{"id":1006444,"date":"2022-10-20T17:21:02","date_gmt":"2022-10-20T16:21:02","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.half-daywalker.com\/?p=1006444"},"modified":"2022-11-04T11:38:46","modified_gmt":"2022-11-04T11:38:46","slug":"hurdsfield-and-bollington-via-white-nancy-and-the-macclesfield-canal","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.half-daywalker.com\/?p=1006444","title":{"rendered":"Hurdsfield and Bollington Via White Nancy and The Macclesfield Canal"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Introduction<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Having returned home at 10pm last night from a busy and enjoyable 3 night stay in Lincoln, I decided that a shorter local walk would be in order today!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The weather started wet; the steady rain continued unabated throughout the walk. Thankfully, there was little breeze and it was quite warm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s a 25 minute driven hour to drive from Cheadle Hulme to my start point at the Middlewood Way on Clarke Lane.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The walk is 5.5 miles with 500feet (150m) of ascent. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It took 2 hours 30 minutes, plus 15 minutes for lunch.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s a mixed walk for dogs who like to run off the lead. There\u2019s some farm tracks, but also quite a lot of sheep pasture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The walk is on OS Explorer Map 268.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I parked on the roadside on Clarke Lane, just after the Lord Clyde pub and Kerridge Cricket Club, use postcode SK10 5AH.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Middlewood Way and The Macclesfield Canal<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

After joining the former railway line, the Middlewood Way, and heading south, I soon came to a track on my left.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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This soon led me to the canal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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I headed south on the tow path. The season is very much autumn now, and the canalside plants are dying. This Gunnera leaf was amazing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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At the first bridge, I left the canal, and headed across the sheep pasture. Another couple of hardy souls were out walking!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Higher Hurdsfield To Saddle of Kerridge<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

This is pretty countryside, despite the miserable weather.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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At Higher Swanscoe Farm, the Random Apple Company has its own notice board and signpost.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The next cottage along the lane is particularly attractive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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There were other things to catch my eye. I have no idea how or why these circles were formed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The track to Lower Swanscoe Farm runs alongside a symmetrical valley.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The route now rises, but the views normally expected have disappeared in the mist.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Leaving the quiet lanes behind, the path up the hill heads through a copse. You could be forgiven for thinking the bright autumn leaves indicate that the weather was changing. It wasn’t!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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In fact, visibility had reduced further om the western slope of the Saddle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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However, when I reached the top, I found the views east to Rainow were much better.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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White Nancy And The Descent<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

I followed the well-worn track along the Saddle of Kerridge to the landmark that is White Nancy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Yes, it was still raining.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I descended the steep steps through the trees, then the lanes past The Bulls Head. Taking a path on my left, I had a londg stretch across the sheep fields.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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At Clarke Lane, I could have opted to cut my losses and take the short walk down to the car, But no, I crossed the road into the field opposite, and was rewarded by seeing the ducks on a pond enjoying this weather!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The track down to my right took me back to the same point where i’d joined the canal at the start of the walk. Now, I took the tow path the opposite way, enjoying the quiet way ahead to reach the Clarke Lane bridge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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I was very pleased with the performance of my waterproof clothing and shoes. Though I wouldn’t want to walk in that weather every week, I did enjoy it today. It’s a great walk that I would definitely recommend.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And Finally….<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

We went to see Thea Gilmore at HOME in Manchester last Friday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Great venue, and I enjoyed the gig.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is Bones from her EP “WAS”, released this month.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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