Eventually, we turn up a residential road, which, and a turn, we acess via a kissing gate our first bit of offroad walk: a downhill wander into a field with a river meandering through it. Here we turn right, following the paved main road through the town, before turning into the new estate on the right on paved roads. Turning into a residential road, with a few twists and turns, we come to an unpaved road, then, at the next house, a kissing gate into a field on the left. A muddy footpath running between a hedge and fences brings us to an unpaved residential road, and then it becomes paved as we approach the main road. Here we turn right, heading up and over the bridge over the railway, passing the station, before coming into the centre of Poynton with its church and abundance of shops....

Hiking Historian

From Wilmslow station, we join the main road, walking beneath the viaduct and heading down leafy suburban streets. Eventually, we turn up a residential road, which, and a turn, we acess via a kissing gate our first bit of offroad walk: a downhill wander into a field with a river meandering through it. Out of this field, it becomes more of a farm track, eventually bringing us past Newton Hall Farm, the track becoming an unpaved drive. Here we turn right, following the paved main road through the town, passing the new estate on the right. At the end, an unpaved road ahead, then, at the next house, a kissing gate into a field on the left. Once past the ruined barns, we take the muddy farmtrack around the fenced-off falling-down house, and, at the crossroad in the paths, continue ahead on a muddy track into the fields populated by hundreds of very skittish sheep....

Hiking Historian

As the previous review notes, this version of the route is hampered by the building of the bypass between Woodford and Poynton, at the time of the route being posted, and the route being reviewed, building was still in progress. The bypass is now complete and active, but the crossing of the new road is no longer viable, although there is a new bridge nearby which connects the footpaths from Bridleway Farm to the path to the ruins of Losockhall Farm on the other side. The rest of the route is fine, and a decent walk, but I have replaced it with a new alternative, taking into account the new road crossing (WilPoy Two), and another that avoids the oftn muddy walk along the side of the old airfield and the low subway beneath the railway (WilPoy Three)....

Hiking Historian

I loved how direct the route was though, and enjoyed discovering new footpaths - the route between Wilmslow and Handforth Dean was a revelation!...

DaveHilton

Thoroughly enjoyed it, but giving it four out of five due to its lack of directness and the paths from Heald Green to Nixon’s Farm being overgrown with nettles/thistles....

DaveHilton

Walked this route in May 2025 in great weather in the reverse direction (Wilmslow to Chelford)....

PD1

You are mostly crossing sheep and horse fields, golf courses and following narrow paths between big houses. Enjoyable!...

Kabutomushi

Leaving Bramhall station along teh bust woodford road. Crossing via a bridge on the A555 across fields, mostly back lanes at this stretch, a couple of gates, it was a rainy day and teh fields were waterlogged so not suitable for wheelchairs or prams. A long stretch along blossoms lane and through a wooded area. (Hall Wood). Onto Handforth Road, a footpath through a housing estate coming out on Wilmslow Road turning onto pretty Wilmslow station. 3 overall as this route was mainly road and muddy fields....

Andrew B

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....

Andrew B

The finish in Macclesfield uses busy roads, perhaps the route would be better from Macclesfield to Wilmslow....

PD1

Knutsford is a particularly pleasant place to be and I think the optimal route would be Wilmslow to Knutsford such that you can take advantage of the many nice places to get a drink / bite to eat at the end of the walk. The route is fairly obvious with limited scope to go wrong (or at least for too long as there are many reference points including roads, buildings etc) although I did need live maps on the Longridge to Pavement Lane section (at the Knutsford end of the walk) to keep to the suggested route as there are multiple paths to choose from....

PD1

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....

Ali Reza Gerami

The route is fine for a pram or wheelchair between Gatley and Nixon’s Farm (although Scholes Park is tricky to navigate if it’s muddy from recent rain)....

DaveHilton

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....

David Sanderson

I found the choosing the least marshy route increasingly hard, the nearer I got to Wilmslow. I wondered if the route would have been better served had it continued with the BVW to the main road into Wilmslow but the route it does follow past a weir was probably the nicer option and not much less direct....

David Sanderson

However, there is a section just to south of Prestbury where you are instructed to leave the main footpath and follow a track to cut off a corner of the route....

David Sanderson

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.....

HughEverett

Suggested minor route change: At gridref 852810, go North down Wilmslow Park Road for ~250m until you meet the bridge, then turn E before the bridge and follow the footpath along the S side of the river1 (In reverse, the first 2Km or so of the route needs changing, to route past the station and the big A555 junction to gridref 896832.) I cannot find out from Grahams (https://www.graham.co.uk/poynton-relief-road)m when the relevant footpaths on the Slowways orignal route might be reinstated - I assume it'll be some time in 2022.....

HughEverett

Great route through a mixture of wooded areas, fields and urban. The route is relatively flat aside from short, minor inclines but the route is not suitable for wheelchair users. The route has a number of stiles and isn't well lit in the rural sections but well lit in the urban parts....

JonWildman

Nice easy route, Especially as far as Prestbury (good for a coffee stop)....

Bill Savin