Woods, Wild Boar & The White Peak Matterhorn

2nd April 2011, A wet start until the sun came out at lunchtime.

Start: Crag Inn lay-by, OS map 24, Grid ref: SJ98270

Distance: Approx 10 miles circular walk.

Time:  4 - 4.5 hrs.

Just map checking

We parked in the lay-by 50 yards east of The Crag Inn which is where we started the walk.  Going through the small gate at the bottom of the drive we followed the path up the hill across several fields through the gates in the walls.  Crossing a small brook before continuing uphill again to follow the footpath sign to Oakenclough.  Crossing a stone stile on the R onto a tarmac path to the L.




 At the bottom of the tarmac road we turned right and made our way to Greenway bridge and over the stile on the R.  We walked up the hill with the stream on our L, crossing a small wooden bridge (a nice spot for a picnic). 

And as we went through the valley we past an old ruin of a stone shelter that Jasper found particularly interesting.  
Going through the freestanding gate posts it is easy to lose your direction, but if you keep to the right and cross the stile you will reach a pond.  We then headed left up a few steps and through another gate up a steep hill which leads onto Oakenclough and the rough, sometimes boggy moorland.  Looking back we got a good view of Shutlingsloe.

Looking back towards Shutlingsloe

Carrying on across Oakenclough we were rewarded by a stunning view of Cheshire and Joddrell Bank in the distance.  Following the path to the R over a stile and descending the steep path between two fields.  

Path to the Hanging Gate pub

At the bottom we were greeted by the Hanging Gate pub and a wonderful welcome.  Roaring fire, despite the fact it was 16 degrees outside and friendly faces behind the bar.  A well deserved pint of shandy and we were ready for the next part of our walk.

Out of the pub we followed the road down to a sharp bend in the road where we headed R up Quiet Lane.  This took us to Macclesfield forest where we followed the road down to Trentabank reservoir and the visitor centre.  If you want you can detour onto the path through the forest.  Once at the carpark we stopped for a cup of tea and a chat with John Sellors who runs the Nice Nosh snack van there.  We had a cracking cup of tea but declined the offer of a piece of Parkin or any of the other delicious looking home cooked treats.

John was a wealth of knowledge about the area, having lived there for many years.  He suggested we take a walk off the beaten path and follow the blue route (it looks black on the posts) up to the Standing Stone car park.  He told us that the forest had been created to stop soil run off into the newly built reservoir in the 1940's.  The trees are now fully matured so they are in the process of felling some and re-planting.  
We followed the blue route on the marker posts which took us through the woods and across a small stream.  Jasper was very excited about having a paddle and even found a frog to sniff at. 

What's that?

After crossing the road at this point, we carried on up the path towards Standing Stone.  

 

 R at the top towards Shutlingsloe we could now see evidence of the re-planting.

A little further along the path we veered off to the left to climb up Buxtor for what John had told us would be a wonderful view at the top.  He wasn't wrong.  It was well worth the detour for the view of Cheshire and Trentabank reservoir, and to avoid the crowds. 

 Crossing a crumbling wall at the top, we walked along the sometimes boggy path, through the indistinguishable path in the heather towards our goal of Shutlingsloe which we could now clearly see in the distance. 

Following the well defined path up Shutlingsloe was easy, just like walking up a steep stone staircase really.  The views at the top were truly amazing and you can see why this outcrop of hard millstone grit gets its name as the Cheshire Matterhorn.  The shape is very distinctive.  It may not be on a parr height wise, standing at just 506m but well worth the climb to see Macclesfield forest laid out below to the North, Wildboarclough to the South East, the Cat and Fiddle over to the East. Even the Welsh mountains can be seen in the distance on a clear day.

Shutlingsloe

King of the Matterhorn!

Waiting for me to catch up!

How did I get down that?

The descent towards Wildboarclough is a very steep one on an uneven path.  This can play havoc on the knees so it is best to take your time and use walking poles.  A chat with fellow walkers on their way up gives you time to catch your breath.  Then follow the road to the right and at the bottom you will find yourself back at the lay-by.  A short stroll back to the Crag Inn will reward all your efforts.  We may not have seen any Wild Boar, but sausage 'n' mash for tea certainly made up for it.

Greenhills Holiday Park, Ashford in the Water

We visited this wonderful site on the 25th March for two nights. This was a return visit for us as we used to camp in a tent here regularly with our son when he was small. Now though he's a 17 year old teenager who struggles to cope with the confined space of a caravan, so best left at home.

We have always loved this site and the recent improvements have made it even better. We were allocated a hard standing pitch with views over the beautiful fields surrounding us. As we were setting up the sun was just beginning to set a magnificent golden glow over the surrounding vans.

We did struggle to get any reception from the sky dish but as we have found in the past with sites in this area, the reception is not great. Trial and error prevailed and we were eventually rewarded with satellite TV. 

