Introduction
After a very wet day yesterday, I chose to walk on well made paths today, and stayed quite close to home.
Driving to the Middlewood Way Car Park takes just 20 minutes from Cheadle Hulme.
The weather was beautiful – sunny, dry and warm.
It took me 2 hours 45 minutes to complete the 5.7 mile walk, plus 15 minutes for lunch.
The walk is fairly easy, though the road section between the Macclesfield Canal and the top of Styperson Pool is slightly uncomfortable..
Other than that quite short, busy road section, which is followed by a couple of low stiles, this is a great dog walk, being off roads and fields.
I walked in a clockwise direction.
The walk is on OS Explorer Map 268..
I parked in the Poynton Coppice car park on Shrigley Road, postcode SK12 1UE, What 3 Words ///straw.passively.pouch.
Middlewood Way And Macclesfield Canal
I left the car park past the horse mounting platform, and headed south on the disused railway line.
It was a lovely morning but in the shadow of the conifer plantation it was quite cool.
I left the trail at The Lyme Breeze bridge, and made my way to the canal towpath at Lyme View Marina.
The water was still and any boaters were yet to get on the move.
Styperson Pool
I left the canal at bridge 20, and proceeded with care along Springbank Lane, Brookledge Lane and Shrigley Road. The lengthy closure of the main road between Whaley Bridge and Macclesfield has led to this being a diversion route through Pott Shrigley. I was glad to reach the gate into the field and leave the road behind me.
The views from here make it worth the road walking!
It was pretty wet down here. After crossing the stile I made my way through the woods where there is evidence of much previous quarrying.
I hung around to watch the goosanders and cormorants diving for fish in the otherwise flat, still water.
On To Poynton Coppice
I crossed the road and took the path back over the canal to the Middlewood Way where the repurposed train wheel told me I was 4 miles from Macclesfield and 6 miles from Marple..
The old line ran in a cutting here , but there was light ahead!
I turned off at the same point I had done so earlier.
Another short road section, then I took a cobbled lane to Wardsend.
Now I had to cross Poynton Brook, which was pretty full after yesterday’s rain.
On the other side, the route passes some houses, before entering the pretty Poynton Coppice that leads back to the car park.
This is another lovely place to walk that shouldn’t be underestimated due to familiarity!
And Finally….
I’ve been listening to the latest White Lies album, Night Light, this week.
This is All The Best.