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The club’s traditional pre-Christmas walk and tea-party will be starting and finishing at my house at 46 Uppergate Road, Stannington S6 6BX (opposite the Stannington Medical Centre – plenty of on-street parking, or 81 bus). We will head down into the Rivelin Valley up the other side, then along towards Redmires and a pub stop at either the Sportsman or the Three Merry Lads, before returning via Rivelin Dams. 6-7 miles altogether. A down, an up, and an along in both directions, with some potential for mud. Please bring cakes, mince pies etc for tea party at my house afterwards (non-walkers also welcome).
I have yet to check timings and pub food options, but will add a note when I have. Start probably 9.30 or 10.0 am.
JB (07985 465330)To confirm: the Seasonal Stagger will depart from 46 Uppergate Road, Stannington S6 6BX at 10.0am on Sunday 22 Dec (on street parking or 81 bus arrives 9.31). There are also plans for a “Winter Wobble” for the cyclists, which will try to integrate with the staggerers – Mary Reape will post information separately.
We’ll probably have a coffee break at a magnificent viewpoint above the Rivelin Valley, and there will be a pub stop at the Sportsman at Lodge Moor, where we expect to arrive about 12.0. The pub has said that they could do soup and roll at £5.50 and/or hot roast sandwiches (turkey, pork or beef) at £7.50 for those who want them. Advance ordering is not necessary, but they’d like an idea of numbers, so if you think you might like either please let me know (text/WhatsApp to 07985 465330). The pub are also happy for people to eat their own butties on the outside seating.
We’ll leave the pub between 12.30 and 1.0pm, which should put us back at my house for 2.45 to 3.0pm. Total walking distance about 7 miles, with short sections of wetness and mudness. Tea will be provided (and I’ve probably got enough mugs), but contributions of cakes, mince pies etc are welcome.
Non-walkers/cyclists, including new members and others who may be going to the climbing wall for a Christmas Clamber, are also welcome at either the tea party or the pub (or both).As noted on a separate post this morning, the proposed cycling alternative to the walk has been abandoned, as the forecast wind might have made it a bit too wobbly. However, the walking stagger will go ahead – the route is largely in woodland and should thus be relatively sheltered – forecasts differ on the amount of rain, but agree that there will be showers and sunny intervals. All welcome, whether for the walk, the pub stop, the tea party, or all three.
With the cycling abandoned, somewhere in the region of 24 new and old members, plus three dogs, arrived at my house for the walk, though I will never cease to be amazed by the capacity of one honorary member (who arrived late) to get lost within 50m of the starting point. The wind had actually dropped a bit since the previous day, but we headed down into the Rivelin Valley with occasional bits of sleet, crossed the river and climbed up the other side towards the Hallam Golf Club. We decided to forego the coffee break at a couple of benches with a view over the Rivelin Dams as the wind hadn’t dropped that much, and there was clearly more weather heading our way. The pub was already in sight, and we reached it just as our missing honorary member caught up, and the doors opened. The Sportsman’s staff were most helpful and efficient in distributing hot roast sandwiches and home-made soup to those who wanted them, and after about 50 minutes we were on our way again. A couple of members (and two of the dogs) dropped out at this point, and the rest of us descended a steep and muddy path below the Three Merry Lads, directly to the Rivelin Dam. There was a minor diversion as one member, doubtless recalling his enthusiastic climbing days of years past, headed up towards Rivelin Edge, rather than taking the gently ascending traverse path through the woods below it, which led eventually to Woodbank Road. The fields above this provided the worst mud and strongest winds of the day, but after crossing the Riggs Road, we were able to take shelter in the woods overlooking the Loxley Valley. A rising traverse, just below the ridge, brought us back to Stannington, and the traditional tea-party, where we were joined by a few additional non-walkers.
Many thanks to all who came, the staff at the Sportsman Inn, those who brought contributions of mince pies, scones etc., and the washers-up. It was great to chat both to old members I hadn’t seen for ages, and to newly-joined ones. Unfortunately since everyone went home I have gone down with a horrendous cold (main symptoms: sore throat, hoarse voice, and total lack of energy), so I hope I haven’t given it to anyone else (Covid test is negative). Merry Christmas to all!
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