Bollingtin Circuit 21 April 2013
How lucky were we! After a forecast of rain from lunchtime, we were fortunate to have only about 5 to 10 minutes drizzle about halfway through the walk. 16 of us set off from Pool Bank Car Park (Free – yippee) in the centre of Bollington. Leaving Bollington to the north-east, we passed what at one time was the Cheshire Cheese (?) or Hunt Pub. Now a private house, with cottages to let in the grounds. Too much blathering (Denise of course) led us on a slight detour down towards Bower Clough, despite having done a recce earlier in the week.
Back on track, Denise realised she no longer had her trusty and expensive stick. Harvey had picked it up in the lane as Joan removed her jacket and it was not the only time this happened during the walk.
We had a pleasant morning coffee break overlooking the valley to Mellow Brook before heading down across meadows, streams, woods and small bogs to cross the field below Harrop Fold Farm. We crossed the Macc road and headed south east to Saddle Cote,down and up a steep valley.
There were half a dozen horses in the sloping meadow, so we guarded Linda and Alison here as they are not fond of these noble beasts.
Bank Lane was a steep, deep and stony track – probably a pack-horse track in the past – down to the bottom of the valley with a large pond, more horses and some Llamas as well.
A soft and relatively sheltered pasture was a good lunch spot before progressing along the valley north past Crabtree Farm, Hollowcowhey Farm and up to Summer Close. Here the farmer appeared and was not happy with the route we intended to follow, so we diverted up the hill away from the lambing pasture and joined up with the well marked path to Charles Head Farm.
At Charles Head we took a slightly different path to that of the recce, which had been along the metalled road towards Pott Shrigley. The track southwest down past Whitelands and past Further Harrop Farm (what a super farmhouse and grounds) was much more agreeable. Just past the farm we found a sheltered spot for afternoon snap.
The last mile and a bit took us through the lovely Harrop Wood, where there will be lots of bluebells in the coming weeks, up a slight slope to Gausie Brow with an encounter with some very hairy, but peaceable sows, on the track.
The last stretch took us along the Gritstone Trail back down into Bollington where 12 of the 16 adjourned for a well deserved refreshment at the Poacher Inn. Leaving the pub the rain had set in, so we were very lucky on the 8 mile circuit through some very varied terrain with lovely views everywhere.
Joan & Denise
