Staffordshire Way Day 1

Old Man of Mow from where I had been dropped off.

I approach the castle for the official beginning of the walk.

Above: The view down to the Cheshire Plain through the castle archway.

Right: The castle from underneath

View of the rocks from the castle.

I rejoined the track and this eventually lead to Congleton Road running along an edge of high ground with the Cheshire Plain off to my left obscured to varying degrees by varying amounts of rain, and off to the right, the town of Biddulph nestling in its valley. It was rainign in earnest, and the hoped for shower looked more like being a persistent deluge. Hmmm.. I’d had enough element battling by now I think!!! I trudged along the road, as the path behind pull in places mentioned in the guidebook seemed to be none existant mainly, and where in evidence, was so narrow through uncleared plants and shrubs that my trousers got instantly soaked and made it a thoroughly unpleasant experience!! I got to worrying that the rest of the path may not be well maintained at all!!!

When the road turned off left down the edge, I carried on climbing up a broad rocky path over the ridge of Edge Hill, the rain still pelting down and more on the way judging by the view south westwards over cheshire. The views were fab enough now, but would have been spectacular if it hadn’t been for the rain and mist obscuring everything beyond the middle distance.

I walk by the Old Man of Mow again, this time in
heavy rain and drizzle as I set out
on the official route from the castle.

The view from the cliffy heights of Congleton Edge.

I trudged on, dripping and beginning to find the rain less and less exciting and more and more of a drudgery. I descended from Edge Hill to a lane at Nick I’th’Hill, and looking at the map, I decided to do the alternative path from here, straight across the lane and up onto Congleton Edge again. There were wonderful sheer drops off to my left. the path was narrow and through bracken and undergrowth in the woods and so I was very soaked below my waterproof coat, if I hadn’t been before!!! I almost took a wrong turn off to the left, descending quite a few steps before I decided I was wrong.

The maps in the guidebook are really annoying in that they do have SOME of the other intersecting footpaths, but not all of them by a long shot, which makes it difficutl to judge exactly where you are sometimes, or if paths you come across are the ones you should take or not!!

I climbed back up the steps I’d descended and carried straight on the way I had been going originally – along the crest of the ridge. It was quite a steep descent through fields at its end to eventually reahc the edge of the village of Mossley and the REAL reason I’d taken the alternative route in the first place – namely a pub marked on the map!!! It turned out to be The Castle Inn and a happy circumstance, as the food menu was rather nice!! I decided to dawdle as much as possible here to dry out a bit and shelter from more drenching into the bargain as the rain was still bucketing down outside!!

The wonderful and dry Castle Inn...
a worthy refuge from the elements.

I had two pints of Stella, some thai prawns with sweet chilli dip to start and then a leek and mushroom pie, which was all nice. The sky actually started brightening during my meal and then it actually stopped raining at about 2pm!!! A break from rain was good enough for me even though I anticipated a resumption in downpour as soon as I set off, so I donned my still sopping fleece and waterproof etc and off I set down the lane that the pub was on, which turned into a track and then at the next road (Reade’s Lane) I climbed up steps onto a disused railway line and turned left along this for a short while.

At some steps off to the right I left the railway trackbed and climbed gently up the edge of some fields.. more long grass and wet trousers even though it had stopped raining by now. I walked through a stable yard and joined a small lane (Brookhouse Lane), turning right for about 100 yards around a bend and then took the path off to the left. I crossed several sopping fields some with sheep in them. From here there were good views of the next high ground on the walk. The hill called The Cloud loomed above me with whisps of low cloud still clinging to its summit. I hoped it would continue lifting so that by the time I got there I would have nice views for my climbing efforts!

At the edge of the last field I dipped down to cross Timbers Brook via a plank bridge and then I made my way up the side of an old mill to join Weathercock Lane, turning left along it for a few hundred yards. At Acorn Lane, which was more of a bridle way or green track I turned right and started climbing in earnest up the side of The Cloud, though gently and manageably. As I went up this stone walled track, the views back the way I had come were beautiful.

