Bollington

 

14th May 2025

 

BOLLINGTON RECREATION GROUND, MACCLESFIELD CANAL, BRIDGE QUARRY, KERRIDGE RIDGE, RAINOW, THE PLEASANCE GARDENS, THE VIRGINS' PATH, INGERSLEY VALE WATERFALL, THE VALE AT BOLLINGTON, MIDDLEWOOD WAY, WHITELEY GREEN

 

Distance: 6.0 miles.

Difficulty: lung busting start up to Kerridge Ridge then easy peasy.

Weather: Sunshine all the way

Walkers: Daisy Cunliffe, Tom Cunliffe, Russ Spencer, Steve Brearley and Cliff Worthington 

Alternative walkers: Jock Rooney and Milly Rooney.

Non Walking Drinkers: Peter Beale, unfortunately arriving at the pub hoping to meet his chums but we’d already left.

Apologies: George Dearsley (in Turkey), Peter Beal injured, Mike Cassini Injured, Simon Williams Post car accident injury, Clive Rothel Domestic stuff, Dean Taylor domestic stuff 

Leader and Diarist Cunliffe T plagiarised from Andy Blease who had plagiarised from a previous Alan Hart diary dated 4th October 2023.

Starting point: Free car park overlooking Bollington Recreation Ground.

Starting time: 9.40am. Finishing time: 12.20pm.

 

This was originally planned as a figure-of-eight walk with Bollington at its start, middle and finish. On this occasion there were no walkers for the top loop of the figure of 8. Jock and Milly did an alternative 5 mile walk meeting at the Vale pub at lunchtime. 

 

We departed at 0940. Our intrepid group headed for the right corner of the recreation ground next to the River Dean. We exited the sports fields and crossed the road, turning left and then right up a flight of steps built into the bridge holding the Macclesfield Canal aqueduct. At the top we reached the waterway and proceeded with the canal on our left as we walked under Bridge 27 (9mins)

 

Various proposals to connect Macclesfield to the national network of canals were discussed from 1765 but it was not until 1824 that a scheme came to fruition and the 26-mile canal finally opened in 1831. It linked Marple in the north through Macclesfield and Congleton to the Trent and Mersey Canal in the south.

However the embryonic railways were starting to take business from canals and by 1954 the Macc Canal was no longer commercially viable.

Spirited campaigning succeeded in revitalising the canal as the leisure facility it is today.

 

After passing the converted Adelphi Mill on our right we reached Bridge 28 and exited the canal by heading right up the cobbles and swinging left over the bridge.

We swung right on the far side of the bridge and followed the track until we reached a road at Dawson Farm and turned right before soon swinging left uphill on Higher Lane.

When we reached a flight of steps on our left indicated by a green public footpath sign on our right we ascended them. It was a tough climb and we had momentary respite when we reached a road at Bridge Quarry. There was a flat stretch when we turned left for 40 yards before turning left towards Bridge House and heading for another steep ascent to Kerridge Ridge. At the top we turned right and to our right was the Astra Zeneca factory on the Hurdsfield Industrial Estate. To our left were views across the hills with the pretty village of Rainow nestling in the valley below.

 

When we reached a metal gate we turned left and took the lower route. At the next metal kissing gate we followed the direction of a yellow arrow pointing diagonally left downhill. Through two more gates with yellow arrows we continued downhill until we reached the main road through Rainow. 

At this junction Pie Time was declared.

Having consumed a few calories we turned left. The road took us down Tower Hill. We continued for around 15 minutes to reach Stocks Lane to the left of the main road running off Chapel Lane. On this corner is a garden for weary travellers called The Pleasance and previously we have paused for Pietime.

We continued left down Chapel Lane and turned right into Sugar Lane as we headed back towards Bollington. As we walked along Sugar Lane we could see Kerridge Ridge on our left with the distinctive White Nancy folly at its far end in the distance. We turned right following a green public footpath sign and the stone-flagged path at the back of Flagg Cottage.

 

This was the start of the historic Virgins' Path (also known as The Brides' Path) which was built in the 18th Century when there was no church in Rainow. Village maidens were obliged to walk through sometimes muddy fields to the nearest church in Bollington to marry. Local farmers, seeing their daughters arrive in church with their white dresses besmirched, laid rows of flags through the fields to spare their blushes.

 

We followed this trail until we reached IngersleyVale waterfall on our left and then

continued past the derelict Ingersley Clough Mill and passed the old millpond on our left. Beyond the pool we turned right and passed a church on our left as we walked to the roundabout.

From here we continued along the main road, passing the aqueduct tunnel and turning right to once again enter Bollington Recreation Ground. 

 

We followed the path as it swung left behind the tennis courts and bowling green. 

We were able to turn right and emerge back at the Recreation ground where we all debated after having decided that they didn’t wish to complete the top loop. Entrance to the Vale Inn was just 35 meters along the road. We were greeted by Jock and Milly.

 

 

The Vale management confirmed it was still Happy Wednesday but went to say that any cask ale was now £4 a pint cf £3.00 a pint on 20th March 24. tch, tch, tch that’s hyper inflation in anybody’s book! 

 

 

 

 

 

Looking towards Hurdsfield Ind estate, Macclesfield with Jodrell Bank shown as a minute white blob in the distance

 

 

On Friday 16th May, 10 of the WW depart for the Moselle Valley for a 6 day walk up the valley. We return Friday 23rd May.

 

Next week’s wander for the non-touring chaps will start from the Boar’s Head Higher Poynton at 9:45 and will be led by Cliff. His plan is to go over Lyme Park in a circular route

 

 Happy wandering