Walks

The walk starts at 10am from the layby by the Old Water Tower (Travis Perkins Trading Co) 

Mobberley Road , Knutsford. The nearest postcode is WA16 8 EU

Directions to the start: Make your way from Wilmslow to Mobberley village and continue on the main road through the village until you see the big brick water tower on your right. Just after passing it turn right ( filter arrow on the road) into the large layby. 

Walk description: This is a pleasant, scenic walk for a winter day. The walk is largely confined to the 1,000 acres of Tatton Park,  but has a short extension into Knutsford at the start so that the whole perimeter of the Park can be explored. We return to the start via Dog Wood. The woodland and lakeside paths are mainly flat and any inclines are gentle. Some paths may be muddy. Hopefully , we will enjoy close views of Fallow and Red Deer.

The walk starts at 10am from Clough House car park, Wildboarclough,  SJ 9874 6996, SK11 OBD. The carpark is now pay and display (£6.20 cash).

Directions to start: from the Silk Road, turn left at Arighi Bianchi, turn right onto Ankers Lane, after about 2 miles turn right at the Stanley Arms pub and the car park is about 2 miles on the left. I can give 3 lifts.

Details of the walk: we take the road past the back of Crag Hall, then take the moorland path to Hole Edge and Gradbach, crossing the Dane at Gradbach Mill; then take the path past Heald End Farm into Wildborclough, returning to the carpark  past Shutlingsloe Farm.

Poles would be helpful on the stony paths.

Biddulph & Mow Cop 7 - 8 miles, Moderate

The walk starts at Biddulph Old Railway Station at 10am. Post code ST8 6TZ.

From Wilmslow, take the A34 south to Congleton. At the traffic lights on Rood Hill, turn left and follow this road on to dual carriageway until you pick up signs to Biddulph and Biddulph Grange on the A527  Before the centre of Biddulph, turn right directly in front of the Biddulph Arms Hotel into Hall Road. At the junction with a road coming up from Biddulph on the left, carry straight on for a few yards and then turn left into Smokies Way. The car park is on the right. It was free the last time I was there!

We start by walking North on the old railway line back towards Congleton before turning South East to join Congleton Edge and eventually Mow Cop.  A visit to the Old Man of Mow is weather and time dependent. We’ll then make our way back to the railway line leading to the car park. Total ascent 762ft if you are interested. 

Details to follow

The walk starts at 10am at the parking spaces on the road alongside Ridgegate Reservoir, just beyond the Leather’s Smithy pub post code SK11 0NE.

Directions to the start:  own route to Macclesfield follow road past Arighi Bianchi. After about a mile turn left on to Byrons Lane, keep on the road past Old Kings Head, bear left towards Langley. Drive through Langley on to Clark Lane until you reach the Leather’s Smithy.

The walk ascends along the edge of Macclesfield Forest and across fields to Walker Barn part following  a path used by Marjorie in the snow last winter. The walk then follows paths towards Rainow, returning to Teggs Nose via an ascent on Bull Hill Lane, then downhill and along Teggsnose and Bottoms Reservoirs 

A Circuit from Hayfield to Lantern Pike via the mill at Little Hayfield, returning via the Sett Valley Trail. This route provides extensive views East towards the Peak District and over the Sett Valley to the South.

Difficulty: Some steep ascent up to the summit but the route is mostly on very good paths and tracks. In wet weather it will be muddy and gaiters should be considered.

Start: 10:30hrs at the Set Valley Trail Car Park Hayfield, High Peak, SK22 2ES. Lat/Long 53.378988,-1.947422. OS Explorer Map OL1 The Peak district, Dark Peak Area, OL1 OS Grid Ref SK 03595 86905. This car park currently only takes coins, no notes, does not take any cards nor payment via any  smartphone app. There is some free roadside parking  on Wood Lane just to the north, accessed via driving past the car park entrance on Station Road which turns into Wood Lane in 100 metres.

Route: Set Valley Trail Car Park Hayfield, Calico Trail, Hey Wood, Peak District Boundary Walk, Lantern Pike 373m, Wethercotes, Feeding Hey, Briargrove Road, Blake Hall, Cobster Cottage, Watford Lodge Nature Reserve, Sett Valley Trail, Set Valley Trail Car Park Hayfield

Refreshments: A variety of refreshments may be available at the Sett Valley Cafe  located a mile from the end of this route.

Outdooractive Route and map

The walk starts at Lindow Common Car Park at 10am. It follows the route of the Loop on a leaflet as issued by Discover Lindow.

Directions to start:  from the centre of Wilmslow follow the road to the Airport Tunnels for about 1 mile and turn left just before Hickory’s Smokehouse and left into the carpark. Post code SK9 5LW.

The walk is easy with a few gentle ascents. It goes towards Mobberley reaching the Plough and Flail and returns via Lindow Moss.

I will mention the descriptions on the leaflet as we walk round the loop.

