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Macclesfield Forest 19 January 2025
“A” Walk – 11.5 miles – Leader Yvonne Mason
This walk entails a sparsely populated area of isolated farms, rolling hills, forest, wild and open moorlands, and rushing streams. The area has seen little change over the centuries, apart from the planting of conifers and the construction of reservoirs.
We begin by going along a Quiet Road, and after crossing the Gritstone Trail, we take a path, bringing us out at the Hanging Gate pub. We cross over the road and head towards Oakenclough and follow the stream to Greenway Bridge.
Traversing the valley side to Wildboarclough, we briefly follow the wooded valley and pretty river before ascending Shutingsloe, The Cheshire Matterhorn, at 506m ( 1659 ft ). It’s a steep ascent, but only a short climb to the trig point.
A complete change of landscape is next, as we pass through Macclesfield Forest, a former royal hunting ground. On reaching the Leathers Smithy pub, we turn towards Langley and make our way up Teggs Nose, before returning to Sutton Lane Ends.
“B” Walk – 9 miles – Leader Ruth Beach
The Church House at Sutton has very kindly allowed us to park the coach in their car park and has been very helpful in many ways, including allowing us to use their toilets on arrival. so please show your appreciation. It is only a small pub but has very good heated sitting areas outside.
Most of the walk is along well maintained paths, just a couple of field paths early on.
From Sutton Lanes Ends, we ascend the road up to Ridge Hill, then down the footpath towards Langley, then right along Cock Hall Lane and then up toward Ridgegate Reservoir and along to the Trentabank car park and visitors centre where will have a break to make use of the toilets etc.
Then we have our longest ascent of the day up though the forest and then round the edge of the forest where the views become more spectacular. From the Standing Stone Car Park, we follow the minor road round to The Chapel, which will be ideal for lunch.
If time allows, we should be able to take the path up to the forest on to a well-maintained path through the forest, then the forest track takes us back down to Ridgegate Reservoir. From here we will take the road through Langley, passing Bottoms reservoir and back to Sutton.
“C” Walk – 5.5 miles – Leader Mike Martin
We start from the car park at the Church House pub at Sutton Lane Ends and head down the road to Langley. From here we take a path up to Ridgehill. Weather permitting we should get a good view of Teggs Nose. Then a short distance downhill we turn onto a minor road (Judy Lane) which takes us to the centre of Sutton village where there is a good place to stop for elevenses.
After our break we continue on paths to reach Sutton Reservoir. We walk the length of this and descend on passing the dam. After a short distance and crossing a main road we reach the Macclesfield Canal. We follow this for about 1.5 miles. We then have a choice of venues for a drink etc. First there is the Fairways Garden Centre which has a very nice cafe. Or if preferred a short walk further along the canal brings us to Ye Olde Kings Head pub in Gurnett.
From either of these it is about 15 mins walk back to our starting point at the Church House.
Styal Country Park 5 January 2025
“A” Walk – 11 miles – Moderate – Leader Philip Mellor
A surprisingly nice walk considering we are close to Manchester; we start by walking to Style village which are the preserved workers cottages. In the village we have the School, Church and cottage gardens to look at before we walk down to Style Mill. At the mill we see the impressive mill buildings, gardens and hopefully the mill wheel in operation. Now we follow the River Bollin passing “The Carrs” as we make our way to walk through Wilmslow before we turn off to walk by Black Lake. After we walk along a country lane we walk past our next lake then onwards over open flat scrub land. Then walking along Graveyard Lane, we see the old graveyard and aviary with peacocks and pheasants, crossing fields we then join Davenport Lane & Lady Lane to see the airport runway at Crash Gate 9. Walking along the North Cheshire Way passing the side of the runway – hopefully we see aeroplanes taking off. Passing the River Bollin and road tunnels we then join the Bollin riverside walk at the Airport Hotel to walk back to Style Mill and the coach.
“B” Walk – 8.5 miles – Leader John Moreton
We set off from the Ship Inn past Styal Village and Chapel towards Quarry Bank Mill where there are toilets and cafe and some interesting features. We continue through Styal Country Park crossing farmland for our first break. The route continues across fields and tracks to reach Manchester Airport runway perimeter fence just in time for lunch. Having seen a few take-offs and landings we return to the country park following the River Bollin, climbing the steps up and down returning to the mill and the Ship Inn.
“C” Walk – 5.5 miles – Leader Barry Comerford
From the coach we walk by Styal village, the original dwellings of the workforce, to the Mill where there are toilets. Built in the early 1800’s, the mill is powered by a large paddle wheel which can be seen today. From there we follow the river back to The Carrs public park and picnic tables. Looping back to the visitor centre and past the Apprentice house, home to the child workers. After a gradual descent into Chapel Woods we follow the river again crossing Oxbow bridge. We than ascend the only set of steps on our walk, being rewarded with impressive views of the valley before returning to the Mill and cafeteria.