Edge 16th May

 Wood Mine Alderley Edge 16th May

On Wednesday evening 21 members met at the Wizard pub in Alderley for an underground tour of Wood mine. We were greeted by the Derbyshire caving club mine guide Paul Stubbs and his assistant the young Gareth. We were all supplied with safety helmet and miners lamp and set off through the woodland towards the mine. Part way there we were stopped by Paul in a large sandy clearing and given a history lesson, this area we were in held the processing equipment where the ore dug from the mine was fed into and eventually produced the copper we all take for granted today. We continued deeper into the wood land and eventually descended into the small adit entrance of the mine. We were taken through many passages and mined out chambers by Mr. Stubbs  and informed of the many jobs that people performed on a day to day basis from 5year olds both boys and girls to adults usually from the same families. His knowledge made the trip very enjoyable and I am sure everyone came away with something. The most amazing fact I learned was the sandstone rock known as the Cheshire fault which Paul pointed out to us whilst underground actually starts just behind the Alexandra hospital in Cheadle runs straight through Wood mine and eventually finishes in Stoke...Wow. A great evening and finished off with a beer in the Drum and Monkey.

Paulb

 

More Photos HERE

Christmas Buffet at the Grapes

Christmas Buffet at the Grapes

More Photos Here

Bramhall Walk 4th May

Well we know Summer is here when we start the Wednesday evening walks.
29 of us met at the March Hare for a pleasant stroll along Happy Valley and through the grounds of Bramall Hall. It was a warm, bright evening and unusually for the first walk of the year we returned to the car while it was still light.
Then it was time for some refreshment to finish off the evening.
Thankyou

Harvey

And today it is raining - badly needed for the gardens but luckily it held off yesterday! Hopefully we will be as fortunate on forthcoming Wednesdays

Sue T

25th: Last evening walk of summer

25th: Last evening walk of summer

Well it was already growing dark at 7pm as we picked up our boots to set off for the last Wednesday evening walk of 2010. Then as we stepped out of the house the first raindrops fell. But we thought "we cannot let Steve down, he has already been soaked when he rehearsed the walk last week."

 

We arrived at Bramhall Park to find that others had turned out despite the bad forecast. However it was not raining yet so we assembled to be given our instructions.

It had been advertised as "Map, Compass, Torch and Treasure" so we suspected that this would not be an easy, follow the leader, stroll around the park. And we were right. Steve divided us into teams of 5 and handed us a sheet of instructions before sending us off at five minute intervals so that we couldn't cheat. We had to follow the directions, take compass bearings and answer a few questions as we walked the route. Some of the questions were easy - who is the bench dedicated to? how many trees on the little island (if I was setting the questions I would have asked "how many ducks on the island!!) and so on. Some trick directions added to the fun - if we turn left we go uphill, not down - but by reading ahead to later clues we deduced that if we turn RIGHT and downhill we would come to the lake.

Every now and then we met another group who had either got lost or had directions which led them in the opposite direction to us or we met Steve who kept popping out from behind trees to see how we were getting on.

So far so good but now the directions led us out of the safety of the park and onto other footpaths and it was growing darker by the minute (thankfully the rain held off so at least we are staying dry). Just as our eyes were adjusting to the dark, someone who shall remain nameless switched on her torch and we lost our night vision!

But we continued until the path seemed to come to a dead end - we had missed the footbridge, it was getting late, we were getting thirsty - so we turned back, and met a group that had set off before us coming the other way! Bravely they decided to continue as we headed back to the start. Before long we saw torches ahead - the other group had succeeded in finding the correct route (but only because they met some dog walkers coming down the hill from the footbridge - so we had not reached it after all).

Before long we met everyone else back at the Hall, all safely returned.

 

And now for the really tricky part of the evening - finding the pub from various sets of directions. But we got there in the end.

 

thanks Steve for a very good evening - maybe do one in daylight next year?

But hang on a minute - where was the treasure????

23rd: Daisy Nook walk

23rd: Daisy Nook walk

On a fine sunny day 20 members met up at Daisy Nook Country Park. Two of  our members thought it was better to have a tour of the motorways while everyone was still watching the football. In other words took the wrong route, but it was also good night to make use of the quiet motorways.
The leader was already to go after his run to the event. warmed up.
The route  took us in to the park area with high views across the valleys. It was then on to the canals with a a lovely downhill towards the vallery floor. Under the motorway with our member passing above us. Then the climbe into the lovley sleepy village of Woodhouses. By now everyone was into the brisk pace with little break. After woodhouses we drop back down to the valley with the small little slog to the other side. Where we had fine views across the vallerys and looking towards Manchester and ramsbottom. Then back to the cars with a short drive to the country pub of the Woodhouse Gardens pub. To refuel the body.

Toatl distance weas 4.50 miles in hour and half.

 

Photos: http://picasaweb.google.com/stockportwalkingoutdoors/DaisyNookEveningWalk

18th: Birchover Round

18th: Birchover Round

Led by Paul B

Photos: http://picasaweb.google.com/stockportwalkingoutdoors/BirchoverRoundWEalkLedByPaulB

07th: Phil's Manchester Evening walk

07th: Phil's Manchester Evening walk

Photos:

http://picasaweb.google.com/stockportwalkingoutdoors/PhilSManchesterEveningWalk

30th Werneth Low walk

30th Werneth Low walk http://picasaweb.google.com/stockportwalkingoutdoors/WednesdayWalkWernethLow