Alderley Edge

Extract from The New Travel Book -
North of Watford Gap - John Brown .

My fellow walkers on the Edge this bright and breezy afternoon

were an eclectic mix of green-wellied, Barbour-jacketed 50 some things, taking Rover, or in one case Gerald for 'walkies': serious ramblers with stout boots, with trousers rolled into thick comfy socks (why do they do that?), younger girls and boys, totally prepared for every weather condition and eventuality, by dressing in jeans, cotton tops and trainers. Then there was me, somewhere in between. I donned a pair of chunky soled shoes, jeans and despite the warm weather, I had included a light jumper in my survival pack.

 The Edge over Alderley is old, in fact it is ancient. There are records to show that the Romans, Celts and Saxons all considered the Edge to be of importance. It has always had strong mystical associations – and as recently as 1960, it was known to be a regular meeting spot for at least one coven. The name is believed to be derived from the Alder tree, at one time held sacred in northern England.

 As if to prove to prove the point – you should never judge a book by its cover - an elderly couple, who at first site appeared as though they would be incapable of tying up their stout shoes, never mind hiking, as they lifted them from the boot of their car, were now yomping on ahead of me like a couple of ex-marines. With the aid of stout sticks and buried under matching tweed, plant-pot hats, this, despite the temperature now hitting a very pleasant 22 or so - perhaps they knew something about the rapid change in conditions around these parts ?