Leisure Cycle - Goyt Valley & The Cat & Fiddle

Location

Greater Manchester

OutdoorLads shares the exact meeting point with people who have signed up, closer to the date. See the OutdoorLads listing for details.

About this event

A leisurely social bike ride on a mixture of quiet lanes, rail trails canal towpaths to the Cat & Fiddle, until its closure, the second highest public house in the UK.This is a rare opportunity to experience the descent of the main road between Buxton and Macclesfield almost traffic free due to the temporary closure for roadworks at  the Buxton end., The road descends from the Cat & Fiddle at 520m a.s.l to Macclesfield town centre over 11km, not quite all downhill as there is a short section of about 1km slightly uphill.Starting from Marple, we follow the scenic Peak Forest Canal to its terminus at Whaley Bridge, where the climbing starts using some of the tramway used prior to the railways to transport quarried stone from the High Peak. We then follow a quiet lane to the Goyt Valley Reservoirs, passing them on bridleway and joining the road from Errwood to Derbyshire Bridge which is closed to traffic on Sundays. This is the main climb as the road ascends 250m over 6km to the Cat & Fiddle at over 500m above sea levelWeather permitting, we will have great views over Cheshire to the Welsh Hills, as we begin an exhilarating downhill as we descend over 400m over 11km.  From Macclesfield we return along the Middlewood Way, the former railway from Macclesfield to MarpleWe have plenty of time to complete the route and we will take it at a relaxed pace and no one will be left behind.Road cyclists: Please be aware some paths might be a little rough and bumpy for thin tyres, but doable none the less. some sections of mud can be expected on the trails. Mountain bikers: Some of the route is on paved roads and expect to mix with traffic.Pace and Terrain This will be a leisurely cycle suitable for those of all levels of fitness. The majority of the route is on traffic free trails and quiet country lanes, but we do have about 11 miles on the old railway line and 7 miles on a canal towpath which can be muddy in places, but suitable for all bikes.This event is open to cyclists of all abilities and bike types. Whilst there is a lot of climbing, it is all at relatively gentle gradients, but a reasonable level of fitness will be required. If you're not a regular cyclist, please do make sure your bike is in good condition - check the tyres are well inflated, chain is oiled, and you've got a spare inner tube, drinks and snacks with you. Photos: All were taken by the Author.