We visited the pub on site which is a converted barn and very cosy. The wine was chilled and served in small bottles, perfect. My hubby tried the local beer and wasn't disappointed. Lots of local tourist info in there too.

The sites facilities are great with a well stocked shop, you can order papers at reception the night before, showers and toilets were clean, the pot wash is well laid out and undercover and a great play area for the kids near the pub. There is also a wonderful field for dog walking, ours particularly enjoyed chasing the rabbits.

All in all a great site, close to Bakewell and its many attractions. For a longer walk try the Monsal Trail nearby and visit the viaduct. We will definitely visit again soon.

Towing For The First Time

I don't know what all the fuss was about.  I had been wound up into an almost frenzy of anxiety at the thought of towing the van for the first time on the motorway, but when it came down to the minute when I actually joined the M60, I was too busy concentrating on keeping the caravan between the white lines to notice I was on the motorway.

DB kept making encouraging noises from the passenger seat while engrossed in his laptop on his knee.  But other than that, I was on my own, and managing quite nicely, thank you very much.

There was a tiny blip when the motorway merged at the Swinton interchange.  I didn't realise just how narrow those lanes were until I was sandwiched between two rather large lorries.  When I finally reached the M62 turn-off I felt my shoulders relax and breathed out for the first time in about 5 minutes.  Maybe I should take up free-diving if I can hold my breath for that long.

The rest of the journey went off without a hitch (excuse the pun), until we arrived at the 'newly re-furbished' Bay View site in Carnforth.  All I can say is it's a good job we have been there before and know how friendly the people are and what a lovely site it usually is.  Unlike the people who arrived just after us, new to caravanning and the first time at this site, you could see the look of dissapointment in their eyes when they saw the building site we were pitched next too.

You can hardly notice the gravel heap in the background!

After navigating my way, very successfully I might add, through the tiniest gate in the world, I managed to back the van onto the new pitch.  It looked like it had just been laid that morning and quite possibly had.  Surrounded by burly work-men and diggers galore it was very apparent that the 'newly refurbished' bit wasn't quite finished yet.  The lady in reception apologised for the noise and mess explaining that it was the bad weather that had delayed the work  by a month.

Then we discovered the charger wasn't working in the caravan so no 12volts for the night.  Luckily we had been invited to the brother-in-laws for tea.  After an excellent fortifying meal of home-made lasagne and a bottle of red wine, the world looked a more positive place.

Arriving back at the site we decided to call it a night.  I did discover though that iphone torches really aren't that bright when walking back from the toilet block in the middle of a builders yard at midnight.  Think I might invest in a torch for the next visit.

Walking towards a Brief Encounter

The caravan is on the driveway, washed and ready to pack for our trip at the weekend.  The first trip of the year always sees us returning to our birth-place of Morecambe, Lancashire.  It is always a joy to visit the places we grew up but so much has changed over the years it's like seeing it for the first time too.

Morecambe grew in popularity in the late 1800's due to workers from Yorkshire and Lancashire holidaying in the seaside resort.   Over the last few years it has seen a rejuvination programme put into place and once again, Morecambe is becoming a popular seaside holiday destination.  With it's close proximity to the Lake District and the many Wainwright Fells, it is a great spot for walkers.

Boats in the Bay

Midland Hotel

We will be walking along the promenade from Carnforth to the Midland Hotel on Saturday, taking in the many sights along the way including Happy Mount Park, built in the 1920's and one of the few remaining parks which cater to the entire family with trampolines, miniature golf, bowling, crazy golf, paddling pool and the beautiful Japanese gardens and miniature railway.

We will then continue along the promenade towards the town centre passing Eric Morecambe's statue, created by sculptor, Graham Ibbeson.  The clock tower, the Winter Gardens and finally reaching the Midland Hotel located on the promenade near the Stone Jetty.  We may even try some of the world famous Morecambe Potted Bay Shrimps, by Royal Appointment, before finally taking the train back to Carnforth Station.

Clock Tower, Morecambe

Eric Morecambe Statue

Carnforth Station is famous for it's part in Noel Coward's masterpiece, Brief Encounter with Celia Johnson and Trevor Howard filmed in 1945.  The station has been voted the 8th most romantic film location in the country and rightly so.  Every year hundreds of fans visit the station to run through the subway and stand under the famous clock to have their photo taken, or sit in the Brief Encounter Refreshment Room and pretend to have grit in their eye waiting for that special someone to come along.

Brief Encounter Clock & Subway

Well, I will let you know how we get on with the walk and post some photos too.  Until then, 'I'll see you next Thursday!'

Touring Toolkit

Nothing is more frustrating than being stuck on site or worse, at the side of the road when a problem arises with your tourer.  Be prepared for most eventualities by carrying a simple tool-kit with you.  Here is a list of a few indispensable items.

