A Stroll To White Nancy from Bollington

Introduction

White Nancy featured in my blog back in October 2020 when I walked on the Rainow side of Kerridge Hill. Today’s walk was based around the heart of Bollington.

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It’s such a great area, and the climb up so invigorating that it brings me back time and again. So, Cal and I took up the challenge, from the low point at Bollington Recreation Ground, and enjoyed the stunning sunny weather this Bank Holiday Monday.

It’s a 25 minute drive each way, and no Bank Holiday traffic problems affected us.

The walk is only just over 3 miles but we took our time and were out for an hour and three-quarters. It’s a short walk, but includes 626ft (190m) of ascent.

For dog walkers, this is a decent walk, particularly the first half of it.

OS Explorer Map 268 or OL24

There is a free car park at the Recreation Ground adjacent to the Bollington Brewery, and disused railway line viaduct.

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Bollington Recreation Ground

On this Bank Holiday, we found a van selling Indian street food, and also “Jack’s Whippy” trading in the car park. With the Vale Inn next door, we thought we’d start with an ice cream, and take in a pint of “Bolly Best” at the end.

Middlewood Way

So, eating our ices, we headed up to the old viaduct of the former Macclesfield, Bollington and Marple Railway, now called the Middlewood Way, heading towards Macc.

Shortly, we came to a group of standing stones, known as a labyrinth.

Arriving at a road via a ramped path which was once a path down from Bollington Station, we turned left, then at the traffic lights crossed and climbed the steps up to the Macclesfield Canal.

Macclesfield Canal

Turning right we headed along the towpath, the canal being busy and a delightful sight in the late spring sunshine.

Onward Toward White Nancy

We left the canal and crossed it at the first bridge. A walled path crossed farmland with the climb to Kerridge ridge looming ahead of us!

Meeting the road, we went left, then right at the Bulls Head, following the path to the left of the last building up the hill (the former Redway Tavern). At the gate we continued straight ahead, across, and slightly up the slope until we met the made road. At this point we decide to head straight up the 45 degree slope in front of us.

Cal set the pace; I trudged behind!

Halfway up, we stopped for a couple of selfies…. or just for a rest perhaps!

And then she was off again, and I continued at snail pace!

Then we arrived. It was quite hazy, but the views and the fresh air are truly uplifting here!

Still, there was plenty of time for a sit down, and another selfie.

The Descent

Then she was off again, as we headed down the wooden steps through the woods, beautiful in the mottled sunshine.

Leaving the woods, a right, then left and it’s straight down the steep hill, left at the road, then right on a path, through a housing estate, eventually emerging by the canal. Rather than using the towpath along the aqueduct we took the path and very steep Heritage Steps that come out at the roadside.

Crossing the road, we’re back in the Recreation Ground, and we follow the River Dean to the footbridge, one last selfie, and the path leads us back to the car park.

We took a look in the outdoor area at the Vale Inn, but service was non-existent, and the staff looked thoroughly miserable, so after sitting for 5 minutes we decided to leave it for another day.

Still a cracking little walk, just right for a relaxing Bank Holiday.

And Finally……

This is a track from the new album, Long Lost, by Lord Huron. This track is called Not Dead Yet, and it’s a cracker.