Retired Ranger Rides Rather Rough Railway Route at Rudyard, Rushton Spencer and The Roaches.
Rudyard Lake, a few miles NW of Leek in Staffordshire was my primary objective on this ride, the lake having been having built as one of the means of supplying water to the embryonic Trent and Mersey Canal. This was in 1798, but I cannot recall hearing about it at the time.
Alongside the lake there once was (until Dr.Beeching came along), a railway joining Uttoxeter to Macclesfield, and part of this has subsequently become a cycle path, albeit with a rather poor surface in places, but all is not lost since there is now a narrow gauge railway with some delightful little engines, which carry steam enthusiasts, the disabled, and those too lazy to walk or cycle, a mile or so alongside the lake.
Strange, isn't it, how we wave at people on trains and yet we don't wave at people in cars or in aeroplanes.
Rumour has it that the parents of Rudyard Kipling named their son after the lake where he was conceived. Well not actually in the lake of course.
Also we hear that Florence Nightingale takes her name from the city of Florence where she was conceived, and (according to comedian Jack Dee) a similar fate befell her brother Bus-shelter Nightingale.
The original name of Rudyard is supposedly derived from that of a guy called Rudd, who must have had a yard hereabouts. He claimed to have killed Richard 111 at the Battle of Bosworth in 1485.
The king's remains (less his feet, since he was de-feeted in the battle) were recently exhumed from a car park in Leicester. The search goes on for his car since Leicester City Council are anxious to recover the parking charges which have racked up over the passing years.
Lots of huffing and puffing as the engine pulls away from an intermediate stop at the dam. |
Rumour has it that the parents of Rudyard Kipling named their son after the lake where he was conceived. Well not actually in the lake of course.
Also we hear that Florence Nightingale takes her name from the city of Florence where she was conceived, and (according to comedian Jack Dee) a similar fate befell her brother Bus-shelter Nightingale.
The original name of Rudyard is supposedly derived from that of a guy called Rudd, who must have had a yard hereabouts. He claimed to have killed Richard 111 at the Battle of Bosworth in 1485.
The king's remains (less his feet, since he was de-feeted in the battle) were recently exhumed from a car park in Leicester. The search goes on for his car since Leicester City Council are anxious to recover the parking charges which have racked up over the passing years.
Anyway, here is a picture of the lake.
Leaving the most Northerly tip of the lake a grassy path takes us to the small village of of Rushton Spencer, where the village pub is called the Knott Inn. No use knocking, they're not in.
To the North, between here and Buxton lie The Roaches, a series of grit-stone outcrops which are a spectacular sight and a magnet for climbers. A tough ride there for cyclists on the narrow and hilly country lanes, but well worth the effort for the views from high up are superb.
I get enough thrills riding a bike in Derby's traffic.
Rudyard Lake was popular with wealthy Victorians and many of them had boat houses built on the shoreline. More recently some of the boat houses have been converted into very desirable houses. |
To the North, between here and Buxton lie The Roaches, a series of grit-stone outcrops which are a spectacular sight and a magnet for climbers. A tough ride there for cyclists on the narrow and hilly country lanes, but well worth the effort for the views from high up are superb.
I get enough thrills riding a bike in Derby's traffic.
3 comments:
It is reported that the Buzzards are on the lookout for passing cyclists. They can strip a bike of its parts in less then ten minutes. Riders are safe though as most are old and tough.
Methinks we have a fan of ISIHAC writing here.
Well done Les
Will your next missive be a plethora of "P" words then?
Geoff
Noted the little 'quips' here and there Les. Had to sort out the fact from the fiction!
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