Wilche one

Verified Slow Way

Verified by 100.00% of reviewers

From Cheadle Hulme Station on a very rainy day. Along Heathbank Road until you cross the A34 (Kingsway) onto some fields that are at the rear of Manchester Royal School.
Turn back across the railway on a small bridge and you access Stanley Road, back across the railway yet again at that point you can cut across Stanley Hall Park or stay on the road. Its all road walking until you get onto Wilmslow Road, continue along Wilmslow Road until you get onto Manchester Road, crossing the railway yet again, at this point you follow the railway track along a footpath.
Turn onto Wilmslow park south after crossing a busy roundabout, until you get to the pretty Wilmslow Station. I have given this route a 3 as its mainly road walking, access for wheelchairs and prams is difficult in places as it was muddy and uneven.

I have to say this walk was quite interesting as you do go through the rout. But it could do with a bit of improvement after half way through the walk it got to some real narrow path walk which made it a bit uncomfortable when someone with the dog coming opposite direction otherwise nice walk.

From Wilmslow, once you get beyond the tricky crossing of the Birrell Way this is a thoroughly safe and direct route. It's very easy to follow, but does have some steps and a kissing gate so it's not accessible to absolutely everyone. A variety of pavement, track and field, I was please to have worn boots when I walked it. The section through Stanley Green is very marshy and quite a bog when I crossed it. There are sections where the right of way doesn't quite follow how it is marked on the map, but because the route follows the right of way, you can follow the signs and not get lost. A route very worthy of approval.

I walked this route on 16 Dec 2021 (from Cheadle Hulme to Wilmslow. It's fine for anyone who can manage steps and one stile - prams should (just about) be OK, but 1 or 2 bits are not possible for wheelchairs. A lot of it is on suburban roads, but it makes good use of some wide footpaths. Very easy to navigate.

The only "dodgy" bit is the 300-400m between a) the stile when the footpath heads S from Stanley Road / B5094 at gridref 864846 and b) the top of the playing field at 861845 - - - can be very muddy and also rather insalubrious underfoot. In wet weather it is often flooded - waterproof walking boots or even gum boots recommended.

There are steps (about 100 of them) at about gridref 852814 - a pram or bike can be pushed up/down - but not possible for wheelchairs. Similarly, some steps and a narrow gate at 853802 - more difficult for prams and bikes.

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