Macclesfield Harriers

9.30 St Dunstan Inn, Main Rd, Langley, SK11 0BU.

By Sunday the wind will have dropped and things will have warmed up a bit, so time to venture out and explore the dramatic effects that Emma & The Beast have wrought on the local landscape. The recent high winds have scoured the fields of snow and dumped it into spectacular drifts around the higher aspects of Langley and Macc Forest. A chance to see and feel these natural formations!


Macclesfield Forest in the snow (Image: Matt Ratcliffe).

The plan is to meet and run from outside the St Dunstan pub at 9.30 then head towards Shutingsloe, getting as high as is practical before circling round to Oakenclough,the Hanging Gate and back to Langley.

Progress may be slow due to the snowy conditions so come prepared with warm, windproof, waterproof cags, gloves and footwear. If you have spikes like Kahtoolas, bring those as they may help in icy conditions.

Park in the streets of Langley anywhere you can find a gap then meet up at 9.30 outside the St Dunstan Pub. We'll leave dead on time as it's not the weather to hang around.

If convenient meet at Tucker's for a 9.05 car share departure or otherwise see you at the St Dunstan 9.30.

Tea & cakes at the Bullock's Lane garden centre afterwards.



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All,
Be warned,Macc Forest has been devastated with 100s of trees down and all most if not all routes through the forest closed.Not just signposted close but completely blocked.The ways up that might go are the Handicap race route or via the track along Teggs bottom then turn right.A completely weird walk today clambering through huge drifts onto fields completely bare of snow except for a few white footprints and tyre tracks where the snow had been packed down before the wind could blow it away
Phil

It's going to take months and months of work to deal with. Martin went down today (we've been away) and United Utilities' forest manager has told him they have got to get a special forestry team in as there is so much work to be done. The paths and bridleway will take priority but they are asking people to be patient as it will be a herculean task, especially adding in the weather and ground conditions. He had to go via Stockport as Cat was closed this morning (he's received an email from Cheshire police saying they have cleared their side but can't get any commitment from Derbyshire to clear our side) and apparently there are abandoned cars on the road beyond his hut which are blocking the road

dropped off Shut today, down through the forest. Lot of tree detritus everywhere but managed to navigate round fallen trees OK. I expect some snaps will appear on facebook!

The road by Standing Stones is still blockeds and closed but 4 0C now so things will thaw quickly.