Middlewood Way Your ticket to the Countryside Middlewood Way Middlewood Way How to get to the Middlewood Way Middlewood Way Council
.uk/rangers .cheshireeast.gov www A34 A6 A523 A624 Your ticketEast to theCheshire countryside Welcome Cycling Local History Things to do and see Kingfisher Stockport The scenic 10 mile / 16 km long The Middlewood Way offers easy and In 1863, the towns of Marple, Bollington and Macclesfield Marple Rosehill Middlewood Way provides lots of scenic cycling and is a popular were facing economic depression. Local dignitaries and Wildlife enthusiasts will find plenty of Station opportunities for walking, cycling destination for leisure cycling all year especially the cotton mill owners of Bollington, hoped a new interest throughout the year. railway would improve their fortunes. A railway scheme was The ditches provide habitat for and horse riding. round. It forms part of the National Manchester presented to parliament, and in 1869 the Macclesfield, dragonflies and damselflies, frogs Airport Poynton Disley The Middlewood Way was Cycle Network and is a section of Route Styal Higher Bollington and Marple Railway opened. and newts. Flocks of long tailed tits Poynton constructed on top of a disused 55. Visit www.sustrans.org for more Lyme Park railway line, and officially opened information. flit through the trees looking for Wilmslow Adlington Middlewood in 1985. Cyclists please be aware that walkers insects whilst warblers sing from Station Way Alderley hidden perches on bankside bushes. Andrew Sproule/Shutterstock.com may not hear you approach so please use your bell or shout a Edge Bollington cheery hello. Train approaching Kingfishers visit the ponds and can Prestbury Middlewood Station A5004 also be seen flying along the Macclesfield Canal. B5470 Managing the Where the Way is split into two sections please use the wider at Higher Poynton Middlewood Way path which is shared with horse riders. Please give way to horse A537 A537 Buxton The bridges provide good roosting sites for bats, and various Maccles eld Tegg’s Nose The Countryside Ranger Service riders and wait for them to pass you before cycling on. species can be seen at dusk including pipistrelles and noctules Country Park ensures that the Middlewood along the Middlewood Way and Daubenton’s along the canal. Way is maintained to a high The railway carried cotton, silk, coal and passengers, however standard. The Rangers work with Horse Riding A34 A536 A523 A54 it always struggled to make a profit. The line later became part Take a walk in Poynton Coppice where wildlife benefits from volunteers throughout the year to Horse riders can use the Middlewood of British Rail but was eventually closed as part of the Beeching traditional coppice management techniques. Each year a small look after the Middlewood Way. Way from the Bollington viaduct at Middlewood Way cuts in 1970. In 1985 the disused railway was redeveloped for area is coppiced and the cut timber used for fencing, hurdle Work includes repairing paths Adlington Road all the way to Rosehill Macclesfield to Middlewood Station recreation as the Middlewood Way. making and pea sticks for local allotment groups. Poynton and creating wildife habitats. in Marple; a 7 mile ride. Cheshire East Council Countryside Ranger Service Recommended horsebox parking is at Coppice is delightful in spring when the woodland floor is Phone 01625 383700 Jacksons’ Brickworks in Higher Poynton At Higher Poynton, coal from the local mines was transported carpeted with sweet smelling bluebells. email [email protected] and Rosehill in Marple. Riders can expect to the canal and railway line by tramways also known as Walking inclines. Lady’s incline and Prince’s incline are two of the Why not call in at the Nelson Pit Visitor Centre for more Middlewood Way: Middlewood Station to Marple Local circular walks can be created using to meet walkers and cyclists, so do Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council not bring a horse that is easily startled. former tramways in Higher Poynton which are now footpaths information. This building is located on the site of Nelson Pit the footpath network and the adjacent that lead downhill into Poynton. The Anson Engine Museum is which was one of the deepest pits in the area. phone 0161 217 6111 canal towpath. Footpaths reach into the Also, please do not ride any faster than www.stockport.gov.uk a slow trot. sited on the old Anson colliery. Peak District foothills to the east and the The flower rich meadows at Jackson’s Brickworks are well worth Macclesfield Canal Cheshire Plain to the west. From Higher exploring. Common The Canal and River Trust : phone 0303 0404040 Poynton footpaths lead to Lyme Park and spotted, heath spotted and Emporer Dragonfly email [email protected] Lyme Hall. Circular walks starting from Accessibility marsh orchids can be seen Bollington and Nelson Pit Visitor Centre The Middlewood Way is mostly level and wheelchair accessible. Anson Pit Museum scale in impressive numbers Tourist Information are available to download as leaflets from: Use the map overleaf to plan your visit as this shows easy model showing the during June and July. The Macclesfield 01625 378123 www.cheshireeast.gov.uk/rangers access points as well as sections that might be difficult for Anson colliery and Nelson Pit in about 1900 ponds provide breeding For bus and train travel information contact The Ordnance Survey Explorer map 268 is wheelchair users. If you need more information, contact the habitats for newts, frogs, Traveline phone 0871 2002233 or visit www.traveline.info recommended for route planning and Ranger Service - details are on the back cover of this leaflet. toads and dragonflies. navigation. Car parking is available at various locations along the Middlewood Way - please refer to the map inside this leaflet. Production date Nov 2013 Nov date Production
This information is available in other formats on request Cheshire East www.cheshireeast.gov.uk/rangers www.cheshireeast.gov.uk/rangers Tel: 01625 383700 Email: [email protected] Council
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