The footpath takes an uncompromising line straight off the hill due east (lower down the author slipped on the damp grass so be warned!). Three wicket-gates lead onto the track at Underhill Farm. Spot the old dovecote in the gable end. Go left through the gate and along the access track. After a red gate the access from Hill House joins from the left, the track advancing as Well Lane into Upper Elkstone.
Bear right down the village road. Before turning left towards Manor Farm, make a point of visiting the tiny parish church.
A plaque on the inside wall states that the church was built for the princely sum of £200 in the year of our Lord 1788 by William Grindon of Stonefold. The interior is handsome with shields and a fine gallery, all in all a charming little meeting house.
Now duly take the cul-de-sac lane (footpath sign) leading north to Manor Farm. Pass through the gate to the right of the farmhouse and by the new house and on down a green track through gates into the valley pasture. Bear round by the fence corner down to the footbridge in the valley bottom. Directly from the bridge cross a fence-stile and navigate the uncharted waters of the ensuing rushy marsh! (Duckboarding would be a useful addition to path furniture.) Stepping onto firmer ground keep up the right-hand side of the side valley ahead, latterly coping with further rushy ground to enter the lower yard at Herbage. Spot the old stone cattle troughs to the right. The unenclosed farm track leads up beyond the farmhouse entrance, winding on through the pasture to a cattle grid onto the Leek Road from Warslow.
Blake Mere with glider
Turn left and follow the verge to where an unenclosed minor road signed ‘Royal Cottage’ forks right. Follow this almost to the brow, then step onto the moorland pasture left at two stones, opposite where a fence begins on the right. A tangible path leads to the Ordnance Survey column with its poignant memorial plate. The presence of a poppy wreath on the author’s visit was a very real reminder of the importance many place in remembering all those who commit their lives in the name of their country wherever duty calls – for all this records a local branch of ‘Dad’s Army’! Merryton Low at 489m/1604ft is a splendid viewpoint.
Remembrance wreaths on Merryton Low
A green track leads directly to the road, though being open access one may choose to a stride out along the rough moor path south-southwest to the Warslow/Morridge junction and minimise contact with the Queen’s highway. The walk passes by the Mermaid Inn, which is open throughout the day: a welcome late-in-the-walk port of call. Its name derives from the legendary ‘Lady of Blake Mere’; the dark, reputedly bottomless pool is inhabited by a legendary mermaid who reveals herself mid-week at midnight.
At the far end of the car park stands a handsome modern beacon with a curlew motif plate hanging below.
Follow the sinuous road verge to regain the Rey Viewpoint. The bench might prove a useful perch on which to remove your boots, an activity that can be adversely affected by the exposed situation in the prevailing eye of a southwesterly breeze.
WALK 3
Mixon and Butterton
| Start/Finish | Onecote |
| Distance | 10.7km (6¾ miles) |
| Time | 4hrs |
| Terrain | Modest ascent on quiet roads and tracks |
| Refreshments | The Courtyard Tearoom (weekends only) and the Jervis Arms in Onecote; The Black Lion Inn in Butterton |
| Parking | (GR 049552) There is suitable off-road hard standing close to the village hall. |
First things first: Onecote is pronounced ‘On-cut’. Travellers whizzing through on the Longnor road perhaps only know Onecote from the oak products signs, and maybe stop from time to time at the pub with its scenic footbridge over the Hamps. However, walkers will derive far more pleasure from the setting once they have stretched their legs on this fine outing. The triangular route ventures up the Hamps valley amid a wall-tamed moorland landscape, long devoted to the rearing of cattle and sheep. It then heads east, keeping comparatively high by footpaths and an ultra-minor road to visit Butterton, a lovely upland village, before switching back west over Grindon Moor with its vestige tract of heather.
Follow the road west from the village hall (until 1984 this was a primary school). Pass on by the dignified little church; look right to the steeply gabled Victorian farmhouse associated with the Robertson family.
This family’s bravery is recounted by Dougal Robertson in Survive the Savage Sea. Their voyage around the world in 1972 ended abruptly off the Galapagos Islands when their yacht sank within two minutes of an attack by killer whales. The Robertsons resorted to an inflatable dingy and managed to survive for 38 days on a pitiful diet until rescued by Japanese tuna fishermen.
Beyond the speed limit signs branch off the road right at the handsome Onecote Grange sign, announcing the pedigree Holstein dairy herd, the caravan club site, and free range eggs! A little further along the road lies the Courtyard Tearoom, a relish at the walk’s end if you’re here at a weekend.
Follow the lane signed ‘footpath to the Mermaid via Mixon’ to the Grange, crossing the Hamps bridge. Admire the handsome farmhouse with staddle-stones set on the edge of the lawn – these originally were placed under thatched stacks of corn sheaves to inhibit rodents. Pass close by the farmhouse, via two gates, to join the open roadway leading on to a cattle grid. Where the road forks keep right, the open road leading up the Hamps valley with good views down to the meandering stream. Cross a bridge and a third cattle grid (with every chance of encountering Charolais beef cattle as keeneyed observers of any walker who passes their way). Cross a fourth cattle grid; where the roadway takes a right-angled turn left continue forward upon the rougher track with a pony paddock to the right. A fifth cattle grid occurs as the track enters the wooded environs of the old Mixon copper mine, with a welcoming field-gun pointing directly at oncoming walkers. Mixon derives from ‘mixen’, meaning ‘dung heap or midden’.
Follow the track to the left of the gun, going through the gate to pass up by the cottage, to find a wall-stile to the right of the stone barn. Pass on through the nettlebeset paddock to a stile, and drift down the clinkered ground to pass a double-gate access to a lorry park. Continue to a stile in a fence, and cross over into pasture. Keep along the top edge of the field following a dry dike; at the field corner stride across the open pasture, maintaining the same course to a galvanised gate and crude stile. Cross the next field in the same direction, stepping onto the top of an old dam. The dam is breached, so dip at the fence and hop across the brook using the stone as a firm launch pad.
The meandering Hamps above Onecote Grange
On reaching the next fence go through the wicket-gate beside the field-gate. Cross the next field to a wicket-gate, and the next field to a metal field-gate. Now with heaps of concrete rail sleepers and broken concrete piles to the left ignore the open track. Instead bear right under the power lines and descend right to a long rail stile (yellow waymark attached). Descend into the valley bottom through the burdock to cross a metal footbridge over the Hamps.
Bear left, arriving at a galvanised gate into the wooded bank; ignore this and cross the railing stile at the fence end. Head up the pasture through the gate, and at the top of the next field slip through the wall squeeze-stile. Continue uphill to a light fence-stile, crossing the open farm track to Meadows Farm. Aim slightly right to a further wall squeeze-stile where you join the open road. Turn right, passing the gate signed to Cave Farm, descending either the pasture or sticking resolutely to the minor road… and why not? The road, little troubled by vehicles, leads by Breach Farm, enjoying fine views towards heather-clad Revidge across the Warslow Brook valley. Pass through the environs of New Hillhouse, by gates. The road continues to where it swings right at Hayes Farm cottage; keep