Bosley Reservoir from Bosley Locks

 

This is the final walk of three from Bosley locks. This loop takes in a walk along the canal, around the hills to the east and then returning via Bosley Reservoir. The walk passes up the hills with some views west to Cheshire.

Distance 7.5 miles, climbing 650 feet.

One busy road to cross twice and another busy road to walk along, cows may be in fields along the route. 

Link to OS Map route.

The two other walks from Bosley Locks are:

7.5 miles circular to Gawsworth

5.8 mile balloon canal walk

From Bosley locks had north along the canal for 2 miles until the swing bridge at Oakgrove were we cross the canal (footbridge also available), cross the main road and continue up the side road ahead, when this gets to the entrance to Hawkshead Quarry turn right and head up the track.

Oakgrove Swing Bridge (footbridge to the right)

Disused bridge.

Follow this until it forks, taking the left track until arriving at a duck pond. Follow the track off to the left which takes you along a ditch. Follow this ditch it will pass an old disused stone bridge before meeting a stream with bridges, continue ahead after a while. Eventually the path turns away from the stream and heads uphill after a while the path turns sharply left onto a small foot path uphill until it arrives at a gate turn left after the gate and follow this track until a T junction with a track where we turn left. 

This track takes us to another gate on the left just before a T junction head through the gate and follow the track up the hill, after a short distance a footpath sign points to the right, follow this across the field.

This path takes us along the edges of fields until a line of trees where we turn left going uphill again to a farm track where we turn right, follow this to Upton Fold Farm. Turn left to head downhill, first through fields and then along a distinct concrete farm track.

Shortly after passing through a gate the path enters woodland on the left, and over a short bridge, head diagonally right on entering the field to join a track leading up the far bank, this track takes you down hill passing a derelict barn surrounded by fencing.

Walk all the way downhill to the road, carefully cross the road (it is a fairly busy, windy road) and walk along the road, after a short distance you can take the style on the left to head down the east shore of Bosley Reservoir, and walk around the reservoir and rejoin the route before heading back towards the Locks. However for the main walk continue on down the road until the junction at the bottom of the hill.

View of Croker hill.

Turn right onto Brooks Lane, a short distance after the garage on the left there is a style cross over this and head up the slope, pick up the tree line, saying to the right, after a dip follow the left edge of the field up the slope and continue until a farm, heading straight ahead along the track.

At the junction turn left onto Stoneyfold Lane which takes us down to the A523, turn left and then right into Bull Gate lane to return to Bosley Locks and the Parking.

Bosley Locks, North Rode Church and Gawsworth

This is the second of three walks from Bosley Locks.

Distance: of this walk is 7.5 miles over relatively flat farm land and roads,

If you would like a little more up & down in your walk try the hills to the east and Bosley reservoir, or for a shorter walk visit Bosley Locks Balloon Walk.

Bosley Locks is a flight of 12 Locks located near Bosley, South of Macclesfield. 

There is a small roadside parking area at the northern end of the twelve (Lock 1), from here you can walk south past all twelve locks, but the walks I describe start at lock 1 and head away from the lock flight norhwards. The towpath can be joined by either crossing the road bridge and turning right through a gate, or when the facility vehicle gate is open using this and crossing over a small footbridge. On weekdays the 109 bus between Leek and Macclesfield passes on the A523 1KM to the east, please check to see if it stops at the Conquest Plants Nursery stop.

This walk starts at the Locks and heads west along Bullgate Lane, after the railway bridge the road swings right and becomes Shellow Lane, head straight on into Park Road, and straight ahead, to the left of the gates onto the drive. 

Continue along the drive, past the lake on the right and continue along as the drive bends to the right and up the slope. Towards the top of the slope there is a gate to the left, pass through this and walk towards the church in the distance. Approaching the buildings there is another gate, pass through this. After a short distance a track leads off to the right, head north up this to continue the walk. If you like you can continue ahead to the left to visit the Church, before returning to the track.

Follow this track, taking the left fork, taking the style straight ahead at the farmyard and continue straight ahead through the field until it joins another track. This track takes you over styles/gates all the way to Pexall Road where you turn right and then starlight over the style at the junction. Continue along the field edges on the obvious path until it dips down to some fishing pools. Follow the signs pas the pools and head up a slope to continue along this path until it arrives at Church lane and turn right to head into Gawsworth. 

When we went through this route we stopped and rested on one of the many benches in the church yard.

Continue through Gawsworth and turn right just before Gawsworth New Hall Following the road, past a statue oof Robert Peel and straight ahead as the road turns to a farm track before entering fields. This path follows the hedge on the right of the fields before joining a road, which takes us all the way to join Macclesfield Canal.

Turing right onto the canal through the gate and follow the Canal all the way back to the parking area at Bosley Locks.

Bosley Locks 'Balloon' walk along the Macclesfield Canal

This is the first of 3 walks starting at the Bosley Lock Boater's Facility walking along the Macclesfield Canal.

Link to OS Maps route.

Bosley Locks is a flight of 12 Locks located near Bosley, South of Macclesfield. 

There is a small roadside parking area at the northern end of the twelve (Lock 1), from here you can walk south past all twelve locks, but the walks I describe start at lock 1 and head away from the lock flight norhwards. The towpath can be joined by either crossing the road bridge and turning right through a gate, or when the facility vehicle gate is open using this and crossing over a small footbridge. On weekdays the 109 bus between Leek and Macclesfield passes on the A523 1KM to the east, please check to see if it stops at the conquest plants nursery stop.

This is an easy 5.8 mile walk along the towpath and some minor and quiet roads. There are a few steps off the road to rejoin the canal. For a 7.5 mile circular walk to Gawsworth try Bosley Locks, North Rode and Gawsworth, if you want to head around some of the local hills try the thired walk out to Bosley Reservoir. 

Follow the Canal Towpath north from the boaters facility passing fields, which often have geese and other birds in them, there are unfortunately only two seats on this walk, the first shortly after setting off and the second just before the swing bridge where you leave the canal.

Continue alongside the canal as it transitions from fields to a wooded terrace on the side of a hill with farmland sloping off to the left. As the cutting on the right descends to meet the canal level there is a gate, beyond which is the Oakgrove swing bridge, pass through the gate and turn left to descend down Woodhouse End Road. Follow this road, until you come to the railway bridge and just after this turn left to follow Cowbrook Lane.

The Lane crosses back across the railway before descending past a farm and climing back up until it reaches the canal where you rejoin and head south back to the Boaters facility.