Macclesfield Forest; Teggsnose, Bottom and Ridgegate Reservoirs

2 Hr 29mins

5.91 miles (9.52 Km)

Standing Stone Car Park

SJ977714

From car park, take gate on right and follow the obvious wide path above the forest which after a short distance drops down into it.
Path eventually heads uphill slightly before reaching a “T” junction. Turn right here and uphill to narrow road.
Turn right onto road (signposted to Forest Chapel) and up to the small hamlet.
Turn left after Toot Hill house (before church and large blue sign “unsuitable for motor vehicles”) and uphill until you reach the forest again.
When you reach the forest take the gate on left into the forest.
At style and junction of paths head straight ahead signposted Tegg's Nose, skirting around the old building on your right.
Avoid path right to Walker Barn and carry on until you reach a gate onto a quiet lane.
Left onto lane, passing Hardingland Farm on your right.
50 mtrs after farm take style on the right and follow markers down field.
Over style at bottom, right onto track then immediately left over another style.
Directly down fields and right at the bottom passing the barn on your left.
At farm track turn left and after 50 mtrs take the style on right and follow path to a track by the stream.
Turn left onto track and at the end of the reservoirs on both sides, take path on left marked “Gritstone Trail”.
Round reservoir and left onto road opposite row of cottages.
Take narrow road on right immediately after treatment works.
Over cattle grid bear left.
As track swings right uphill, the path bears left through a gate.
Over bridge and directly ahead uphill.
Right at wide track at top signposted “Shutlingsloe”.
Carry on with reservoir on your left and avoid the cycle track off to the right.
As path drops down, take gap in wall on your right and directly over road to forest track.
Up the track for short distance then take the footpath on the left.
When you reach a “T” junction turn right marked “Shutlingsloe”.
At next “T” junction turn left onto track.
At the next “T” junction turn right uphill, again signposted “Shutlingsloe”.
When you reach the bridleway at the top turn left (signposted “Shutlingsloe” and “Standing Stone”).
Avoid track right to Shuttlingsloe and also the path right behind bench seat.
The bridleway eventually heads downhill and after 200 mtrs, take the path then steep steps on the right uphill.  If you've had enough uphill, go to * below.
At the top turn left then right uphill again keeping the fence on your right.
At the top, turn left and follow the ridge along (well signposted) before dropping down to rejoin bridleway.
Turn right on bridleway and follow to road.
Directly over and then left back into Standing Stone car park.
*  Instead of taking the path on the right, continue on the wide bridleway for about 300 mtrs.
As the bridleway takes a sharp left and drops downhill through a metal gate, take the path gently uphill on the right (or continue on the bridleway as both arrive back at the car park).
The path brings you back onto the bridleway after a few hundred mtrs where you turn right and head back to the car park.