Route 2: Macclesfield Circular
This cycle route is a circular route with Macclesfield town at its centre. It provides an interesting journey through the lanes around Macc, via Bollington and Hurdsfield to the north east, down past the eastern fringes of Macc town centre to Sutton and Warren in the south, back up via Lower Pexhill to Henbury in the west, and Prestbury to the north before returning to Bollington. Between Bollington and Hurdsfield, part of the Middlewood Way is used.
| Fact File | |
| Distance: | 12 miles (19 km) |
| Terrain: | Mostly lanes. Gentle, but one or two medium climbs. |
| Maps: | OS Explorer Map 268 |
| Start: | Middlewood Way Car Park in Bollington |
Route Guide
This route may be commenced at any point, but a convenient place is the car park situated in Bollington, on the Middlewood Way - there are toilets here as well. Leave the main road (A523) where the dual carriageway starts, and follow Bollington Road (B5090) into Bollington. Shortly after passing under the first viaduct, turn left down Adlington Road where a signpost indicates a car park for Middlewood Way.
From the car park, push your bike up the path by the side of the old railway viaduct, and turn left along the Middlewood Way, which immediately passes over the old viaduct.
Directions
1. Follow the Middlewood Way out of Bollington. Eventually this passes over a bridge (with inclined slopes either side) which takes you over the A523 Macc bypass.
2. Follow the Middlewood Way past open park land. Eventually the Middlewood Way crosses a road (Brocklehurst Way). However, we leave the Middlewood Way here. Turn left onto the road, and then immediately cross the roundabout. Take care as this is the sometimes busy A523 Macc bypass.
3. Straight over the roundabout is Hulley Road. Cycle all the way along Hulley Road until it emerges onto Hurdsfield Road (the B5470). Cross straight over Hurdsfield Road onto Higher Fence Road. Higher Fence Road becomes a rough lane and has a traffic barrier half way along it, but is passable.
4. Higher Fence Road bears left and then becomes Cottage Lane. Cottage Lane emerges onto the Buxton Road (the A537).
5. Cross straight over Buxton Road (and slightly left) onto Cranford Avenue and first right down Brookfield Lane.
6. Turn left at the bottom of Brookfield Lane onto Black Road. Turn left just before the Navigation pub - this is still Black Road. At the end, cross straight over Windmill Street - this is still Black Road. Black Road then bears to the right and then to the left where it runs straight into Gunco Lane.
7. At the end of Gunco Lane, turn left onto Byrons Lane.
8. Bear right into Bullocks Lane (signposted Macc Garden Centre). Bullocks Lane crosses over the Macc canal, and eventually reaches a crossroads.
9. Go straight on at the crossroads down Leek Old Road. At the end of Leek Old Road, turn right down Radcliffe Road, which meets the main Leek Road (A523). On this corner is a pub, the Fools Nook.
10. Taking care as this is a busy main road, cross straight over onto Woodhouse End Road, which crosses over the Macc canal via an old wooden swing bridge before going uphill.
11. Soon the village of Warren is reached. Woodhouse End Road runs straight into Woodhouse Lane.
12. Turn right at the end of Woodhouse Lane onto Church Lane, which soon reaches the main Congleton Road (A536) at a cross roads. Cross straight over the Congleton Road, into Dark Lane.
13. Ignore Gawsworth Road to the right, and continue along Dark Lane to Lower Pexhill.
14. Turn right then immediately left, to cross over Pexhill Road (B5392) into Bearhurst Lane.
15. At the end of Bearhurst Lane, turn right onto School Lane, which passes Birtles Hall on the left.
16. Eventually School Lane meets the main Chelford Road (A537). On the corner here is a pub, the Blacksmiths Arms. Taking care, cross straight over onto Pepper Street.
17. At the end of Pepper Street, turn left onto Church Lane. You are now in Henbury.
18. Church Lane runs straight into Andertons Lane as it leaves Henbury.
19. Turn right at the end of Andertons Lane into Whirley Road.
20. Turn left into Sandy Lane.
21. Turn right at the end of Sandy Lane onto Alderley Road (B5087).
22. Turn left down Macclesfield Road (signposted Prestbury).
23. Turn right at the mini roundabout and cycle through Prestbury village.
24. Bear right just past Prestbury railway station, over the railway, onto Prestbury Lane.
25. Turn left at the top of this incline - this is still Prestbury Lane.
26. At the end, turn right onto London Road (A523). This is a busy main road, so take care. Immediately cycle onto the pavement on the left here, which runs straight on into a disused lane.
27. At the end of this lane, turn left along Flash Lane (B5091).
28. At the end of Flash Lane, turn left along Bollington Road (B5090).
29. Bollington Road runs straight into Henshall Road, which runs straight into Wellington Road. After going under the viaduct, turn left down Adlington Road to return to the car park where this route started.