This Alderley Edge cycle ride represented the first Stockport Community Cycling Club Sunday ride for over 2 years. The last ones were curtailed due to the Coronavirus outbreak. Perhaps it was inevitable. The original ride leader for this, who was due to be Graham, had to step down having caught COVID! Instead, Andy S took over the ride leader duties, and I filled in as the back leader.

It was a fine, though cool Sunday morning when we met at Torkington Park.

We cycled through the park along some of the newly widened cycle path.

Then navigated our way through the racecourse estate.

Which brought us out on to Old Torkington Road.

After crossing the A6 we crossed the railway line at Norbury Hollow, on our way up to Higher Poynton.

Upon reaching Higher Poynton, we joined the Middlewood Way, NCN Route 55, for a little while.

Indeed, we followed the Middlewood Way to Bollington.

At Bollington, we turned towards Prestbury.

A little further on we joined NCN Route 70, part of the Cheshire Cycleway.

This took us into Prestbury.

We then continued to follow NCN Route 70 as it took us out the other side of the village and up Chelford Road.

Still following NCN Route 70, we cycled through Over Alderley, where we joined Macclesfield Road.

A little further on, we arrived at the National Trust’s Alderley Edge countryside park. We found ourselves some picnic tables and took a break here.

Then it was back on to our bikes …

Past Hare Hill.

And down towards Mottram St Andrew.

We turned into Mill Lane and headed back towards Woodford.

At Woodford, our route took us down the quiet Church Lane and Blossoms Lane.

Leaving Woodford, we then joined the path alongside the A555 and followed this all the way back to Hazel Grove.

By the time we arrived back, we had covered 27 miles. It had been a lumpy route to kick off the Sunday rides again. It had also been good to get back out into the Cheshire lanes.

Personally, I had come out on my touring bike, one I hadn’t used for the last twelve months. My legs had found this route tough. I clearly need to do some training if I am to survive the upcoming tours!

You can view our Alderley Edge route below: