EAST CHESHIRE RAMBLERS

LOW mist shrouding the hills wasn’t enough to deter eleven hardy East Cheshire Ramblers from setting off on a recent walk from Pym Chair car park, near Kettleshulme.

Luckily, there was no wind, so it didn’t feel too cold once we got going along the ridge to Cats Tor and Shining Tor.

As the mist persisted, there was no view from the summit – Cheshire’s highest point – but those of us who had walked there on other occasions could bring to mind images of those views, such as towards the Cat and Fiddle on the road going over to Buxton.

Turning from the summit, we found some welcome shelter as we followed a wall, then paused in its lee for a coffee break.

Here, a finger post pointed us left over the stile to Shooters Clough – our next destination.

For a visitor from Derby who had not been there before, we took a short detour to the ruins of Errwood Hall (home of the Grimshawe family from 1830 until this magnificent building was demolished when Fernilee reservoir was built in 1938).

We continued along the edge of Errwood Reservoir and then through woodland above Fernilee Reservoir, our spirits undampened by fine drizzle.

As we headed towards Overton Hall Farm the weather improved, so hillsides came into sharper focus. Our steep moorland ascent gave way to a woodland descent to cross a stream, then a final climb up through woodland to Taxal Edge.

From there, we returned along Windgather rocks to the start point, where all agreed it had been a most enjoyable walk, having completed nine-and-ahalf miles and just under an 1,800ft ascent.

For more details of East Cheshire Ramblers’ programme of weekend and midweek walks, go to ramblerseastcheshire. org.uk.