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Details
From the Ship Inn walk up the road to
ascend a flight of stairs on the right (public footpath
sign). At the top of the steps cross a drive to a pedestrian
gate and head slightly left across a field following
waymarkers to a stile on the far side leading into a
belt of trees. Cross the stile and follow the path down
over a small stream (Hog Clough) and up the other side
over another stile into a field. Keep to the left (alongside
a dry stone wall) following a waymarker to Bartomley
Farm.
Go through a stile in the wall at the farm and right
along the farm drive to a sharp left hand bend. Proceed
directly ahead here, over a stile and up to cross a
sloping field. The path runs beside a line of trees
at first and then a wire fence to reach a stile at the
far side before continuing in the same direction with
the outline of Midgely Hill directly ahead and the sound
of the River Dane rushing along through the valley below.
Climb a stile hidden amongst holly trees on the far
side of the pasture and then continue along a flat path
above a retaining wall which swings gently left to the
reveal the fine conical shape of Shutlingsloe hill.
On reaching the buildings at All Meadows Farm go through
the left most of the two gates along the drive and turn
right down the road. At a junction with the A54 cross
onto the Wildboarclough road continuing along this for
100 yards to a gate (footpath sign) on the left and
follow the obvious winding track up through the field
with Hammerton Knowl directly ahead. Climb a stile on
the right, cross a sloping field and once over a stile
on the far side bear slightly left towards the buildings
of Hammerton Knowl Farm, keeping right of the buildings
then bear left again through a gateway in a fence and
onto the farm building at Hazels. Pass to the left of
the farm buildings to join the farm drive which rises
steadily around the northern flanks of Hammerton Knowl
and with exhilarating views up Wildboarclough and over
the Peak District hills.
At the brow of the hill the radio communications tower at Sutton Common comes into view. On the right of the drive at this point is an inscribed stone to Roy “a faithful friend. December 1923.” Eighty yards before the drive joins the road go left past a small stand of trees to cross a stile over a fence then walk alongside the right hand field fence. Over a stile beside a gate and on along an indistinct track to a stile over a wall. Walk down the left side of this next pasture, through the farmyard at Long Gutter to reach the A54 and go left along this to the Wild Boar Inn.
Turn right opposite the inn, through a gate and onto
a rough field track running along the brow of a field.
Where the track peters out continue ahead eventually
walking to the left of a wall and beside a row of sycamore
trees to join a broad concrete track. Walk down this
to where it swings right through a gap in the wall and
continue ahead, over a stile and down an overgrown track
to reach the road in Wincle.
Turn right along the road and past Wincle primary school
and St Michael’s Parish Church.
Turn left at the T-junction to climb a stile on the
right, just beyond the Parsonage and walk along the
right edge of a field. Once in a second field turn left
following the fence and wall around to a stile 50 yards
beyond an electricity pole and then walk along the left
side of the next field. More splendid views from here,
particularly of Hanging Stone and the Roaches. At the
end of the field bear right to a field gate leading
onto a quite lane and turn right towards Wincle Grange.
Just before the entrance to the farm go left over a
stile to walk down the right hand side of a field, over
a stile at the bottom turning left alongside a rough
field track which swings round to the right to reach
a stile beside a gate. Once over this bear left initially
then right alongside a row of trees, over a field track
and on through a narrow glade of trees to climb a stile
then bearing left down a narrow overgrown track and
past a ruined building. This is part of the Gritstone
Trail.
Walk along the left side of a pasture and over another
stile continue on and at a sign which states Gritstone
Trail diversion bear right away from the fence and follow
the frequent Waymarkers to reach a stile leading onto
a tarmac lane. Turn right along this to cross the River
Dane via Barleyford bridge. Once over the bridge you
leave Cheshire and enter Staffordshire. Just before
the lane swings right climb a stile beside a gate and
walk along a track with the drainage channel on your
right. Walk past Dane Feeder Cottage, over a stile and
continue on until you reach an iron footbridge spanning
the river, just in front of a weir. Cross the bridge
back into Cheshire and turn right through two riverside
meadows to eventually join the drive through Danebridge
fish farm and back to the road in Wincle. Turn left
up the hill to return to where you started.
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