Distance – 9 miles/14 km
Terrain – road and trails, some muddy footpaths, but road shoes are OK
Short-cuts – straight back through Alderley Edge (cuts off 2 miles)
– from Oakfield Road take the footpath under the railway to the roundabout on the A34 by-pass and return to the club via Fulshaw Park (cuts off 1 mile).
Route Description
From the Rugby Club, take King’s Road, straight over at the end onto Racecourse Road, then second right into Lindow Lane. When the road ends turn left onto a track. At the tee-junction turn left down Rotherwood Road, right at the end (towards Ned Yates) and then first left into Clay Lane. Turn left down a muddy track, right at the end onto Upcast Lane, pass Lindow School and out to turn right onto Knutsford Road.
Take the second left into Carr Lane, which starts as a road and becomes a track. At a tee-junction in the track turn right. This brings you out onto Ryley’s Lane right by the new A34 by-pass.
Turn left towards Alderley Edge, turning right into Chorley Hall Lane (1km circuit) and straight on into Alderley at the De Trafford Arms. Go straight over the main road, into Chapel Road, then second left into Trafford Road and follow round to the right into Moss Lane (the Tuesday session warm-up route). Turn left at the end, through the gap and over the cobbles. Go straight ahead on Heyes Lane. Take the first left into Oakfield road, swing right to go straight ahead at a tiny mini-roundabout, through the playground and onto the field beyond. Follow the path straight ahead (brook on the right) until a track junction, turn right down a broad track.
(Alternative route – instead of turning right wheel left, go under the railway bridge and straight on to cross the stile by the new roundabout on the A34 by-pass. Take the old A34 road towards Wilmslow and then turn left into Fulshaw Park, Stoney Lane, South Oak Lane and Racecourse Road).
From the broad track turn left just before the road (Heyes Lane) and follow a wet footpath along the field edge to the stile on Hough Lane. (If the path is very wet continue on the broad track to Heyes Lane and turn left on the road). Go left onto Hough Lane, turn left at the roundabout onto the A34 link-road, and right over the steps before you reach the end. Go straight ahead, taking the footpath which will come out onto Station Road. Cross and enter Wilmslow Park between the stone pillars. Immediately before you cross the river turn left through a snicket and follow the path next to the river (the Tuesday 2-mile circuit route). Don’t turn right on the Tuesday route, but continue under the viaduct, and up to the King William roundabout – cross the old A34 and run across the gardens to enter the Carrs through the car-park on the left. Cross the river on the main path, and keep the river on your right until you get to Twinney’s Bridge car park, then turn left up the slope to the Rugby Club.