November 2007 - Walk Of The Month
March 26, 2007
Walking in the Sunshine to Shutlingsloe and back
Date: 6th November 2007.
Map: Landranger 118 (view
route in new window)
Weather: Sunshine all day..Cold on the top…
Tegg’s Nose Car Park to Shutlingsloe and back: 10 1/2 miles – as measured with an elastic band – it’s all I had to measure the map.
I will have to invest in one of those little pens with a mileage wheel on it or a GPS thing. I have been walking for a long time now and it never ceases to amaze me what gadgets I can do without. A good map however is essential. The last time I came out to the Macclesfield Forest with my mate Keith ‘The Teeth’, we ended up doing an extra 3 miles due to the map being worn out where it was folded up. That wouldn’t have been so bad except that Keith was recovering his health and only wanted a short walk…oops. He survived though, more of that another time.
I watched the weather on the beeb the night before and I could have gone anywhere today and had good weather. So I chose Shutlingsloe for an easy stroll, my first walk since finishing the Southern part of the Offa’s Dyke Trail. I parked up at the Tegg’s Nose Country Car Park and went to pay the machine 1.50 for a days parking….bargain. A bigger bargain the machine was out of order, so I left an IOU in the car in case of a rogue traffic warden..
Setting off in wintry sunshine, I soon reached Saddlers Way - an old restored cobbled lane, which drops down the side of Tegg’s Nose. It was a steep enough incline to start the day and I bore that in mind as the last ½ mile at the end would be back up this path.
Saddlers Way – Macclesfield forest top left of photo
Tegg’s nose up to my right is an old quarry with some interesting bits of industrial revolution style machinery. It’s worth a look around if you have time. At the bottom of the Saddlers Way the path turns left along a small road, passing several farms as it meanders uphill towards the forest. Down in the dip was very peaceful, and with the high pressure weather system prevailing there was little wind to speak of, apart from the occasional parp from me. I watched a hovering Kestrel for a while before continuing past Hardingland farmhouse. It looks lovely in the sunshine, but I wouldn’t like to live out here when winter truly arrives.
Looking back to Tegg’s Nose
A little further on took me into Macclesfield Forest, with the path having been cleared up a little since I was last here. It is a very popular spot for weekend ramblers, and I saw quite a few people through the day (Tuesday). Most of the forest is plantation firs which is pretty dark in places and uninspiring. But the pine needles make for a soft path for walking although there is very little wildlife around the trees. I had a steady walk up the slopes. You have to be careful to take the correct path to the Forest Chapel which maintains the higher ground through the top end of the woods. After a mile or so through the woods I came out close to the small hamlet of Forest Chapel. Very quiet, apart from a couple of mountain bikers hurtling through. Good job there wasn’t a speed camera. I was wandering along enjoying the views over to the Cat and The Fiddle – England’s highest Pub …or something like that. The village in the next photo nestling in the valley is called……Bottom-of-the-Oven!! Just a mile or so from Cuckoo Rocks…Check out the map – I didn’t choose this walk for the place names – honestly.
The Cat and The Fiddle Pub in the distance.
I skirted around the forest on the road and then back onto forestry tracks towards a derelict house at Ferriser. Back in the forest I heard a terrific squawking from a couple of Jays. Very pretty birds but not so good if you’re a songbird. On through the dreary plantation trees I quickened my pace to get out on the open moorland to climb towards Shutlingsloe. At the exit of the forest there are a couple of signs, one a Peak District and Northern Counties Footpath Preservation Society, all neat and green. The other one has been drawn on showing a knackered skeletal walker and his mate – very amusing..
It could almost be a Banksy..
Once out of the forest again the vegetation quickly turned to the typical moorland grasses, golden in the sun at this late stage of the year. Most of the pathway up to Shutlingsloe has been laid with slabs of Carboniferous Sandstone, typically seen paving the streets of Lancashire towns – those that haven’t been lifted in the night. It was interesting looking down at these as they are full of Trace fossils – worm burrows, ripple marks etc. There was an occasional slab that had been used in masonry somewhere – that’s building, not funny handshakes. The path would be well worn away without these, and although most people don’t like them, I prefer to keep my feet dry rather than sinking up to your knees in bog. The walking was easy with
Follow the yellow brick road…
the climb up to the top like a step aerobics class…I imagine....good for the legs. Once on the top I sat down for lunch – a couple of rolls – and then I got up and sat down again. It was cold on the top and reminded me that you have to be prepared every time you go for a walk. I watched a flock of sheep driven along to their pens by a Quad bike and the farmer’s dog. Very efficient, and a round of applause to the Sheppard who lives in Cumberland Cottage or next door. I had good views towards the Cheshire Plains to the West over Macclesfield and the big dish at Jodrell Bank, and back towards the Cat and Piddle Fub to the East on the Buxton Road.
Looking down to Wildboarclough
The path from the top drops straight down the side of the hill towards Banktop, and you have to be careful not to end up on your end. Down in the valley the temperature was several degrees higher and the sun was lighting up the autumn leaves on the Beech trees – very picturesque.
Makes you want to wee
I stuck to the lower slopes once I passed the pub in Wildboarsclough, and circumnavigated the hill. By a strange trick of the light it appeared that Shutlingsloe was no bigger than my finger…very puzzling. Whichever way you look at Shutlingsloe from the four compass points, it looks the same. A lozenge of Gritstone that has withstood the ravages of time.
A tiny horse and hill
As I got further around the slopes towards Higher Nabbs, there is an area of open access land that is now a Nature reserve. The change of vegetation is quite startling, and there was more wildlife in evidence. Less grazing allows Brackens and other plants to become more established and gives a different habitat for birdlife. Large flocks of Starlings were seen flitting around, not as impressive as the Somerset levels but good to see. I managed to get a snap of a Stonechat (I think) and watched it flying around for a while.
New veg on the reserve
A Stonechat probably
I continued in an orderly manner on the minor roads turning north. The narrow lanes were lined by dry stone walls, well ordered by the reserve but a bit dilapidated further on.
A big Cross near Oakenclough
The last few miles of the walk were along minor lanes, passing The Hanging Gate Pub and downhill towards the Ridgegate Reservoir. I passed a Heron stood to attention in the reservoir next to Langley, and a Great Crested Grebe paddling around looking for his mates. Tegg’s Nose loomed over the village and I skirted around the bottom of the hill back towards the Saddlers Way and uphill all the way to the car park.
Tegg’s Nose with Langley at its base – Spoil heaps over the
end.
I trudged up the path way and onto the cobbles. I felt nice and relaxed and have had a nice gentle stroll around today. The weather makes all the difference, and I made good time to beat all the traffic back to Manchester. The Car park ticket machine still didn’t work. There is a park building here that is manned at the weekends – I think. It has plenty of information about the surrounding area, as well as some handy WC’s.
And last but not least, I have seen some amazing sights in my time but today I came across the training grounds of the Wallace and Gromit Sheep….synchronized trampolining – note the ones who have fallen off beneath!!
Walking…..its BRILLIANT.
Well done lad….…anymore Wensleydale Gromit?