Posted by davethejackal

Length of route:

12 km (7 mi) one way, 24 km (15 mi) return

Suitable for:

Cycling

And:

Off-road

Details:

An easy escape route from central Manchester that doesn't make too much use of the r**d word. Accessible from anywhere on the orbital cycleway the route shown here does not include the initial cycle but starts where you leave from the cycleway in Reddish.

Some nice scenery along the way and the route ends at the excellent Hare and Hound pub, an ideal place to stop for Sunday lunch with a view that, on a clear day, stretches to the far side of Manchester and beyond (they have slot operated viewing glasses for your viewing pleasure).

Once there you can either return down the hill the way you came or use it as the starting point for a longer ride venturing deeper in to the peaks. Follow the train line outwards and you can be sure of an easy return to Reddish and the cycle way at pretty much any time (Norther Rail allow cycles to travel for free along the line and have cycle pens in every other carriage).

Fantastic views are to be had going over the other side of the hill towards Etherow Country Park.

If you have a few too many at the pub there's always Romiley or Marple stations just down the road for a quick return to Manchester.

NB Though the first part of the climb to the pub is marked as a footpath it has been newly expanded for horses/cycles (even if the gradient and loose surface make it somewhat 'challenging').