Walk Leader: Roger Hand

With the problems posed in getting back by public transport from Greenfield at the end of the walk to one's car parked at Hayfield it made a great deal of sense to meet at Stockport and take the bus to Hayfield.

A number of people phoned in the day or two before the walk to express interest, and to enquire where to park in Stockport before catching the 07.45 bus for Hayfield.  Alas, I was completely unaware that recent developments in the town centre have resulted in a generous area of parking between the Merseyway Precinct and the M60 disappearing: it is still clearly shown on Google Earth!  My directions led to most deciding it was too complicated and they would give the walk a miss.  If there is anyone who did try, and got lost and had to give up, I apologise.  In desperation I was forced to park in the NCP Car Park at Stockport Station, which for a stay of over 4 hours costs an exorbitant £15.50 !!!

So it was that I was the only person to board the bus at the Stockport Bus Station, Steve Millward joining the bus at Marple.  There was no-one waiting at Hayfield, so Steve and I set off on our own for Old Glossop.  We soon donned our cagoules as windbreaks as we ascended out of the valley to higher ground around Lantern Pike, and we certainly needed them along Cown Edge and throughout the day.

We reached the Queens Head pub at Old Glossop at 12.30 where, by prior arrangement, we met up with Pete, and a lady using the sobriquet 'Menace'.  In one fell swoop our numbers doubled!  Steve and I ate our lunch butties and drank steaming coffee from our flasks, sitting at the tables outside the pub in true S. Man style!

From Glossop the route passes a series of reservoirs, crossing Longdendale via the Bottoms Reservoir dam at Tintwistle, then Swineshaw Moor.   The going underfoot was generally good, using long sections of track, and was far less muddy than on the '6 Dales' the previous Saturday.  With the added benefit of the light rain - forecast for around the middle of the day - not materialising, it proved a most enjoyable walk despite the distinctly cool NW wind.  Pete and Menace were on familiar, home turf.

They left us at Greenfield to return to Old Glossop.  Steve and I arrived at the station to find that, thanks to the 16.36 being 6 minutes late, we had made it with 2 minutes to spare!.  We were soon in Manchester, and then home.

Roger