Teggs Nose and Macclesfield Forest (13.5km) Print

Teggs Nose and Macclesfield Forest Waypoint 1
This ride, devised by the North Cheshire Riders group, offers a range of fantastic views across the Cheshire Plain, across Cheshires Peak District and across the trees and reservoirs of Macclesfield Forest. Teggs Nose Country Park has a horsebox accessible pay and display car park (park near the visitor centre, or if it is busy and a ranger is on site, you can ask to use the overflow car park). Permits are available. Parking is also available beside Ridgegate Reservoir with a tying up area (OS grid reference SJ957713) but this can be busy. From Tegg’s Nose Country Park take the permissive bridleway signposted Sadlers Way, down a steep and stony path which is paved in sections. Pass through a 2.4m field gate with low extended handle. At the lane, turn right and follow it swinging left downhill past Clough House Farm, signed Macclesfield Forest and Forest Chapel.

Teggs Nose and Macclesfield Forest Waypoint 2
When the tarmac peters out by a house continue along the stony track, swinging first right then over a small ford and then left at the junction of tracks after seeing a footpath sign on either side of the track. At Hardingland house, keep straight ahead onto Hacked Way Lane.

Teggs Nose and Macclesfield Forest Waypoint 3
Where the lane bears left, go through the 1.5m bridle gate with low extended handle, into the forest. This is signed as a public footpath and permissive Forest Bridleway. Follow the mud path through the trees, bearing right at a junction of paths, signed Forest Chapel. Just passed a building ruin, turn right onto a forestry track signposted Langley and Forest Bridleway.

Teggs Nose and Macclesfield Forest Waypoint 4
At the bottom of this track, go through the 1.5m bridle gate with extended handle and turn right along the road right downhill to the Leathers Smithy pub, again signposted Forest Bridleway.

Teggs Nose and Macclesfield Forest Waypoint 5
Turn left to ride with Ridgegate reservoir on your right hand side, following the road left at the junction signposted Forest Chapel and Wildboarclough. Pass the Macclesfield Forest visitor centre and continue up the hill with views through the trees to Trentabank reservoir on your left.

Teggs Nose and Macclesfield Forest Waypoint 6
At the top of the hill you will come to a junction of roads adjacent to Standing Stone car park. Here, take the public footpath and permissive bridleway on your right signposted Shutlingsloe via a 1.5m bridle gate with extended handle. Follow this forestry track into the forest passing an old building. Continue straight on at the first junction of paths (signposted Trentabank and at the second junction of paths bear left signposted Forest Bridleway. Enjoy the views of Shutlingsloe behind you as you make your way to viewpoint over the forest and reservoirs.

Teggs Nose and Macclesfield Forest Waypoint 7
From the viewpoint, continue down to a road and 1.5m bridle gate with extended handle. At the road turn right and shortly turn left signposted Langley to pass Ridgegate reservoir again this time on your left. At the Leathers Smithy pub turn left downhill towards Langley village.

Teggs Nose and Macclesfield Forest Waypoint 8
As you reach Langley take Holehouse Lane, the first road on your right. Climb up to the level of the reservoirs and continue straight on along the public bridleway signposted Forest Chapel, with Bottoms Reservoir on your right and Teggs nose Reservoir on your left. Follow the bridleway into Teggs Nose Country Park via a field gate (left open) or old cattle grid. Continue along the stone track over a ford and up wide horse steps. Go through a 2.7m field gate with extended handle and follow up the stony sunken lane bordered by a stone wall.

Teggs Nose and Macclesfield Forest Waypoint 9
Continue through a 3m field gate with low extended handle and at the tarmaced road turn left uphill signposted car park. Bear left up the Sadlers Way permissive bridleway which, after the 2.4m field gate with low extended handle, will bring you back to Teggs Nose Country Park.