Rudyard and Horton 5 mile loop

This is a loop walk starting at Rudyard Lake and passing through the Village of Horton and fields before returning to Rudyard Lake. There is a more established walk around the lake, but this one is a bit more energetic and avoids most of the crowds. 

Distance: 5.46 miles (from the Station Car Park).

Refreshments and Toilets available at Rudyard Dam, also Rudyard Hotel.

There are some quite challenging styles on this route, including one which is fairly new and is probably one of the least access able styles I have seen. This route is on roads, farm tracks and fields.

There are a couple of busy car parks in this area, the station car park and roadside are free, the Rudyard Lake car park is not free.

Rudyard Station

We started this walk at the station car park located south of Rudyard road by the railway bridge, other parking is available in the area.

Heading out of the station down the access road, turn left onto Rudyard Road and follow this past the garage up to the round about., turning onto Camrose Hill there is a footpath sign pointing along a track heading uphill. Just before the farm continue onto the waymarked route through the wall and as the field widens, follow the left edge towards the church at Horton continuing downhill.

Horton Church

Arriving at the road climb uphill into the village, it is worth pausing here for a look at the church before returning to the route and just after the vicarage a footpath appears on the right follow this to cut the corner off the main roads, before turning right on rejoining the roads. At the T-junction turn left heading towards the village hall keeping on the roads before picking up the lane heading past the hall.

Once pas the hall a path leads off across the fields, follow this path over some unhelpful styles as it bends right keep a deer park and woods on the left. The path turns left over a style that was designed for a giant (going around the style and heading up the bank may be a better option).

Continue along the path, until it meets a track, turn right and head towards Taylors Barn Farm and follow this track until it turns sharp left at the bottom of the hill, heading straight forward across the foot bridge. Head straight up the right side of the field and then through some gates (through the house's parking area to the road. We will head up this road until it turns sharply right at a junction, where we will leave it to head down Reacliffe road towards Rudyard Lake.

At the lower part of the hill, pick up the footpath on the right and follow this until it meets Lake Road, where another path appears on the left to head down to the Rudyard Lake Cafe and visitors parking.

We returned back to the car via the path that leads down the dam and follows the canal feeder to the road and then left back towards the carpark, though other possibilities are to head back via Rudyard Hotel, where refreshments are also available, or continue over the dam to the old rail path that leads back to the carpark.

OS Map: Rudyard and Horton

Knypersley Reservior and Brown Edge 5 Mile loop

This is a walk starting at the Greenway Bank Country Park at Knypersley Reservoir following the reservoir shore and then climbing uphill through fields, then heading downhill to follow a stream through grit stone and then up to Marshes Hill Common and Brown Edge Village before returning to Knypersley along the canal feeder.

Marshes Hill 

Distance: 5.19 miles

Parking: Greenway Bank Country Park

During summer months coffee may be available in the Country Park, toilets can also be located at the start of the walk.

Knypersley Tower

Heading past the buildings and along the paths into the park, passing two gates before heading down steps that lead steeply down to the Reservoir and turning left to walk aroung the western end of the reservoir. Follow the trail all the way, past the walkway between Serpentine Pool and Knypersley Pool, until you find Knypersley Tower, here turn sharply left to follow the path uphill away from the lake.

This path leads uphill through fields until reaching a gate onto a track, turnleft along the top of the ridge and follow until just before a gate at a farmyard turn right, almost doubling back to follow a path downhill into the woods.

There is a split in the path, take the left fork and pass over a wall before descending further down a bank to cross a bridge and follow the obvious path along the stream (this is the Head of Trent) as it carves a small gorge into the gritstone.

Eventually the path arrives at a farmyard, pass to the right of the barn and through a gate into the yard. Head straight up the access road and cross the public road into the field opposite, follow the short climb onto the ridge over the road and continue straight ahead.  After some houses the path arrives at Marshes Hill Common where the path splits as it passes through the common to the carpark at the south end, follow the access road into Brown Edge Village and continue straight onto Back Lane before picking up a path on the right just before the radio mast.

