{"id":1010878,"date":"2026-08-13T21:20:22","date_gmt":"2026-08-13T20:20:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.half-daywalker.com\/?p=1010878"},"modified":"2026-08-13T21:20:24","modified_gmt":"2026-08-13T20:20:24","slug":"macclesfield-forest","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.half-daywalker.com\/?p=1010878","title":{"rendered":"Macclesfield Forest"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

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

In this incredible heat, I decided the altitude and the shelter of the trees made a short walk in Macclesfield Forest the only sensible place to wander today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The temperature was a mere 29 deg C at the car park, 35 deg C back down in the suburbs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Macclesfield Forest is a 35 minute drive from Cheadle Hulme.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The walk is just 3.4 miles with 650 feet of ascent .<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It took 2 hours to complete, plus half an hour for lunch and another 20 minutes picking blackberries!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The walk is fantastic excellent for dog walking, being almost totally on forest tracks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I walked in a clockwise direction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The walk is on OS Explorer Map OL 24.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The road that links the two car parks (see map below) was closed today, and so I actually started from the Standing Stone Car Park (on the right), postcode SK11 0AR, What 3 Words \/\/\/flannel.recur.restore<\/p>\n\n\n

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Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

The High Section<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

I crossed the roads and set off in the direction of the nearby Shutlingsloe Hill.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There is a splendid view down to the reservoirs below.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The track meanders along the hillside, then drops down toward a ruined building. The trackside was awash with blackberries, so I sopped awhile.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Then, the track heads back uphill to an area where, seemingly just a couple of years ago the conifers were felled. Replacements are growing fast!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The sky was filled with house martins and one isolated old dead tree was being used as a resting perch between forays hunting insects.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The distant hamlet of forest Chapel was floating in a sea of straw, dotted with greenery!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The Low Section<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

I took the track down from here, through the thick conifer wood to my lunch spot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Trentabank Reservoir was a beautiful and surprisingly full oasis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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After collecting another punnet of blackberries in my used lunchbox, I took the roadside trackback up the hill. The road being closed to traffic today made this especially pleasant!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Back To The Car<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

I left the road and climbed the path up the opposite hillside. There’s a lot of open land here where conifers have been felled, and native broad-leaved trees are growing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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A right turn took me back into the conifer woods with occasional openings to enjoy the view..<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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As I returned to the carpark, mine was the only vehicle. The closed roads and extreme heat had gifted me a personal forest!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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This route proved that a short walk can be as rewarding as a mammoth hike, when you’re in a place like this!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And Finally….<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

This week, I discovered The Menzingers, an American indie band. Their new album is called Everything I Ever Saw, and this track is Better Angels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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