EAST CHESHIRE RAMBLERS
THE 9th annual Bollington Walking Festival was held from September 22 to September 30 with 40 local walks covering distances from half a mile to 22 miles.
Six of these walks were organised and led by East Cheshire Ramblers, including one called ‘Paul’s Perambulation’ on Saturday 29.
Despite the name it was a fairly strenuous walk of nine miles with 1600 feet of ascent and decent.
The Festival had excellent weather all week and Saturday 29 was no exception and the fine conditions bought out plenty of keen walkers with 34 people setting out from The Cotton Tree.
We headed up the delightful Harrop Vale to reach the ridge above Charles Head where a concessionary path, not marked on Ordnance Survey maps, runs south along the ridge with glorious views in all directions. Concessionary paths are not public rights of way and walkers may use them only thanks to the goodwill of the local landowners and farmers.
Negotiating access to land via such paths is one of the many activities of the Ramblers Association, which also includes maintenance of footpaths, stiles and signposts.
This particular concessionary path was created thanks to the patient negotiation of two stalwart members of East Cheshire Ramblers.
It was breezy on the ridge but we were rewarded with views west to Alderley Edge, Jodrell Bank and the Peckforton Hills; south to Croker Hill and Shutlingsloe; east to Shining Tor, Cats Tor, Windgather Rocks and Combs Moss and north to Kinder, Sponds Hill and the Bowstones.
We returned via Waggonshaw Brow and Oakenbank Lane to reach Ingersley Vale and since this was an official Bollington Festival walk it was only right that we should finish by scampering up White Nancy for a last look at the views with Bollington itself laid out below us like a model village.
This was a delightful walk, much appreciated by those who took part and taking in some paths and sites that were new to many, even locals who had lived in the area for many years. Several of our number found welldeserved refreshment at The Cotton Tree at the end of our perambulation.
For more details of the East Cheshire Ramblers’ programme of weekend and midweek walks ranging from four to 15 miles in length, go to ramblerseastcheshire.org. uk. For more details of the annual Bollington Walking Festival go to bollington walkingfestival.co.uk.