16th October 1965 - Woodhead to Hayfield
Route: Woodhead, near Black Clough, near to Bleaklow Stones, cross Snake Road, Featherbed Moss, Mill Hill, William Clough, Kinder Reservoir, Hayfield.
Members present:
| Julian McIntosh (MH) | Penny Hodson | William Smith | K Rawson |
| Colin Booth (ex) | Valerie Maxey | Paul Mallett | M Bates |
| Laura Booth | Stephen Farrell | Stephen Priestnall | Beryl Goodale |
| Linda Adlem | Tony Leach | Ian Henderson | Graham Renshaw |
| Graham Booth | Robert Wiltshire | Mike Robinson | Stephen Morris |
| Mary Boothroyd | Chris Gorman | Ian Ellison | John Durham |
| Julie Flunder | Bill Grundy | Eric Crossley | Ben Wayling |
| Susan Pemberton | Andrew Mason | Terry Critchlow | Neil Hassel |
| Susan Nolan | Mike Wright | Frank Frost | Jimmy Fox |
| Angela Henderson | Peter Wilson | Francis Isherwood | Mr Ron Booth |
| Paul Buxsey | Andrew Hill | Phil Parker | Mr F R Mason |
| Chris Duckworth | John Boothroyd | Michael Thornton |
This large party proceeded to Woodhead by hired bus - this is a new move; one way bus travel to extend our range at minimum extra cost.
The morning was fine and warm for the season of the year - scarcely a cloud in the sky. After roll call we set course along the Etherow for a short distance before turning right up Black Clough; surely the loveliest of all approaches to Bleaklow.
WW1965-021 Black Clough
WW1965-022 Black Clough, from Woodhead to Bleaklow
WW1965-023 Black Clough, from Woodhead to Bleaklow
Met a young man and woman resting in the sun - they were staggered to encounter our swarm of youngsters in such a remote place.
Where the clough finally levels out on to the wilderness of Bleaklow we stopped for lunch and basked in warm sunshine, more reminiscent of high summer than mid-October. Here we stayed for close on an hour before pressing on across the peat bogs and groughs to a high point about a quarter' mile from Bleaklow Stones.
From this point we continued near the head of Alport over rough undulating country towards Doctor's Gate. Part of our group deviated somewhat on to higher ground - Higher Shelf Stones, as we headed across the upper part of Crooked Clough towards the Roman Road near Doctor's Gate. We eventually reached the Snake Road after a final quarter mile of swampy moorland.
Met three Sheffield boys as we dallied a while on the Snake Road who were inclined to be boastful and belittle Kinder and Bleaklow. It was noticed that they left us along the road, not across the moor.
The journey continued across Featherbed Moss towards Mill Hill; this is a long trek, the first part being boggy and cut up by numerous groughs. Found and buried some litter on this path - a long muddy stretch. Many of the youngsters were tiring when we reached Mill Hill, but were full of cheer and high spirits on sighting Kinder Reservoir as we descended into William Clough.
We stretched out along half the length of William Clough as ‘old timers' hurried to catch the train at Hayfield while the less fit, tired and weary, straggled behind. A halt was called at the usual spot near the Reservoir, at the top of Horrible Hill. Then those in a hurry were allowed to forge ahead, while the leaders waited for the stragglers.
Seventeen of our number boarded the earlier train, the remainder a later one. All reached Marple safely after one of our most successful rambles.
