Heritage Loop (19 miles 30.4 km ) Print
North Cheshire Riders route created by Laureen. This easy to follow 62km ride in the green heart of East Cheshire, ideal for first time long distance riders with friends or family on bicycles, opened in May 2012. It follows quiet lanes, bridleways and byways and can be ridden as two separate loops, the ‘Cheshire Cheese’ to the south, 33km and the northern ‘Heritage’ loop 29km or as a long distance ride over two or three days using the accommodation listed. This is the first long distance route specially designed for ‘horse and bike’ combinations but the route is outstanding for horses, cyclists and walkers. There are few hills to climb and lush scenery to enjoy. Signposting, plus maps and route guides mean you don’t have to worry about losing your way. The Southern “Cheshire Cheese” loop passes through pretty countryside with the green hedged fields and shady trees created for Cheshire dairy cattle. You will still see dairy herds from the route but nowadays many of these acres are used for polo; the magnificent estates of sixteenth century Peover Hall used by General Patton in WW2, Colshaw Hall and New Hall. Some of the tracks are even older such as Booth Bed Lane, a Salter’s Way. This loop is used as a pleasure ride by Sport Endurance every May and in August, from 2011, by Cheshire EGB. These rides are open to all. Why not come along for a taster?Download: Heritage Loop.gpx Heritage Loop Waypoints.gpx
HERw01 Waypoint 1
Start / Finish
1. Turn left from the pub car park and, 100 yards past the pub, left again to a restricted byway. From the restricted byway turn left on Moor Lane with a caravan site on your right, passing a garden centre then left again on Rotherwood Road, a restricted byway. Go straight on for about a mile and bear right on Eccups Lane with another caravan site on your left.
HERw02 Waypoint 2
Road
2. At the end of Eccups Lane+ turn right then immediately left at Morley Green, riding to the T junction with the A538, then left where there is a wide verge. Cross over the A538 into the old road by the bus shelter and ride straight ahead, across the car park, with the kind permission of the of the Holiday Inn, until you see a public bridleway on the right.
HERw03 Waypoint 3
Bridleway
3. Turn down here and follow the track beside Manchester Airport for about a mile to a T junction. Turn left on Moss Lane, then after half a mile, right on restricted byway, Wilkins Lane. From Wilkins Lane turn right into Holly Lane and left at the next junction, still on Holly Lane, passing the Ship pub, and then turn right at a T junction onto Hollin Lane.
HERw04 Waypoint 4
Restricted Byway
4. From Hollin Lane turn right in a few yards into Holt’s Lane, a restricted byway, through Styal Mill Country Park, passing the Apprentice House before turning right with the Historic Mill itself on your left.
HERw05 Waypoint 5
HERw05 Bridleway
5. Climb the hill and keep straight on, passing to the left of a farm building and, half a mile beyond the Mill, turn left, crossing the A638 again to the wide verge on the far side. Turn right on Nan’s Moss Lane and right again at the T junction on Mobberley Road.
HERw06 Waypoint 6
Road
6. At Morley Green retrace your steps, turning left onto Eccups Lane and on to Rotherwood Road. At Moor Lane turn left this time, then immediately right into Cumber Lane to pass tennis courts. Turn right on Gravel Lane, right on Knutsford Road, immediately right again and finally left on Upcast Lane.
HERw07 Waypoint 7
Road
7. On Upcast Lane turn right on the bridleway by a house opposite the cricket club. At the T junction of tracks turn left, and follow this round several bends. Keep straight on over a cross roads where the track becomes tarmac. After the third bend the track takes you down to the road. Turn right on this B road (it is a 30mph zone with Ridden Horse warning signs) and shortly left again into Warford Lane.
HERw08 Waypoint 8
Road
8. Take the first right, Noah’s Ark Lane, and at the staggered 4 way junction take the second left, Pedley House Lane. After ¼ mile turn right onto a bridleway and go straight on.
HERw09 Waypoint 9
Bridleway
9. Where the tarmac goes left take the gate half right in front of you to the right of the fishing pond. Go between the barn and the hedge and follow the hedge around the side of the field to a gate under trees. Go through this gate and keep to the left hand field edge round two sides of the field, through a gate and again stay on the left hand field edge to a double set of gates onto a hedged green lane. This leads you to the Bull’s Head and Roebuck pubs.
HERw10 Waypoint 10
Road
10. Turn right in front of the Bull’s Head and at the T junction turn right in front of the Victory Hall on the far side then immediately left on Church Lane. Pass Mobberley Church and after ¾ mile turn right on Lady Lane. At the far end of Lady Lane take the bridleway on the right just before the airport gate.
HERw11 Waypoint 11
Road
11. At the end ride straight ahead on Ostler’s Lane, ignore Woodend Lane on your left and turn right at the T junction into Blakeley Lane. Pass Davenport Lane on your right keeping straight on but shortly turn right into Newton Hall Lane, crossing a small stream. At the T junction turn right, which is still Newton Hall Lane but carries more traffic.
HERw12 Waypoint 12
Bridleway then Road.
12. After a few yards, take the bridleway on the left, Graveyard Lane. At the end turn right on Moss Lane, passing Egerton’s Recovery, and then left on Paddock Hill. Keep straight on at the junction to reach the Plough and Flail.+Loops start at the end of Rotherwood and Eccups lanes- check you are following the correct signs!join the southern Cheshire Cheese Loop here