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The Northern Peak and South Pennine Group Home Page
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Sun 6th Jan Hollingworth Lake
The morning was damp with intermittent rain. We rode westwards along the Rochdale Canal to find the restored towpath cycle friendly. At Castleton we took easy bridleways across the valley towards Heywood, crossed the River Roch at Crimble, before rising steeply to the B6222. Soon we took another bridleway to Birtle. This second steep climb eventually became a track overlooking Deeply Vale Turning west we took a line too high, so Sol and Grayham continued along a grassy line to rejoin the bridleway further on, whilst Michelle and I descended directly to it. That was our mistake for it was a deep and glutinous mud bath. Turning north on another bridleway we found it to be a narrow ankle deep stream of running water impossible to avoid. Eventually it widened and we could ride easily up to Cheesden and Owd Betts’. The burger van was there, so we feasted on tea, bacon butties and Eccles cakes. Though now sunny, it had turned chilly and after admiring the extensive views across Greater Manchester we decided to head back. Dropping rapidly down the A680 towards Rochdale, I punctured – so much for supposedly puncture resistant Schwalbe tyres! No sooner had we repaired this, than Grayham also punctured! This gave us little choice, so to avoid the dark we took the quickest route back along the busy A6033 and then via Clegg Hall. Finally teas at visitor centre, where I found my feet were perfectly dry in my new Shimano MT90 boots, despite having walked ankle deep in water. Lastly, as good Samaritans we were able to give Michelle a lift home.
Click here to view photos of the ride
John Kemp
Honestly, we couldn’t have been more than 200yds into our ride when I heard a mild oath from behind. It was Grayham, announcing yet another puncture. Somehow during the ensuing repair he managed to slash a finger but, bike and man patched up, we were soon away along the Trans Pennine Trail to Thurlstone. Here we took a pleasant stony track rising up towards the Royd Moor windmills. Pleasant that is until it levelled out and became a wall to wall mire of axle deep mud and water. As usual, the only one not to dismount was Brian. Pleasant country lanes then took us to the café stop at Home Farm in Cawthorne.
The return was via the historic Silkstone wagon way where coal was transported from the pit to the canal basin in the 19th. C. In places the stone sleepers can still be seen, but on the day the lane was awash and much damaged due to the recent prolonged rains. At Silkstone we took a narrow tarmac lane rising towards Penistone. This soon downgrades to a bridleway, and a notice appears warning drivers to turn round and not to follow their sat. nav. At this point a council refuse wagon was keeled over, stuck in the ditch!
Somehow shortly before the end Grayham and I got detached from the others and, taking the shortest route back arrived before them. After quite a wait they arrived. Evidently they’d gone back to look for us. That’s what I call mates! Thanks to all for the pleasant company
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Richard Kemp
3rd February: Marsden
We met at the goods yard car park next to Marsden railway station. It was a dull and cold day with a severe weather warning from the Met Office. Nearby runs the Huddersfield Narrow Canal. A short distance away the canal at Tunnel End disappears into the hillside on its journey of more than 3 miles – the longest and highest canal tunnel in Britain. Squeezed alongside, this not one, not two, but three railway tunnels run parallel to the canal tunnel before emerging at the Lancashire side of the Pennines at Diggle. I once organised a trip through this tunnel, and what a fascinating experience. We were here to explore the industrial heritage and canal system of the Colne Valley. Rows of old weavers cottages cling to the hillsides as we made our way along quiet lanes and bridleways. At one point meeting a dog walker who put us on the right path, and turned out to know some of our friends from the climbing club.
A café at Golcar offered a timely lunch stop before a long down hill section to Longroyd
Bridge. The canal climbs steadily from Huddersfield up the Colne Valley with the
help of numerous locks. At Milnsbridge an information board shows a single pulley
rope hoist used for handling goods. Across the road a huge modern hydraulic crane
was in use moving building material on an improvement scheme at one of the locks.
Many of the large stone built mills crowd the canal side, .some converted to modern
apartments, others converted from their former use as woollen mills to more modern
use. At Linthwaite a huge mill built at the time of the Titanic ocean liner was undergoing
a modern face lift after years of dereliction -
Too cold to hang about so we bade our farewells and off home we went.
