I originally devoted this page purely to Reddish Vale. However, I have reached my allocated 10 pages and Reddish Vale is just one of a multitude of places we have visited, so I propose to dedicate this page to those visits and I begin with Reddish Vale. I hope you enjoy this, as much as I have enjoyed visiting these places and if you get the chance, go yourself and find out what you are missing ! A few years ago, when petrol was relatively cheap and I had the use of the company's van at weekends and holiday time, (before it became a taxable perk) We would go exploring all over the place. Places like Derbyshire at weekends, could be visited within a couple of hours. One place we loved was Lathkill Dale, one of the lesser known, and hence unspoilt dales, where the river often disappears for long stretches, during dry weather, the area being limestone country. The scenery was and still is, wonderful. Most of the time nowadays, we stay local, and for us you can't get more local than Reddish Vale, on our doorstep!

Reddish Vale

How can we compare Reddish Vale with, say, the Grand Canyon? Let's face it, there are grander places in the world. Even in our own country, there are places more beautiful, more awesome and on a grander scale and on the face of it, you might think that Reddish Vale has nothing by comparison to offer. But you can never judge a book by its cover.

So what's so good about Reddish Vale ? Well, you might be surprised at what the Vale has to offer.  For one thing, it is right on the doorstep for Reddish, Denton and Brinnington people. For another, it has a lot of history. It is also a little piece of open countryside, a place where we can take a break from everyday issues, such as work and domestic life, even distractions such as television, which seems to dominate life nowadays and breathe in the fresh air, away from the traffic, the noise and pollution and all within a few minutes of home. It is also a gateway to places further afield.

When I was a kid, we moved to North Reddish, to a brand new estate. I was about 3 years old and it was a 3-bedroomed terraced house, with a front and back garden, inside toilet and bathroom and outside toilet and coal shed, with a shed for whatever else. It also had a garden some 50 ft long. Over the road, was Fir Tree School and it was where my academic career began, such as it was.

One of the treats for me, as a kid, was a walk to Reddish Vale. It was about one or two miles away, but the walk was worth it. Longford Road was and still is a long straight plod to where it joins the main road, Gorton Road, uphill all the way, although the slope is not great. But you didn't mind the plod, because once you arrived at Mill Lane, then it was downhill all the way and you thought nothing of the return journey.

About half way down Mill Lane, is a railway bridge and it was nicknamed the 'Giant's Moneybox', because as you walked under it and looked up, there was an elongated slot, rather like the slot of a moneybox, hence the name. Mill Lane from hereon is concreted and down the centre ran row upon row of horizontal grooves, which made for a rough ride as you went down it on your bike! But either side of the road is a fine hedgerow, home to many species of small birds.

When I was about 12 or 13, I was told that there was ski jumping in the Vale. It happened one weekend, but I didn't find out about it until it was under way, so it was Sunday before I went down to check it out. Sure enough, on the Denton side on the other side of the viaduct was a vast crowd gathered round a ski slope and every now and then a skier would come down. At the bottom were bales of straw to stop them. Later I heard that some Swedish students from Manchester University had built the slope and they brought snow down from Scotland in refrigerated vans. It was all quite bizarre and unbelievable, but it shows what can be done with a bit of imagination. Now, a brand new ski slope has opened up near the Trafford Centre and it will be in great demand when the alpine snow fails on the continent, due to global warming. A film exists showing the Reddish Vale ski jumping and it can be seen as part of several pieces about Stockport, in the Staircase Visitor Centre, in Stockport Market Place.

When I was younger, I didn't so much dislike Reddish Vale, rather it was a poor substitute for my favorite place, Cumberland, where the scenery was, for me, far superior. The reason was that mam came from Workington and there were many annual excursions to 'Grandma's', some of which took us through the central part of the lakes, with its spectacular mountains and lakes. So although Reddish Vale was available and on the doorstep so to speak, then, I did not have that appreciation which comes with maturity. Now, you can go down Reddish Vale Road and go in the Visitor Centre, or wander round the ponds, or go further afield if the fancy takes you. A favorite walk of ours is along the old railway line, or 'dead line', which used to connect to Tiviot Dale station. I have actually been down it on a train, when we went on a trip to Southport from North Reddish Workingmen's Club, We were given a bag, with an apple and an orange in, and we were given half a crown to go in the 'fun house', with Lulu's 'shout' and Johnny Kidd and the Pirates 'Shakin' All Over' coming over the tannoy. Now, the dead line makes for a pleasant hour's walk, if a little muddy in places, and the odd burnt out car abandoned at times.

