Gritstone Trail – Part two.
3 September 2023
The 12 mile ramble covers the middle stage of our superb Gritstone Trail exploration, between Tegg’s Nose and Rushton Spencer. This part is very different in character to stage one. The scenery is of course really excellent, including some of the finest views along the whole of the Gritstone Trail. There are no facilities once we leave the start until the very end of the walk, so please bring along plenty of food and drink.
We begin our ramble where we left off last time, at the Tegg’s Nose car park. There are toilets and a small café here. We shall be very high up in the hills, having let the coach take the strain of the climb. After a short walk through old quarries, we reach Tegg’s Nose proper and descend to the Teggsnose and Bottoms Reservoirs. We skirt Macclesfield Forest and descend gradually through delightful countryside to Higher Sutton and Foxbank Farm. Here begins a long, but gradual climb up Fox Bank towards the oddly-named Hill of Rossenclowes. We are now at the very edge of the Peak District, overlooking Manchester and the Cheshire Plain. We shall have a break here to admire the view and take refreshment.
After a short break we continue south along the ridge, past Croker Hill to Sutton Common, site of a very prominent radio mast. Here, we turn abruptly east and descend to the A54 road, which we briefly follow. We then join a very minor, but spectacular road called Minn End Lane, which takes us up Golden Slack Hill and along another ridge with panoramic views in all directions. Golden Hill and Wincle Minn follow. We shall have another brief stop here, high above Bosley Reservoir for a final, spectacular view across the Cheshire Plain.
Near Hawkslee Farm we turn south east and head ‘inland’, away from the ridge and across more pastoral ground. Eventually we descend through pretty woodland to cross the Shell Brook. We ascend the other side of the valley to ‘Dumkins’, the ruins of an abandoned cottage. We then descend slowly through very pretty countryside to the River Dane at Barleyford Bridge. A short climb takes us up to the Dane Valley Way, route of one of last year’s spectacular walks.
Anyone very tired or thirsty can take a narrow lane from here direct to Rushton Spencer. Those determined to do the full Gritstone Trail will take an easy, but slightly longer route. This will first turn right and follow a feeder canal for Rudyard Lake towards the A523. Near here, we shall eventually leave the Trail and head by a different path to Rushton Spencer. The remainder of the Gritstone Trail to Kidsgrove is planned for March 2024, as the final walk of the 2023/4 Winter Programme. The first section from Disley to Tegg’s Nose was covered on 1st April 2023.
The coach will collect us from a bus stop adjacent to the Royal Oak pub on the A523 in Rushton Spencer at 6:30PM. This is the same location that was utilised on two previous walks in the recent past.
We always welcome new people to this friendly club. If any prospective walkers need more information, please ring or email Helen or John, using the contact details on the Home Page.
Coach Departure
The coach picks up at the following points.
(With the agreement of the leader other pick-up points
on the bus route may be available).
| “Staff of Life” pub, Hack Lane | Sutton-in-Ashfield | 9.15am |
| Priestic Road, opp McDonald’s | Sutton-in-Ashfield | 9.20am |
| Eastfield Side, (Blue Bell) | Sutton-in-Ashfield | 9.22am |
| Hermitage Lane stop, Sutton Road | Mansfield | 9.25am |
| ASDA bus stop. Stockwell Gate. | Mansfield | 9.30am |
