Cheshire East - Black Cycle Routes
Distance
Elevation
Start Point
Route Summary
Link
49.6 miles
79.8 km
4317'
1316 m
Wilmslow:
Boddington Arms
The Hard Way into the Goyt
The first climb is Artists Lane; soon to be followed the infamous Blaze Hill.The middle section of the ride contains all the big hills (the hardest being the climb to Pym’s Chair) and cuts through the eastern side of the Peak District, with a super-scenic down-and-up through the Goyt Valley, reaching a peak altitude by the Cat and Fiddle Inn of 517m (1696’).
Before you reach the final climb of Nabbs Road, you are also treated to a picture-postcard downhill cruise along the river into Wildboarclough. After the hills, it’s downhill to Sutton and along a series of quiet country lanes through Gawsworth and Siddington to Jodrell Bank, before turning north and returning back into Wilmslow.
31.7 miles
51 km
2510'
765 m
Wilmslow:
Wilmslow Station
The Cat 'n' Back
Although this route breaks the principle of staying away from main roads, it is included as a “benchmark” ride; the climb out of Macclesfield to the Cat and Fiddle often features in local sportives and is recognised within the UK top 100 climbs. The route includes Wizard Hill as a warm-up early in the ride and then descends into Macclesfield. You then navigate a series of roundabouts, arriving by Arighi Bianchi’s at the start of the main climb to face 7 miles at an average gradient of 3.7% to reach the road-summit of 1680’ at the Cat and Fiddle pub.
Note: Included in Wilmslow e-book
27.5 miles
44.3 km
2900'
884 m
Wilmslow:
Wilmslow Station
Swiss, Blaze & Pym's
A real short, sharp, testing route with the tone set after a mere 2.5 miles by the ascent of the cobbled Swiss Hill. After enjoying the scenery through the lanes of Prestbury and Kerridge you take on the second challenge - Blaze Hill; and then continue upwards on Pike Road and round to Jenkin’s Chapel to face the fearsome climb up to Pym’s Chair at over 1500’ above sea level.
The 2-mile descent down Side End Lane allows some recovery before climbing back up the B5470 to the top of the Brickworks. The route then descends the Brickworks, climbs briefly through Pott Shrigley with another fast downhill section to Adlington before a flat return to Wilmslow.
Note: Included in Wilmslow e-book
36.2 miles
58.3 km
2935'
895 m
Wilmslow:
Wilmslow Station
The Cheshire Cycleway 3 Blacks
A very scenic route that includes the 3 major climbs of the Peak District section of the Cheshire Cycleway. You start with a flat section to Adlington, warm the muscles up climbing to Pott Shrigley and then scale the first Black; Blaze Hill. The route continues up Pike Road, drops down alongside Lamaload reservoir before hitting the “wall” of Ankers Knoll Lane, which takes you up to the highest point of the ride at 1370’ above sea-level. You are then treated to a picture-book 4-mile descent, following Tor Brook and Clough Brook to Wildboarclough, before the last climb up Nabbs Road, arriving by the Hanging Gate Inn.
It’s then downhill-all-the-way-home, with a swift descent down Ridge Hill, and continuing to follow the Cheshire Cycleway until you reach Marton. The final section is a direct line along the A34, picking up the cycle path along the bypass, to return to Wilmslow.
Note: Included in Wilmslow e-book
33.4 miles
53.8 km
3225'
983 m
Alderley Edge:
Village Centre
The Cheshire Cycleway - Big Hills Circuit
This route is a combination of the Full and Short Routes of Stage 1 to make a circuit that starts and finishes in Alderley Edge. The route includes the three big climbs of Blaze Hill, Ankers Knoll Lane and Nabbs Road; it also goes both up and down Artists Lane. The route can be ridden in either direction; obviously both ways have the same overall elevation gain but clockwise is steeper for the ascents and conversely anti-clockwise has more demanding descents.
Note: Included in Cheshire Cycleway book
40.2 miles
64.8 km
3553'
1083 m
Wilmslow:
Wilmslow Station
Tour around Shutlingsloe
A very scenic route with two Black climbs: Standing Stone and Nabbs Road. There is also the challenging cobbled descent of Beeston Brow and several Red climbs alongthe route. The return from Ridge Hill follows the Cheshire Cycleway back into Alderley Edge.
Note: Included in Wilmslow e-book
44.9 miles
72.3 km
5465'
1666 m
Wilmslow:
Wilmslow Station
Jelly Legs
Potentially the toughest 45-mile road-ride from Wilmslow, taking in no less than 6 Black climbs: Swiss Hill, Blaze Hill, Heathcote Lane, Trentabank Road, Jenkin’s Chapel to Pym’s Chair and Goyt’s Lane. In addition there are also Red climbs such as Bull Hill Lane, Anker’s Lane and the B5470 from Whaley Bridge to the Brickworks. If you’re after a ride with a similar elevation gain but less severe climbs, you could always reverse this route!
Note: Included in Wilmslow e-book