Birch Vale to Buxworth via New Allotments

Birch Vale to Buxworth via New Allotments - 31st March 2013

Our starting point was the Torrs River Side Park in New Mills, 'Archie' was not generating electricity today but since September 2008 when the hydro system was finished over 700,000 kwh of electricity has been produced.

A Video of The Torrs and Archie taken in 2008.

We continued through the Torrs joined the Sett Valley Trail and walked to Birch Vale, here we left the trail and walked up Morland Road where we ran into the remains of the previous weeks snow.

This was quite a steep climb but the views are outstanding, on clear day you can see the Hilton Tower in Manchester and right across the Cheshire plain to the Welsh hills. Today however was hazy and the best views where towards Kinder.

We followed the road to the TV mast and then continued upwards along the footpath towards Chinley as we approached the summit and joined the Bridleway where we encountered the first of many snow drifts.  It was fascinating to see how the snow drifts had formed and there depth amazing.

In places there was no alternative but to climb over the drifts, thankfully the recent frosty nights meant the drifts were firm under foot.

Progress was slow not just from climbing the snow drifts but from admiring the views, this is one location where you don't hear traffic noise bliss!

 We certainly weren't the first walkers to trek this route.

 This was a first! Where's the gate?

  Onwards we trudged, never had this walk seemed so long in the past, it was amazing how much the snow slowed us down, thankfully the weather was cold but dry with only a gentle breeze.                

 Two more gates that won't be opening for a few more weeks.

At the end of the Bridleway we turned right onto Over Hill Lane Road and walked down into Buxworth, Looking at the piles of snow the farmers must of worked really hard to clear the snow from the roads.

Just before we reached the end of Dolly Lane we saw the first Lambs of the year.

Our route home was via Bugsworth Basin and then along the canal tow path.  

Previous visit to Buxworth Canal Basin

As always we had duck bread in our rucksacks and fed the ducks along the way.

The walk was 9.25 miles long and thanks to the snow took a staggering 4 hours 45 minutes!

Driving to Buxton in the snow

Driving to Buxton in the snow - 23rd March 2013

It was out of necessity that we drove to Buxton on the morning of Saturday 23rd March 2013 it had been snowing most of the night and the wind howling, there was a light covering of snow on the road.

We reached Chapel bypass to find it down to one lane, by the time we approached Ferodo roundabout there was a good covering and past the roundabout we found the lanes obliterated and visibility  reduced by the blowing snow, yet Barmour Clough was relatively clear.

As we approached Dove Holes it became apparent that major drifts had formed and the road was down to just over one lane.

There was minimal delay through Dove Holes and the traffic was moving as we climb out but we came to a halt as a Morrisons Lorry decided to reverse back down the hill to the lay by, a wise move.

As we reached the summit visibility was once again reduced  and road conditions very poor. We were however lucky enough to catch up with a Lomas tanker that was being towed by a tractor with snow plough attached so road conditions improved until they turned off for Waterswallows.

 

As we approached Hazel Croft Garage the road was down to one lane at best and we were driving on the wrong sided, with traffic approaching from Buxton the two vehicles in front decided to do a U turn at Hazel Croft and we followed suit.

We took the turning for Waterswallows Lane in the hope that the tractor had cleared the road enough to allow us passage, the wind was howling and visibility non existent, oncoming traffic added to the fun but we pressed ahead, turning right onto Waterswallows Road conditions improved due to the sheltered location and as we approached Buxton the road was little more than slushy.

It had taken a little over 50 minutes to drive to Buxton not bad considering the conditions, we dropped off our passenger and did a little shopping, not that we found many shops open.  A telephone call alerted us that Fairfield Common was now impassible and it  remained that way for the next 36 hours, our only option was to try and return via Long Hill.  

Surprisingly the road was passable,  albeit  with extreme care on the exposed corners and on the summit but it was a far easier journey.

The Gritter lorries and farmers deserve a huge thank you for their tireless efforts in  keeping the roads open, the tractor on the summit of Long Hill appeared to be fighting a losing battle but he somehow managed to keep the road open.

This was not a journey we enjoyed and would not of even considered had we not been in our trusty Freelander 4 x 4.