Monday 9 August 2021 - Alderley Edge revisited

A visit from Ottawa parkrunner friends Linda and Keith triggered this morning walk around Alderley Edge. Our first walk for ages (12 July - must be a record!). Sue and Jenny came with me to the NT car park, from where - after watching the drizzle subside - we headed to the site of the Beacon, via the Engine Vein, pictured above. This former mining area used to be heavily eroded by visitors, but since being fenced off, it has grown wild again. There's a newly fenced off section where the tunnel is expected to collapse soon - the workings hereabouts have been fully explored and mapped, so there is no need to save these particular tunnels.

A little further on, beyond the Beacon site, we paused at several points to admire the views, which extend from the Welsh hills, over Jodrell Bank, across Greater Manchester to the South Pennines.

Eventually, after finding our way around the northern edge of the woodland, we crossed the Macclesfield Road via Mount Farm, and headed down Slade Lane to reach the track that is Hocker Lane, where the next two pictures were taken.

A right turn up Bradford Lane saw a continuation of the pleasant woodland, from which we eventually emerged at the main road near the Wizard cafe. Coffees etc went down well, then Linda and Keith moved on to nearby Styal, and the rest of us went home for lunch.

Here's the route we took - a very pleasant 9 km, taking exactly two hours.

It was good to see Linda and Keith - thanks to them for making the effort to meet up, and nice to get out for a walk after over a month.