Middlewood Way

The 16 km-long Middlewood Way is multi-use, traffic-free pathway (walkers, cyclists, horse riders) that follows the route of the former Macclesfield, Bollington and Marple railway. This line ran from 1869 until its closure in 1970. The path opened in 1985 and runs roughly parallel to the Macclesfield Canal passing through Bollington and Higher Poynton.

Horse riders on the path

Route

The 10-mile route begins near Rose Hill Station in Marple (connected via a short branch to the Hope Valley Line between Manchester and Sheffield) and runs south through High Lane, Poynton, Bollington and on to Macclesfield.

A former station now a rest and picnic area.

The former Higher Poynton station once part of the Macclesfield, Bollington and Marple railway and now a rest and picnic area

Attractions

Walk south on the Middlewood Way to the Boar’s Head Pub, Macclesfield Canal, Nelson Pit Visitors Centre, Lyme Park and the interesting Anson Engine Museum. Wildlife you may encounter depending on the season includes bats, damselflies, dragonflies, frogs, toads and newts. Birds such as herons, swallows, tits, warblers, wrens and even kingfishers may also be seen.

Posters at Middlewood Station showing attractions Nelson Pit and Anson Engine Museum eaily accessible from the Middlewood Way

The flora around the route includes orchids at Jackson’s Brickworks, as well as blubells, buttercups, clover, cranesbill, foxgloves, and other plants in season.

A blue plaque shows the former Middlewood Higher Station of the former Macclesfield, Bollington and Marple railway now the Middlewood Way

Access – Getting There

One point of easy access to the Middlewood Way is Middlewood Station on the Buxton to Stockport and Piccadilly Station Line. The station is one stop south of Hazel Grove Station on the line.
There is also access from High Lane from the 199 bus stop on the A6 Buxton Road. The bus connects the spa town of Buxton with Hazel Grove, Stockport Interchange and Manchester Airport.

There is parking at Nelson Pit Visitors Centre as well as public toilets.