Saturday morning brought another fine group of Stockport Community Cycling Club cyclists to Torkington Park. This was a new route to the airport and back along the new bypass put together by Tracey.

Although cool as we set off through the park, we were looking forward to some fine cycling weather according to the weather forecasts.

Leaving the park, we cycled up Torkington Road.

Then joined NCN Route 55 and the Middlewood Way.

We followed this for the next few miles, cycling past Middlewood …

… and Higher Poynton.

Where we were delayed by the first puncture of the day.

We left the Middlewood Way and climbed some steps up to Brookledge Lane.

There was then a fine downhill, taking us past Adlington rail station.

We crossed over the A523 and headed along Mill Lane.

Next, we cycled up Wilmslow Old Road.

For a change, at Mottram St Andrew, instead of then continuing climbing by cycling up Oak Road, we turned towards Alderley Edge.

There was still a bit more climbing of course …

Our route then took us through Alderley Edge.

From there we skirted the edge of Wilmslow.

Passing Lindow Common and then heading on to Morley Green.

Further along, we joined Wilmslow Road and cycled through the tunnels under the airport runways.

We continued our journey around the edge of the airport complex.

Our lunch stop was the Concorde Restaurant at the Runway Visitor Park. It was already busy, and I think we rather overwhelmed them. They ran out of some food items. At least, in the form of a jacket potato, they had something Sarah could eat.

As we came out of the cafe, the temperature suddenly dropped and it started to hail. I don’t remember reading about that in any of the day’s weather forecasts!

Weaving our way around the roads around the airport we eventually arrived at the new relief road.

This is a new 10-mile stretch that would take us from the airport to High Lane.

While not being in favour of the bypass being built, now it is here, it was worth cycling along to see what all the fuss was about. It includes a cycle and walking path alongside its entire length.

By now, as you can see, the weather was thankfully improving again.

Along the way, we cycled past Heald Green, Handforth, and Poynton among other places.

You can view our whole cycle ride along the bypass below:

Eventually, we reached High Lane. It was then a short cycle back to the start.

We had cycled just over 31 miles by the time we arrived back. This had been another interesting new route. Thanks, Tracey.

You can view our Manchester Airport and the Bypass route below: