Blythe Bridge  Friday 11th October 2013        9 miles or thereabouts

(Blythe Bridge situated just outside the fair City of Stoke-on-Trent)

(See map and notes at the bottom of the page for more details of the route)

 

Too many to mention pulled out with an A to Z of medical excuses and someone claimed to be changing broadband providers! The plethora of excuses prompted an early morning text from Yuppy along the lines of 'the fookers are dropping like flies'.

However the Dirty Dozen Up for it were: Yupmeister, Anytime Tone, Granpop Bill, Knotty, John Mills (AK's mate), Keithee's up for it on his bike, Roadrunner, Brollywolly bagman of Talke Talke, Benny, Tom F, Nige (Noel) and Tim Mothy.

The weather forecast was poor but it turned out marginally better than poor.

 

The plan was to arrive at Heath House Farm (www.heathhousefarm.co.uk) for a 9am breakfast, who opened early especially for the Dirty Dozen. Travel arrangements saw some arrive by train, on time! Others arrived by car, almost! Benny struggled to find Heath House, mis-directed by the locals, whilst Roadrunner got stuck on the motorway. He was on the verge of turning back to the sunnier climes of The Malvern Hills but the traffic started to move and he arrived in time for brekkie. All sorts of traditional fayre was on offer from a wide ranging menu, washed down with copious amounts of coffee and tea.

 
     

 

 
Eventually the Dirty Dozen moved off at 9.45, 11 on foot, one on wheels.
A short distance on road, past the Foxfield Railway then onto the footpaths towards Dilhorne, under the watchful eye of the on road Phillips! The railway was built in 1892-1893 to provide a link to the national railway network for the Foxfield Colliery, on the Stoke-Derby main line. It was built by local labour provided by the North Staffordshire Railway employees at weekends. The railway was built with second hand material from the NSR. In order to keep the cost of the railway to a minimum there are almost no earthworks on the railway. The golden days of value engineering

Tantalizingly we passed through the beer garden of a shut White Lion and through the churchyard of Dilhorne Church with it's octagonal tower. A steady climb up to the trig point - with the far reaching views of the peak district non-existent because of the weather.

Down through the ground of Boundary Boys FC, where the path goes between the posts of one of the goals!

Then an amaizing experience.

 

     

 
 

 
       
     

 

A wet maize field to soak everyone!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The smaller than expected group meant that good progress was being made which meant we arrived too early at The Huntsman on the edge of Cheadle. SO onwards and upwards towards Huntley Wood as the weather started to dry up.

       
Yuppy struggled with the duck blue stile for the more svelte like rambler. Anytime Tone looked on wryly.
 
     

 
Out of the woods and a quick climb to a viewpoint over the delights of Cheadle! The spire of Pugin's church was almost visible - balmy days!

     

 
Down to the road where Keithee was on hand to literally give a hand of assistance down the steep slope.

 

A bit more country walking along the ridge from Totmonslow to Draycott eventually arriving at the Draycott Arms at about 1.20pm.

     

 
A well earned pint was enjoyed. Then the food, most enjoying the hosts' (John and Deryn Ford) local reared beef in the form of steak and ale pie. The next round was delayed as the pub owners advised, happy hour started at 2pm and lasted until 5pm! Temptation to stay.

The food was demolished, washed down with copious amounts of £2 ales, the Jennings' Cumberland and Marston's Pedigree proving popular.

 

 
     

 

Mark was obviously expecting a comfortable stay in the pub.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
     

 

 
       
Eventually we left the pub. Out past Draycott Church and through some of the fields of our earlier hosts - occupied by the contents of future pies and lasagnes.
       
       

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 The group split at Tater Lane.

The drivers returning to Heath House Farm, the public transport users and Austin heading towards the railway station via Blythe Bridge's last surviving pub - The Black Cock. A few more scoops before heading off to the station for the 17.21 train back to the Potteries.

 

 
Notes and photos by Knotty

 

More Walk Details:

 

The walk is about 10 miles long. Starting from Blythe Bridge station at 8.45am, to coincide with the arrival of the 8.33am from Stoke-on-Trent.   Return fare for adults is £3.30.   Breakfast has been arranged for 9.00am at Heath House Farm (ST11 9BQ) http://www.heathhousefarm.co.uk.   Anyone driving is welcome to park there all day and should use the spaces on the right-hand side by the greenhouses - marked conference parking.  

Walk continues in the direction of Dilhorne, then towards Cheadle, first stop depends upon weather conditions and the availability of beer, but the likely destination is probably the Huntsman to top up on essential fluids and vitamins before proceeding in the direction of Harplow and Huntley, then Totmonslow before arriving for lunch at the Draycott Arms.  The pub is owned and run by a local gentleman farmer and his wife, John and Deryn Ford.    They take great delight in telling you that all the beef dishes use meat from their own herd.

Again another opportunity to top up on essential fluids and vitamins in the shape of (normally) Pedigree, Cumberland or their own Draycott  bitter plus two guest ales.  

Then a 2 mile  amble off towards the station or car with an opportunity to sample some more real ales in Blythe Bridge's last surviving pub, the Black Cock. Trains back to Stoke leave at 21 minutes past the hour, 9:21pm being the last train!