Holding Bay: Hilly Routes
Routes that comprise of one or more significant climb
Tour around Rudyard Reservoir (80km/50 miles)
This cycle route starts from the Farmers Arms and loops all the way down and around Rudyard Reservoir - via plenty of hills!
The route heads out through Alderley Edge & up Wizard Hill, following the Henbury option of the Cheshire Cycleway through Gawsworth and onto Marton. After a very short section of the A34, you head down Cocksmoss Lane, cross the A536 onto Pexall Road cutting through to join the A54 for a mile before turning down Sprink Lane to start the climb up Bosley Cloud.
From the Cloud you continue on to reach Lask Edge, continuing on scenic lanes all the way down into Rudyard (cafe at the visitor centre if needed). The return section picks up the A523 briefly before climbing again - this time up the north side of Gun hill. There are more rolling and very scenic lanes with a fast & windy descent down Bearda Hill and a steep climb back up the other side.
The route drops into Danebridge by the Wincle Brewery (time for a taster...), followed by a long climb up to highest point of the route at 1150'. There is a very short section along the A54 to join Hollin Lane for a well-rewarded downhill run into Macclesfield.
You by-pass the town centre via National Cycle Route 55 and head into Prestbury to exit up Chelford Road, drop down Birtles Lane and return into Wilmslow along the by-pass cycle path.
Kinder View (75km / 46.5 miles)
This Wilmslow Cycle Route starts at the Farmers Arms on Chapel Lane.
The route heads out through Adlington, Pott Shrigley & up the Brickworks. After a high-speed descent from the Brickworks towards Whaley Bridge, the route detours along Kishfield Lane and Start Lane (mind the steep cobbled section!!) to reach Whaley Bridge.
There is then nearly 5 miles of country lanes (Overhill Road lives up to its name!) before joining the A624 (parallel detour optional along Highgate Road for a mile). After Hayfield there is a long slog of a climb along the main road to reach the turning towards Charlesworth with more country lanes winding back to reach Marple Bridge. Here you join the canal towpath for a change of scene for 1.5 miles.
The final return section from the A6 is via Middlewood, Higher Poynton and Adlington to retrace the start of the route back into Wilmslow.
Meerbrook & The Roaches (84km / 52 miles)
A tough ride comprising climbs up Wizard Hill, up the south-west of Bosley Cloud and Gun Hill from the west. The real challenge of the ride then follows with a climb up the Roaches from Meerbrook (650' over 1.3 miles) followed a few miles later by a pair of 300' climbs to take you to over 1400' above sea-level.
After a fast and scenic descent by Wildboarclough, a short,sharp climb to Standing Stone and descent down the other side, you arrive at the Macc Forest Visitor Centre for a well-earned bacon buttie & cup of tea!!
The route starts from the Farmers Arms on Chapel Lane and (apart from the first/last few miles) stays off main roads and offers fantastic scenery throughout
- although the route returns through the centre of Macclesfield, it does so by virtue of the Middlewood Way so skips most of the traffic
Flash... aaaaarrrggghhh (69km / 43 miles)
A ride comprising climbs up Wizard Hill, Ridge Hill via Withenshaw Lane, then the real challenge of Back Oth Cross up to Flash, a couple of down & up sections to skip some main road near the Cat and Fiddle and then finally up Coalpit Lane to climb out from Langley.
The route starts from the Farmers Arms on Chapel Lane and (apart from the first/last few miles) stays off main roads and offers fantastic scenery throughout
- although the route passes through the centre of Macclesfield, it does so by virtue of the Bollin Valley Way and the Middlewood Way so skips most of the traffic
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