You can of course, wander further afield. The Vale can be a gateway to other places. One favorite watering hole of ours is the Arden Arms, over on the Bredbury side. On occasion we would walk along one side of the Vale and return along the other, on opposite sides of the river. Near to the Arden Arms is a place which goes way back in time, Arden Hall, sometimes known locally as 'Cromwell's Castle', so called because Oliver Cromwell is supposed to have stayed there at one time I believe. Whether that is true or not, who knows. (perhaps some more knowledgeable local historian could tell us). It is a substantial building, with a central tower which can be seen for miles, presumably used as a lookout during the civil war perhaps. The whole complex is surrounded by a moat and would have been a formidable defensive position in earlier and more dangerous times. Here below is a shot of it, taken from the Denton side of the River Tame. As you can see, it sits on a commanding position in the distance.

Arden Hall, a.k.a. Cromwell's Castle

For anyone who has an interest in local history, there is much to see in Reddish Vale, but Arden Hall is probably the most historic place here although it is not open to the public. More on Reddish Vale to be added later. 

The Chestnut Centre

The Chestnut Centre is another of our special places we like to visit from time to time. Situated near to Chapel-En Le-Frith, just off the road which originally led to Castleton, about a mile up the road, on the left, it is well signposted, although be careful not to shoot past it. So what is there to see? No less than otters and owls and recent additions include a family of foxes, although they can be hard to spot, hiding in the trees ! But also in the grounds, there are deer and some of them are so tame, they come right up and you can pet them. Here is a picture of one and she is called 'Apricot'. Is she not beautiful ?

Apricot

To be honest, I took this picture on the way out, but I was surprised at how tame she was, allowing us to pat her on the head, when you might expect her to run away. This would surely be a hit for children, but you could not guarantee that she would be there. On this particular day, there was a bitter wind slicing up the path leading down to the valley. As you descend, there are some fine views across to your left, with a large hall in the valley bottom which is the headquarters of the place. There is a large herd of deer on the hillside to the right as you enter the gate leading to the otter pens and owl cages.

The first pen you encounter is the one with the largest otter in. It is a giant otter or 'King' otter and is the largest of the species. The previous time we were here, there were a breeding pair in the pen, but on this occasion there was just the one. Male or female? don't ask me, but he or she paced up and down, or sometimes dived in the water, leaving you to guess where it would come back up, all the time making a kind of squealing noise. A very sleek magnificent creature, but would probably give you a nasty nip if you put your fingers too near !

Further along the valley, following a stream there are other pens with different species of otter, and large cages with many different species of owl. There is a web site for the centre which gives details, here is the link : http://www.chestnutcentre.co.uk/ The centre is well worth a visit.

New Mills.

New Mills is another place we like to visit from time to time. Not too far from Stockport, it is a place as its name suggests, with a lot of industrial heritage. There is a heritage centre to visit, where you can see the history of the town, and there are shops, pubs and cafes. One in particular which used to be the 'Cyber Cafe', is now the 'Llamedos Cafe'. Although Welsh sounding, there is no Welsh connection with the place, except in the irony of its name. Like the village of 'Llareggub', in Dylan Thomas's 'Under Milk Wood'. I leave you to ponder about that one! Most of the buildings are stone built, and where new properties are added, they too are of stone, in keeping with the character of the village, or town, whichever status you care to give it.

Undoubtedly, one of the more impressive features of the place is the deep gorge known as 'The Torrs', where the River Goyt meets the Sett, coming down from Hayfield a couple of miles away. Before 2000, the gorge was impassable, but someone saw fit to put a walkway through, over the river. The result is a conduit worthy of anything a small part of the Grand Canyon could offer, (With apologies to our American cousins!) The views are impressive to say the least, especially when the river is in spate, as it rushes over one of the weirs, once built to power the looms in the mills.

The Millennium Walkway and Weir

One feature which has been added at New Mills, makes use of the head of water created by a weir further upstream, where the Sett comes down from Hayfield to join the Goyt. Here a hydro-electric generator has been installed, and water which once turned the machinery in the nearby cotton mills, now generates electricity. The device uses an 'Archimede's' Screw, the water flowing down the screw creating the rotation that powers the generator. As its name implies, it is an ancient design, which has been used for centuries for lifting water from a lower to a higher level, but now being effectively used in reverse for power generation. Archimedes would have been proud, and probably is, looking down from his 'mews', of the use his design has been put to. The installation has been sensitively designed, with a fish ladder up one side, and is small enough to have minimal impact on the area.