Looking back from beyond the disused railway track bed.

Looking back along Congleton edge from my
climb up Acorn Lane.

When I came to the Tunstall Road half way up, I crossed over it and continued climbing fairly manageably around the back of the hill on a track. At a National Trust Sign I took a footpath cutting uphill from the left and followed this to the woodland and then through this to emerge onto the cloudless top! Yay. The views back the way I had come were lovely and when I got to the Trig Point at the far side there were fabulous views in every direction, though it was still misty so the true extent of the vistas from here, right over to Manchester and Wales were lost to me. It was still fabulous enough though!

Looking back as I emerge from the plantation on The Cloud.

The view from the far side of The Cloud at the trig point.

The path descending from the trig point on The Cloud.

The Derbyshire Dales becoming visible through the
distant low clouds.

Rudyard Lake in the distance, my next point
of real interest.

Looking back at The Cloud as I descend towards the Dane Valley.

The hard core bed was quite loose where I joined the old line which made walking a bit awkward at first, but by the time I reached the small village of Rushton Spencer it was mainly grassed over and so quite pleasant. I got momentarily lost here, mainly because I was just using the guidebook maps here and not reading the text. I found my way around the back of the old station house pretty quickly though and then rejoined the track bed all the way to the end of Rudyard Lake, which I’d seen from my lofty vantage point of The Cloud earlier on. It was really rather pleasant and I headed from the car park around its end on a single track gated lane/drive. After a short while this lane turned right, away from the lake shore a little to climb uphill and then I forked left through trees, until I reached the large old house of Cliffe Park. It wasn’t really a pleasing looking house for its size… all oddly out of proportion and oddly designed, but it was a shame to see it in such a poor state of repair even so, with rotting windows and ramshackle curtains.

The end of Rudyard Lake comes into view at last.

And as I climb up towards Cliffe Park the views back and beyond the lake are lovely.

I walked through their garden and then beyond the house the path was even nicer through beautifully mature trees… limes, beeches, sweet chestnuts etc. At the far end the lakeside was quite built up with boat huts and suchlike, but the mature trees everywhere meant it was a pleasant area. I walked along the dam at the end of the lake and took a couple of photographs and then headed down behind the dam to join the Caldon Canal feeder channel which I walked along until I reached the B5331.

At this point I took the decision to leave the official Staffordshire Way and follow the disused railway track bed into the town of Leek, where I’d booked my B&B for the evening. The official walk headed off to the right along the valley that skirts the town.

The oddly dis-proportionate Cliffe Park.

The far end of Rudyard Lake.

The valley and the Caldon Feeder channel head off down the valley as I walk towards Leek on the disused railway embankment.

Dad had agreed to drive me all the way up to Mow Cop for the beginning of this long distance walk. It took us about an hour and a quarter though we weren’t rushing. The weather forcast hadn’t been good for today, but it was ok when we left home, so I had high hopes!! As we approached Mow Cop though, the very black clouds were gathering and it looked ominous as we climbed through the labyrinthine network of narrow lanes and houses towards the top of the conical hill that is Mow Cop! We tried to find the Castle at the summit, which is actually a folly built by Randle Wilbraham in 1754 to enhance the view from Rode Hall below, but failed to find the car park so Dad dropped me off on the road by the trig point, figuring it would be easier for me to get to the castle on foot than drive about the small lanes in the car. At 1000ft above sea level, I was at this point, just below the cloud base, with wisps eerily flitting across the landscape all around. I made my way across to the castle and the official start of the footpath and as I got there and explored around the folly it started to rain in torrents? typical!! It was all rather exciting though actually. I donned my waterproof coat. I am so used to walking only in fine weather of late, that a bit of element battling would make a pleasant change!! I set off along the path, crossed a lane and then joined a track that went along the front of the ‘Old man of Mow’, which is a pillar of rock left after quarrying, below the trig point where I’d been dropped.
Old Man of Mow from where I had been dropped off.	I approach the castle for the official beginning of the walk.
Above: The view down to the Cheshire Plain through the castle archway. Right: The castle from underneath	View of the rocks from the castle.

