Walk: Approximately 8 miles and more or less flat with stunning views over the Cheshire plains.

Meet: NT car park adjacent to the Wizard Pub (post code: SK10 4UB) on Macclesfield Road (B5087), Alderley Edge at 9.45 for a 10am start.

Directions from Marple: Take the A626 and A627 to the A6 in Hazel Grove. Turn left onto A6 and then right at Rising Sun following the B5092 to join the A555 (turning right towards the airport).  After about 4 miles exit the A555 to the left onto the A34 /Wilmslow-Handforth  Bypass. Follow the A34 for another 4 miles and then turn left onto the B5359/ Alderley Road. After 0.5 miles take a slight left onto the B5087/London Road turning left again onto the B5087/Macclesfield Road. The destination is just over a mile on your left just after the Wizard Pub (SK10 4UB).

Parking: The car park is free for NT members (and £8 for non-members) so if you have a card, can borrow one, or can carpool with someone who has a card, please do so. I am coming from Mellor for anyone wanting a lift and I hope to be able to borrow a spare NT card. There are two laybys (one 0.4 miles and one 0.2 miles) before you get to the NT car park but they have limited capacity.

Walk summary: We start across fields to Hare Hill (2 miles) where we will have coffee break. We will then make our way along pleasant lanes and tracks towards Nether Alderley. We may take a short diversion at this point, passing Nether Alderley Mill (NT) to have lunch in the grounds of St Mary’s Church (dating back to the 14^th century). We will then continue along tracks making our way back up to the Edge taking in Wizard’s Well, the Beacon and Stormy Point all offering stunning views, weather permitting, of the Cheshire plains.

Mud warnings: three quarters of the walk is along firm paths and lanes. There are a few muddy stretches – more slippy than deep mud (as of today) – at the beginning and end of the walk. Walking poles and boots with good treds are highly recommended.