Length: 27.7 km (17.2 mi) [shorter and longer walks possible]
Ascent/Descent: 934/876m
Net Walking Time: ca. 7 ¼ hours
Toughness: 9 out of 10
From London Euston, take the 07.20 train to Manchester Piccadilly, arrives Macclesfield 09.04.
For the Morning Shortcut: 09.05 Bus Line 14 from the Bus Station to Langley (arrives 09.22)
For the Full Walk: 09.15 Start at the Train Station
Return bus: 18.00 from Leek Bus Station, arrives Macclesfield 18.37 (according to bustimes.org, Line 109 will be reinstated from this week by local company Aimee's, although Aimee's own website still says they have stopped runing that line; we'll have to wait and see. If not, the following 'Note' will be valid.) [Note: There is currently no bus service between Leek and Macclesfield for the return journey, as the old bus line (109 run by D&G Buses) has been scrapped in anticipation of a rival company launching a new express line (X1 by Hulleys of Baslow), but that hasn’t started yet, apparently due to driver shortages. Therefore: return is by taxi or via ‘The Long Way Round’: bus line 16 (at 16.50, 17.45, 18.15, 19.15 or 20.15) to Hanley (for Stoke Station), then train from Stoke to Macclesfield.]
A tour de force of highlights in the Cheshire/Staffordshire borderlands.
You rise quickly out of the historic Silk Town of Macclesfield over The Hollins, a modest hill with fine views over the Cheshire Plain and across the valley of the River Bollin to pass a string of reservoirs and enter the enchanting Macclesfield Forest. A steep ascent through the woods brings you out onto the open High Moor and a following easy ascent of the ‘Cheshire Matterhorn’: Shutlingsloe.
From there descend steeply into the scenic Wildboarclough and walk back up across another modest hill with quiet pastures into the very scenic Dane Valley by Gradbach Mill, almost at the halfway point.
From the river level rise steadily through Back Forest to explore the unique and magical Lud’s Church chasm, a 100m long and up to 18m deep, mossy cleft in the wooded hillside. Ascend to the Ridge, part of a 6-kilometre long curved ridge which includes the famous gritstone escarpment of the Roaches and the quite sensational Hen Cloud, a tilted standalone rockface.
Continue through pastures and over another modest hill with fine views to the historic market town of Leek, lastly through a Country Park right onto the market place and thence through the Old Town.
Walk Options
Bus Line 14 enables a start in Langley (cut 3.6 km/2.4 mi and 95m ascent). Alight at the final stop by Langley Church and go back down the road (Cock Hall Lane) for 40m to a three-way junction and turn right along Main Road (50°, signed ‘Macc. Forest 1 ¼’). Pick up the directions on page 6 at the single asterisk *).
An Alternative Route on Shutlingsloe avoids the final steep ascent to the summit (cut 45m ascent).
An Alternative Route to the one through Lud’s Church Chasm passes the Hanging Stone, an outstanding viewing point jutting out from the ridge over the Dane Valley, this adds 2.1 km.
An Ascent up the striking hilly outcrop of Hen Cloud adds 500m each way and 66m ascent.
Alternative Endings lead to bus stops on the A53 for Line 16 either to Hanley for Stoke-on-Trent station or to Buxton (for Line 58 connecting to Macclesfield):
· either in Upper Hulme (scenic along a tight river valley); cut 6.9 km/4.3 mi and 125m ascent; departs 15.55 to Buxton and 16.38 to Hanley.
· or in Blackshaw Moor (flat through pastures and along a road); cut 5.2 km/3.2 mi and 125m ascent; departs 15.54 to Buxton and 16.40 to Hanley.
If taking the bus to Hanley, there are frequent buses linking Hanley Bus Station to Stoke Station, but a pleasant 2.3 km walking route is described in text and also available as a gpx file.
Elenvenses
The Leather’s Smithy Clarke Lane. The Leather’s Smithy is located 4.9 km (3.1 mi) into the walk. Open from noon daily. Selling hot drinks earlier, on weekends.
The Forest Snug Food Van Trentabank Reservoir Car Park. The Forest Snug is located 6.0 km (3.7 mi) into the walk.
Lunch
The Crag Inn Wildboarclough, Macclesfield, Cheshire, SK11 0BD (01260 227 239). The Crag Inn is located 9.8 km (6.1 mi) into the walk. No food.
The Outdoor Café Gradbach Mill. The Outdoor Café is located 13.0 km (8.0 mi) into the walk, on the banks of the River Dane.
Tea
The Lazy Trout Meerbrook. The Trout is located 5.8 km/3.6 mi from the end of the walk. Open all day, food served all-day.
The Abbey Inn Abbey Green Road, Leek, Staffordshire Peak District, ST13 8SA (01538 382 865,). The Abbey Inn is located 2.4 km/1.5 mi from the end of the walk. Open all day, food served all day.
Numerous options in Leek; some of the ones on the route are mentioned in the pdf. T=swc.380
For summary, walk directions, map, height profile, photos and gpx/kml files click here.