Brown Edge

Follow this down until it meets with the Roads and turn left onto New Lane ot head down towards the Church. Keep heading down through the village until Stonehouse Lane where we turn left and follow the lane for a short distance before turning left onto a path which takes us downhill to the canal feeder and Tongue Lane, cross the Lane and follow the path along the Canal Feeder all the way to the Dam. there are quite steep steps up onto the dam.

When we last did this walk we followed the road back to Greenway Bank Country park, but there are also trails following the reservoir back to the car park.

We liked this walk as it was varied, had some good views from the park and gave us a few surprises along the way.

Ordnance Survey Route: Route - Knypersley and Brown Edge

Bosley Locks 'Balloon' walk along the Macclesfield Canal

This is the first of 3 walks starting at the Bosley Lock Boater's Facility walking along the Macclesfield Canal.

Link to OS Maps route.

Bosley Locks is a flight of 12 Locks located near Bosley, South of Macclesfield. 

There is a small roadside parking area at the northern end of the twelve (Lock 1), from here you can walk south past all twelve locks, but the walks I describe start at lock 1 and head away from the lock flight norhwards. The towpath can be joined by either crossing the road bridge and turning right through a gate, or when the facility vehicle gate is open using this and crossing over a small footbridge. On weekdays the 109 bus between Leek and Macclesfield passes on the A523 1KM to the east, please check to see if it stops at the conquest plants nursery stop.

This is an easy 5.8 mile walk along the towpath and some minor and quiet roads. There are a few steps off the road to rejoin the canal. For a 7.5 mile circular walk to Gawsworth try Bosley Locks, North Rode and Gawsworth, if you want to head around some of the local hills try the thired walk out to Bosley Reservoir. 

Follow the Canal Towpath north from the boaters facility passing fields, which often have geese and other birds in them, there are unfortunately only two seats on this walk, the first shortly after setting off and the second just before the swing bridge where you leave the canal.

Continue alongside the canal as it transitions from fields to a wooded terrace on the side of a hill with farmland sloping off to the left. As the cutting on the right descends to meet the canal level there is a gate, beyond which is the Oakgrove swing bridge, pass through the gate and turn left to descend down Woodhouse End Road. Follow this road, until you come to the railway bridge and just after this turn left to follow Cowbrook Lane.

The Lane crosses back across the railway before descending past a farm and climing back up until it reaches the canal where you rejoin and head south back to the Boaters facility.

Welshpool Airport to Powis Castle Walk

Welshpool airfield to Powis Castle and return.

Distance: 5 ½ miles.

Terrain: Some busy roads, tracks, paths and tow paths, a few styles.

Refreshments: Welshpool Airfield Cafe & National Trust Cafe

Setting off from the airfield requires a walk along the fairly busy A490 up to the roundabout, although the road does have reasonable grass verges to stand on whilst the traffic goes past. 

Once at the roundabout we crossed the road to follow the second exit on to the A458, before after 50 metres a small road comes off on the right, following this to the end past some cottages there is a right turn to head up Lime Kilns Lane towards a bridge over the Montgomery Canal.

Montgomery Canal - Belan Lochs

Just after the bridge there is a gate on the right and a style, passing over this and following the wide path as it heads up hill passed some trees and before long passes into another field where the path bends right to follow a fence line on the left before heading down to a gated fence and then another bridge.  Following the track until it becomes grass across a field with a style at the edge of a road. Directly across from the style is the single track road leading into the grounds of the castle.

We had been advised to head further up the hill to the other entrance to the grounds (which, for cars is the exit) as this was the shortest way to the castle. We chose however to walk up to the castle using the vehicle entrance which meant we followed the road as it wound around passed the gardens and around the back to the car park. As we found out later this was probably the best idea.

Following the road around gave us a good view of the land around the castle and also a great view of the castle from outside the lower part of the gardens. Following the road round it continues through the grounds before turning in to the large car park towards the rear of the castle. Continuing further on at the end of the car park is the final short climb up to the entrance of the castle.

