River Dane, Bosley, Wincle Minn, & Greasley Hollow / Shell Brook

Introduction

The weather forecast suggested it would be a decent day, with the chance of a shower. It was wrong!

The weather was heavily overcast, and half of my walk was in heavy drizzle.

Greasley Hollow is my favourite wooded valley walk. Somehow, it’s off the beaten track, being tucked away in the far western edge of the Peak District National Park. Unfortunately, it’s lack of popularity leaves it overgrown with ferns and thick grass, not a good mix with heavy rain.

Bosley is an easy 35 minute drive, via Macclesfield, from Cheadle Hulme.

The walk is 8.7 miles with 1530 feet of ascent, though it could be easily broken into 2 separate walks, either side of the A523. It took 4 hours, plus a 20 minute lunch break.

It’s not really suitable for dogs to be off lead, as there are plenty of road sections, plus sheep pasture, and some stiles.

I walked in a clockwise direction.

The walk is on OS Explorer Map 268.

I parked in the layby on the A523, at the bottom of Minn End Lane, after Bosley and Smithy Garage, but before reaching the River Dane. Use postcode SK11 0NZ.

River Dane And Raven’s Clough

The first half mile of the walk is down the A523. There are no footpaths, but there are wide grass verges (except at Hug Bridge, as you cross the River Dane), and I found there to be only light traffic. The river forms the boundary between East Cheshire and Staffordshire.

Leaving the road and passing under the disused railway bridge, I was soon in pleasant open country.

It wasn’t raining (yet!), though the view up to Sutton Mast didn’t look very promising.

Following the valley, the route came back to the river.

At this point, the path turned left, over a bridge and into Raven’s Clough.

I’d never been here before, and found it to be a very beautiful and secluded wooded dale.

As I reached a clearing, a huge charm of goldfinches rose from the beds of thistles in the field. There were many other birds feeding on seeds here, and I stayed awhile to watch the activity.

The path joined a very quiet track / lane, where the avian activity continued! Meanwhile, the weather was closing in, and was distinctly murky!

Bosley

The track now became a minor road with occasional farms. This one had interesting wildlife on the drive! The one on the right is real!

To my left should have been the hill known as The Cloud. There was just cloud!

The cows knew what was coming.

I joined Tunstall Road and walked down to cross the river at Bosley.

This is where the the sawmill explosion occurred in 2015, killing 4 people. The area remains quite industrial.

Along the road, I spotted something unusual waddling around. I’ve no idea what this is nor what it was doing here!

The rain had really set in now, and I was about to head up the hill, after re-crossing the A523.

Bosley To Wincle Minn

I took the road past Smithy Garage, towards Bosley Reservoir, then headed right on a driveway, up to, and through, Stilesmeadow Farm.

Fortunately the mountain ash berries can brighten up any day!

The track becomes a path, and drops down into a very pretty hidden valley, somewhat spoiled by the now heavy rain. I liked the new bridge.

The path enters a wooded hillside, and climbs through it, emerging into a field, but not before I’d stopped for lunch in the shelter of a large oak tree.

The landscape is different now, the fields of thick, wet grass being adorned with flowering gorse. This is the view across to The Cloud, not that you’d know.

However’ I could just make out Bosley Reservoir.

I’d reached Wincle Minn, part of The Gritstone Trail, the high point of the walk, with visibility down to about 50 yards.

Greasley Hollow

However, good news was over the hill. I left the ridge of Wincle Minn to the east, and suddenly the panoramic views across the Shell Brook valley and the Dane beyond, emerged from the mist.

I passed the ruined farm of my header picture, and made my way down toward the brook, with the dense wooded valley of Greasley Hollow to my left.

Entering the woods, the beauty of the place struck me. There are occasional clearer areas, as you sweep through the thick, soaking ferns that have engulfed the path in some sections.

Finally I reached the first, rather wonky, bridge over the brook, rose into a field, then immediately dropped back down to re-cross the water.

After the second bridge, the path is slightly right, climbing a short, but extremely steep path to rise out of the valley. Looking back, the overhead electric cables cross the valley to the farm, “Nettlebeds” on the opposite bank.

Hawkslee

The path ascends gently across the fields towards Hawkslee.

Ahead, I spotted a herd of animals in the field. I saw them just before they saw me!

I estimated there were 10-15 deer. When they saw me, they turned towards the woodland behind them, and serenely jumped over the 3 -4 feet high fence, and disappeared into the trees. They jumped with such graceful elegance.

Looking back to the east, the view now extended to The Roaches ridge in the distance.

When I reached the farm, I stopped to admire the eagle weather vane.

I was now back on Minn End Lane, and a delightful lane it is here, allowing an easy downhill stroll for my last mile or so.

At Lower Minn End Farm, The Cloud was finally in clear view, though the clouds above it still threatened.

To conclude, this is such a great walk on the edge of the Peak District, full of variety, and so unspoilt. Definitely one of my favourites, I just hope I can do it again, in better weather!

And Finally….

Celebrating 40 years, James have reworked 20 of their songs with a full orchestra and new arrangements. The album is “Be Opened By The Wonderful” and this is “Hymn From A Village”.