The Middlewood Way follows the route of the former Macclesfield, Bollington, and Marple Railway from… well, Macclesfield to Marple via Bollington. It’s 11 miles largely through Cheshire countryside, so I thought I’d walk the route and see how I got on!
UPDATE: Sunday 4th October 2020
Today I returned to Macclesfield to walk the return route back to Marple, all along the Macclesfield Canal. Here are a few thoughts:
It’s a lengthier walk - the old railway runs in a relatively straight line, whereas the canal meanders along the contour line. If you’re using public transport like me, you’ll also need to traverse the short section of Peak Forest Canal along the upper end of Marple Locks.
The views are more open and airy on the canal - you can definitely see more of the surrounding countryside from the canal. The canal is generally slightly higher than the Middlewood Way, the tree-lining is not as extensive, and there’s not so much in a cutting! There are some good views from the old railway but they are more consistent from the canal.
The canal feels more rural - even in the sections through populated areas - and you don’t have the dreary suburban section that brings the Middlewood Way into Macclesfield alongside the dual carriageway road. Other than a few hundred yards at either end to get onto the canal in the first place, you’ve consistently got good views around you.
The Middlewood Way route has two features - both in Bollington - that add to the charm. The first is the lovely viaduct, and the second is the labyrinth, which I found fascinating although it may not be to everyone’s taste. You won’t see either if you stick to the canal. I had hoped (although not expected) that I might be able to get a decent view of the viaduct from the canal, but that is not the case. The aqueduct in Bollington itself is so wide that you barely even notice you are on it.
There is currently (as at October 2020) a very restricted rail service to Rose Hill Marple due to a Northern Railway driver shortage, and there are more trains from Marple than there are from Middlewood. Something to consider when planning your route.
Overall, I think I enjoyed the canal walk more than the Middlewood Way itself, although both are lovely strolls through the Cheshire countryside. Perhaps the best option is to find a walk that incorporates elements of both - whether that’s a loop heading out by one and back by another, or a linear walk that takes advantage of the proximity of the two routes to switch between them!