Also present: John and Grayham
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Malcolm Lomas
A really really really cold and grey day. However we were greeted with sunshine as we drove over Holme Moss to pass into God’s Own County and the villages of my youth. Most of the woollen mills have gone or been converted into apartments, and what were once thriving textile communities are now just part of a wider commuter land. Still very cold but picturesque, for all the trees encased in frost were reflecting the bright sunlight. With 3 members crying off at the last minute, that left Sol, Grayham and myself plus prospective member Jeff. With no definite route planned, we set off to try and find some tracks which we had not ridden before.
At Mytholm Bridge we took a footbridge over the River Holme and passed through Hagg Wood with flakes of frost dropping off the trees. We climbed through Oldfield to Wilshaw (always climbing in this part of West Yorkshire!), Here we took a walled track (strictly a footpath on the map but well surfaced, wide and obviously used by bikers), which descended to Wood Nook where a second (new to us) track took us pleasantly on the edge of woodland towards Honley. We then discovered a track that was in the process of being opened up to Meltham Mills passing through Honley Old Wood as part of a Meltham Way. We stopped and chatted to the workmen doing the restoration, and rested astride their quadbike while Jeff mended a puncture.
After a lunch stop in Meltham we left the always welcoming Ivy Café to climb (again!) over the ridge to Upperthong where we descended the familiar but enjoyable track through Marks Bottoms to Holmfirth. Finally we went back to New Mill climbing up to and via what was long ago the original road into the valley along Berry Banks.
It had been a very cold but beautiful day -
Click here to view photos of the ride.
John Kemp
Sunday 2nd March: A ride from Mytholmroyd Leisure Centre
Halifax is not an obvious location for a rough stuff ride. From Mytholmroyd, our starting point for the March Sunday ride, one would normally head west towards the moorland of the Upper Calder Valley. Today we headed east, and for most of the ride we were within 5 miles, often much less, of Halifax Town Centre.
Getting the big climb out of the way at the beginning, we ascended to Midgley, then followed the track along the rim of Luddenden Dene around to the Castle Carr gatehouse and then back the other side of the valley to Wainstalls. A chat with the local farmer feeding his sheep provided a pleasant interlude. I spent some time looking at his trailer, which reminded me of the rides in North Wales with the Lancs group that passed the trailer factory. The farmer thought I was going to nick something. On a bike ??
We continued north to the windfarm, and after the delirious descent to Ogden Water, grabbed hot drinks at the visitor centre. Up to this point the weather had been dry, but the wind was gale force. Even the wind turbines had shut down, which they do at 56 mph according to the notice at the visitor centre.
The route from this point was a new one to Brian, John and Grayham, but not to me, as it is one of my favourites. After a quick run through the Bradshaw suburbs, we climbed the steep cobbled track (Crooked Lane) to the main Halifax / Bradford road at Ambler Thorn. As we took the track past the former mink farm the wind got even stronger, and we all struggled to stay upright. Fortunately we soon arrived at the relative shelter of the bridleway skirting the Shibden Valley between Ploughcroft and Claremount. Claremount was the setting for a number of scenes in the 2006 film The History Boys, and we were able to reprise some of the key moments of the film. We made no attempt to recreate Hector’s fatal motorbike accident (unlike Hector we were able to get across Godley Bridge without coming into contact with any other vehicle).
My companions were delighted that the café at Shibden Hall (a Tudor gem that is one of Halifax’s many historic attractions) had remained open and we were able to get soup, teas, sarnies etc. They were even more delighted when I told them that another 15 minutes would see the end of climbing for the day and the return to Mytholmroyd would be downhill or flat. Which it was. We did it by using the Sustrans path from Siddal Bottoms to Salterhebble, then the towpath of the Rochdale Canal to Luddendenfoot, finishing on the stretch of Sustrans Route 66 that runs alongside the Calder Valley railway line.
We finished 3 minutes outside the target time of 4pm my colleagues had set me some 6 hours earlier, but my excuse was that I had not allowed for the many photostops recording how much we had enjoyed ourselves. Thanks to Brian, Grayham and John for their company. See you all again soon.
