Walk 4: Rainow and Kerridge
The walk starts and ends on the B5470 Rainow Road at Higher Hurdsfield. As you leave Macclesfield town centre on the B5470 (signposted to Whaley Bridge), you will soon pass over the canal, and the road then rises uphill to Higher Hurdsfield. The walk actually starts up Cliff Lane on the right hand side, which is just before the George and Dragon pub (also on the right hand side of the road). For those arriving by car, the Rainow Road is wide enough here to allow safe parking.
| Fact File | |
| Distance: | 6 miles (10 km) |
| Terrain: | Lanes, footpaths and bridleways. Two moderate climbs. |
| Maps: | OS Explorer Map 268 |
| Start: | Higher Hurdsfield. |
Route Guide
The walk is a circular route, which is intersected by the B5470. To make this a shorter route, you could miss out the southern part of the “circle”. From the starting point, miss out steps 1 to 9 by walking up the B5470 to Rainow. Just beyond the Rising Sun pub, turn left along the Gritstone Trail path. Route directions may then be followed starting at step (10) below.
As with any circular route, this walk can be started and finished from any point – for instance in Kerridge. This circular walk involves a moderate uphill climb to the Buxton Road at the start of the walk, and a moderate uphill climb up to Kerridge ridge after passing through Rainow on the Gritstone Trail. Apart from these two uphill stretches, the walk is fairly easy. Refreshments are available at the George and Dragon pub at the start (and end) of the walk, at the Rising Sun in Rainow, and at the Bulls Head in Kerridge. Strong shoes or walking boots are essential. A good three hours should be allowed.
In order that a stretch of the Gritstone Trail may be incorporated into this walk, the first part of the walk takes you up a lane to the A537 Buxton Road, and a short footpath beyond. The Gritstone Trail is then followed downhill, back across the Buxton Road, and across fields down into Rainow. The main B5470 road is crossed here, and the Gritstone trail is followed up to the top of Kerridge ridge and the White Nancy. The trail is waymarked with yellow discs with a footprint inscribed with a G.
After leaving the Gritstone Trail, a steep descent to Kerridge is followed by a pleasant stroll along bridleways and footpaths, to return you to the starting point at Higher Hurdsfield.
Rainow lies in the foothills of the Pennines straddling the Cheshire boundary of the Peak District National Park. The village gets its name from the Old English Hraefn Hoe meaning Ravens Hill, an indication that the area was once a wilderness. The western boundary runs along the crest of Kerridge (Key Ridge from the Old English Caeg Hrycg). The hill has an altitude of over 900 feet, but descends steeply into the River Dean valley. The heart of the village lies to the east of the river. A number of large menhirs (standing stones) can still be seen in the locality. Their original purpose was probably to signpost tracks through Rainow that once formed part of a ridge way to the Scottish borders.
On the northern end of Kerridge ridge is a white building, circular in cross-section in the shape of a sugar loaf. This landmark is known as White Nancy. Before White Nancy was built the site was occupied by a beacon which was a small rotunda of brick. Such beacons were erected on high points across the land in which fires could be lit to warn of invasion. White Nancy was originally built as a summerhouse to commemorate the battle of Waterloo (1815). It was white-washed from the beginning, but painted green during World War II so as not to provide a landmark for enemy aircraft. The boundary line dividing Rainow and Bollington passes through the middle of the building, placing White Nancy in both parishes. There is no settled reason for the name Nancy, it has been suggested that it was the name of the horse that lead the team dragging the building materials up the hill.
Route Directions
1. From the main Rainow Road (B5470), walk up Cliff Lane. This is a moderate uphill lane. Pass Calrofold Lane on the left and another lane on the right.
2. At the top of Cliff Lane, walk directly across the Buxton Road (A537) to the footpath opposite. Take great care here as the traffic on Buxton Road can be busy (and fast).
3. Walk straight up the footpath (to the left of the gate). This is overgrown in places, but is passable.
4. At the junction with the Gritstone Trail, turn left. You now follow the Gritstone Trail all the way down to Rainow village, and all (nearly all) directions are marked with the ‘G’ sign. Provided that it is a clear day, you should be able to see right to the White Nancy at the end of Kerridge Ridge, which is your destination.
5. The Gritstone Trail crosses back over the Buxton Road. Once again, take great care crossing, and turn left back along the Buxton Road for a short distance.
6. The Gritstone Trail continues from the corner of Bull Hill Lane, down across a field. Follow the ‘G’ signs carefully across several stiles. The idea is to follow the direction that the ‘G’ sign is pointing in, until the next ‘G’ sign is reached.
7. There is one place where it is not clear which direction the Gritstone Trail heads in, after crossing an elaborate stile over a wall. There is a wide ‘avenue’ of grass between a wall on the left and a small wood on the right – head down this avenue and the next ‘G’ sign is soon reached.
8. When you reach Rainow, walk down to the main road.
9. Turn left along the main road (B5470) for a short distance, until you reach a sign for the continuation of the Gritstone Trail.
10. Turn right down the Gritstone Trail, and once again follow the ‘G’ signs. This will eventually take you up onto the ‘saddle’ of Kerridge Ridge.
11. Keep following the ‘G’ signs along the top of Kerridge Ridge until you come across the White Nancy at the end of the ridge.
12. After admiring the view across Bollington, bear left to follow the paved path down hill to Kerridge. There are other paths down hill here, but our path is the only one that is paved with stones, and which passes a circular stone-seat a short way down.
13. When the path reaches a concreted bridleway, turn left. This meets a road at Redway House, which used to be the Redway Tavern pub.
14. Turn right when you reach the road, and follow the road down to a junction where the Bulls Head pub is on the right.
15. Turn left along Oak Lane.
16. Turn left up Higher Lane. Higher Lane bears round to the right, and passes houses on the left. Where traffic is prohibited from driving further up Higher Lane, carry straight on through the small gate, and walk along the driveway that passes to the left of the house in front.
17. Continue along the lane, passing more houses on the left. This lane turns into a bridleway. Where another bridleway merges from the right, continue straight on.
18. Where the bridleway forks into two bridleways, take the right hand fork.
19. Where the bridleway becomes a footpath, continue straight on.
20. Do not take the footpath to the right, but continue along the path with a hedge on the left, to farm buildings.
21. Pass between the farm buildings via a gate (remember to close the gate behind you).
22. Continue straight on. The path now narrows, passes through a small gate into a field, and skirts around the building to the right. This building is Lower Swanscoe Farm.
23. Walk along the lane now, away from Lower Swanscoe Farm.
24. Where the lane meets a road, turn right along the road.
25. At a road junction, bear right (Swanscoe Lane).
26. At another road junction, bear left along Well Lane (the right hand road is a no-through road).
27. When Well Lane returns to the main road (B5470) again, turn right to return to the starting point.