The walk is easy in terms of length but of moderate difficulty.  Leaving Clough House car park we walk across the moors to Three Shire Heads then along the Dane River valley to the Whetstone Ridge and return down Cumberland Brook. The section of the route along the Dane Valley is likely to be very wet and muddy, there is a short steep uphill section to the road and a steep descent down Cumberland Brook. The moors are also pretty wet underfoot, all the streams are overflowing and any duck boards are very slippery. Gaiters and poles are advised. 6.5 miles 

Walk start: 10.00am, Clough House car park Postcode SK11 0BD 

Directions: My preferred route is to take the new Buxton Road from Arighi Bianchi in Macclesfield. After just over 3 miles, turn right as the A537 goes sharp left, onto what becomes Ankers Lane. Drive 1.5 miles. Go right at the Stanley Arms. Clough House car park is on the right after 1.7 miles.

Start of walk: Radnor Woods car park. Alderley Park.

Off Congleton Road B5087

Post code: SK10 4TW (290m away)

Grid reference: SJ 845 759

The car park is £1 an hour, maximum of £5 payable by card only on exit.

Directions to the start: Its possibly easier to avoid the Alderley Edge Bypass and drive through Alderley Edge Village, continuing on the B5087 Congleton Road, passing the N.T.Nether Alderley Mill on your left. Turn right at the next set of traffic light. Pass the security cabin and turn immediately left to the car park.

Walk Description:

This is a longer version of the cancelled Christmas Lunch Walk.

From the car park we will walk to towards the Churchill Pub, visit the Water Gardens before entering A.P. woodlands, Hocker Lane, Finlow Hill, Artists Lane, through lovely  woodland then dropping down to Congleton Road. Crossing over we walk through pastures to Welsh Row, Nether Alderley Church and returning back to Radnor Car park. 

Details to follow

Outline: A walk from Monsal Head down into the southern end of Mondal Dale, then over to Sheldon and Magpie Mine, returning via the sheep dipping bridge at Ashford in the Water.

Difficulty: A long stroll with short steep ascents and descents.

Walk start: 10:30hrs at Monsal Head car park, Ashford in the Water, Bakewell, DE45 1NL. Lat/Long  53.240094, -1.724999. OS map OL24 Grid Ref SK 18450 71487.

Route: Monsal Head car park, Monsal Dale, Weir, Lees Bottom, Sheldon, Magpie Mine, Sheldon, Cock and Pullet,  Monsal Head car park.

Refreshments: Refreshments may be available at The Cock and Pullet in Sheldon as well as the Stables Bar at Monsal Head.

Outdooractive route details and map

The walk will start 10am from Chinley Independent Church car park

The Wash Chapel Milton. SK23 OQN

Directions to the start: From Wilmslow take the A34 and join the A555 link road.

Follow the A555 to the end turning right onto the A6. Continue to the dual carriageway turning right A624 with the Fickle Mermaid pub on the right.

At the next roundabout take the third exit remaining on the A624.

Follow the road under the first railway bridge, as you approach the second bridge turning right onto sharp right, very small sign, The Wash.

Turn right into Chinley Independent Church and park at the back on the left.

Walk Description: Leaving the hamlet behind we start a steady gradual climb up to Shire Oaks and turn onto the Pennine Bridal Way. Malcoff, Bolehole Clough, Bagshaw and Bowdon, finally returning to the Wash.

Hopefully we will be rewarded with wonderful views.

Details to follow

Outline: A classic loop from Bowden Bridge near Hayfield to Mount Famine, South Head and Kinder Low.

Walk start: 10:30hrs at Bowden Bridge car park, 165 Kinder Rd, High Peak, SK22 2LH. Grid Reference SK 04867 86950.  OS map OL1. Lat.,Long. 53.379209,-1.928318

Route: Bowden Bridge Car Park, Mount Famine, South Head, Edale Rocks, Kinder Low, Kinderlowe End, Tunstead Clough Farm, Bowden Bridge Car Park.

Outdooractive route plan and map

Outline: A high circuit that visits Alphin Pike, Chew Reservoir and Great Dove Stones Rocks. The route provides magnificent views over the Dovestone Reservoir and to the west over Greater Manchester.

Difficulty: A long stroll with short steep ascents and descents. Some paths may be muddy.

Walk start: 10:30hrs at Dovestone Reservoir Car Park, Greenfield, Oldham, OL3 7NE. Lat/Long 53.527766, -1.981176. OS map OL1. Grid Ref: SE 01335 03477. 

Route: Dovestone Reservoir Car Park, Intake Lane, White Lee, Greave, Alphin Pike 469m, Chew Hurdles, Chew Reservoir, Bramley's Cot, Great Dove Stones Rocks, Dean Rocks, Sunny Brow, Footbridge, Dovestone Reservoir Car Park.

Outdooractive route details and map

Poor weather alternative: Starts at the same time and place as the original route. A low anti-clockwise circuit of Dovestone, Yeoman Hey and Greenfield Reservoirs.

 Outdooractive route details and map