Reid Anderson
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Wed 19th March 2008 Sandal Castle
Present John Kemp, Grayham Simpson, Jeff Milner, Malcolm Lomas
John’s ride for today would take us into the heartland of the once proud South Yorkshire
coalfield. Under our bike tracks the fabulously wealthy Barnsley coal seam. Little
remains of this once proud industry. The collieries with their distinctive winding
wheels are all gone and large spoil heaps landscaped. In their place modern housing
estates, industrial estates and in some places wetlands created. What is left is
an extensive network of old railway trackbeds which make for easy cycling. Our route
took us south through Anglers Country Park and Wintersett reservoirs, following the
old Barnsley canal used for carrying goods and coal which links up with the Silkstone
tramway that celebrates its two hundred years in 2008. Upton was our lunch halt and
turning point taking us through Haw Park, Cold Hiendley reservoir and finally Walton
Hall and back to sandal Castle -
The weather stayed fine all day but bitterly cold. Thanks to John for another great ride.
Malcolm Lomas
Click here view photos of the ride.
A light sprinkling of snow and still bright air belied the severe weather warning of the night before which foretold of heavy snow to come. Surely not! After all this was April. We left Waterfoot in the Rossendale valley taking the old railway for a couple of miles to Rawtenstall immortalised in the lyrics of The Rawtenstall Annual Fair:
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I saw some funny things I've never seen in all mi life,
I saw some funny things I've never seen upon mi wife,
At the Rawtenstall Annual Fair -
From here we climbed very steeply and traversed the hillside above the artificial
ski-
After lunch the skies had greyed and we took the track high over the ridge to Windy
Bank and Deerplay Moor. By now the first showers of snow had commenced and so we
forwent the traverse of Thieveley Pike and dropped quickly down the A681 to Bacup.
The last couple of miles back to Waterfoot were distinctly unpleasant as we headed
into driving snow with rear lights on in traffic. Another ten minutes and we would
have been soaked, but being back early some of us were in time to attend a pig-
John Kemp
Click here to view photos of the ride.
Wednesday 16th April: Worsbrough
Leaving Cycle Promotions car park at Worsbrough we cycled westwards along the Silkstone link of the Trans Pennine Trail. Crossing the M1 motorway we turned south to pass by Wentworth Castle and Stainborough Castle. A muddy bridleway took us to Hermit Hill, then quiet lanes to Wortley for lunch. A short detour to view Wortley Hall and then through the park to pick up the Timberland Trail that would lead us to Wentworth and the magnificent Wentworth Woodhouse, the once seat of the Earl Fitzwilliam who made his fortune from coal. From there to Elsecar a reminder of the once mighty coal industry. The Elsecar Greenway runs alongside the abandoned Elsecar canal to join up with the Trans Pennine Trail which would take us back to our starting point. It is hard to imagine that the wonderful countryside which we pass through is close to the M1 motorway and the industrial conurbation of Barnsley, Rotherham and Sheffield. The weather – cold and dull with the odd spot of rain in the afternoon. Present John, Grayham and myself.
Malcolm Lomas
Click here to view photos of the ride.
Sunday 4th May: A ride from Ogden Water Reservoir (18.6 miles)
After yesterday’s sunshine Charlie and Brian brought Lancashire’s rain to West Yorkshire!
It took about 50 minutes to reach the summit of the track over Thornton Moor after
which it was a quick descent to the road and an enjoyable spin to Manywells Height.
Here we found a pleasant bridleway that took us to Coldspring Mill tea room. What
a splendid place this is with good hospitality, tea and toasted teacakes -
Another bridleway took us alongside the old railway which used to connect Halifax and Bradford with Keighley. This rises to 700ft above sea level and when fully opened will form a 10km long Great Northern Trail between Queensbury and Cullingworth. From Barcroft we traversed high above the Worth Valley and then tracks and bridleways took us towards Bingley St Ives for lunch stop. Rapidly descending disaster struck close to Druid’s Altar as Charley’s seat bolt snapped!! Fortunately the mounting brackets were found nearby and so it was a botching job with cable ties and toe clip straps to secure (not really the right word) the saddle.
