Walk 10: Bollington to Adlington
The walk starts and ends in Bollington. If travelling by car, take the main road out of Macclesfield towards Stockport (A523). Turn right to follow the sign to Bollington (B5090). As you come into Bollington, turn right along Grimshaw Lane, where there is a sign to "Hotels". Take the second right into Clough Bank, where you will find a car park on the right. This car park is actually adjacent to the Middlewood Way trail.
| Fact File | |
| Distance: | 7 miles (11 km) |
| Terrain: | Mainly footpaths and bridleways, gentle uphill for a few miles, can be muddy in places. |
| Maps: | OS Explorer Map 268 |
| Start: | Bollington. |
Route Guide
This walk is a mainly medium level of difficulty, with an uphill stretch shortly after the start. Four hours should be allowed, to include a few stops. Starting in Bollington, the Gritstone Trail is followed, towards (but not all the way to) Lyme Park. After reaching the highest point of this walk, the route leaves the Gritstone Trail, and a series of downhill footpaths are followed back to Wood Lanes, near Adlington. There are two cafes along the route, one just before Wood Lanes, and the other adjacent to the canal. The walk returns to Bollington along the towpath of the Macclesfield Canal.
The route follows the Macclesfield Canal from Adlington back to Bollington. Along the towpath, the majestic Clarence Mill is passed. The Swindells family made their lasting contribution to the town’s architecture when, with partners the Brooke family, they built Clarence Mill in 1834-38, taking full advantage of the newly opened Macclesfield Canal in 1831 whose stone bridges, aqueducts and wharves were engineered by William Crosley.
Directions
1. Walk back to Grimshaw Lane, and turn right. Walk under the canal, up the hill, and bear left along Chancery Lane.
2. Bear right up Cow Lane.
3. At the end of Cow Lane there are two footpaths across a farm field. Take the left path, which goes slightly down hill.
4. The footpath goes downhill to meet a lane. Bear right along the lane, which eventually passes a disused mill building.
5. A short distance past the disused mill, follow the Gritstone Trail sign which directs you over a stile to the left.
6. Follow the Gritstone Trail down hill, over the River Dean, and uphill again.
7. Eventually the Gritstone Trail follows a paved path, with a small estate on the left (Savio House). At the end of the grounds of Savio House turn left, still following the Gritstone Trail.
8. The Gritstone Trail continues downhill, and then up to a lane (Oakenbank Lane).
9. Turn left along the lane. Eventually a cross roads is reached. Go straight across to follow Spuley Lane.
10. The Gritstone Trail eventually follows a lane off to the right, then continues along a footpath.
11. Follow the Gritstone Trail signs now going gently uphill, passing a farm on the left, and crossing over a tarmac road and several stiles.
12. Eventually a small pond is reached. Here the route leaves the Gritstone Trail, bearing off to the left, to pass to the left of the pond.
13. The footpath is a wide grassy bank (ignore the rough stone track off to the left). Bakestonedale Farm nestles in the valley below, and to the right of the path.
14. The wide grassy path descends to Bakestonedale Road. Turn left down the road.
15. Take the bridlepath off to the right, and then bear left, uphill, after passing through a gate.
16. Follow the bridlepath uphill onto Bakestonedale Moor. Moorside Quarry is down to the left. The bridlepath bears left, downhill, after passing the quarry. Here there is an old display, in the shape of a triangulation point, about coal, and containing a broken model of a mine cage.
17. Follow the bridlepath downhill, heading straight down to the lane (Moorside Lane) below.
18. Cross straight over the lane, and follow the wide path between two walls.
19. Pass small ponds on each side of the path. Pass to the left of a large house (Birchencliff).
20. Follow the tarmac lane down to a road (Shrigley Road) and turn right. Here there is a cafe on the right.
21. Shortly after the cafe, a narrow road leaves Shrigley Road on the left - ignore this. Take the next footpath on the left.
22. Follow the footpath on the left hand side of a field. Eventually the footpath bears right towards a house.
23. Pass to the right of the house, and climb over some stiles. Turn left just after the house, and follow the lane away from the house.
24. This lane now heads towards the canal. Follow the lane over the canal, and turn left along the canal towpath. There is a cafe adjacent to the canal here - before joining the canal towpath, head a little further along the lane, and the cafe is on the right.
25. Follow the towpath now all the way back to Bollington.
26. As you reach Bollington, Clarence Mill is on the other side of the canal, following which the canal passes over a viaduct. Continue along the towpath a short distance more.
27. To return to the start of this walk, look out for a small brick building adjacent to the towpath, which belongs to the Macc and District Canoe club. There is a flight of stone steps descending to Grimshaw Lane just after this brick building. This is just before you reach Adelphi Mill (on the right of the canal), so if you reach this imposing mill building you have walked too far.
28. Continue down Grimshaw Lane, and turn left into Clough Bank, to return to the car park.