Dingle Belles
                      Sat Feb 7 2009
                 1400 Jubilee Simmondley

Members of the Longdendale and Glossopdale Footpath Society met at Simmondley. The cold spell was coming to an end, however the walkers relished the idea of climbing to the local hilltop and enjoying the last remaining snow drifts. Passages between homes, several still icy, lead via Foxlea and Kingfisher Close to Green Lane. The lane headed out of the estate and made its way to Gamesley Bridge. The frost held the ground in its icy grip, but pastures where horses still grazed had been churned to mire.

Reaching St Margaret's School a section of the Pennine Bridle Way, Pedestrian Alternative lead to the rear of the rugby field and on to Hargate Hill Lane. Up the lane and across High Lane. A steady ascent of Slack Edge had the hikers walking on crisp frozen snow.

The route emerged almost on the summit of Monk's Road; across the road paths still with remnants of snow drifted behind the walls lead the hikers onto Coombes Rocks for wide reaching views across Manchester to Mersey Side. Crossing to the far side of the plateau at Cown Edge, gave views across snow covered hills in the Peak District. Off the high ground, Monk's Road re-crossed and down the Dingle. The path way through heather and furze leading to stream eroded gullies brought the walkers to Dingle Cottage. Off the snow at Simmondley Green and home in the lengthening twilight.

Glossop paths walked:- 44 & 45
Charlesworth paths walked:- 4, 6, 10, 19, 20, 84, 85, 86 & 87.

David Frith