A late lunch at the country park café – pleasant but expensive, after which Charley said he would return directly to the start whilst we could continue. However selflessly (or so he thought) we told him that we would accompany him. In reality, the forecast heavy rain had arrived and so with capes on there followed an unremitting ascent of 650ft from Harden through Wilsden, Ling Bob (lovely name) and Egypt (sic) to Denholme Gate and thence the short distance back to the cars at Ogden. Many thanks to Sol for guiding us around an interesting area and looking forward to the second stage.
John Kemp
Click here to view photos of the ride. Also click here to download the route which suitable for use with Tracklogs Software or click here to download the route in GPS Exchange Format.
Wed 21st May A ride from Walsden (22.2 miles)
Three minutes down the canal then a lung bursting climb from Gauxholme to Dobroyd Castle. This impressive folly was a former mill owner’s home, but is now the Losang Dragpa Centre for monks of the New Kadampa Buddhist Tradition (whatever that may be!). Halfway up we paused ostensibly to take photos of the precipitous views over the Rochdale Canal.
Then a lengthy but less vertiginous ascent took us along the Flower Scar Road to Sharneyford above Bacup. This track is now much improved since having been cleaned and fly tipping prevented. A ride along the Burnley Way took us to the trig point at Thieveley Pike having now climbed 1000ft since the start. Traversing turks heads to the road, Brian amazed us with his ability to keep going whilst everybody else had to walk! A long drop to Bacup along minor roads and tracks for lunch at the excellent Coffee Pot café.
A climb up the main road to Britannia and then down back lanes to Shawforth for the start of the next big climb. This track took us between Hades Hill and Middle Hill to Watergrove. Here we followed the Pennine Bridleway to Calderbrook and then kept high above the valley to drop directly and precipitously down to Walsden and the cars. Along this section we noticed below the edge an intriguing sculpture of a figure prone and outstretched on a slab ( see photo ) Does anybody know what this is?
Three Lancastrians and three Tykes had forsaken the Wars of the Roses for a sociable ride of climbs and drops in the South Pennines. The weather had been kind, the company good and the route varied.
John Kemp
Click here to view the photos and click here download the route in GPS Exchange Format.
Past Meets of 2008 of the Northern Peak and South Pennine Group
If you enjoyed reading the reports of this years rides of Group you may like to read the past reports of the group’s 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009 and 2010 rides.
January and February ride reports
March, April and May Past ride reports
Sunday 6th July: A ride from Chapel en le Frith
We waited for a prospective member, but the heavy rain and mist must have deterred
him. So, only three of us today and with capes on ab initio, Sol, Grayham and I reluctantly
abandoned our intended route in favour of a valley alternative. Having sped down
the road to Whaley Bridge, we followed the attractive Peak Forest Canal through Marple
and over the impressive aqueduct to Hyde Bank Tunnel. Here we tried the rather posh
tea rooms -
John Kemp
Click here to view photos of the ride.
Wednesday 16 July: A ride from Langsett
One of my reasons for leaving Slaidburn YHA was to attend the Langsett meet. Up early to avoid the traffic , I met up with Grayham and Jeff at the Langsett Barn car park. Lee a young man from Thurgoland had read of The Fellowship at Cycle Promotions in Worsbrough and had decided to come along for the day. Easy riding around Langsett reservoir was followed by a long climb over Midhope Moor which seemed to go on forever. The steep and rocky descent of Cut Gate brought us to Slippery Stones in the Derwent Valley. There were raised eyebrows from a group of expensively clad mountain bikers along with expensive full suss bikes when they saw us appear on rigid bikes, semi slick tyres, rim brakes and panniers. The cycle route down the east side of the reservoirs took us to Fairholmes for a welcome tea stop.
How were we going to get back to Langsett? This we discussed over lunch and after
much brow beating it was decided that we would cycle back up the valley on tarmac
and return via Cut Gate. Very pleasant riding along the west side of the reservoirs
brought us back to Slippery Stones. The re-
John couldn’t make it for the ride, but I am sure he would have been proud of us
Here’s to another ride
Malcolm Lomas
Click here to see photos of the ride.
Sunday 3rd August . Wardle-
Leaving Watergrove reservoir we headed in a northerly direction, our numbers being boosted by five members of the Lancashire group, who were most welcome. We followed a good track which soon began to ascend into the Pennine hills and then deteriorate into a rough track.
