In attendance: Len Stubbs, Dave Wylie, Lorna Marsland, Kath Saunders, Bob Haynes, Lester Payne, Sheena Hendrie, Brian Taylor, Frank Williams, Margaret Williams, Peter Walker, Roger Daley, Neville McMillan, Roger Dyke, Martin Heaton, Alan Liv. Jones, Derek Seddon, Joe Flynn, David Summerfield, Bob Anderson, Mike Graves, guest Joan?..(sorry, surname forgotten), Trish Cranston, Kate Sparks, Sandy Gregson, John Castick, Virginia Castick, Jim Gregson, Pat Holt, Richard Holt, Ken Beetham, Ethel Hallam, Al Metelko, Dave Dillon, Alan Hyde Jones, Christine Jones, Sabina Cosulich, Sue Brooke.

Although Len initially worried that few might darken his door this year as a consequence of the 'away start' for the walk, the afternoon and evening duly delivered the human locust effect onto the splendid spread so well presented at Paddock Close by Len, Ethel, Pat, Richard and Ken and their efforts were much appreciated by the pedestrian contingent returning from deepest Wilboarclough.

Most of the above list of usual suspects completed the advertised walk and were blessed for their troubles by the lovely sunshine which replaced the rather misty hloom of the early morning. Some participants for a variety of reasons - whimsy, geriatrics, injury, hyphochondria, forgotten boots, lack of form - opted for the variations of route but nobody went missing so the day can be voted a success. Thanks from Len and myself for supporting the meet.

VERY IMPORTANT NOTE

Iconoclastic break with the past! This year the walk DOES NOT start or finish at Kettleshulme - BUT the traditional gathering at Len Stubbs's Paddock Close home WILL take place AFTERWARDS from approx. 4:00pm by short drive from the walk rendezvous point.

MEETING POINT: dough House Car Park, Wildboarclough Grid Ref SJ 987699

MEETING TIME: 0900 - 0915am for prompt 0930am start

BEST MAP: OS Explorer 0L24 White Peak

WALK ROUTE: From car park E up Cumberland Brook then N to Cat & Fiddle. Take track to Peak View Tearooms, where cross stile on W side of main A537 road. Permissive path (NOT shown on OS map) W and downhill to Torgate, up over spine of Torgate Hill then down to Bottom-of-the-Oven (Grid ref. 980722), cross road to fork by Forest Lodge, steeply R up sunken lane to Chapel in the Forest (Grid ref. 975722 - possible stop). Turn R up Charity Lane to stile on L. Enter Macc. Forest on good track to Dimples Barn, signed for 'Tegg's Nose', exit trees just above Hardingland, into lane. Over stile on R, wayposts in field, re-enter Hacked Way Lane (usually very wet) to go down by Clough House, turning S to reach Teggsnose Resr. then Bottoms Resr. (Lunch stop on resr. wall?). Turn E along Clarke Lane as far as the Leathers Smithy by Ridgegate Resr. EITHER fork R on road to reach Trentabank Visitor Centre (Grid ref. 962711) OR cross Ridgegate Dam and follow forest tracks to reach vicinity of same point. Just past Centre take good track, signed 'Shutlinqsloe' SE uphill to Nessit Hill, exit trees at stile (Grid ref. 972704) then along paved track to summit of Shutlingsloe (trig point Grid ref. 976696) - if flagging, skirt round final cone on N and E sides to rejoin after - Descend E from trig point then SE to farm road gate (Grid ref. 983691), turn L to go NE on track by wall, below Banktop to regain valley road only 200 metres from car park.

Change boots, then drive carefully via Lamaload, Jenkin Chapel, Pym Chair and Windgather to Kettleshulme (only 15 minutes if you can navigate a car - see you after Christmas if you can't!). Please park thoughtfully along Paddock Lane - be nice to Len's neighbours - then enjoy warm welcome from Mr. Stubbs and his team of elves.

Please try to ring me or Len during the week before if you intend to go to Paddock Close to allow for reasonable estimate of refreshment numbers as change of start plan may make things a little problematic for the elves.