White Nancy and Rainow

Dedication

This week I sadly learned of the passing from cancer of a former colleague at Family Housing Association (Manchester), Jane Moran. Jane worked in my team for about 8 or 9 years from the mid 90s to 2003. I didn’t know her outside work, but I know she was kind , considerate and an absolute pleasure to work with. Through this blog I was in the process of reconnecting with her peers, and then perhaps her. I guess she’d have been 50ish, RIP Jane.

Introduction

It’s rained a lot this week including overnight last night! So, I planned a walk mainly on tracks and well-made paths in an area I’ve covered several times over the last 4 years.

Travel time 25 minutes each way.

Walk time 3 hours including a lunch stop. The walk is 6.7 miles with 1400 feet (430m) of ascent. There are plenty of stretches where dogs can have a run, but also some sheep farming to be mindful of.

Weather – the overnight rain had cleared and it was brilliantly sunny for about half an hour. Sadly, it then clouded over, but it stayed dry.

Ordnance Survey Explorer Map OL24

Parking – free in the pull in just before the Farm Made Tea Rooms on Oakenbank Lane. They are only open at the back end of the week so check their website if you think you will fancy calling in at the end of a walk.

Waulkmill

From the parking spot I headed through the gate, heading west across a couple of fields and through a copse to the yard of a small industrial unit. Turning left, I passed this derelict mill.

At Waulkmill Farm, there is a spectacular waterfall, and the recent rain had certainly had an impact on the water volume in the River Dean. I was glad to take a detour to look at the waterfall, and then retraced my steps, then turning left to head up to White Nancy.

The farm also has a splendid weather vane.

White Nancy

According to Wikipedia White Nancy was built in 1817 by John Gaskell junior of North End Farm to commemorate the victory at the Battle of Waterloo. John Gaskell was a member of the Gaskell family who lived nearby at Ingersley Hall. It is a prominent landmark on Kerridge Hill, and it’s a short but steep climb to reach the top.

The Saddle Of Kerridge

I headed south along the spine of the hill, with Macclesfield to my right and Rainow to my left.

I continued straight on to reach the highest point of the ridge, at its southern end, where there is a trig point with views south to Sutton mast, The Cloud and Mow Cop.

Kerridge End

The path continues ahead and downhill through woodland with plentiful bird life, a pair of bullfinches were particularly prominent. At the main road, I turned left, then up a path on my right and across a field from where there were good views back to the Saddle of Kerridge.

Lamaload Reservoir

I headed straight over the Gritstone Trail path, descending through another copse to meet Berristal Road. This is a good road as it is probably maintained by United Utilities to serve the traffic to Lamaload Reservoir’s Water Treatment works, which is where I headed by turning right. At the works I crossed the outfall River Dean, and passed the cottages where a large German Shepherd behind a fence suddenly barked loudly and scared the living daylights out of me! I then turned left to head back up the slope of the opposite side of the valley, with a beautiful view down the valley. Behind me, the Reservoir just came into view before I topped a ridge and left it behind.

Rainow

I now followed the track all the way down towards the village of Rainow. As I went, the Saddle of Kerridge and White Nancy came back into view.

At the road I took a right, passed some cottages, at the end of which a path left led down Ginclough – it just looked like water in the stream to me, but perhaps the locals know something different!!

What I did see in the stream though, was a beautiful dipper.

This is a pretty spot and I continued down towards Back-of-the Crofts!

Oakenbank Lane

After exiting the field, a left and a right took me into Oakenbank Lane, a restricted byway which is a cobbled track, until I was almost back to the Tea shop where the track once again becomes a road.

All in all, you’d go a long way to find a more varied walk over that distance, and it’s just 25 minutes away – so lucky to have this on my doorstep.

And Finally

I’ve no idea of Jane’s taste in music but this melancholy 2018 tune with beautiful lyrics from Michael Nau just seems to suit my mood. I hope you like it.