This year I wanted to complete some local long distance routes as part of training for my next big race. Having never really explore Cheshire despite it being so close to home, The Gritstone Trail was an obvious contender.
The trail guide recommends walking North to South but I wanted to finish closer to home so logistically it would be easier. So on what turned out to be a scorching hot day during a rather cold and wet British summer I set off from Kidsgrove.
At 35 miles/ 56km I started my Gritstone Trail journey in the south, leaving Kidsgrove Station along the Trent & Mersey Canal briefly before turning onto the Macclesfield Canal for approx 2km.
Starting the trail on the canal seemed like a nice easy way to get going, but the route quickly turns off to head up the hill to Mow Cop village, with its castle folly and The Old Man of Mow, rocky spire.
The trail from here passes through fields, joins the road for a short section and then heads through woodland towards Nick i’th’Hill, before dropping down to join the bridleway at Biddulph Valley Way.
It then turn off East to Timbersbrook and heads up through the woodland to the top of The Cloud.
This first section was delightful, relatively well signposted, good underfoot and while hilly it wasn’t difficult. It also has amazing views across Cheshire, and lovely sections of woodland. And of course, The Cloud is an amazing place to be on a sunny day.
With its Witches stone, ancient hill fort and history of quarrying, The Cloud is worth a visit in its own right.
From the summit of The Cloud, the route heads downhill, eastwards. After crossing the A523 there was unfortunately a very overgrown section along a conduit for about 2km. In the heat I was very unimpressed with battling through head high brambles and bracken along the path.
The trail then climbs Wincle Minn hill before dropping down and then climbing up to Sutton Common radio mast, before dropping down to the main road of Hollín Lane.
By this point I was mostly thinking about where I could cool off – be that swimming or refreshments.
While the route is never that far from civilisation, once you leave Kidsgrove station you don’t reach anywhere to get refreshments till Tegg’s Nose Country Park – another 3 or so km of undulating path before I reached there.
Once reaching Teggs Nose I respected the no swimming signs at Bottoms reservoir (though I did dip my tshirt in!).
It’s a steep climb up Teggs Nose, but worth it to reach the cafe at the top. Here I stopped for a very cold fizzy drink and a short break.
From here the route continues to undulate as it heads north before a steep climb up Kerridge Hill which finishes with the famous landmark of White Nancy. I’ll admit a surprise to me as I’d neither bothered to notice this on the map or aware it existed beforehand.
From White Nancy there’s a steep descent and then a slow climb across fields as the route reaches the final high point of Sponds Hill. It then descends into Lyme Park before finishing at Disley train station.
There is a diversion option to avoid Lyme Park but it’s such a beautiful landscape, it’s a shame to miss it out.
Is the Gritstone Trail worth walking?
In short yes.
The Gristone Trail provides a way of exploring Cheshire whilst keeping away from the busy centres. Whilst never really that far from towns and villages, it never passes through any either. So it’s possible to feel remote and to not meet many people at all.
It also means its very easy to chop the route into sections and walk as many circular walks or over a long weekend.
The route also connects some fantastic gems in the county – Lyme Park, White Nancy, The Cloud, Mow Cop – just to name a few.