Screwdrivers
A Phillips screwdriver is a must for all those cross-head screws caravan builders are so fond of.  Then a large and small flat-bladed screwdriver.  If you've got a small electrical screwdriver too, even better.
Pliers
A couple of pairs of pliers should suffice such as bull-nose and long-nose.  Good for gripping hard to hold bits and stripping wires.
Leatherman
It doesn't have to be an official Leatherman, these can be quite expensive.  Any good quality multi-function tool will do.  The possibilities for use are literally endless. Alternatively, a cheap utility knife can do certain jobs.
Tape
PTFE tape is great for wrapping round leaking pipes. Insulating tape is another must have. Duck tape is very tough and cheap to buy and can be a quick fix for tears.
Cable Ties
Ideal for tying anything together.  We lost a vital piece of the metalwork for the awning last summer and cable ties came to the rescue; making sure that the awning stayed in one place for an entire four days. Good for attaching aerial cables to the tourer too.
Rope
Useful for securing anything that a cable tie can't!
Other Useful Stuff
Old rags come in handy for mopping up spills, wiping windows and car lights, checking your oil, and a multitude of other things.
WD-40.  Enough said!
Torch.  Keep one in the car and one in the tourer.  Vital for night-time repairs and upkeep.
Spare fuses.
Batteries.

There are many other things that you could carry with you but then you would probably exceed your curb weight.  This is at least a good starter kit to ensure you have less stress on the road this coming season.

February is here already and thank goodness it is.  January has to be the most depressing month in the year.  Why does everyone insist on dieting, detoxing and generally giving up all enjoyable activities in this dark and depressing month? I think we should save the new resolutions for the summer when there is more chance of us sticking to them.  Although, giving up alcohol in June when it's BBQ season, well, maybe not.

Anyway, February is here and its only 3 weeks until our first excursion.  The new wet locker has been fitted - not a battery box as first suspected - and the van is ready and raring to go.  We have booked the recently re-vamped Bay View holiday park in Bolton-le-Sands near Carnforth.  We have stayed there before but not since the new bar/restaurant was added.  They have also installed super pitches now, so camping there just got easier.

The site overlooks the beautiful Morecambe Bay and is only a ten minute drive into Morecambe itself.  For those of us who like to walk, it is an hours walk along the beach and promenade right into the heart of town.  Here you will see the iconic Winter Gardens which David 'The Hoff' Hasselhoff has just pledged allegiance to.  This amazing structure built in 1897 as the Victoria Pavillion Theatre, staged its last play in 1977.  Since then it has been looked after by the Friends of the Winter Gardens who are raising funds to help restore it to its former glory.

As one of the most haunted buildings in England, it has played host to Living TV's Most Haunted where many strange goings on were heard or seen.  Ghost walks regularly take place here.  For more information about this visit www.thewintergardensmorecambe.co.uk.


Further up the promenade is the magnificent Grade II listed Midland Hotel.  An art deco structure famous for its seahorse figures, recently refurbished by Urban Splash and now the centre-piece of the promenade.  As you step inside and view the amazing spiral staircase and original features, you can imagine yourself transported back in time.

As old sand-grown'ns ourselves, we will be re-visiting all the sites that Morecambe has to offer.  Can't wait.

Glossop Caravans Aftercare

Finally managed to book our new van in for the wet locker to be fitted on Saturday 22nd January.  We bought the van in August and we were promised faithfully that all the extra jobs would be done for our collection date.  No such luck!  I can't quite believe it, but it has taken us months of writing complaint letters, phone calls and personal visits to the show room to finally get them to book it in for the locker to be fitted.

Great, I hear you say. No.  Not great.  Just had a phone call from them to say they are just putting on the electrics now and it should be ready for Saturday first thing.   There are no electrics on a wet locker!  Also, they told us that they could not put it where we wanted it, near the front of the van, so they have put it near the door.  I maybe wouldn't have minded so much, but they didn't even call us to check that this was OK.  They just went ahead and fitted it. 

So now we have a wet locker fitted which is taking up valuable storage space under the seating, plus, I am not convinced that they have indeed fitted a wet locker at all, but may have put in a battery box.  Which we don't need.

Yes, I am having a rant.  I did not want to believe what I was told by other dealers when we were looking for our new Swift Europa, but it seems they were correct after all.  The after care service you receive at Glossop caravans is non-existent. 

Anyway, on other news we visited the caravan show on Sunday.  Great day out.  Lots of vans to look in, food to try at the farmers market and plenty of offers to be had.  Plus, there was a company called Caravan Care Ltd.  They are a mobile caravan servicing and repairs company who will visit your home and fix any problems with your van that you may have.  They will also service it for you too and are NCC approved, so it won't affect your warranty.  Check them out on this link:  www.caravancarecheshire.co.uk so at least we won't need to use Glossops anymore.