Ski Club of Manchester Summer Stroll: Sunday, 18th August 2024

Reporter: Helen Richardson

Eleven of us met Vanessa and Dave at their house for the start of their late summer walk. As we all arrived early, Dave and Vanessa gave us a guided tour of their beautiful garden, including a view into the steeply sided valley with stream running through it, at the foot of the garden.

The thirteen of us, together with five dogs, set off in dry but cool windy weather in a generally southerly direction, skirting a reservoir before walking along a stream through woodland towards a footbridge, which we crossed on our way to Croichley Fold. After a short stretch on the main road, we headed northward from Loe Bridge onto open moorland. The path skirted part of Holcombe Rifle Ranges. Fortunately, as on a previous occasion in the area, no red flags were flying so we were able to proceed unscathed! Vanessa, recovering from recent hip replacement surgery, left us shortly after to return by a shorter route — very wise! — as we now faced a steepish climb to the top of the moor, where a flagstone pathway led us to Peel Tower. Built in commemoration of Sir Robert Peel, (1788 – 1850; founder of the Metropolitan Police Service whilst Home Secretary), the monument dominates the skyline for miles around. The strong wind deterred us from having our lunch stop there, so we continued a short way before finding a slightly more sheltered spot to eat our picnics, supplemented by Steve’s much appreciated Eccles cakes, for which “Many thanks, Steve!”

We enjoyed walking along the ridge on gently undulating terrain to a high point at Harcles Hill on our way to Pilgrims Cross, and thence Bull Hill, which, at 418m, was the highest point on our route, and an apt site for a doggy photo opportunity on the trig point! From this northerly point on our walk, we tracked west, southwest, and south to Quarlton Heights, and then followed around the edge of Open Access land to Lark Hill. Soon we were descending steeply on our way towards Holcombe Hey Fold, followed by a longer, much more gradual descent into Hawkshaw and return to our start point. A five minutes stroll took us to the pub where most of us stayed for a hearty lunch, pre-booked for us by Dave.

It remains to say “A big thank you, Dave and Vanessa, for leading us on a very pleasant late summer walk”.

We have walked in this area several times but there is such a plethora of paths that Dave and Vanessa always find us a different route, even if passing by some of the same local landmarks on different walks.