Introduction
Rolo is staying with us for three days. I love walking with him, but it is hard work as he is very strong!
There is a lot more to remember when you’re taking a dog with you. Unfortunately, this resulted in me forgetting my rucksack with lunch and water supplies. Still, I had the poo bags and dog treats!
So no worries (a theme that returns at the end of this blog) as this was only a walk of just under 5 miles. It’s a great route through lovely countryside, and could be extended along the Pennine Bridleway in either direction, with alternative routes back to the start point.
The weather was warm and overcast. It was damp in the clouds up on the Pennine Bridleway.
It’s a 30 minute drive from Cheadle Hulme to Chapel Milton, just off the A6 near Chapel-en-le-frith.
The walk has 1040feet (315m) of ascent.
It took 2 hours 15 minutes.
It wasn’t a great walk for dogs who like to run off the lead. There’s a lot of sheep pasture and Rolo was only off the lead for about 30% of the way.
The walk is on OS Explorer Map OL1.
I parked on the roadside at Breckend, a little way past Chinley Independent Chapel, postcode SK23 0QN.
Breckend To The Pennine Bridleway
Setting off up the path from Breckend I soon cross the Manchester-Sheffield railway line.
Rising quickly, there are soon fine views of the surrounding hills and the valley back to Chapel-en-le-frith.
There is a pretty stream aThe Over Fold. Rolo stopped to admire it!
From here there is a road, Beet Lane, leading to Beet Farm.
Beyond the farm it becomes a track, and the clouds are descending all around us.
Rolo seems a little unsure of these weather conditions. His natural pace is much quicker than mine, but he keeps stopping to wait for me.
And so we reach the Pennine Bridleway.
Pennine Bridleway To Malcoff
It’s only 400m high where we are traversing the hillside, but it’s very damp and gloomy! Rolo spied a hole in the wall, but was too big for it!
So he posed for a portrait instead.
Leaving the Bridleway, we headed downhill, with the delightful Roych Clough falling away to our left. The bridge over the railway line is visible, but there’s no sign of the tracks heading up the valley.
Aaaah!
Cowburn Tunnel carries trains through to Edale!
Malcoff To Wash
After passing the hamlet of Malcoff, we made our way to a second pretty valley, where I got a dog’s-eye view.
After the stream, we tackled the steep bank up to Bowdenhead Wood, where there were great views, both up the valley, and back across to Malcoff, Shireqaks and the hills of the Pennine Bridleway that we had walked earlier.
The path ran through the wood, a very different environment from the rest of the walk.
Crossing Bowden Head we got a lovely view of Eccles Pike, with a freight train astride the viaduct, and sheep hastening away from you know who!.
There was one last treat, as the path headed down to a steep lane into the delightful hamlet of Wash.
This is a really nice, quite short walk to give a flavour of the western approaches into the Pennines. Very enjoyable.
And Finally….
Tomorrow night we are seeing The Wombats at O2 Victoria Warehouse, Old Trafford. I’ve been playing some of their tunes.
For those who worry about worrying, and those who don’t worry too, this song is “Worry” from 2022 album Fix Yourself, Not The World.