Watergrove reservoir could still be seen in the distance when we had an obscure accident. I had stopped to take a photograph of the group struggling up the hill, and had laid my bike on the ground, having taken the photo I stepped to the side and in front of Geoff who overbalanced and crashed down heavily onto my rear wheel, the result being a bent gear hanger bracket and a bruised Geoff. A communal effort eventually straightened the bracket sufficiently to enable me to continue.
Contouring around Rough Hill we descended down to Stepping Stones, passing Ramsden
Clough reservoir, now empty of water, to start the steep climb up to Trough Edge
End trig point. Having re-
Crossing the A681 Bacup road we followed a good track to Green Clough to make a long descent down to the lesser well known Yorkshire Portsmouth (not a boat in sight). Lunch was taken at a roadside catering van of some questionable repute, however it was food.
Replenished we made a long fast descent by road down to Todmorden where we joined cycle route 66, eventually emerging onto the Rochdale canal. Following the canal to Bottomley locks we crossed the road to join the Pennine bridleway. A tough climb up to the top of one of those steep sided valleys, typical of this part of Yorkshire, gave us panoramic views of the valley and it’s past industrial heritage of canal and railway. Passing over the top of Summit railway tunnel we followed the good tracks of the Pennine bridleway all the way back to Watergrove.
The weather had remained kind to us, in addition we had enjoyed the company of the Lancashire group and whats more, without our leader and navigator, John, we hadn’t got lost, although we nearly lost John’s friend of many years, Malcolm.
Grayham Simpson.
Click here to see photos of the ride.
Wednesday 20th August: Whaley Bridge
“Never buy a ******* new car that doesn’t have a spare wheel!” said Jeff. So, the start was delayed until we found a firm able to deal with a puncture. We decided to take the forest track above Taxal on the east side of the Goyt Valley. After a stiff climb and one missed gateway, we finally entered the forest on a good level surface. This was short lived for it soon turned into a sea of deep mud forcing us to shun the track and manhandle the bikes through the midge ridden trees. We eventually emerged scratched and bitten to find the enormous caterpillared beast responsible. At last we were able to continue easily to the start of the tarmac that would take us to Derbyshire Bridge at the head of Goyt Valley. This climb is always a delight, not steep but gently rising firstly through deciduous woods and then with scenic views of purple heather moorland. A quick climb to the Cat & Fiddle road followed and then the cracking descent to Buxton given that the traffic was not too heavy.
We lunched in the centre of the town before starting our climb of the short side of Long Hill. Soon Jeff accompanied by Richard left us to check whether the car was ready, whilst Malcolm, Grayham, Steve and I proceeded along the ridge of the Midshires Way. We turned off to make a very pleasant descent towards Combs and ended up at Haylee Farm which we thought was Thorny Lee. Here we were met by a man who informed us that there was no right of way and that we had turned off the ridge too soon. After explaining that we were incompetants and some further sweet talking he agreed to let us continue with the parting words “Don’t have him (i.e. me) as your leader again!” So. any volunteers?
We stopped in Combs village to admire the scarecrow competition before taking the Peak Forest Tramway to Buxworth and the canal back to Whaley Bridge. Remarkably in what has been the wettest of Augusts we had only a few minutes of rain. A good day only spoilt for me by raging toothache!
John Kemp
Click here to see photos of the ride.
Sunday 7th September: Greetland
Within our group I’m not noted as being the most ardent of Roughstuffers, and if
the rain had started just twenty minutes earlier there would only have been John
and Grayham in the public car park by the church in West Vale. As it was I could
still have got out of it as the 10 o’clock deadline was approaching and there was
still no-
Off at last, but fortunately the tap opened up again after just a few hundred yards. I say fortunately as it was then I realised I had left my sac and everything in it back in the car park. Fortunately it hadn’t “walked”.
Our revised route was to take us along the canals to Huddersfield, followed by a climb up to the M6 and descent back to the start, in the conditions much preferable to the lovely but exposed hilly route John had planned.
After a very short stretch of road we gained the towpath of the Calder -
However the path was bad, got worse, and eventually became almost impenetrable.
