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Category Archives: News
ECR Dolgellau Weekend Away 14 – 16 June 2024
A group of 28 East Cheshire Ramblers spent the weekend in Dolgellau. Everyone found their own accommodation and evening meals were organised for Friday and Saturday. On Friday, 19 ramblers enjoyed a meal at the Royal Ship Inn with very attentive service and substantial plates of food. We had a private area of the pub, enjoyed catching up with old friends and making new ones. A good start to the weekend. On Saturday, a group of 21 enjoyed a varied menu at Y Sospan, where we had our own little area on the raised dais of what used to be the Dolgellau Courtroom.
As for the walking, despite absolutely dire weather predictions, we had perfect walking weather on the walks. A big thank you to all the walk leaders: Steve Rawlings, Ann Thompson (doubly for leading 2 walks), Jane and Frank Gay, Sue Munslow and Jane Rawlings.
Saturday 15th June Long Walk (Steve Rawlings)
13 miles / 2330ft ascent (OS)
With the heavy rain miraculously ceasing around 9am, we started off at 9.30 on the steady, gentle ascent to Precipice Walk (PW). As we were a small group (of six) and paths were quiet, we chose to include PW – a fine decision, it transpired. Elevenses just after PW, then on around the base of Foel Offrwm. Photo-shoot under the massive arch known as Y Garreg Fawr. Partial success through the tricky bit around Ty-hir; the mire avoided but some impromptu stile-building required.
Lunch near Tyn-Twll, then a beautiful stretch through Planfa Fawr woodland. Steady ascent up Torrent Walk in dappled sunlight, and a refreshment break at the top. Mainly downhill after that, on quiet paths through Tabor and Trefeilia. Super day.
Saturday 15th June Medium Walk (Ann Thompson) – 10.3 miles, moderate, 1500 ft ascent
BARMOUTH TO DOLGELLAU
18 ECR members met at the bus stop in Dolgellau and caught the bus to the edge of Barmouth. We started by feeding the troll with £1 coins as an honesty payment to cross the rail bridge. We made it across just before the 10km Barmouth race started and only came across them once when we needed to cross their path. Our coffee stop was at the delightful Arthog church. The route then took us steeply up the nearby waterfall with splendid views of tumbling water. Crossing open land, the lunch spot was reached providing picnic tables and a toilet adjacent to Llynnau Cregannen. The afternoon saw us walking adjacent to open moorland via Kings Youth hostel, up over Craig Castell moorlands on a narrow stony drove lane and descending into Dolgellau. A varied route enjoyed by all and mostly good weather – just of couple of short showers.
Saturday 15th June Short Walk (Jane & Frank Gay)
7 miles, 910 ft Ascent (OS Maps)
Six walkers met at Penmaenpool Car Park (near George III pub) and followed the Maddach trail in an easterly direction to the bridge where the A493 crosses Afon Wnion. We climbed up to Bryn Farm, through the woodland and over the hillside around Dolgledr to Cae n y-coed. After crossing the A493 we followed the streamside path through Abergwynant to join the Maddach trail again back to the starting point, finishing with a well-deserved drink in the pub.
Sunday 16th June Long Walk (Ann Thompson)
9 miles, 3100 ft Ascent, Cader Idris using the Minffordd path.
Twelve of us met for the 9.02 bus to Minffordd which was a scenic run over and down Afon Fawnog valley. After a short warm up through woodland we were soon climbing steeply on steps and rocks beside a splendid waterfall. Passing a slate bridge, the gradient lessened and eventually Lyn Cau came into view. It sits in the hollow of a splendid cwm with some vertical walls. More tough ascent took us to the top of Craig Cau, followed by an even steeper descent and final ascent on some loose rocky material to reach the Trig Point on the summit of Cadair Idris. The views were magnificent for most of the day with some brief spells of low cloud. After lunch on the top, we followed the ridge to Myndd Moel and Grau Graig then descended quite steeply to Bwlch-Coch. The return to Dolgellau was down minor roads and lanes with some attractive woodland sections in between. A really good mountain walk in excellent weather.