Powis Castle is run by the national trust and so we had our cards scanned and had a map of the garden stamped and entered the castle.

There is a National Trust Cafe here and so we had a couple of expensive juices before walking round the grounds and taking in the view.

View across the valley from the castle.

As time was getting on we decided to leave the castle and head for the airfield, initially we started walking down the vehicle exit, but after passing over one cattle grid we came across a number of cows sitting either side of the road, with one of them looking suspiciously like a bull, so we turned back and retraced our steps out of the grounds along the road that we had arrived on.

Exiting the grounds, instead of crossing the road and heading back across the fields we turned left and followed the road down the hill until, at a T junction it met the main road. We turned right passing over the road. After 150 metres a path crosses the road and goes through a gate, entering this there is a short walk between fences until the patch joins the towpath for the canal.

Belan Loch Cottages.

Following the canal took us to Belan Lochs at which point we turned off and followed a short road through the houses until we rejoined Lime Kilns Lane and followed this back to the cottages.  Turning right at the bottom of the road we took a path along some trees until we arrived at the A483, which we crossed and headed for the roundabout and then back down the A490 to the airfield.

Links:
Welshpool airfield
Powis Castle
Montgomery Canal

Another amble in the New Forest

During a lovely, and surprising sunny weekend we decided to head to the New Forest.

Due to the sun we expected the New Forest to be busy, so we decided to find a walk that was a bit off the beaten track.

Searching around we found this walk Church Treasures at Minstead on the AA's website and charged off down the A34.

After parking in Minstead we found a pleasant village with a pub, The Trusty Servant, and a tea house & shop.

We found that following the route was relatively easy, although we were confused by the directions around Acres Down farmyard, trying to work out where the crossroads were, but the route basically heads straight past the farmhouse.

Although we have had a really wet winter after the last weeks fine weather the tracks have dried out, with only a few areas of damp.  The directions also mention a couple of fords, but footbridges were located a short distance from both of these.

Overall it was a lovely walk through different countryside, woodland and heathland, and was surprisingly quite on the trails considering the warm March weather.

Getting back to Minstead we headed for The Trusty Servant, and had drinks, unfortunately the kitchens were busy and we were told there would be a considerable wait for food, so after a drink we headed across to the tea rooms and shop and picked up some sandwiches to eat on the green.

After lunch we got in the car and headed to Lyndhurst, which as predicted was packed with people.

Happy after a good day in the sun we headed for home via the country route.

Soggy Hampshire walk round Jane Austens Chawton.

Distance: 5 miles
Start & Finish: Chawton opposite Jane Austen Museum
Refreshments: Cassandra's Cup Coffee Shop, Greyfriars pub
Parking: Car park in Chawton opposite Jane Austen Museum
Conditions:  Dry to start off with, second half of walk alongside a brook with fields that are damp under foot.  400 metre walk along busy road with no pavement, followed by damp fields and one short muddy walk.
Links:
Runkeeper Route:  Runkeeper

Having a visitor this weekend who was interested in Jane Austen we decided to do a walk starting at the Jane Austen House Museum in Chawton, Hampshire, and include a visit to the museum.

As Hampshire is currently suffering a number of floods due to the recent bad weather, we were aware that we may have to re-plan when we arrived in the area.  As we arrived at Chawton the first flood related issues became apparent, firstly the A32 was closed south, and there was a power cut in Chawton itself, which meant that the museum and the coffee shop were closed, which caused some upset.

The walk sets off from the car park of the museum, which had a confusing sign which either said car park closed or footpath closed, we took this to mean that the footpath leading out of the car park over the river was closed, which would not affect us.

We followed a walk from the AA guide that we have, but which does not appear on their website.

Heading west from Chawton we followed the road turning right on Ferney Close, to meet and walk along St Swithun's Way just before it crosses the A32.  St Swithun's Way is a long distance walk between Winchester and Farnham.  We followed St Swithun's Way as it heads down a disused railway before turning off the tracks at an old bridge that has been blocked by earth.

