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End: Kidsgrove, OS Grid: SJ837544 Elevation Profile (x: waypoint number, y: metres)
Gain (+/- 10%): 1297m (4256ft)
Total (+/- 10%): 2645m (8679ft)
Loss (+/- 10%): 1348m (4423ft)
Max. Elevation: 400m (1312ft)
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Waypoints
Start of the walk. From the station, head south Red Lane and then along Green Lane.
Enter Lyme Park via East Lodge. Look out for The Cage, an old hunting tower dating back to the 18th Century.
Sponds Hill is the first highpoint of the Trail - look out for views across to Kinder Scout in the east.
The path heads southwest past Brink Farm and Berristall Hall, heading towards the town of Bollington.
Follow the Trail heading south past Bollington, and start climbing Kerridge Hill by White Nancy. This landmark was built to commemorate the Battle of Waterloo. Follow the ridge of Kerridge Hill and on to Tower Hill.
The Trail heads past the hilly countryside near Macclesfield. The first day finishes at Tegg's Nose, a great place to see the gritstone that gives the Trail its name. From here, it is a short walk into Macclesfield for the first night's accomodation.
Macclesfield has a few options for the night - find out more from: Macclesfield Tourist Information Centre, Town Hall, Macclesfield, SK10 1DX
informationcentre@macclesfield.gov.uk
Tel 01625 504114
Start day two by hiking back to the Tegg's Nose Visitor Centre to pick up the Gritstone Trail. The route heads through the Country Park and past Tegg's Nose Reservoir and Bottoms Reservoir. These were built in 1850 and 1871 to power the mills in Macclesfield.
From the reservoirs, the Trail runs past the edge of Macclesfield Forest and across the hilly ground near Sutton.
Head up Croker Hill via Foxbanks. The telecommunications tower on the summit can be seen for miles around - you'll know where to go.
After a short drop, it's up again to Wincle Minn. The Trail continues heading south, through Hawkslee and through the beautiful Shell Brook valley.
The Gritstone Trail crosses the A523 near Rushton Spencer, where the Rushton Inn offers refreshment should you feel the need (why not, you're not driving!)
One last climb for the day - The Cloud, where legend has it a giant left his shoe, which became the rocky summit.
Continue past Timbersbrook and head off the Gritstone Trail into Congleton for the second night. Contact the Tourist Information Centre for options: Town Hall, High Street, Congleton, CW12 1BN, Tel: 01260 271095,
tourism@congleton.gov.uk
Final day, head out nice and early and pick up the Trail near Timbersbrook. The route starts heading south past Congleton towards Whitemoor.
It's a walk along the tops today - once you have climbed up Congleton Edge, it's high ground all the way to Mow Cop. Look out for the white clay deposits near Pot Bank.
At the southern end of Congleton Edge is this gritstone pillar, left standing when the surrounding stone was quarried away.
The final leg follows the Macclesfield Canal, past Scholar Green and Red Bull and into Kidsgrove.
The end of the walk! There is accomodation here if you want to spend a final night before heading home, or head into Stoke-on-Trent. If you have time, take a look at the nearby Harecastle Tunnel (just south of the town), where iron-rich spring water turns the canal bright orange!
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