30th June 2011: New Mills

There were eleven of us (Dave and Liz P, Dave M, Dave B, Trevor, George, Brian Mac, Ivan, Dave Heath, Ray and myself) assembled at Manley with the promise of sun and a rain-free day out exploring the outer reaches of Cheshire.  New Mills near Mobberley and the Railway Inn were the target and the outward journey was uneventful.  Out via Norley, Delamere and Hartford, and onwards via Lach Dennis and thence to Knutsford.
Getting through Knutsford to Mobberley can be a trial but I had found a way via a back lane and the mere park to access the B5085 to Mobberley.  The Railway Inn was well signposted and was situated right by Mobberley Station.  The 25 miles out had taken just two hours but we were ready for a pint or two.  A table had been reserved in the snug so we all ordered and after a reasonable wait the food arrived.  It was judged as to be tasty, unlike the sour disposition of the waiting staff.  The pub is very close to the end of the second runway at Manchester airport so we were able to very nearly read the serial numbers of the planes as they took off. It was quieter than I anticipated perhaps due to the Border Agency strike at Immigration Control.
Leaving at 14:00 prompt, we waited at the level crossing for a 30 year old diesel passenger train (according to Ivan’s expert knowledge) to pass through; then we took a loop out to try and find the end of the runway but were not able to see it.  The route back was essentially using route 70 but with some variations.  At Bucklow Hill, Dave H who was ahead of us at the lights, went straight across on the cycleway.  Despite attempts to contact him, the rest of us continued left on the planned route.  Dave appeared 5 minutes later via Hulse Heath Lane to rejoin us.  As we approached the back way in to Arley Hall, local knowledge via Dave H advised that tea was only available if you paid to enter Arley Hall so Dave M offered the Ice Cream Farm in Great Budworth.  Off we went with Dave in the lead, and amongst confusion at the first sign to the Ice Cream Farm, half of us went on and the rest turned to follow the sign.  “It’s all right says Dave – it’s two sides of a square”: and so it was as we all joined up for afternoon tea.  Out through Comberbatch and along the canal at Acton Bridge found us at Kingsley and up the appropriately named Dark Lane into the hills to take us back to Manley.  At Birch Hill Dave M suggests a left turn via New Pale since it is prettier than the right turn to Buck Oak.  However with a few riders already down the hill towards Buck Oak, we split again to rejoin at the entrance to Manley mere.  It all turned out OK in the end with a 55 mile circuit through rural Cheshire in dry and sunny weather.  Thanks to Brian Mac for being the back marker all day.
See route map and/or gpx file download.
CA