Sunday October 22nd

 Chinley Churn Circuit

A short walk was in order for this beautiful, clear late-October day. We had not been to Chinley for a while and decided to do something a little different. From our usual parking spot near the station, we treated ourselves to a coffee at The Green Lane Social and then started up Stubbins Lane and continued up Oven Hill Road (a great name!), past the track that leads to the east of Chinley Churn and up to a place with another great name, Throstle Bank. As we approached the bridleway to the west of Chinley Churn we were treated to a view of The Dreaming Spires of Manchester.

The Dreaming Spires of Manchester (and sheep)

More special, though, was the sight of three Common Buzzards wheeling above us. David was only able to capture the flight of one of them, though.


We followed the bridleway north through the New Allotments and stopped for a break, with a different view of the familiar features of Kinder- Mill Hill, the Shooting Cabin, William Clough and Sandy Hays.


Jacinta takes in the view of Kinder

The bridleway curved around the north end of the Chinley Churn ridge past Ridge Top and back towards Peep-O-Day, where we had clear view of the full Kinder massif, including the Downfall and a glimpse of Kinder Reservoir.

Kinder with the Downfall and reservoir

Rather than return along Maynestone Road below Chinley Churn, we reversed the walk past Whiterakes and had our lunch on the bench overlooking Mount Famine and South Head. Few walks are complete without a sheep-shot, so here's one with the black sheep of the family.

Today's sheep-shot

Walking this way gave us a view of the quarry works that we don't usually have- the gritstone being used for local buildings and possibly to line reservoirs.

Quarry works below Chinley Churn

We avoided the steep descents and got back to the car feeling that, although short, this had been a good-value walk.

Just over four hours, 6.6 miles and 430m ascent.


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