Route: Middlewood Way
After last weeks Peak District ride I decided to stay local this week and explored the Middlewood Way, an old train track that ran from Macclesfield to Marple.
Most of this route is along quiet lanes and tracks through Lyme Park and then towards Macclesfield before the Middlewood Way back to the start. There is a short section on the busy A6 where extra care needs to be taken.
Start / Finish
Nelson Pit Visitors Centre: There is plenty of parking at the visitors centre. Further parking and refreshments are available at Macclesfield or Bollington if required.
Route
From the car park head to the canal and follow it in a northly direction until you come to the A6.
The A6 is a busy road that heads up towards Lyme Park - a National Trust property. The latter part of the A6 has a cycle lane but you will still be very pleased when you come off this busy road and turn into Lyme Park.
Just before you pass the pay entrance for Lyme Park (it is free for cycles and you can continue on to shorten the ride) head left and up and through a gate. This road leads you past some large houses before a right turn at the top of the road. You continue following a small lane past farms before eventually coming out onto the top of the hills overlooking Lyme Park.
Here follow a brideway along the hills and through a few gates before dropping down the hill to a bridge over the river. Then it’s straight back up a rough and stoney path. Check that the path is open - on the day I rode it there was a sign saying it was closed, but people were clearly ignoring the signs! At the top of this hill you re-enter Lyme Park and follow the service-road through the deer sanctuary. The service-road leads you to the house and cafe, both of which are worth a stop if you have time.
Continue through Lyme Park and down a rough track to come out at the West Gate Lodge. You now join minor roads as you head upwards for a few miles. You pass theTin Hut Coffee Tavern(which was closed when I passed it unfortunately) and continue up towards the quarry. Continue along the tracks before finally dropping down a slippery cobbled road into Bollington. Here you can take a diversion up to White Nancy.
From Bollington you pass an old mill on your left before a sharp right turn heads steepy up a farm track. This is the most challenging climb of the whole route and certainly one you need to get out of the seat for. Take a breather at the top and admire the views before continuing around the side of the hill and finally dropping down and to join the canal again.
The canal continues towards Macclesfield before you join some quiet residential and business roads which lead into the centre of Macclesfield next to the train station. Here, I took a well needed diversion up a cobbled road into Macclesfield Town Centre to get a drink at Costa. The rain was pouring down and we had just cycled through hailstone so it was very well timed.
From Costa I dropped back down to the train station and then joined the Middlewood Way. This was a clear track with a well laid surface that led all the way back to the start. Be aware that at one point there was a small diversion where they were relaying the path.
It’s a surprisingly hilly ride, but very enjoyable. There were plenty of options throughout the route where you can cut it shorter if you want.
Stats
- Total Distance: 22.3miles
- Gravel Rating: 2 - mix of gravel and roads / cycle paths
- Weather Rating: 4 - Any weather but could be muddy in places
- Refreshments: 4 - refreshments stops around route
- Child Friendly: 3 - suitable for confident riders only. Includes some busier roads.
- Escape Routes: 4 - can be picked up at most points on the route if needed. Multiple public transport links.
- Personal highlights on route: Middlewood Way, Lyme Park
- GPX: https://connect.garmin.com/modern/course/416575054
