New edition 2013 Walks for All in Cheshire East A selection of walks for all abilities, including those with pushchairs, wheelchairs and mobility scooters. 28 M56 A50 A523 M6 Poynton Knutsford A538 Wilmslow Middlewood Way Walks for All A537 A556 Macclesfield Riverside Park Tegg’s Nose in Cheshire East A527 A535 A34 Macclesfield Steps and stiles can be a problem for many of us, so why not take Brereton Heath Holmes Chapel Macclesfield A523 A54 Forest a walk where you won’t encounter any? Ten routes of varying A54 lengths are suggested here to give you a flavour of the Cheshire Congleton Biddulph Valley Way East countryside. Explore, take healthy exercise and enjoy a sense of Middlewich A534 A50 wellbeing from being outdoors! Wheelock Rail Trail Sandbach A533 A34 Astbury Mere The routes generally have a hard, Don’t forget to wear clothing and A51 Crewe The Salt Line A530 M6 compacted surface although you might footwear appropriate to the time of year A49 Nantwich Alsager find some paths with a loose surface and weather conditions. RADAR keys are A534 which may be muddy in winter. The not available on site, so if you need access A500 walks are either circular, taking you back to a disabled toilet, it’s best to obtain a key Nantwich to where you started, or linear so you can before you go either from RADAR or from Riverside A51 Key to maps retrace your steps or arrange for a friend your local Disability Information Bureau. A530 A529 to collect you at the end. The walks are For details of accessible bus services Audlem described and shown on a map so that and times, phone Traveline on 0871 200 A525 Accessible you can make your own decision as to Viewpoint 22 33 or go to www.cheshireeast.gov.uk toilets where you go and how far you walk. Designated Benches: rest Other information on the parking stops are marked maps is shown as follows: on the maps. Refreshments Picnic Suggested route area Major roads Gate: a hand Kissing gate: a gate Other roads gate generally which opens into an accessible for enclosure. Some are Railway line wheelchairs and fitted with RADAR Rivers & lakes pushchairs. keys for easier access. Woodland Gap: a gap between posts that would PH s Slope, steeperP R generally enable a pushchair or wheelchair to than 1:10 fit through but prevent access to motorbikes. PH s P R These barriers offer a gap of approximately 90 cm Built up area at ground level, decreasing to a width of 75 cm at Whilst every effort has been made to make the walk details as comprehensive as possible, no responsibility can be taken for any changes to the routes 60 cm above the ground, and a width of 45 cm or facilities which occur after the publication of this booklet (July 2013) C . L B K E 3 W at a height of 120 cm above the ground. 2 C . L B K E 3 W 3 PH s P R C . L B K E 3 W Astbury Mere Country Park Suggested Route VISITOR INFORMATION DISTANCE: 2 km / 11/4 mile LOCATION: Astbury Mere is located in Congleton circular route. Less than a mile from Congleton town centre you can enjoy a stroll on Sandy Lane and is signposted off the A34 through wildflower meadows and admire the views across the mere ALLOW: 30 minutes – 1 hour. Newcastle Road. towards Congleton Edge and Mow Cop. The mere is used for fishing SURFACE: The path has a POSTCODE FOR SATNAV: CW12 4FP. and water sports as well as being a haven for waterfowl. mainly even, compacted stone PARKING: A free car park is available at the visitor surface and offers a 2 metre centre and is accessible for minibuses. There are width throughout. There is a two designated disabled bays by the start of the S A 10 metre long slope of 1:10 N trail. The car park is open 9am to 5pm and longer D 50m Y gradient at the northeast L in summer. A N corner of the lake. E PUBLIC TRANSPORT: A bus service operates along ERDALE ENN DR I V E PATH FURNITURE: There is a the Newcastle Road, with a bus stop at Sandy Lane. chicane barrier at the start of TOILETS: Toilets are provided at the visitor centre, the route giving a width of 1 Visitor Centre including an accessible toilet with a RADAR lock. metre. At the southern side of the lake, there are two barriers REFRESHMENTS: Refreshments are available at Astbury Mere Country Park offering gaps of 1.1 metres. At local outlets in town and usually at weekends and a further barrier, there is a gap school holidays at the water sports centre on the of 1.1 metres between posts, southern side of the mere. but