We could see not far away where the canal crossed the main Leeds road, but it looked
an awful long way through the rushes, rosebay, nettles and overhanging branches,
so out with the map again. John the official navigator for the day had noticed a
farm track nearby which would take us to a bridleway by which we could by-
Eventually by the time we reached the main road the sun had come out in full and we had a well earned lunch as we swapped the Calder and Hebble for the Huddersfield Broad Canal at Colne Bridge. Now this was a “proper” towpath, well surfaced, devoid of puddles, and would have been fast but the anglers with their bags and long poles were out in force. Navigation was now easy. Just a couple miles then take the first bridge over the canal after going under the main Leeds road. This would take us within a few yards straight onto the Huddersfield cycleway, and into the town. There was the bridge, the bright blue cycleway sign, so why did we (mutually) decide that it might be better to go to the next bridge across? Sure, the cycleway ran parallel to the canal just a few yards away, and the bridge would undoubtedly take us to it, but we hadn’t bargained for dense vegetation and accidentally crossed over the cycleway which was in a ravine below us. We very soon realised our mistake, ending up on a school playing field. (Fortunately it was Sunday so there were no kids to jeer at the three old gits retreating through the brambles to regain the proper route.
We were now in suburbia and after passing Fartown Ground (former home of the now Huddersfield Giants rugby league club) took a signposted bridleway which meandered in narrow alleys between the houses. It turned out to be the wrong one. Hardly the navigator’s fault as it was not marked on the map and the correct one was only a few yards further up, but his punishment for this was to come unseated on a particularly nasty slippery bit. We regained our intended route and by now not just the sun but the suburban blackberry pickers were out in force.
Then followed a steady climb through pastures to Wappy Springs and the M62, under it, then a glorious descent all the way down to West Vale. A poor start followed by a lovely day full of incident. If there is a moral to this, don’t be put off turning out because of the weather, always wear longs and carry an up to date large scale map.
Richard Kemp
Wednesday 17th September: Millersdale.
Tight Yorkshireman would not pay £3.50 to park. So after waiting for any other riders, Tight Yorkshireman and Grayham leave to park for free in nearby Tideswell . Three quarters of an hour later Tight Yorkshireman stops to take a photo but finds that his pannier missing. (No wonder he had managed a short gut renching climb without being forced to walk!) His imagination was immediately exercised by the knowledge that his camera and all his money were in the pannier. A rapid return was made to the start, where much to his relief it was found on the ground behind the car.
After a change of plan a gentle ride to Eyam followed. Here, Tight Yorkshireman finds the first café too expensive so goes to look at another. This he finds even more expensive so returns grumbling to the first.
After lunch discretion forces both to walk down a very steep, rutted and gravelly
descent to Stoney Middleton. Back on the bikes, an ascent is ridden by one and walked
by the other to cross Deep Rake and descend to Rowland, Great Longstone and Monsal
Head. From here a return is made through the ever delightful Water-
Thanks to Grayham for his forebearance
John Kemp
Click here to see photos of the ride.
July, August and September past ride reports
October, November and December past ride reports
Wednesday 15th October: A ride from Worsbrough
Only three today since three riders cried off at the last minute. The ride from Cycle Promotions’ warehouse is always expensive. I had orders for a dozen cans of lube! On the road we stop to help a tricyclist broken down in the middle of a busy carriageway. With a 1500cc Volkswagen engine it took some pushing to safety. At Elsecar industrial hamlet we paused to look at the Newcomen beam engine and other artifacts before climbing to pass through the charming village of Wentworth. The village was owned by the earls of Fitzwilliam, and in the days of coal sat incongruously amidst the South Yorkshire coalfield. That has all gone and the area now holds much to appreciate. We pass on to look at Hoober Stand one of four large follies, and built to commemorate the vanquishing of the 1745 Jacobean rebellion. From here we make the long descent to Conisbrough with its fine castle, and discover the excellent Chimes café where we enjoy the enormous portions usually served in South Yorkshire. On the return, as is his wont, Sol stops to chat to a lady who points us to trail unmarked on the map. We follow this old railway line to Goldthorpe, then on road to Thurnscoe and Great Houghton before calling at the always welcoming Maurice Dobson museum at Darfield for tea and teacakes. Finally it is an easy ride back to the start.
