Our starting point for today’s walk was the Swan With Two Nicks pub at Bollington.  At 9.50am we left the car park and turned to the right and then right again as we entered a narrow lane leading down to the Bridgewater Canal.  The lane led us under the canal after which we crossed over a stile and walked across a couple of fields to reach a small wood.  Inside the wood we crossed over Agden Brook and then leaving the wood we made our way towards Woolstencroft Farm.  Before reaching the farm two right turns brought us to back to a different part of Agden Brook.  Here, as the picture shows, the footbridge was both unusual and particularly awkward to cross. After crossing Agden Brook it was only a few hundred yards further to the River Bollin.  The bridge here is mainly used by cattle and after the heavy rains of the last few days was very muddy but the track on the other side was good and we had now completed the muddy sections of today’s walk.  At the end of the track we reached Dunham Woodhouses where turning left on Woodhouse Lane we passed the Vine Inn (the road now called Station Road) and then within a few yards came to a converted farm where the buildings were now being used to display a large collection of antiques.  As we examined articles in the farmyard the owner saw us and invited us to go inside where the main collection was stored.  A fascinating collection with many rural objects but after 30 minutes we remembered we were supposed to be on a walk so after making a note to return at a later time we set off again down Station Road towards the Rope & Anchor pub.  Another farm on the other side of the road displayed a sale sign for ice cream made on the farm.  This could not be missed so in we went. However our luck was out as the farmer explained that his wife ran the ice cream business and only opened at weekends at this time of the year.  Another place worth a return visit.  As we left the farm we saw another of the farm buildings housed a small business manufacturing quality iron work.  One of our group was most interested so in we went.  I am not sure of the reason for the look on the owners face, maybe he had just been asked for a discount.  Eventually we set off again and passing the Rope & Anchor pub we reached the Trans Pennine Trail which at this point ran along the route of an old railway line.  Passing through the fancy gates we entered the trail and were now walking towards Oldfield Brow.  Not many birds were about but at one point a Sparrow Hawk was dashing in and out of the bushes ahead of us.  On reaching Oldfield Brow we spent a few minutes examining a very informative display board on the trail before leaving the trail and walking down the road to the Bay Malton pub.  A coffee here would have been most welcome but the opening time was 12 noon and we had 10 minutes to wait, so carrying on we joined the footpath along the Bridgewater Canal and walked towards Dunham Village.  The grass along the footpath had just been cut but how?  As we approached Dunham Village the answer became apparent for just in front of us was a mechanised lawn mower complete with driver.  He was just about to pass under the bridge crossing the canal and the footpath was very narrow.  He only just made it.  Leaving the canal behind at this bridge we walked through Dunham Village passing the village hall (100 years old in 1994), the old school (erected in 1759) and  the Axe & Cleaver pub.  Opposite the Church was the Post Office, which unfortunately did not stock rum & raisin ice cream, but putting a brave face on it we set off on the last part of our walk which led us down a little footpath and across some fields before we reached Dunham Golf Course.  Across the golf course and through some trees brought us out on Charcoal Road by the main gates of Dunham Park.  Entering the park we walked along the main drive, passing the Hall, the Stables, and the Mill before exiting the park at the stile leading to Bollington Mill. Alongside the mill the old mill race looked very quiet but once it had to carry all the water from the river Bollin when the weir was being built.  After a short stop for birdwatching on the footbridge, crossing the Bollin we walked the last few yards to the Swan With The Two Nicks and reached our cars at 1.10pm.   We had taken just over 3 hours to cover 6½ miles and, considering the lengthy diversions, not bad at all.  Lunch at the Swan With Two Nicks completed an excellent day.

INDEX PAGE for the THURSDAY GROUP WALKS