Macclesfield Outdoors Cycle Route 1: Alderley and Henbury

Start: B5087, a few miles from Macc. Distance: 11 miles (18 km). Difficulty: Medium

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.