Route 1: Alderley and Henbury
The route starts and ends on the B5087, which is the road between Macclesfield and Alderley Edge. This route is mostly on lanes, and follows a circular route around Hare Hill, Over Alderley, Nether Alderley, Birtles, Pexhill and Henbury. Part of the route follows a bridle path (Hocker Lane) which is a little uneven in places. Also, two main roads have to be crossed, the A34 and the A537, which can both be busy at times. The route generally follows gently rolling hills – the steepest part being School Lane up to Pexhill. The route comes close to the main car park at Alderley Edge (National Trust), where there are toilets, a cafe and a telephone.
| Fact File | |
| Distance: | 11 miles (18 km) |
| Terrain: | Mostly lanes, one bridle path. Gentle, but one or two medium climbs. |
| Maps: | OS Explorer Map 268 |
| Start: | B5087, a few miles from Macc |
Route Guide
Having briefly turned off the B5087 at the start of the route, the gardens of Hare Hill are passed. Hare Hill is owned by the National Trust, and is renowned for its azaleas, rhododendrons and walled garden. The main feature of the garden however is the collection of over 50 hollies, silver and golden leaved and yellow and orange berried varieties, including the rare Highclere holly.
The B5087 is rejoined. Just before the National Trust car park at Alderley Edge, the route takes you down Artists Lane. Note that cycling is not permitted on the paths around Alderley Edge, so its only worth a diversion if the facilities (cafe and toilets) are required. Artists Lane, lined with attractive beech trees in places, is all down hill, and is quite steep in places, so make sure those brakes are working first! At the bottom of the hill, the A34 main road is crossed. Near to the cross roads is Nether Alderley Mill, a 15th century water mill, which is restored and owned by the National Trust.
Having descended from the hill of Alderley Edge, you will now notice the sharp contrast between the hill and the start of the Cheshire plain – all of a sudden its flat! After a short loop around the lanes here the route crosses back over the A34, and its back up the hill again. Bradford Lane is an old cobbled lane, which once carried cartloads of building stone on their way down from the quarry on Finlow Hill.
Now the route takes you along Hocker Lane, an old bridle path which passes through woodland (the outskirts of Alderley Park) before reaching the attractive church of St. Catherine’s at Birtles.
Down past Birtles Hall, the route now crosses the A537 main road. Then its up hill (quite steep, some of us have to push our bikes up here!) to Pexhill, and on along attractive lanes, which are bordered with woodland, to Henbury Hall. Henbury Hall is a national venue for horse trials and carriage driving.
After crossing back over the A537, the route takes you gently back up the lanes to the B5087.
Directions
1. Take the B5087 road from Macclesfield towards Alderley Edge. A few miles outside Macclesfield turn right down a one-way road, signposted to Prestbury. This is opposite Birtles Lane on the left, where this circular route finishes.
2. Turn left at the T junction onto Prestbury Road. The Hare Hill estate is to the right of Prestbury Road here.
3. Turn right onto the B5087 and continue on this road until you reach Artists Lane on the left. Note that this left turn is just before reaching the main car park for Alderley Edge on the right.
4. Turn left down Artists Lane. This is all downhill, sometimes fairly steep with bends.
5. Upon reaching the A34 main road at the bottom of the hill, cross straight over (take care as this can be a busy road) into Welsh Row.
6. Turn left into Sand Lane.
7. Upon reaching the A34 again, turn left along the main road for a short distance, and then right up Bradford Lane. After passing the primary school on the left, the surface of the lane is cobbled, which is bumpy in places.
8. At the top of the hill turn right along Hocker Lane, which is a permissive bridle path. The surface is uneven in places, so care should be taken.
9. Upon reaching a crossroads where Slade Lane joins from the left, turn right down the bridle path and carry on where it joins a tarmac drive until Birtles Lane is reached. A short distance after turning right down this bridle path is a stretch that can get very muddy. If this is the case, its worth turning back, and continuing along Hocker Lane instead, which connects to Birtles Lane at a crossroads.
10. Turn right down Birtles Lane, past St.Catherine’s church and Birtles Hall.
11. Upon reaching the A537 main road, cross straight over (take care as this can be a busy road) and go up School Lane to Pexhill.
12. Turn left at the T junction. Henbury Hall is on the left.
13. Upon reaching the A537 again, cross straight over and go up Pepper Street.
14. Turn left at the T junction into Church Lane and continue along Andertons Lane.
15. Turn left at the T junction onto Whirley Lane and first right into Wrigley Lane.
16. Turn right at the T junction onto Birtles Lane. This will bring you back to the B5087 where you first started.