Sunday 15th November 1964 - Miller’s Dale Circular

Party:

Leslie Dawson	Graham Renshaw	Bill Grundy
Anne Lockwood	Jimmy Martin	Michael Robinson
Heather Stevens	Phil Davies	Christine Robinson
Anne Jones	Julian McIntosh	Elizabeth Gunn
Colin Booth	Laura Booth	Valerie Maxey
Neal Robinson	Hatton*	Tony Mason
Vincent Price	Freeborough*	Mr Booth
Robert Hammond*	Adshead*	F R Mason
Ian Sidebotham*	Errold	Mr McIntosh
Simon Andrews	D Booth	Mrs Renshaw
Mike Campion	Anthony Mason	Total: 32 * D of E

Group assembled at Marple Station to meet the 9.15am train. This was late. Arrived Chinley before 10am, but had a wait of nearly an hour for the Millers Dale train. Eventually reached Millers Dale at about 11.30am.

Followed usual route along Millers Dale, keeping to the valley (ie not on the hill path). The path was partially flooded owing to the raising of the dam - this has improved the valley generally. Crossed over the bridge near the head of Monsal Dale to avoid unnecessary road walking and stopped at Monsal Dale Weir for lunch.

Continued along Monsal Dale to cross the A6 road to enter Deep Dale then, at the end of the grim rocky bit, turned sharp right over the rock wall and along the path towards Taddington. At the head of this dale, by the farm, joined the metalled lane that leads down to Taddington village.

After passing through Taddington, stopped for stragglers to catch up and held conference to decide if we should attempt the complete circuit along Priest's Way and Cheedale. Considered splitting the party, but eventually decided that we should all take the short route to join Cheedale by Tony's Ledge between the two bridges.

This we did, but it entailed crossing the ‘muddy field'. Mr Mason, gallantly carrying Anne Lockwood over the worst of the mud, got bogged down and could not move until relieved of his burden by Tony. This would have made a good photograph, but no one was quick enough to capture it.

The descent into Cheedale was quite good fun, and also the route through the dale, even though the water level was a bit low. The water was scarcely around the stepping stones. The dale was muddy and leafy, and not looking at its best in winter dusk. Spring is the time for Cheedale.

We arrived at Millers Dale station at about 5pm and caught the 5.42pm train for Chinley and Marple. The weather had been intermittently wet, windy and damp cold. A few younger members showed signs of fatigue, but the ‘out of practice adults' coped very well.

A successful, if not very exciting, ramble.