the available flat area of FURTHER INFORMATION: The visitor centre is ground between these posts is open from 9am to 5pm. The park is owned by 70 cm. There are two locations A34 NEWCASTLE ROAD ROAD NEWCASTLE Astbury Mere Trust and managed on their behalf where dropped kerbs creating by the Cheshire East Countryside Ranger Service: Astbury Mere 3 cm steps are found. There is seating alongside the mere, TEL: 01260 297237 with views over the water. EMAIL: [email protected] W O N L L O H L O F 4 5 Biddulph VISITOR INFORMATION LOCATION: The Biddulph Valley Way Valley Way is best accessed off the A54 Brook The Biddulph Valley Way follows Street in Congleton. the route of a disused railway POSTCODE FOR SATNAV: CW12 which carried coal between the 1RG. Potteries and Congleton for over PARKING: There is a small lay-by on Brook Street by a telephone box, 100 years. Today, this is a tranquil located between Tommy’s Lane and route that allows visitors to enjoy Brunswick Street. Alternatively, a the delightful Cheshire East small amount of parking is available along the track leading off Brook Buxton countryside. The route offers views Congleton Street to the Way. N Town Centre of the impressive railway viaduct River P NEWCASTLE ROAD A34 PUBLIC TRANSPORT: The Way is T Dane E Bid over Dane-in-Shaw Pasture and a E du R lp close to Congleton railway station h S T V ANDY S al chance to spot a kingfisher. and can be reached via the canal K le OO y W BR a y LA towpath and a set of steps. Public N Congleton E bus services run along the A54 Brook Town Centre Suggested Route Street. EN DISTANCE: 3.5 km / 2¼ mile one way to TOILETS: No toilets are available on NE RDAL IVE Whitemoor Nature Reserve, or 7 km / 4½ the route. Facilities are available in E DR PARK LANE A527 Astbury & miles return walk. Congleton town. t Kidsgrove Visitor Centre Dane c u and Toilets ALLOW: 2 – 3 hours. d EN REFRESHMENTS: No refreshments in Shaw a NERDA Congleton i P LE D V RIV Station Astbury Mere E SURFACE: The surface of the route is are available on the route. Facilities Macclesfield Canal Country Park generally flat and made of compacted stone are available in Congleton town. with loose material. Path widths are over FURTHER INFORMATION: BIDDULPH ROAD A527 1 metre throughout. Contact the Countryside Ranger Service: High Town PATH FURNITURE: There is a motorbike 50m TEL: 01260 297237 barrier at the Brook Street end of the path Astbury Mere EMAIL: [email protected] and where the route passes under the railway. These barriers would generally Mossley enable wheelchairs and pushchairs to access the Way. There are 6 benches located along the length of the path. Biddulph 200m Whitemoor Nature Reserve 6 7 HOLMES CHAPEL R To Holmes Chapel OAD A54 To Congleton Davenport Methodist HOLMES CHAPEL R Chapel 300m To Holmes Chapel OAD A54 Brereton Heath To Congleton Designated as a Local Nature Reserve, Brereton Heath lake is surrounded Davenport by wildlife habitats managed by the Countryside Ranger Service. These Visitor Centre Methodist E N Chapel 300m can be enjoyed by visitors via the ‘Brimstone Trail’ lakeside route and the A L T woodland paths. Fishing day tickets are available at the bank side from R O P N Wheelock Angling Society. E V A Brereton Heath D Nature Reserve Visitor Centre VISITOR INFORMATION E Suggested Route N A L DISTANCE: 1.6 km / 1 mile, T R LOCATION: The Reserve is situated on Davenport O circular walk along the P N Lane off the A54 between Holmes Chapel and E Brimstone Trail. V A Brereton Heath Congleton. D ALLOW: 30 minutes – 1 hour, Nature Reserve plus time to enjoy the wildlife POSTCODE FOR SATNAV: CW12 4SU. and scenery. PARKING: The Reserve is open from 8.45am to Unsurfaced SURFACE: The Brimstone 8.30pm in summer and from 8.45am to 5pm in Trail route around the lake is winter. There is a pay and display car park. generally firm and even with Annual permits are available. Blue badge holders can park free of charge and there are 4 designated Congleton a width of between 1 and 2 Town Centre bays for disabled parking. N NEWCASTLE ROAD A34 metres. Some sections are Unsurfaced surfaced, one of which has a Unsurfaced PUBLIC TRANSPORT: A bus service operates S steep gradient of 1:10 over 30 along the A54 with a stop at Davenport Methodist ANDY metres. Other sections of the Chapel. LA N path are unsurfaced with loose E TOILETS: Toilets are available on site, including an gravel and compacted stone.