Wildboarclough & Shutlingsloe

We have seen Shutlingsloe from afar and though its about time we went up it, so it was off to Wildboarclough in Cheshire. Unfortunately we had a delayed start due to Ike not getting up on time so we started off 30 minutes late. He blamed his missus Angela  for not waking him up!!!
The closer we got the more misty it got and on arrival we couldn't see the top. We still went ahead and set off. The walk started gently through country lanes then up past some pastures with boggy ground and rushes then it was quite a steep climb with quite a few stops to catch our breath.

This weeks route anti clockwise around the mountain

Ike & Rob

This wall construction came under a bit of  discussion as to why the flat stones were under the coping stones.

Ike looking lovingly to this ram

Ike & Rob

Rob looking like an elf sitting on  a toadstool

Geoff

Shutlingsloe in the distance

Geoff

Ike & Rob forging ahead

Geoff stripped off 

When we got to the top it was quite damp and very misty, but also there were thousands of midges.

Geoff had his hood up keeping off the midges

Me posing

Geoff, Rob & Ike

Me at the trig point 

We were getting eaten alive with midges so we didn't even finish our breakfast before we set off back on route to Wildboarclough

We came down the other side of the hill and found these giant steps

Shutlingsloe in the distance 

This where we rejoined the footpath 

This view was coming down with even more mist on the top

Wildboarclough claims to be where the last wild boar in England was killed. The village is now a quiet backwater, popular with visitors at weekends.
There was a carpet mill which used Clough Brook to power its machinery, but it was largely demolished. It once had the strange distinction of being the largest sub-Post Office in England. Below the mill the bridge bears a commemorative plaque to the flash flood of 1989, which drowned a motorist in his car.
Walkers come to ascend Shutlingsloe, the 'Matterhorn of Cheshire' - which rises 506 metres steeply to the west of the village. Nearby is Blaze Farm where ice cream is made straight from the cows.

Bridge over Clough Brook

Mill House

Crag Hall was built in 1796 by the mill owner, while Crag Lodge housed the mill manager and Edinboro Cottages housed mill workers.  3 mills were eventually built on the site, but they were mostly demolished by 1957.  Mill House and the Old Post Office are the only parts of the mill buildings that substantially remain.

Saint Saviour's Church Wildboarclough

Saint Saviour's Church Wildboarclough

Edinboro Cottages for the mill workers

Geoff just coming into sight at the end of the lane.

Clough Brook

Packing up to go home 

Geoff went on the previous Friday to sus out the walk and he had brilliant sunshine. The following group of pics are Geoff's from Friday. This is what we would have seen!!!

Although the weather was grim we still thoroughly enjoyed the walk, just under 4 miles but a tough little climb going up.
See you next week.