I rejoined the track and this eventually lead to Congleton Road running along an edge of high ground with the Cheshire Plain off to my left obscured to varying degrees by varying amounts of rain, and off to the right, the town of Biddulph nestling in its valley. It was rainign in earnest, and the hoped for shower looked more like being a persistent deluge. Hmmm.. I’d had enough element battling by now I think!!! I trudged along the road, as the path behind pull in places mentioned in the guidebook seemed to be none existant mainly, and where in evidence, was so narrow through uncleared plants and shrubs that my trousers got instantly soaked and made it a thoroughly unpleasant experience!! I got to worrying that the rest of the path may not be well maintained at all!!! When the road turned off left down the edge, I carried on climbing up a broad rocky path over the ridge of Edge Hill, the rain still pelting down and more on the way judging by the view south westwards over cheshire. The views were fab enough now, but would have been spectacular if it hadn’t been for the rain and mist obscuring everything beyond the middle distance.	I walk by the Old Man of Mow again, this time in heavy rain and drizzle as I set out on the official route from the castle.
The view from the cliffy heights of Congleton Edge.	I trudged on, dripping and beginning to find the rain less and less exciting and more and more of a drudgery. I descended from Edge Hill to a lane at Nick I’th’Hill, and looking at the map, I decided to do the alternative path from here, straight across the lane and up onto Congleton Edge again. There were wonderful sheer drops off to my left. the path was narrow and through bracken and undergrowth in the woods and so I was very soaked below my waterproof coat, if I hadn’t been before!!! I almost took a wrong turn off to the left, descending quite a few steps before I decided I was wrong.
The maps in the guidebook are really annoying in that they do have SOME of the other intersecting footpaths, but not all of them by a long shot, which makes it difficutl to judge exactly where you are sometimes, or if paths you come across are the ones you should take or not!! I climbed back up the steps I’d descended and carried straight on the way I had been going originally – along the crest of the ridge. It was quite a steep descent through fields at its end to eventually reahc the edge of the village of Mossley and the REAL reason I’d taken the alternative route in the first place – namely a pub marked on the map!!! It turned out to be The Castle Inn and a happy circumstance, as the food menu was rather nice!! I decided to dawdle as much as possible here to dry out a bit and shelter from more drenching into the bargain as the rain was still bucketing down outside!!
The wonderful and dry Castle Inn... a worthy refuge from the elements.	I had two pints of Stella, some thai prawns with sweet chilli dip to start and then a leek and mushroom pie, which was all nice. The sky actually started brightening during my meal and then it actually stopped raining at about 2pm!!! A break from rain was good enough for me even though I anticipated a resumption in downpour as soon as I set off, so I donned my still sopping fleece and waterproof etc and off I set down the lane that the pub was on, which turned into a track and then at the next road (Reade’s Lane) I climbed up steps onto a disused railway line and turned left along this for a short while.
At some steps off to the right I left the railway trackbed and climbed gently up the edge of some fields.. more long grass and wet trousers even though it had stopped raining by now. I walked through a stable yard and joined a small lane (Brookhouse Lane), turning right for about 100 yards around a bend and then took the path off to the left. I crossed several sopping fields some with sheep in them. From here there were good views of the next high ground on the walk. The hill called The Cloud loomed above me with whisps of low cloud still clinging to its summit. I hoped it would continue lifting so that by the time I got there I would have nice views for my climbing efforts! At the edge of the last field I dipped down to cross Timbers Brook via a plank bridge and then I made my way up the side of an old mill to join Weathercock Lane, turning left along it for a few hundred yards. At Acorn Lane, which was more of a bridle way or green track I turned right and started climbing in earnest up the side of The Cloud, though gently and manageably. As I went up this stone walled track, the views back the way I had come were beautiful.
Looking back from beyond the disused railway track bed.	And the way ahead.. The Cloud is still in cloud.. how apt.
