2015 10 29 Hooray 4 Hollywood
Ian's winter Premier Inn
Hanging out with Baden
Marple Lock
Which way now?
Six set out from Marple : Ron , Neil & Lynn , Ray from Tideswell on his second outing with the group & debutant Edwina from Charlesworth . Stunning gold , red & brown autumn colours on the trees throughout as we headed over a golf course & a photo with Robert Bayden-Powell at a scout's outdoor centre . Then a climb up to the lofty vantage point of Mellor Church , down to Hollywood End & to the Little Mill Inn . A short break on a track put fuel in the tank for the climb up to Lantern Pike & a brief encounter with Alan & Carole from Calderdale who'd set off 40 mins ahead of us following my GPX file of the route .
Maintaining a brisk pace our undulating route swept us up over Cown Edge Rocks & Coombes Edge , but unfortunately the heavy rain caught us up & low mist meant any views were lost on what would otherwise have been a super vantage point . After an hour the rain relented & waterproofs could be dispensed with for the remainder of the walk . At Charlesworth Neil opted for an early bath after pulling a leg muscle , so the newly formed fivesome continued to the final stop at a picturesque spot by the River Etherow near Botham's Hall .
The last notable climb took us up to Idle Hill & the Hyde War Memorial with far reaching views to Winter Hill , over Manchester , to Bleaklow & now we could see it , Coombes Edge . From here the pace quickened ( did it ever drop ?! ) to sweep through some des res's at Back-o'th'-hill with Jodrell Bank's huge telescope glimpsed in the distance . A braying donkey serenaded us into Greave , the smart money was he was eyeing up Ron's apple . Finally the canal was joined for a pleasant last couple of miles to take in the impressive aqueduct & seven of the locks before turning off into Marple .
Thanks to those who turned out & enjoyed the walk : 22 miles / ascent 3335 feet .
Ian