Escape From Whaley (15/01/2017)

Escape From Whaley

15th January 2017

15 miles x 2750ft Ascent

I am not having much luck with the weather this year. My previous weeks walk with the Irregulars, the 'Poynton Plod' led by Tony Ford; was dull, dank and dismal with the cloud base down round my ankles. This weeks long range forecast was much better only for the met office to change their minds by Friday back to dull, dank and dismal again and wet too. Had I been sensible I would have done Saturdays High Peak walk from Castleton but I could only manage one walk this weekend and if you have commited to lead a walk then you have no choice. Some people were sensible, stating that they were poorly, or looking after a poorly spouse, or did not want to get poorly as they are due to go into hospital to have their foot chopped off. Nine of us were less sensible and decided to get wet anyway. For once I know all their names; Rosie and John, Jemima, Nicholette, Dave Gosling, Peter Schick and first timers Cathy and Judy, a group from all the world and Reddish. Wet gear on before I left home, I drove to Whaley Bridge. I hate using the car for short journeys, prefering to cycle, but it was too wet. A huge puddle flooded the road into Whaley and even slow speed sent up a wall of spray.

My route for today has many fine viewpoints; from the summit of Eccles Pike, of Combes Edge and down into the Goyt Valley. We saw little of these. Instead the only compensation was watching the flood waters pouring off the hills transforming tiny trickles into torrential torrents. That at least was impressive (if only for the aliteration!).

We made our zig zag way up to Eccles Pike, shrouded in mist and once again no view from the viewfinder. This is a pity as this lofty peak, centrally placed, dominates the area, overshadowed only by every surrounding hill. Instead I was limited to explaining that Eccles is an abbreviation of the Greek Ekklesia (ἐκκλησία), a cognate of Ecclesia, Eglise, Eagles, Eglwys, Eaglaise etc and was a name used by the Dark Age Britons, the Old English preferring Church instead. This implies that this area was British for well into the Dark Ages. That put everyone to sleep.

We descended down past the magnificent Bradshaw Hall and across Chapel Golf Course. Marsh Hall has a splendid dovecote but after that was the boggiest section of our route, a lake in the making. One style, set in a deep puddle, was inaccessible so we had to jump a nearby fence. This gave Rosie trouble, she could not get her leg over it so she had to be helped. Just as well that no-one had a camera as when I held onto her as she toppled over it any photos on the Interweb would have had my reputation slandered by the terrible trolls on Twitter. All innocent and a great laugh.

Elevenses were taken in the shelter of the waiting rooms at Chapel station then off up the hill. I explained about the prehistoric hillfort at Castle Naze. We saw nothing of it. We took the path past Allstone Lee Farm up towards the White Hall Centre, not getting any of the splendid views of Combes Edge. At the misted in White Hall Centre Peter explained about the Joe Brown Stones then over a ridge to enjoy, or rather not enjoy the fine vista of the Goyt Valley. Down we went to have lunch in the trees by the bridge below Bonsal Cob. The bridge was only just clear of the floodwaters pouring down the beck.

The hard part of the route now done we crossed Errwood Dam and alongside Fernilee reservoir. A stream had flooded the path and gave great difficulty in getting past or around it. Accepting getting wet feet was the best way. En-route to Taxal we used the track from Overton Hall Farm thus avoiding the boggy fields by the river Goyt. From Taxal we took the 'standard' route back to Whaley Bridge. The flood waters pouring down the overflow of the Todd Brook reservoir were very impressive (and ditto too at Errwood reservoir). Our time was very slow but we made it back into Whaley Bridge in time for Cathy to catch her bus back.

I have attached some photos of what the walk should look like on a decent day.

Duncan Smith