From Ridgehead Farm to Anroach

Sunday 23rd March

On a misty, almost drizzly afternoon, we needed a stretch of the legs and a breath of air. so we walked the rough track to Morridge Top.

Then we crossed the A53, and walked down the quiet road to Anroach Farm entrance, then turned left and back up the road past Gibb Tor Farm, over the main road and back along the ‘Leek Road as far as the gate . It was a relief to leave the road for the track. 

Curlews were calling all afternoon, and we saw one flying, plus a kestrel.

Still a lot of mist hanging around. Atmospheric views of Ramshaw Rocks.

Fineshade Woods

 With Kate, Maureen and Norma. The weather was good, quite mild, and dry, apart from one shower as we drove back home.

A 3.5 mile stroll around  the tracks through the woods, sort of following Stickman, Wallace and Gromit, and ‘Wellness’ Trails.

We allowed our ‘inner children’ a bit of play today.

We ‘wowed’ at the puddles

the trees

the catkins

and the fungi.

Kate made her own stickman

We had coffee and cake in Grounds cafe, and only as we emerged did the sky turn threatening.

The afternoon brought sunshine again!

22nd April 2024 - Bluebells at Barnsdale

22nd April 2024

Kate drove us (me, Norma and Maureen) out to Sykes Lane, and we walked to Whitwell and then Barnwell car park, through the bluebell woods

and up along the access road to the car park, back via the heritage apple orchard.

On the way back we stopped at the Harbour Cafe in Whitwell for coffee and teacake. The walk was around 5.5 miles today.

24th Feb - Shutlingsloe from Wilboarclough, Cheshire.

 Woo hoo! A proper walk! Almost 800 feet of climbing, almost all in the first mile or so. Only 3.5 miles, but quite a toughie.

The weather was stunningly beautiful - frosty, clear, a fine sunrise. Watching the sheep, who (which?) were still hoarding their warmth, until the sun reached their field, and then they moved into the sun to absorb as much heat as possible.  

We had breakfast, then set off - destination Wildboarclough and Shutlingsloe.  it’s a very distinctive pointy isolated hill - direct ascent from Wildboarclough of approx 790 feet in 1.7 miles.  The summit is  about 1600 feet.

It’s a very popular little hill on a fine Saturday around half term, especially accessed from the other side, where there’s a car park at Trentabank Reservoir. Lovely to see lots of young children, and also a large ish group of dog walkers. Reminded us a bit of Tinto Hill in Lanarkshire.

The ascent was one of the toughest continuous climbs I’ve done for ages.  We were walking in wellies today, but actually it was pretty dry underfoot.

Views were magnificent all round, as far as Shining Tor and beyond, Jodrell Bank, and the Radio Tower at Sutton Common and Tittesworth Reservoir.

Fab area.