Members Present: Dave Bone, Koy Oi Ding, Dave Wylie, Iain McCallum, Al Metelko, Mark Astley, Dave Shotton, Roger Dyke.

Guests: Nicoletta Bobola, Julia Partington, Sandra Ellis, Wayne Ellis.

It was chilly and autumnal when we set off from the Old Gate Nick car park, with a little clag threatening over the top of Cats Tor. But it cleared before we reached it and the ridge to Shining Tor was clear and dry.

From Shining Tor we "doubled back" as it were to Erwood Hall, which became a tea stop. The greater part of the hall has vanished, despite it being a relatively recent building, I was offering the explanation to Nicoletta that the stone was valuable and would therefore be re-used, when a certain long term member of the club offered evidence that this was indeed the case, and seemed to know too much!!

The sun came out, hurrah!

The party then dropped down to the valley, turning south and picking up a path marked "Riverside Walk". By the time we got to the foot of Berry Clough, summer had arrived and things were now quite warm. So up the clough and then south along Burbage Edge, dropping down to the old railway line and lunch with a view. By the end of this interlude, as we walked down towards the valley the weather changed once more.

The walk pretty much now followed the path of the old railway line beside the reservoirs north to Taxal. Roger left us at the second dam. Elaborate farewells were said but this was all completely unnecessary as we saw him again back at Oldgate Nick.

Another tea stop at the church in Taxal - which offered teas of its own - at least that's what it said on the gate. A sharp climb followed to Taxal Edge, and Windgather came in sight. This was too much for Al, Ding and Mark who made a beeline for the crag to get some routes in before the rest of the party caught up with them.

With the walk almost over a particularly heavy shower gave everyone a complete soaking to top things off.

I predicted it would take 7hrs and it took - 7 hrs!

Selling Point:

The meet has been chosen to be close to Manchester to keep petrol costs and travelling time down as much as possible.

Start Point and Time:

The Oldgate Nick car park circa 3km south of Kettleshulme at SJ 995766. 0945Hrs for 1000Hrs start.

Route - A Circuit of the Goyt Valley.

We will walk south from Oldgate Nick, over Cats Tor to Shining Tor.

From there the walk turns south east, then north east before dropping down into Shooters Clough before reaching the ruins of Erwood Hall. These have local interest and are not the Parthenon - but on the plus side you won't have to walk through clouds of tear-gas to get there.

Cutting down to the valley and then south we will head up Berry Clough to join Burbage Edge. Heading along the edge northward we will joining the track bed of the old railway - which will be followed northwards to Taxal village with a view to reaching the north end of Taxal Edge. Then begins the long rise up Taxal Edge, past Wingather to Oldgate Nick.

The walk is circa 15/16 miles, but on good paths, so taking about 7 hours.