25th April 2013: Bollington and Above

The weather forecast was rubbish and some core members were unavailable.  Nevertheless, Martin and Liz, Brian Mac, Ray, George and David M were already on their marks when I arrived at Redes Mere with Keith.  Soon Mike G arrived from Knutsford, and the ride began bang on time. We undulated towards Gawsworth before a sharp climb at Oakgrove, and on to Sutton Lane Ends.  A very steep climb up a Quiet Lane set pulses racing. Some keen vintage riders acknowledged us as they flew by just after the Haddon Farm hairpin.  The Hanging Gate pub was prettily perched on the hillside. Then left, and more conversation-stopping steep climbing. From now to lunch was a long, uplifting dive down followed by the sheltered serenity of Wildboarclough. We arrived a little early at the Stanley Arms where two tables had been reserved for us. The service was friendly, and the food just the job.
It had rained whilst we were inside, and it was becoming cooler, but we soon warmed up on the slog to the A577. We hurtled past Lamaload Reservoir, most of us confronting a Land-Rover at the point you would least want to. A few more steep banks, and more fast downhilling with panoramic views, before heaving on the anchors just above Bollington and turning right to picturesque Pot Shrigley. The climb through The Brickworks and up Bakestonedale Moor was quite demanding, but our Premiership players, Martin and Ray were soon at the top.  A short, fast stretch around the hairpin at Charles Head was followed with a sharp left up the side of Reed Hill. Despite Mike, who knew the way having stopped, thinking that he had dropped something, the tail managed to miss the turn! Blame the leader. More shortish, steep ups then a long cruise down to the rocky track leading to the East Parkgate entrance to Lyme Park. Suddenly Dave M was revolting. To be fair it was like asking Sebastian Vettel to tackle a rally stage in his Formula One car. Dave’s smooth carbon fibre road shoes, hand-stitched by fairies from silver thread spun by a thousand specially bred spiders, are likely to land you on your arse if attempting one moist step. Dave played safe with his butt and kit by returning to the road and riding down to Disley and the main entrance. We continued with our poachers approach via a rickety wooden bridge to the gatehouse. The views are usually outstanding here. We noted The Cage on a hill to our right, but were now exposed to a very cold wind and some rain as we headed down to The Hall and some shelter. Dave appeared after a few minutes, and we all snaked down the teeth-rattling, wooded path to East Parkgate.

Photographs by Brian MacDonald

The troops were restless for tea and cake, but I rejected the slow-serving Victorian Coffee House as we were booked in at Bollington for 3:30. There were fine views to our right over Manchester and Stockport. We passed Shrigley Hall, turned up round the corner and then into a delightful ‘secret lane’. We walked over the wet, steep cobbles on reaching Bollington’s stone houses, and cycled up to the Macclesfield Canal. Café Waterside was comfortable, friendly, and generous with its cake and drink. Forty minutes later we were climbing the tough little slopes out of well-heeled Prestbury, and soon speeding past Birtles Hall and Henbury Hall back to the cars. Mike turned down a lift and cycled back to Knutsford. 40 very hard, very hilly miles had been covered. Martin couldn’t believe how long we had taken, but was impressed with the 1,300metres of ascent that he had recorded. George and I conjectured if being nearly a year older was what made it seem harder than last time. Brian Mac was concerned about the amount of punishment he had taken! Ah well, ‘no pain, no gain’! Nevertheless, the ‘Championship’ riders did themselves proud, never really straggling. Limping, recently non-league Keith, with his reconstructed knee had been, indefatigable. I certainly enjoyed it and was grateful for the support.            

DH

17th May 2012: Macclesfield Forest & Lyme Park (special ride)

It was grey, drizzly and not very warm at Redes Mere. The ducks seemed just as comfortable on the wet road as in the lake. Everyone arrived in good time: Clive, Liz and Ivan in the Landie, Jim and Trev together, George and myself in our own cars and mad keen Mike on his bike from Knutsford.

We were soon into the swing, chatting and cruising along the green undulating lanes, passing close to Gawsworth Hall before our first sharp climb to Sutton Reservoir. A ‘Quiet Lane’ out of Sutton Lane Ends had front wheels going light, and no breath for chat. Layers were removed at the top. There was no rain now, nor wind, and we were truly limbered up. Just as well as semi- serious climbs approached, including a hairpin past Haddon Farm. The Hanging Gate pub was perched attractively on the edge of the steep hillside: a desirable destination for a warm summer evening’s drive with the top down!  Left and steeply up into lovely territory, and then a welcome surge down with Ivan speeding and banking like Agostini as the narrow lane threaded between the hills.

Winding gently up, Wildboarclough is delightful as ever: sheltered, peaceful and remarkably easy riding amongst these severe slopes. The musical sound of the brook accompanies us towards our lunch stop at Bottom of the Oven. The Stanley Arms has a welcoming roaring log fire, but we settle snugly in the room reserved for us in the back. A lovely lady takes our photograph, for Cheshire Life I presume, but apparently she has just been persuaded to help us out! Food, friendliness and beer are spot on.

We are soon on our way again, with an immediate slog up to the main Macclesfield to Buxton road. We then hurtle exhilaratingly down past Lamaload Reservoir. If a car comes around the corner now, you’d need forearms like Popeye to brake in time. There are five arrows on the map for this short stretch; unfortunately the last one is up. We cross the B5470 and continue sailing downhill in the direction of Bollington, stopping to take in the fine views across Cheshire. White Nancy is perched like a penguin at the north end of Kerridge Hill, and beyond that, Alderley Edge. We turn right under heavy braking, and reach picturesque Pott Shrigley before long. This is bailout time for anyone suffering, as our proposed late coffee destination is about ten downhill minutes away. Everyone votes, somewhat surprisingly, (Jim and I can almost smell the coffee and feel the waiting soft sofas), to continue towards Lyme Park via the last long and hard climb of the day- through The Brickworks and onto Bakestonedale Moor. A short fast stretch around the hairpin at Charles Head follows, and then a high speed left in the direction of Disley.   

Photographs by Ivan Davenport

We enter Lyme Park via a rocky track and across a wooden bridge to reach East Parkgate. As we enter we see The Cage on a hill to our right and ride closely past a large number of beautiful deer. We reach Lyme Hall, the largest in Cheshire and the setting for the BBC’s adaptation of  Pride and Prejudice. Liz’s thoughts immediately turn to Mr. Darcy in a wet shirt! We leave down a wooded path to West Parkgate, and turn uphill with views over Stockport and Manchester. A stop to admire the old Coffee Tavern built as a library at the time of Queen Victoria’s Jubilee. Past Shrigley Hall, up round the corner, and right into a delightful ‘secret lane’ which ends by snaking steeply down a cobbled route between Bollington’s stone houses. 

Coffee and cake at the Waterside Café in the impressive former cotton and silk thread producing Clarence Mill, alongside the Macclesfield Canal.

We set off for the last lap, passing under the canal and then the impressive viaduct of the Middlewood Way, a disused railway cycle path which we must sample another time. It’s a good job I didn’t let the troops know that we could have substituted some undulations with a very pleasant, and more importantly, flat, few miles! Through wealthy Prestbury and up a final tough little climb, then lovely little lanes, past Henbury Hall and back to the cars.

It was a relief that we all coped, because it was a testing route, but everyone genuinely seemed to enjoy the ride, and I was really pleased that it had been worth their effort. I certainly appreciated the group’s support, and their excellent company on the day. A special thanks to Jim for his pre–ride scouting assistance and sound advice. 42 glorious, challenging miles. 

DH