Crew: PTD, Slim, Butty, TJ, Dunc, Lee, Stunt
Pub: Nic
Route: Rainbow bridge, New footpath (to old Tythy), Snickets past water treatement works and the Tythy streams & woods, Under the railway by the golf course, Bollin valley to Prestbury, Chelford Road, Finlow Hill Lane, Bradford Lane, Hocker Lane with Alderley Park Woods extension, Slade Lane, Findlow Hill Lane (again), Cut through to and across Artists Lane, Windmill Woods to the Owl, Artists Lane, Route one to Legh Arms.
Conditions: Cold, Windy, extremely wet and muddy trails
Notes:
The challenge this week was to “Not do the Forest and Sutton Hall”, but forecasts of 40-50mph gusts at the Cat, with windchill down to -9, so the return to the Edge came into play.
With the Bollin valley very muddy, the usual rv at riverside car park was abandoned in favour of Rainbow Bridge (where Charlotte said Hi on her way back from visiting her mum). However a lack of reconnaissance (and a lack of listening to Dunc) meant that the new path into the new houses turned out to be a new path from the old houses!
The good news was that this meant an introduction to the Tythy snickets for half the crew, which they liked! One muddy field was negotiated, then firm path into Prezza..although not sure what all the fencing and gates are in aid of!!
Pete pops into the Legh arms to order food then its the long climb up to the B road, a quick left and right into Finlow Hill Lane keeps us away from the fast moving, tyre rumbling, Champagne Triangle 4×4’s.
A whiff of horse manure past the stables, twinking lights from the caravan park, and into the muddy rocky Gnarr of Bradford lane, where the safest line was in the several inches of running water over the broken bones of the former road! The lower cobbles not too greasy (luckily)
Left turn up Hocker, and then divert Right into the now open access Alderley Park woods, with a couple of big patches of missing woods! recent logging added to the mud, serious peddling needed to keep upright in a few sections before we completed the 3 sides of a square back to Hocker.
Another road climb up Hocker and Slade, and a time check confirms that we won’t make the big decent off the far side, so we slither across to Artists lane and into Windmill Wood.
Its as muddy as predicted, but the sheer amount of water lower down has never been seen before by any. Its still lots of fun (in a mucky kinda way).
Regroup by the owl, then back up Artists Lane to the recently closed Wizard. In the absence of the President, Lee and Stunt lead the charge to the Pub.
The refurb has removed the railings in the car park, but the garden furniture is plenty sturdy enough to substitute.
We leave our muddy boots and outer layers in the lobby, and head inside.
The bar area has been opened out and we have a table nearby, where with steins of lager, tall glasses of Stout and normal glasses of Unicorn, we start to thaw our toes, and demolish our nicely presented food.
A typically TNR eclectic range of conversations, excellent table service, and the welcome addition of Nick fresh from Birmingham.
Our responsible healthcare professionals head off first, with the remainder staying for last orders and a cheeky Highland Park.
Not often a hill post pub is welcome, but at least it got us warm!