Torrs Hydroelectric Scheme Generator

Although the power this scheme will generate is but a drop in the ocean, compared to the overall energy needs of this country, it is nonetheless a step in the right direction. We are currently over reliant on dwindling fossil fuels, and oil and gas supplied by other nations, who could hold us to ransom in the future. Then there is the Nuclear industry of our country, being taken into French ownership. On the down side, how much carbon has been put into the atmosphere in the production of the steel in the screw, and how long will it be until the device has paid for itself and the return to the investors from the power it has generated? The ordinary man in the street will not see a reduction in his domestic electricity bill. But on the positive side, it will produce electricity for years to come, with little or no carbon generated. As it is said, there is no such thing as a free lunch and it is a mistaken notion that this is free energy, as the initial investment has to be met, as it is with all forms of renewable energy production. The alternative though, is worse for the environment.

Hayfield

A mile or two up the Sett Valley, is the village of Hayfield, a pictureque village, it is a gateway to the open moorland of Kinder Scout. For years it has been a magnet for walkers and was the scene of the mass trespasses, when people turned out in droves to establish the right of free access to then privately owned open moorland. Now, anyone can wander at will on Kinder Scout, but it would be a foolhardy person who ventures on the moors without adequate preparation, clothing and footwear. Rambling, or hiking was more popular in those days, but latterly, compared to then, it has become less so, although, on a sunny day you will always see plenty of people out enjoying the open countryside and the fresh air.

When I was about 13, we could board a train from North Reddish Station, an old style D.M.U. (Diesel Multiple Unit) with a 'V' stripe on the front, which would take us straight through to Hayfield, and on a number of occasions, myself and a few mates from school would take the trip, walk over Kinder, dropping down to Edale, stopping occasionally to cool our tins of 'pop' in a stream, then opening them with one of those piercers, rather like the beak of a bird of prey, which put a hole in the top of the can, before ring pulls came out. You had to be careful, because if the can had been shaken, you could end up with a face ful of fizzy orange! (Remember that?)

After messing about in Edale for an hour or so, we would make the climb up to Mam Nick, beside Mam Tor, the 'Shimmering Mountain', so called because one face of it is made of a sheer drop of shale. (Try saying that after a few drinks!) On one occasion we would slide down the back side of the mountain on the grass, and you went home with a green backside! But the views from the top of Mam Tor are spectacular, across to Kinder Scout and on the other side to Derbyshire and beyond. Nowadays, Mam Tor is a popular spot for Hang Gliding and Para Gliding, with people launching themselves into the updraught blowing up the face of the mountain, and hanging there for ages, or flying down to the valley below, near Castleton.

Castleton was another place we would visit after Mam Tor, passing the Blue John Mines and Speedwell Cavern, which can be descended for a small fee. Then there is a huge cavern at Castleton itself which is well worth a visit. Coming back from Castleton, passing Speedwell once more, where you go down the mine in a boat. It is one cavern I have never been down, and is on my 'Things to do before you die list'. Passing Speedwell, you start to ascend Winnatts Pass, believed to be the remains of a cave system which collapsed. Like many other examples that can be found wherever there is limestone country. Then it was back to Chapel-En-Le-Frith and the bus home. What a distance we covered then, but we thought nothing of it!

Returning from a stint in the Army in 1971, the line had been closed and the track torn up, a victim of the Beeching purges, where economics was put before people, and thus died one of the more picturesque train journeys along with many others. One good thing came from it though, the creation of the Sett Valley Trail from New Mills to Hayfield, a walk we have done many times, and the railway station was made into a bus terminus, so you can get the bus up and walk back, or vice versa, or do it in both directions, or take a different way back on the opposite side of the valley.

One very poignant place in Hayfield though, is the Memorial Garden, created as a memorial to three people who were killed by a runaway truck which had careered through the village, before the bypass was built. It is a place for quiet contemplation, beside a waterfall, or weir, with ducks.

It is hard to imagine a more idyllic spot to sit a while, but there is much more to see in and around the village. I will add more to this later, but for now I will leave you with this image above.