Introduction
After a difficult morning, I just found time for a short walk from the brilliant walking hub that is the village of Rowarth.
Yesterday I lost a great friend in Loraine Somers whose regular comments and interest in my blog are just one small part of what I will miss about her.
I know she would have enjoyed this walk.
The weather was a proper mix of sunshine and cloud, very breezy with one passing shower.
Rowarth is a 35 minute drive from Cheadle Hulme.
The walk is just 4.5 miles with 850 feet of ascent .
It took 2 hours 30 minuutes to complete, .
The walk is generally excellent for dog walking.
I walked in an anticlockwise direction.
The walk is on OS Explorer Map 257.
I parked at Rowarth Village car park, postcode SK22 1EF, What 3 Words ///trouser.norms.stow.
Rowarth To Lantern Pike
Rowarth is a delightful hamlet just over the hill from Mellor.
I took the path from below the field in the centre, and then the short cut that avoids the Little Mill Inn, but takes in this lovely stream and footbridge.
A short climb the leads up into and over a field, giving lovely views back towards, and beyond Rowarth.
Over the road, the climb continues up a stone byway, where cyclists can come down quite quickly. At the top of the climb, the view reveals Rowarth again, in the centre-left of the picture.
Another view soon reveals the flight path to Manchester Airport, with the city skyscrapers as a backdrop.
Leaving this scene behind the path eventually tops out, and starts to fall towards the town of New Mills. Those with a large screen will see The Cage at Lyme Park, dead centre of this picture.
On reaching the road and turning left, the small town of Hayfield is in the valley, with the Kinder plateau to the left and Mount Famine to the right.
I mwalked down the road, munching on the delicious blackberries as I went before reaching the signpost to Lantern Pike, with its own dunnock!
It’s quite a steep climb, firstly on tarmac, then a good stone path. I stopped regularly to take in the Sett Valley far below.
And the blackberries just kept on coming.
Lantern Pike
Just after entering the National Trust land, I was joined by a family of stonechats, chattering away, and reminding me of meeting Loraine on the way to or from our village and stopping for a quick chat as we have often done.
In the next field another family was enjoying the grass.
In a short while, I reached the summit, spectacular views all around.
Back To Rowarth
And now it was downhill back to the car!
However, I had to negotiate these cattle first. Fortunately they turned out to be very friendly.
The last section of the walk is down a beautiful stream valley, where I flushed a kingfisher from its hunting perch, whizzing away with a flash of electric blue.
Sadly, the native willowherb, cow parsley, meadowsweet and ferns are being gradually choked by the invasive himalayan balsam, as it covers the valley floor.
Yet, for now, this remains a splendidly diverse and pretty place.
So, a shortish walk, but one that packs a punch. Two hours very well spent.
And Finally….
Loraine was a girl of the sixties. I’ve found it quite hard to find a 60s song that sums up today. Though we’re not from London, the vibe of this song is soft and reflective, and maybe Loraine is gazing on paradise somewhere now.
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