The Lord Clyde is well placed for walks along the Macclesfield Canal, Middlewood Way and up White Nancy.

To reach the Lord Clyde from Macclesfield Canal, leave the canal at bridge 29 (pictured below), turn right and walk approx 350 yards. You will soon see the pub on your right hand side (also pictured below).

From Marple to Macclesfield the Middlewood Way is never far from the canal. This follows the course of the Macclesfield, Bollington & Marple Railway that has been converted into recreational space for walkers, cyclists and horse riders.

To reach the Middlewood Way from the Lord Clyde, turn left outside the pub, and walk for approx 250 yards. The entrance to the walk can be seen on your left hand side.

The Middlewood Way is certainly one of the finest examples of skilful conversion of a derelict railway line - much of the credit must go to the Macclesfield Groundwork Trust - motto: Linking Town… With Country - which provided so much expertise. The line has been transformed from an eyesore to a most pleasing trail which provides excellent walking, riding and cycling facilities well away from road traffic. Stout fences separate the bridlepath from the path used by cyclists and walkers. Within the sheltered cuttings there is a choice of routes for all but horse riders. You can either keep to the cutting bottom or, should you prefer it, take either of the paths built along the tops of the embankments from where right along the route, there are always fine views of the Cheshire Plain, the urban skyline and the Pennine foot-hills. Bridges have been repaired, more than 28,000 shrubs and 8,000 trees have been planted and miles of ditches dug.

The five evenly spaced picnic areas attract a lot of people, many of whom are content to sit at the stout tables provided, eat their sandwiches, drink their beverages and watch the passing parade. Nothing much happens at these places but many people come and go. The walk attracts walkers and cyclists in roughly the same numbers. People on horseback are thinner on the ground. Yet because the Middlewood way slices through 'Horsey' country the bridle-way is seldom devoid of equestrians; and this is as it should be.

The Macclesfield canal, meandering gracefully through the Pennine foot-hills roughly parallel to the Middlewood Way, makes an interesting divertisement. To the left or Bollington side of the bridge leading from Tinkers Clough wood stands the huge Adelphi Mill, a proud reminder of the town's strong association with cotton. Adjacent to the bridge, on the far side of the canal, two luxurious dwellings enhance the site of the converted mill, the Bee Hive. What a delight these superior houses are and how well they blend with their restful surroundings.
During the mid 1980's The Macclesfield Canal Society restored the milestones along the whole course of the canal. They are regarded as unique - no other canal has stone mile markers of these size and quality. The Macclesfield's very stout stones had mostly been buried during the second world war as a precaution against enemy soldiers using them to find their way! All but three stones were dug up and re-erected. The three could not be found so they were replaced with new stones cut from Kerridge Hill. Many of the quarter mile stones were also lifted.

Perched on a hilltop overlooking Bollington is a white landmark, a folly, called White Nancy. The origin of the name is obscure but the three likeliest explanations all have merit. (1) There used to be an ordnance column on the site and Nancy is a corruption of the 'nance' part of ordnance. (2) Both Mrs. Gaskell, wife of the folly's builder and her daughter were called Nancy. (3) The lead horse of a team of eight used to drag a heavy marble table uphill to be placed inside the folly was called Nancy. You can take your choice! The table is still there. Once access to it was through an oak-studded door but because of a very real fear that vandals would damage it, the folly's entrance was sealed with the table still inside.

The Lord Clyde, 3 Water St, Buxton SK17 6XN   Telephone: 01298 80119
e-mail: info@thelordclyde.co.uk                                                                                                   Website by WebWeft