Introduction
We are all quick to criticise when the British weather lets us down, but it’s been spectacularly sunny this week
I headed up to Kettleshulme, on the Macclesfield to Whaley Bridge road, a 25 minute drive from Cheadle Hulme.
The walk is about 8 miles long with 1500feet of ascent.
It took 4 hours to complete, plus 20 minutes for lunch.
The walk isn’t good for dog walking, being mainly on pasture and lots of tricky stiles.
I walked in an anticlockwise direction.
Most of the walk is on OS Explorer Map OL24, but the first section, north of Kettleshulme, crosses up onto OL1.
I parked on the road outside The Swan Inn, postcode SK23 7QU , What 3 Words ///organisms.begin.potential
Kettleshulme To The Gritstone Trail
Kettleshulme is a pretty hamlet, and currently much quieter than usual due to a closure of the B5470 near Rainow.
I set off through the garden nursery opposite the pub. Before the church I passed a garden with siskins feeding on the bird feeder. My parents garden used to attract many of these pretty finches, but I rarely see them these days.
The village roads led me round to the disused mill and millpond. There’s a great development opportunity here for someone!
It was quite a misty morning as I began to rise towards Handley Fold Farm. It is really unspoilt, and little known in this area. Gorgeous countryside!
Beyond Higher Lane (the road past the former Moorside Hotel if that helps with knowing where this is) it’s quite a steep climb up Sweet Hill, but the strong easterly wind was at my back, and soon helped me up to the top.
The downside was that the wind was cold – they had promised 19 degrees, but it felt like about 5 degrees to me at this point!
I made my way along the Gritstone Trail to the viewpoint shown on the map. Many of my familiar walking landmarks are visible from here, though the misty conditions didn’t help.
On To Todd Brook
The Gritstone Trail drops down to cross Bakestonedale Road (the road up to Kettleshulme from Pott Shrigley). At the crossing a wooden arrow appears to indicate the route is down a farm drive. It isn’t – it is over a stile to the left of the drive. Walking back up the drive to find the correct route isn’t fun!
As I headed towards Further Harrop Farm, there are lovely views down the valley, with the unmistakable White Nancy and Jodrell Bank decorating the skyline.
After the farm, I found the path to be very boggy, despite the recent dry weather. This bit was particularly tricky!
After crossing the closed section of Macclesfield Road, the next section revealed lovely views up to Pym Chair and Shining Tor.
At the conifer plantation I joined Back Lane, pretty, and definitely unsuitable for motor vehicles, being very rocky, and very steep!
Part way down, there are views across to Windgather Rocks where budding mountaineers learn their trade.
At the bottom of the lane is a farm with a beautiful pond which feeds Todd Brook.
Back To Kettleshulme
Crossing the brook, I took the road up the opposite side of the valley, passing some inquisitive alpacas.
I turned back down into the valley. This is Green Booth where Cheshire Wildlife Trust have recently acquired land to manage for wildlife. It’s beautiful down here.
At Summer Close I arrived at the incredibly dangerous looking building in my header picture. Here it is from the other side.
From here the path enters a field to cross the footbridge. There were about 15 cattle in the field, but they showed little interest in me as I gave them a wide berth to reach the footbridge.
At the top of the rise out of the valley, another farmhouse lies derelict.
Turning left, it’s now a straight, level path along the side of the valley, with splendid views to savour.
Talking of savouring, on my return to The Swan, I couldn’t resist a few moments in their lovely sunny, and sheltered beer garden!
This is quite a challenging walk, but a most exhilarating one! A very enjoyable day out.
And Finally….
There’s some great new music around at the moment. This band is called Courting, and the album is the long-titled “Lust For Life, Or: ‘How To Thread The Needle And Come Out The Other Side To Tell The Story'”.
This track is “Namcy”.
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