Looking back along Congleton edge from my climb up Acorn Lane.	When I came to the Tunstall Road half way up, I crossed over it and continued climbing fairly manageably around the back of the hill on a track. At a National Trust Sign I took a footpath cutting uphill from the left and followed this to the woodland and then through this to emerge onto the cloudless top! Yay. The views back the way I had come were lovely and when I got to the Trig Point at the far side there were fabulous views in every direction, though it was still misty so the true extent of the vistas from here, right over to Manchester and Wales were lost to me. It was still fabulous enough though!
Looking back as I emerge from the plantation on The Cloud.	The view from the far side of The Cloud at the trig point.
The path descending from the trig point on The Cloud.	And looking back towards Mow Cop.
The Derbyshire Dales becoming visible through the distant low clouds.	Rudyard Lake in the distance, my next point of real interest.
Looking back at The Cloud as I descend towards the Dane Valley.	I had a good stare about at the views in all directions and then set off down the path from The Cloud down to a lane and turned left along it for a short distance. I then left the road by a footpath off to the right which cut diagonally down a hillside with sparse and various trees.. all quite pleasant. I joined a lane at the bottom and turned right along it until I reached Raven’s Clough Farm and then crossed a small field to the steeply sided wooded valley of a tributary of the River Dane. It was a pleasant walk through the trees. At the bottom it was a short walk across meadows to join an old diused railway trackbed, which I turned right along. It was quite high in parts and so had nice views across the valley.
The hard core bed was quite loose where I joined the old line which made walking a bit awkward at first, but by the time I reached the small village of Rushton Spencer it was mainly grassed over and so quite pleasant. I got momentarily lost here, mainly because I was just using the guidebook maps here and not reading the text. I found my way around the back of the old station house pretty quickly though and then rejoined the track bed all the way to the end of Rudyard Lake, which I’d seen from my lofty vantage point of The Cloud earlier on. It was really rather pleasant and I headed from the car park around its end on a single track gated lane/drive. After a short while this lane turned right, away from the lake shore a little to climb uphill and then I forked left through trees, until I reached the large old house of Cliffe Park. It wasn’t really a pleasing looking house for its size… all oddly out of proportion and oddly designed, but it was a shame to see it in such a poor state of repair even so, with rotting windows and ramshackle curtains.
The end of Rudyard Lake comes into view at last.	And as I climb up towards Cliffe Park the views back and beyond the lake are lovely.
I walked through their garden and then beyond the house the path was even nicer through beautifully mature trees… limes, beeches, sweet chestnuts etc. At the far end the lakeside was quite built up with boat huts and suchlike, but the mature trees everywhere meant it was a pleasant area. I walked along the dam at the end of the lake and took a couple of photographs and then headed down behind the dam to join the Caldon Canal feeder channel which I walked along until I reached the B5331. At this point I took the decision to leave the official Staffordshire Way and follow the disused railway track bed into the town of Leek, where I’d booked my B&B for the evening. The official walk headed off to the right along the valley that skirts the town.	The oddly dis-proportionate Cliffe Park.
I left the railway at the first road bridge which was in a housing estate and made my way through the houses in what I thought was the right direction. It turned out to be right and it wasn’t long before I was heading up towards the low square tower of the church. I actually, quite liked the feel of the town… the rows of terraces were quite quaint. There was a signpost for my B&B (The Hatcheries) pointing up a cobbled lane down the side of the churchyard. My first impression of the place was that it was an old people’s type housing complex.. all a bit odd really. It was a big enough room and clean enough, but nothing special for the money!! I had a shower and went out for a wander around the town looking for food.. I ended up deciding to have some scampi and chips from the chip shop on a bench in the square. I went back to the room to watch tv and went to sleep earlyish.
The far end of Rudyard Lake.	The valley and the Caldon Feeder channel head off down the valley as I walk towards Leek on the disused railway embankment.