{"id":1006096,"date":"2022-08-18T17:53:09","date_gmt":"2022-08-18T16:53:09","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.half-daywalker.com\/?p=1006096"},"modified":"2022-11-04T11:50:04","modified_gmt":"2022-11-04T11:50:04","slug":"woo-dale-king-sterndale-horseshoe-dale-and-a-little-more-of-wyedale","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.half-daywalker.com\/?p=1006096","title":{"rendered":"Woo Dale, King Sterndale, Horseshoe Dale And A Little More Of Wyedale!"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Introduction<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

I had planned to drive deep into mid-Wales for my walk today, but with adverse weather approaching from the west, I hastily rearranged. Having hugely enjoyed the Chee Dale section of the Derbyshire River Wye on Sunday, I thought I’d return to the area. This walk covers the next section of the Wye, slightly nearer to Buxton, and some little known dales just off the beaten track.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is a 45 minute drive from Cheadle Hulme.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The walk is a about 8 miles, and includes three quite steep sections, with a total ascent of 1320 feet, 400 metres.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The walk took 3 hour 45 minutes to complete plus 20 minutes for lunch.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For dog walkers, again this is a good walk for you. There’s lots of fenced off paths and unused grazing land, but some of the dales did have sheep or cattle in them. There are just two stretches on very minor roads, and one on the A5270.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The weather was cooler than recently, around 20 C and overcast, with just one brief sunny spell.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The walk is on OS Explorer Map OL24.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I parked at Wyedale Car Park on the A6, postcode is SK17 9TE for Topley Pike Quarry, but the car park is on the opposite side of the road. I paid \u00a34 for 4 hours (card only).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Wye Dale To Woo Dale<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

What a great heading!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The beautiful Wye Dale carried on as I’d left it on Sunday as I wandered down the track to the bike hire shop, where I crossed the river.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

I made my way back along the opposite bank, soon turning uphill, under the railway track, and on via a path through nettle and bracken. There were plenty of blackberries to munch on as I took rests on the steep slope.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The path levelled out, and entered a more open, wooded track.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

At the end of the wood an open field revealed great views across Wye Dale and into the quarry opposite. I could see my car in the car park below, a short distance across, but way below my elevated position!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The path then worked its way round the hillside.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Soon, I reached Hardybarn Lane. The fences on my right gave serious warnings not to enter, as there is a massive drop into a quarry a short distance away. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

A left turn soon led me down to the top of Woo Dale. It is a lovely, quiet, romantic dale, but I saw no wooing!!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

I made my way back down to the River Wye.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Wye Dale To King Sterndale<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

A cyclist had negotiated the steep bridleway down the hill from Cowlow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

From here, I crossed the A6, and almost missed the footpath into the hillside opposite, the sign being very dilapidated. It’s a short, and very steep climb up the hillside, with a brief interlude to cross the rail track that is hewn into the hill.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The view down Wye Dale towards Millers Dale is stunning, and the severity of the slope is evident in this picture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

King Sterndale To Deep Dale<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

A few deep breaths and the path emerges onto the flat green, with its ancient medieval cross, at the hamlet of King Sterndale.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

I rather liked this spider image wall sculpture, though it may put off many potential visitors or guests!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

A little way along the lane is the lovely little parish church, which can seat 120 worshippers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Leaving the road to the left, a path crosses 2 pretty boring, flat, grassy fields, with no visible sign of what’s about to hit you….<\/p>\n\n\n\n

which is this! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The view up Deep Dale….. and down it is pretty special too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

I stopped here for lunch.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fortunately, I had elected not to walk down Deep Dale, as the path is closed for a major conservation project, which the signs say will take 8 years from 2017. It’s all to do with links from the huge quarry which my walk encircles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A steep path leads down into the dale, and the path up the valley floor is difficult. It’s boulder strewn, yet overgrown with weedy plants including nettles. Keeping your feet is challenging enough, but avoiding being stung and scratched at the same time is impossible. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are some short stretches where the path is less overgrown, and this picture shows the nature of the underfoot difficulties!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Horeshoe Dale To Chelmorton<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

After a tough quarter of a mile, the path eventually opens out into a classic limestone dale. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The dale splits in two here, Back Dale to the right, Horseshoe Dale to the left.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

It’s another very quiet place, with no other walkers to be seen, ahead……<\/p>\n\n\n\n

or behind!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The dale emerges at the A5270 where there are two lovely rowan trees to enjoy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

A short road section gives way to tracks between the farm fields, near to the village of Chelmorton.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Above the village is the hill, Chelmorton Low, with its reminder of which country we’re in!!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Chelmorton To Wye Dale<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The route continues to rise slowly, and eventually gives a glorious view across the limestone plateau.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

At Burrs Farm, a field has been given over to a footgolf course! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The map indicates that the path ahead enters another, unnamed dale, the start of which is marked by a line of trees.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

I had no great expectations, but the path immediately drops steeply through the trees to reveal a wild landscape ahead. Stunning! And another little used and tricky path to negotiate, especially with light rain in the air. This made the rocks underfoot a little slippier. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The path meets the route out of the bottom of Deep Dale and makes its way past the opening into Topley Pike Quarry. Here, a major industrial undertaking continues apace, in the midst of, yet cleverly hidden from, the beautiful landscape all around.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

A great walk. So much to see and enjoy all the way round.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Highly recommended.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And Finally….<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

A new album this week. Self titled , this is The Vandoliers, and the track is called Bless Your Drunken Heart. Enjoy!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n