Click here for the Castle Mill run in pdf.
Distance – 9.3 miles/14.8 km
Climb – 400 ft/100 m
Terrain – medium – road, flat trail, short stretches of rough ground, bumpy fields and narrow paths
Short-cuts – No obvious short cuts, for a shorter run take the footpath from the roundabout on the Altrincham Road (A538 just before the airport tunnels), follow the track to the firestation and down to cross the Bollin bridge, and then follow the route as described. This gives 5.2 miles (8.3 km).
Route Description
From the Rugby Club turn right along King’s Road, cross diagonally to the right, and take the track (Sandy Lane – finish of the Wilmslow Half). Follow that to the end, go straight ahead into Mobberley Road, and take the first right into Nansmoss Lane. (ALTERNATIVE – from the Rugby club cross the pitches to drop down into the woods and climb up to the Jim Evison field, cross the field to the A538, cross the road and take the path to the right of the garden centre. A good option in spring, but gets overgrown in summer).
From Nansmoss Lane turn left over a stile and follow the footpath across 2 fields, through a small group of houses to Morley Green Road, cross the road down a track, and take the path across fields to join the Altrincham Road (A538). Follow the Altrincham Road on the path past the roundabout, under two tunnels, passing Mill Lane, to take the next left Sunbank Lane. Sunbank Lane makes a right turn, follow it round and after 100m take the track and footpath on the left, leading into Sunbank Wood. At the track in the wood turn left, and follow the regular Tuesday training circuit round for 200m to drop down to the stile. Cross the stile and turn right, staying on the path until a bridge is visible on the left, cross the bridge, and take the narrow footpath heading left. The path continues alongside the brook, then turns right and becomes indistinct, but follow the field edge away from the brook to meet Castle Mill Lane. Turn right and immediately left into a drive.
Go all the way down the drive until you get to the house gate at the end, and take the footpath on the left. Cross three fields, keeping roughly the same direction, and then when you get to a big field keep to the right hand edge until you get to a track (which forms part of the Mobberley 5 race). Turn left on the track, cross a stile and a cattle-grid, turn right and then right again (back-tracking the Mobberley race route). Go through the tunnel under the new runway, with the river on your left, and at the far end go virtually straight on through a gate. Follow the footpath, keeping left, getting to a narrow wooded path with several wooden bridges. Cross a stile on leaving the narrow wooded section, and cross the fields, avoiding the path on the left (which leads back to the Holiday Inn). Cross a wet area and climb into Dooley’s Lane, and on to Morley Green Road.
Turn left on Morley Green Road, and at the end cross Mobberley Road straight ahead to go down the track (to the left of Eccup’s Lane). Continue to go through a gate, and then go through a gap onto the Wilmslow tip. Climb the hill and go straight down the other side, taking the narrow gap leading onto a track through allotments. Follow the track to the Altrincham Road, cross over and return via King’s Road.