Sunday 16th June Medium Walk (Sue Munslow)
10 miles, 2136 ft Ascent
Four ramblers met at Fiddlers Elbow, just outside Bontddu. The route took us steadily up to the tops of the moorland where we found a flat, smooth old mining track along the side of the upper moorland, which is now referred to as the New Precipice. As it was a lovely sunny day we had spectacular views in every direction. We looked across the valley southwards at Cadair Idris Mountain and surrounding ridges.
Below was the meandering river and estuary of the Afon Mawddach as it flowed towards the sea at Barmouth. To the east we could see the other Precipice Walk as it wound its way around the hillside.
We continued to walk through an area of wild upper moorland with occasional cottages before walking down by a beautiful river valley of spectacular waterfalls and a gold mine. Finally, we walked along the edge of the Afon Mawddach again with a lovely view of the river back to the CP. We completed our walk with tea and cakes at Y Sospan back in Dolgellau.
Sunday 16th June Short Walk (Jane Rawlings)
6 miles, 1050 ft Ascent
A group of ten ramblers enjoyed the sunshine and company on the Sunday short walk. We followed an undulating route through the wooded areas south of Dolgellau. Using footpaths, tracks and quiet lanes we passed through Pandy, Tabor, Pandy Gadar and Esgeiriau. We were fortunate to have good views of the surrounding hills. We ended up in Dolgellau where we sampled cake, ice cream, soft drinks and beers.
How the Ramblers saved my life!
Ok, perhaps a slightly exaggerated “click bait” title, but I thought I would share what drew me to walking and the Ramblers, why East Cheshire and how the group has become a home from home.
For those of you who haven’t had the pleasure of meeting me in person (or perhaps the misfortune), my name is Richard. 42 years young at the time of writing and live in sunny Sheffield but hail from Alderley Edge.
I have been lucky to move around the country with my career from London to Birmingham and now Sheffield. Slowly returning north albeit not the side of the peaks I had planned! But then what is life
By day I run a successful small datacentre looking after networks and servers for customers across the UK. So, most of my day I can be found stalking the data aisles fixing issues for customers. A self-confessed geek perhaps yes! but my passion lies out in the hills and finding the next adventure. without adventure?
As children me and my sister were fortunate enough to enjoy family walks in the Lake District and the Peaks with a New Year’s Day walk being the highlight of the year.
As for most of us, life got in the way, and my career took over and it wasn’t until my late thirties that I found walking again. I’m not ashamed to say that the extra food, beers and mostly desk work had taken their toll and my first walk from Edale over the great ridge was almost my last! It was only about 6 miles and quite possibly almost finished me off! But considering what I can only describe as a day of suffering! the views and the other people walking and of course the constant encouragement of my sister to keep going paid off.
The obsession began and I spent every day I could in the Peaks walking alone and most of my time at work planning routes (let’s perhaps keep that to ourselves and not the office). Walking alone has always been a special thing to me, I can move at my own pace for as long or as short as I wish and use the countryside and nature to recharge my batteries after a busy week in the office.
This all culminated by picking up my bag last April and walking from my flat in Sheffield over to Mum and Dads house in Alderley Edge. It took me three days to cover the distance and I opted to carry the kitchen sink, aka my tent, for some shelter. Now what I can say is there is nothing like a can of ale from the Buxton Brewery whilst watching the sunset from the tent on Shining tor!
I do not think there is anything better to lift the spirits than being in the outdoors. The amount of people I meet wrapped up in city life and chained to the laptop or iPad looking thoroughly miserable could gain so much from what these outdoor spaces have to offer.
If you have made it this far well done for putting up with the it’s all about me section!
So why the ramblers? Well, I decided that whilst walking on my own or with family was rewarding enough, perhaps I was missing out on these “Hiking groups”. Social media is currently teaming with photos of groups out walking and having what looked like a fantastic time.
My father, Peter had joined the ramblers and after a read of the website and some fact-finding, I decided that this would be the group for me and snapped up my membership joining the Sheffield group being my closest suggestion.
But this is the East Cheshire Group and hear you say. Well, yes, I did what I’m sure many a member does and carried on walking my solo walks. As those of you who have met me know I am a super shy reserved person …. Well perhaps that’s not entirely true but I do find making the first step to something new somewhat of a challenge and put off the unknown.
