CMC Thursday walk 7 April 2016 – report

13 set off from Bradwell. The route took fairly steep paths
and tracks up out of the village, emerging on Bradwell Moor
where the gradient eased and we encountered the first of
many stiles which punctuated the remainder of the walk.

The route reached the site of the old Hollandtwine mine.
The mine workings have been landscaped into green fields
and a nice new dry stone wall is being built. We now headed
west on the bridleway, crossing the Limestone Way. A mutter
from the back: “Are we stopping for a coffee break yet?’
Answer: “Not until we get to the top of the hill.” We found
a spot in the shelter of the wall with a view over Peak
Forest. After the break we headed down into Conies Dale,
which we crossed at a dodgy stile. The path went over
into Oxlow Rake. Up the rake for a bit, then up through
liberally muck-spread fields towards the Cop. Lunch
was taken just before the Cop, again with good views.

After lunch we crossed back over the Limestone Way, through
fields past Weston House and uphill again through more old
mine workings before reaching the top of Bradwell Moor. A
short distance farther on, we paused at an old mine shaft
for someone to drop a pebble down to estimate how deep it
was. It was deep. The way was now across the moor to meet
Batham Gate, the old Roman road. Nearly back now, the route
was via Greendale, Outlands, Newwall Nook, Tophole Road and
Hungry Lane back to the start. Here we were joined by some
non-walking club members and we all enjoyed birthday cake and
other goodies, washed down by copious quantities of tea.