Start/Finish: The Poachers Inn,
Ingersley Road, Bollington. Distance: 4.2 miles (6.7 km). Difficulty: Mainly
medium, two short climbs. Time: 1½ to 2 hours
1.
Turn
right up the road (Smithy Brow) from the Poachers Inn. There is a pavement on
the left hand side.
2.
A short distance further on, a
crossroads is reached. Turn right along Oakenbank Lane. You are now following
the Gritstone Trail - follow the signs with a yellow waymark disc with a ‘G’ in
a footprint.
3.
Having passed some houses on
the left, look out for a footpath off to the right, signposted as the Gritstone
Trail. Follow the footpath downhill. The Gritstone Trail goes downhill then up
again, where it follows a wall to the right (this is the edge of the grounds of
Savio House).
4.
Having crossed a stone stile,
turn right at a crossroads of paths, with the grounds of Savio House still to
the right. Follow the Gritstone Trail as it descends through a few kissing
gates, and eventually emerges onto a lane.
5.
Turn left along the lane.
6.
Soon the Gritstone trail (and
our route) turns right up a bridleway. The bridleway goes uphill, and then down
again to meet a road (Redway).
7.
Turn right along the road,
which takes you into Kerridge.
8.
At the end of Redway, turn left.
9.
Take the bridleway off to the
right. This is signposted as a Private Road (to Beehive Cottage amongst
others). Follow the bridleway downhill.
10.
Bear left at the bottom of the
lane (to the left of Beehive Cottage), crossing the canal over a bridge.
11.
Turn right straight after the
bridge, down some steps and along the canal towpath. Continue along the canal
towpath, passing Adelphi Mill on the left.
12.
Eventually, Clarence Mill is
reached (on the right). Cross the footbridge (26A) over the canal and turn
right down the road.
13.
Turn left along the main road,
to pass under the canal bridge (it is probably best to cross to the pavement
opposite). Keep straight on at the traffic lights.
14.
After a church on the left,
turn left up Beeston Brow. This is a steep, cobbled lane uphill past several
houses. At the end of the houses, Beeston Brow takes a sharp right turn.
15.
A little further on, bear left
up Long Lane.
16.
Eventually, Long Lane becomes
less steep. Look out for a footpath on the right. Take this footpath, which
heads across fields, with fine views to the right across Bollington to the
White Nancy.
17.
At the end of the footpath, and
just past a few buildings on the right, turn right down a lane.
18.
A short distance down the lane,
take the paved footpath downhill to the left. This footpath has a wooden
handrail on the right, which is useful as it is slippery in places.
19.
The footpath descends past some
houses on the left, where it becomes a lane. Continue straight on down past
more houses to the main road (Shrigley Road).
20.
Cross straight over the main
road, into a short cul-de-sac.
21.
At the end of the cul-de-sac,
take the footpath that continues straight on down hill. Follow the footpath
across a field, and then up to a road.
22.
Turn left along the road
(Ingersley Road), to return to the Poachers for a well-deserved drink!