Crossing back across the A32 we saw another operation caused by the recent flooding, a pump was pumping water along the road to a stream, the noise of this could be heard from quite some distance way.

Massey's Folly

Heading up the track towards Manor Farm brought us to Farringdon where we headed in to the village and paused for a quick drink on the seat opposite the Village Hall (Masseys Folly) and discussed the building that stood before us.

Yew Tree in Churchyard.

Setting off again we headed through the churchyard, and were amazed by the Yew trees, the first of which had been split at some point in its history.  Exiting the churchyard we set off down the road.

After half a mile we turned left off the road up a track and then right at the footpath sign that directed us down a grassed track, which, after a style became pasture fields.  We were amazed that although this part of the route followed a brook, there was no real evidence of the flooding that has affected the local area.

After heading through a field of sheep and crossing the brook a couple of times, the ground getting steadily damper under foot, but not impassible, we exited the fields at the somewhat busy A3006.  Turning left to walk alongside the road for around 300 metres, not ideal as the hedgerow kept us in the road, which is reasonably fast and fairly busy.  Just after the Shepherds Court with some relief we turned back off the road and again into the fields, pausing to read a sign informing walkers, fortunately not our route, of a path that was now closed by the landowner.  Following the path the fields got damper and damper as we headed towards Eastfield farm.  Skirting the farm through kissing gates we passed through a field with sheep and Llamas.

After the farm we entered a copse which descended into muddy fields with horses and crossed these to re-enter Chawton through a narrow alley, before walking back to the car park.

I enjoyed this walk up until the final 3rd, when the styles became high and uncomfortable, and the busy A3006 would put me off recommending this walk for anyone uncomfortable with main roads.

There are other walks setting out from the same car park.

Hailes Abbey Walk, Cotswolds

Distance: 5 miles
Start & Finish: Hailes Abbey Car Park next to Hailes Church.
Refreshments: Hayles Fruit Farm on the downhill stretch just above Hailes Abbey.
Parking: Next to Hailes Church
Conditions:  Some muddy stretches with a muddy hill climb (during January at least), pass through fields of livestock including sheep and horses, quite a few horses and riders out on the trails and a number of cyclists on the roads.
Links:
The AA Walks guide
Runkeeper Route:  Runkeeper

We had the weekend staying in the White Hart Hotel in Winchcombe in the Cotswolds with the plan of spending at least one day walking in the area, Saturday's weather didn't look great, but Sunday was the day with clear skies and just a little light wind.  After an excellent meal in the White Hart in the evening we were ready to burn the calories off on a good walk.

Hailes Abbey Ruins.

We had picked up a reduced priced box of Cotswolds walking guides, published the AA,  from the Bookshop in Broadway on Saturday and chose the walk around Hailes abbey which is 5 miles.

Parking in the car park for Hailes Abbey, which is under English Heritage's care and unfortunately not open during the winter months but the ruins can be seen without entering the grounds we set off and followed the route.

Didbrook Church.

We had a little confusion approaching Didbrook when the card said cross a style, then another style and a foot bridge, the first style has been turned into a kissing gate and there is a style to the left and another kissing gate straight ahead and no sign of a footbridge.  We opted to take the style and head for the public phone box that marked the road through Didbrook.  The AA have corrected this on their online route guide.





After a while following the road up to Wood Stanway you are joined by the Cotswold way and it is the Cotswold way that you follow all the way back to the Abbey.

Climbing up to the top of the hill, which is muddy going especially with the damp winter that we have, gives you a wonderful view out over the valley and there is even a seat to rest and enjoy the view.

The route follows the top of the hill to Beckbury Camp Iron Age fort and Cromwell's Chair, which is where Thomas Cromwell allegedly watched the destruction of Hailes Abbey.

Cromwell's Chair.

Returning back down the hill past Hayles Fruit Farm, where there is a cafe was down a track that was good underfoot.

Hailes Church.

We had an enjoyable walk in good clear weather that gave us good views.

Retrurning home we stopped at the Fosse Bridge Inn on the Fosseway.

Views of the Valley.