It was on a wet winter’s morning when I received an email from Dad saying the East Cheshire Group was looking for walk leaders and why doesn’t he offer my services. As always Dad has always been there to encourage me to do more and to always improve myself. So perhaps it’s him to blame now for my presence on the walks and I leave you to complain or praise him as you see fit next time you run into him on a walk.
I guess the rest is now ancient history, but I led my first ever ECR walk on a crisp February morning from Gradbach out to Luds Church and the Roaches with the moral support of Dad to take away the nerves. I’d like to thank Andy Davies here for showing me the ropes! Thanks, as always Andy.
At this point, I cannot thank the members of this wonderful group enough for how welcoming everyone has been and especially Anne and John for keeping the Midweek and Weekend walkers in check!
I have now transferred my allegiance to ECR full-time and aim to be on as many walks as possible over the coming years.
If you are thinking of joining the Ramblers, why not come along for a walk and say “hello”. Like me you will probably never leave!
I’ll leave you with a few pictures of my adventure walking and camping the Great Glen Way the other year for inspiration to get out there and enjoy the trails!
Hopefully see you on a walk soon. Richard.
June Mabon
Dear Members
I’m writing to you all to share the sad news that June Mabon, a very long standing and active member of Cheshire East Ramblers, sadly passed away on Tuesday 7th May, just short of her 80th birthday.
As an active member of East Cheshire Ramblers, June was Chair of the group in the 1990s. In addition, June was very involved with the Peak & Northern Footpath Society and she co-founded Trafford Ramblers at the request of the Manchester Area. In 2015 June applied to have a 500 metre footpath in Timperley added to the Definitive Map. She secured a successful application and ensured an attractive, off-road path in a busy area was preserved forever. In 2014, at the Ramblers’ General Council AGM in Liverpool, June was presented with the ‘Protecting Where We Walk Award’ and gave a short acceptance speech.
June led walks across all distances and levels of difficulty and I’m sure many of us had the privilege of walking with her appreciating the fact that she took her responsibilities as a walk leader very seriously. Walkers always felt extremely safe under her excellent leadership. June was very clear that we all had to walk according to the Ramblers’ rules and if a walker decided to walk in front of the leader then they were “deemed to have left the walk”! Fellow walkers have spoken about her kindness and how she helped and encouraged walkers who were new to the pace and demands of long walks, ensuring they returned to enjoy many more.
June appears in the Ramblers ‘Volunteer Welcome’ training video where she describes her role as a footpath inspector, a job she took very seriously and which led to others taking up the role. If you wish to access the piece please follow the steps below.
Kind regards
Maggie Swindells
Volunteer Welcome
- Sign into Ramblers – using user name and password
- Click ‘Support Us’
- Click ‘Volunteer’
- Click ‘Online Training’
- Click ‘Training Library’
- Sign in again – using username and password
- Click ‘Volunteer Welcome’ and start the sequence
- On the menu choose ‘Volunteer Stories’ June’s contribution is the second one
Stroller Walks Programme 2024
Wednesday 13th March to 6th November 2024
The Stroller Walk Programme will start on Wednesday 13th March 2024 and will run until the 6th November . The walks will take place every fortnight on Wednesday mornings and will start at 10.30 unless stated on the walk information on the East Cheshire Website (https://ramblerseastcheshire.org.uk)
Stroller walks are intended for members who prefer a short, easy, flat walk with minimum stiles and ascents. Walkers may also be recovering from an injury or health issues and may want to take gentle walks to build up their stamina.
Stroller walks may be a good introduction for new walkers, who may wish to walk in a group for the first time? ECR are a friendly group and you’ll receive a very warm welcome.
Please contact the Stroller Walk Coordinator for further information 07729326940
WELLBEING WALKS
In addition to East Cheshire Ramblers Stroller Walks, which are usually about 3-4 miles in length and aim to be relatively flat with few stiles, walkers can access two other options. The Ramblers offer Wellbeing walks in our area. Please visit the website Ramblers Wellbeing Walks for further information.
