Inspired by Herman the Dachshund’s love of cycling. Starting from the costa coffee shop in Poynton this is a delightful excursion into the Cheshire lanes visiting the Tree of Imagination and historic Knutsford. A fairly flat route with plenty of opportunity for stops. ride counts towards the PARTY award award . The eagle eyed amongst you may have spotted Hermie’s paw holding the PARTY balloons!
Covering approximately 58km (36 miles) from the start at Poynton it takes in a surprising number of points of interest, including two optional British Cycle Quest checkpoints.
You must use electronic proof of passage (GPS or E-Brevet) for this event.
The route heads out from Poynton towards Alderley Edge, the first control being the Grade II listed Standing Cross at Nether Alderley, once used as a preaching cross and a village meeting place in medieval England and believed to be one of less than 2,000 still remaining (and one of only a small number on their original site).
Our first control at Nether Alderley.
The ride then follows some beautiful Cheshire lanes before reaching the next control at the Tree of Imagination in Lower Peover, created to ‘delight and inspire children and all those who are still young at heart’. It is worth taking some time to note the intricate detail, a canon below the roof, and various tiny doors and windows offering a glimpse inside, including a little staircase along with a shelf holding a number of books.
Tree of Imagination
Should you so wish, you could take a short detour off the route to visit St Oswald’s Church founded in 1269 and the beautiful Bells of Peover Inn where, over lunch, Generals Patton and Eisenhower planned the D-Day invasion of Normandy. It was presumably a rather a long lunch.
Hermie, not at all impressed by the Elizabeth Gaskell Memorial Tower in Knutsford
The next control is the historic town of Knutsford, the inspiration for Elizabeth Gaskell’s ‘Cranford’. Richard Harding Watt’s memorial tower to Elizabeth Gaskell in King Street, built in 1907/8, is the first of the ride’s two optional British Cycle Quest checkpoints. Notice the narrow pavements, a throwback to Lady Jane Stanley, who bequeathed funds to maintain the footpaths on King Street, on the proviso they were only one stone wide, to deter romantic couples walking arm in arm! You will find many cafes and shops here where you can refuel ready for the rest of the ride.
The route then passes through Mobberley (the second largest parish in England and former home of mountain climber George Mallory) to the edge of Wilmslow and on to Styal. The entrance to Quarry Bank Mill is on the route, and, time permitting it is worth a detour to view the impressive water powered mill and model village, established for workers at the mill. Shortly after the entrance to Quarry Bank Mill is the second optional British Cycle Quest checkpoint, at the row of mill workers cottages at Holts Lane.
There’s just a short trip now back to Poynton.