North Norfolk Heritage Railway, Sheringham

 Sheringham, on the Norfolk coast is the home to the delightful North Norfolk Heritage Railway, and I took the opportunity to ride on it during my second day in Sheringham.

It is situated next to the train station, in the centre of town. I bought a day rover ticket for £26 and I got on the first diesel train of the day to the furthest stop, Holt. The carriage was divided into the cabins with two rows of seats facing each other and it wasn’t long before we arrived at Holt. This station has several buildings and a former residence made from two former train carriages joined together. My first call was the building containing the model railway, not a model train man myself but I can appreciate the work that went into it.  There was a preserved working ticket office, a number of preserved carriages and engines, cranes and an old truck on display.  I was most interested in the former residence made from train carriages as it was a great example of re-use and recycling, the residence backed on a garden which had a wash room and an world war two Anderson shelter on display. I’ve only ever previously seen an Anderson shelter once, that was at the Imperial War Museum, London.  The residence had a lovely couple outside to explain the history of it.  After a relaxing tea at the tea shop, it was back on the same diesel train to Weybourne.

Weybourne is the first station coming out of Sheringham, There was slightly less to see here than at Holt, although I was able to peak inside the restored working signal box, attended by two volunteers. There were a number restored engines and carriages parked in the sidings but none allowed entry inside.  I later found out that Weybourne station was the location of a few television programmes including Dad’s Army, Allo Allo and Hi-Di-Hi.  This was all explained in a display at the waiting shelter.  This part of the line was double tracked so the footbridge was still intact.  Before long I took the steam train back to Sheringham.  I can’t get enough of steam.

Sheringham station had a restored ticket office, a gift shop next store and large cafe in what would have been the parcels and left luggage room.  I bought a little souvenir before heading out. This is well worth visiting if you are in the Norfolk area and I thank the volunteers involved.

Sheringham station

Model railway at Holt station

The residence

Residence washroom Anderson shelter

Signal box as Weybourne

Sheringham station tea room

Altrincham to Lymm walk

 The day after walking the Peak Forest canal, I walked the Lymm Railway trail between Altrincham and Lymm, Cheshire.  I heard about this walk through this Youtube video. This trail is part of the Trans Pennine Way.

After arriving at Altrincham by bus, I walked through the town to Dunham Massey car park to reach the start point. I haven’t been to Altrincham since the 1990s and it doesn’t seem to have changed much.  Once there, I began my six mile journey to Lymm.  It was very obvious I was walking a disused railway as it was very wide and the initial few miles was paved with tarmac.  Along the way I came across cyclists and other walkers. 

There were many other signs of the railway such as the cutting and the occasional road bridge over the trail. The trail took me through lovely Cheshire countryside and picturesque farm land.  Before long I reached the outskirts of Lymm, the Trans Pennine continues from here, but I came off the route to head into Lymm for lunch.  Despite being Manchester born and brought up, this was the first time I have been the pretty small town of Lymm.

Manchester City vs AFC Bournemouth

 New EPL season has just started, I'm listening to the above game on BBC Sounds.  I wish I'm listening to it on my second hand DAB radio, but the app will do.

Errwood Hall and Shining Tor

 In the afternoon after hiking the Peak Forest Canal to see Marple locks, we went on another hike to Shining Tor, the highest point in Cheshire.

The hike took us past the ruins of Errwood Hall, and the graves of its former owners, the Grimshaws.  Thankfully the shrine for their former Spanish teacher was still intact and it was filled with devotional items. 

Then it was off to Shining Tor, a peak that is marked by a trig point.  As expected it has stunning views of the local area, especially the Goyt valley.  It’s well worth doing this hike if you are in the area.

Errwood Hall

Shrine at Errwood Hall

Shining Tor trig point.

England vs Pakistan 1st test

 Congratulations England.  What has happened to Pakistan?

Peak forest canal, Marple locks

 In the middle week of my UK visit I was in Stockport and I walked part of the Peak forest canal in Marple with a friend.

This area is the home of Marple locks, a set of 16 numbered stepped locks ascending and descending the Peaks. With a history that goes back to 1804, it still is a piece of remarkable engineering with a short lived operational history thanks to the railways. 

On that day we passed numerous narrowboats and barges using the locks.  The walk took in breaktaking moorland countryside and deciduous forest.  The town of Marple was a delight to visit.

Leigh Busway

On my final, day in Manchester, I went to visit my father’s grave in Bury cemetery and afterwards I took two local buses to Leigh via Bolton, in order to ride of the Leigh Busway or the Leigh-Salford-Manchester Bus Rapid Transit.  It’s not the only busway in the country, but it was certainly the most convenient one for me during my UK trip. 

A busway is a former railway line that has been redeveloped to be a dedicated bus route.  It is a great way to re-use existing infrastructure and using buses is much cheaper than re-activating the old train line with trains or tram.  And bus has the advantage of using normal roads 

To use it, I took the V1 bus route from Leigh, which terminates at Manchester Royal Infirmary, but I got off at Salford Crescent station.  The busway section runs for about six kilometres.  The stops on busway reminded me more of Manchester Metrolink tram stops than bus stops.  In a few places it is still possible to see the old railway cutting.  

The other good thing was that the fare is the same as a normal bus and I was able to use the day rover ticket that I bought earlier in Bury.  

One of the busway stops.