Everybody Health & Leisure works with trained volunteers to provide weekly short walks in the town centres and rural areas of Cheshire East. The aim is to help local residents get out, increase activity levels and socialise in a safe environment.
These FREE short walks are accessible to all, particularly people who are looking to increase their activity. Pre-booking using Eventbrite is essential and must be completed prior to attendance. For any questions, please contact sport@everybody.org.uk
The 50th Anniversary Slideshow
Those of you who were at our fiftieth anniversary celebration in Lyme Park on July 15th will have seen the presentation of pictures illustrating our activities over about the last twenty years. Now everyone can view it in the comfort of their own home because it is now available on this web site under the ‘Photos’ menu.
The presentation is different each time it is viewed because the pictures are chosen at random from the 3000 or so on the web site and it will carry on until you stop it by pressing the Esc key. Start the presentation by clicking on the title page. There will be background music but if you want to view in silence hold down the shift key whilst clicking.
The pictures are the work of several of our members who have been active with their cameras on walks since about 2001. There are a few pictures from before that date but not many. I hope that the presentation will revive memories for older members and give an idea of the breadth of our activities to recent recruits and anyone who is considering joining us.
Roger Fielding
Reporting a Problem on a Public Right of Way in Cheshire East
Dear Members
Thanks to ECRs’ Webmaster we now have a direct link, on our home page, eastcheshireramblers.org.uk to report a problem on any CHESHIRE EAST Public Right of Way. You’ll find the link, an orange arrow in a black circle, next to the icon to East Cheshire Ramblers’ Facebook page. Clicking the link will take you to the form you need to complete to identify where the problem is. Uploading photographs to the form also helps inform what’s required to solve the issue.
Your reporting helps to ensure that any footpath issues are dealt with as soon as possible.
If you need advice or assistance in completing the form or you want to contact us about a footpath matter please use the ‘Contact’ tab on the ECR Website to contact our Footpaths Secretary.
Thank you
REPORTING A PROBLEM ON A PUBLIC RIGHT OF WAY IN CHESHIRE EAST
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If you come across any problems affecting a Public Right of Way in Cheshire East complete the REPORTING A PROBLEM FORM on the Cheshire East website. Type or cut and paste the web address below into your browser:
Then click ONLINE PROBLEM REPORT TO ACCESS THE FORM.
The site provides access to an interactive map so that you can say precisely where the problem is.
It’s useful to take a photograph of the issue, to add to the information, which you can then upload to the site.
If you need advice or assistance in completing the form or you want to contact us about a footpath matter please use the ‘Contact’ tab on the ECR Website to contact our Footpaths Secretary.
Ramblers Association Data Protection (GDPR) and Privacy Policy
Please click the link to download the relevant policies.
Surface improvements to the Gritstone Trail near Hedge Row (lane), near Sowcar, Bollington
The surface on the Gritstone Path (Rainow FP 28) north of Hedge Row, both on the approach and at the first kissing gate, has deteriorated due to rambler footfall. This has caused erosion and subsequent deep puddle water at both places. In this circumstance, negotiating the k-gate was especially constricted because of its railings.
The dry ‘water-logging’ path 
The gate, filled with flotsam from puddling.
Two of the Project Teams members, Nick Wild and Roger Jubb proposed to carry out refurbishment work. Gravel was taken from ECR Project Team’s temporary stockpile in Ingersley Val and stacked by the GT path at Hedge Row (40 bags at 15 kg each -approx. 0.6 tonne in all), for use in the repairs. Brian Richardson providing materials transport.
Both ‘hollows’ were drained by digging outlet channels, and both these and the hollows were filled with 20 mm limestones. The stone on the approach path was contained by placing side timbers (50 x 200 mm cross-section) with support stobs on the lower outlet side. The stone-filled drainage channels were covered with turves. Approximately 30 bags of stones were spread, and ten bags transported onwards to Gaussie Brow steps. (For the latter, see website article)
Their finished work has been captured in photos of an ECR Ramblers walk on the trail.
Roger and Nick each carried out four man-hours work on these tasks on Friday 6th August ’21. A vaste improvement.
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