John Kemp.
Click here to view photos of the ride.
If somebody had asked me why we did it, I would have had no convincing answer other
than that we have always done it. Cold November mist and drizzle all day. Correction
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John Kemp
Wednesday 19th November: Delph
On a grey day eleven riders from Lancashire, Derbyshire and Yorkshire met in Edna’s
café at Delph for a short ride to The Old Original Inn for a pre-
At the top we reached the pub, where we were met by Richard who had cheated by coming
on his Royal Enfield combination. We drank, chatted and feasted, for the lunchtime
menu here has to be just about the best value around. Sated we left to find the rain
had arrived. “How far is it back?”, I was asked. “Five minutes and that is all down
hill”, I replied. No-
Despite the weather it had been a particularly enjoyable and sociable occasion. The only downside was that we were unable to enjoy the tremendous views the area offers. Thanks to all for your good company
John Kemp
Click here to view photos of the ride.
Sunday 7th December 2008: Marple
The coldest day of the year? We drive cautiously on icy roads to the Roman Lakes at Marple where there is little snow but much ice. Only Grayham and myself mad enough o turn out. We don’t want to go uphill as that would mean we would have to come back down in conditions that would fill us with apprehension. So we opt for a trip on the old railway which forms the Middlewood Way running from Marple to Macclesfield. Despite the brilliant sunshine the temperature fails to rise and it is a cold trip. At Bollington we leave the trail and look for a café to no avail. So it is a banana and a tunnock for lunch whilst standing in the cold. We ride back along the frozen canal which looks very attractive with the sun behind. At Adlington we discover a tea shop with warming soup, after which we follow the canal to the start. Back at the Roman Lakes with the sun gone we are glad that we did not stay out longer. Our route had been completely flat but safe and totally avoided traffic – which was just as well given the conditions.
John Kemp
Click here to view photos of the ride.
Wednesday 17 December 2008:Hadfield -
On a beautiful winter morning we set off down the Longendale trail for a short distance
before leaving the trail to descend down to Bottoms reservoir. As the name suggests
it is the lowest reservoir in a chain of five in the Longendale valley supplying
water to Manchester. Crossing below the reservoir embankment we climbed to cross
the Barnsley road to follow the Pennine bridleway for a short distance. After a tough
steep ascent we descended to cross the stream in Ogden Clough. A slow climb out
of the clough up a rough track eventually saw us passing through the ruins of Higher
Bank, Middle Bank and Lower Bank farms, a series of isolated farms long since abandoned.
We appreciated the panoramic view, soon to be ruined, if the proposed Mottram to
Tintwistle bypass is approved. Continuing on to Mottram cutting and passing through
Hattersley to eventually climb the extremely steep road up to Werneth Low. Here we
could clearly see the towns of Oldham, Ashton-
Fully repleted and conscious of the short afternoons at this time of year, we proceeded to Marple Bridge, minus Richard who was taking the short route home as is usual, to see to his dogs, and then onto the Roman Lakes. Following the river Goyt for a short distance we passed through Richmond farm to start the long climb, via tracks of mixed terrain, up to Mellor Cross. Passing the trig point at the summit we started descending via Black Lane (track) with tremendous views of the Kinder plateau and Kinder Downfall in the distance, bathed in low evening sunshine. Frank exclaimed with astonishment “ is that Kinder Downfall” and looked as pleased as punch with himself when it was confirmed it was as he had been nowt more than a young lad last time he had seen it. At the junction with Pole Lane (another track) we continued onto five roads junction, here John left us to take the shorter route home. Taking Shiloh Road we passed Shiloh Hall farm, Pistol farm, Gun farm and onto Gun Road ( what is it about this area that it has all these western connotations? ) to eventually descend into Charlesworth.
With the light beginning to fade and only one of us with lights, and still a fair distance to go, a good pace was set to get us back to the start just as the light faded totally.
What a day, an interesting ride, fantastic winter weather , glorius views bathed in winter sunshine and good company, what else could anyone wish for.
Grayham Simpson.
Click here to view photos of the ride.