In this video we use 3 canals and 1 dissed railway to make an almost traffic free cycling route around North Staffordshire and Cheshire. We start in Hanley park on the Caldon canal, which we use to get the the Biddulph valley way. From here we head north up this disused rail line to Biddulph and Congleton where we head onto the Macclesfield Canal. We use this to get to the Trent and Mersey canal at kids grove and the Harecastle tunnel. from here its back down to Stoke and the Calder canal. We use Route 550, route 55 and route 555 of the National Cycle Network.
Route link:
https://connect.garmin.com/modern/course/294738601
https://www.komoot.com/tour/1806217227?share_token=aXCc96Zp3HhSWJ3zhOHHTBiBDsC3rvvFGPPNgcKm87k3MU2Q8X&ref=wtd
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buymeacoffee.com/cyclingn8
Thanks for watching!
27 Comments
Great video as always mate
The Thomas Telford tunnel did have a tow path through it it was never a legging tunnel . The tow path was removed after part of it collapsed some time in the late nineteen hundreds
Perfect! I'm in Congleton and i've got on the BVW a number of times and always wanted to make a loop, rather than out and back.
Thanks for sharing.
This is great. You can go up and over Packmoor and get onto the old line from Tunstall to Kidsgrove too and go back via Bathpool Park and the Harecastle tunnel, Westport Lake etc.
You can ride along the edge of those cobbled spillways if you're feeling brave… A small detour into Congleton would yield plenty of coffee and cake opportunities.
This video was a joy to watch. Thank you.
Hi, did you transport your bike and if so where did you park?
That was great, I’ll subscribe!
Another great, enjoyable video. I have done this ride sometime ago. The Macclesfield canal was a bit rough at the time, looks better in your video. I often ride the other way when reaching the Macclesfield canal and make my way to the far end of Rudyard lake and then return via the Leek branch of the Caldon canal.
Thanks for this. Any chance you can share gpx, I don’t have a garmin.
Did this today. Another great route. Thank you.
Thanks
I’d argue Chell is still Stoke on Trent, Knypersley is boarderline the edge of the ‘city’
Lived in the area for 40 years and never knew that path was there…shocking 😮
Is there car parking at the start of this ride,or where is the nearest car park,
Good stuff
Nice video 👍 the Leek line you mentioned has now been shelved.
Great video. I've cycled this route many times myself. The two bottle kilns at the start of the video are near to Botteslow Street. Used to be rows & rows of terraces, where Stanley Matthews, the footballer was born. Riding from Hanford to Westport Lake is unrecognisable now. Forty years ago there were 'pot-banks' all the way along for miles. Now they are all completely gone & a lot of the area is derelict. Twyfords in Etrururia used to produce toilets that were exported all over the world. Now it's just an abandoned wreck. Very very sad. Stoke on Trent used to be the Ceramic Centre of The World. Now its full of car-parks & dustheads.
Some great bike rides in Newcastle under Lyme too, on the old mineral railway line to Silverdale. Then up to Keele University. Down Keele bank back into Newcastle or three mile lane to Whitmore. On to stableford/Hanchurch…Hanchurch crossroads to Trentham Gardens. The Gardens back along the A34 to Newcastle !!
I've done this a few times it's a nice ride, a hardtail MTB is my steed of choice the Macc canal towpath can be a bit rough and muddy .
I have visions of those shots where you riding off. Keep stopping and having to run back for the camera lol
Some of these routes I've done. But not in one yet.
Great trip
Absolutely loved this. I've subscribed.
13:17… The Hightown area of Congleton has a great chippy, bakers and buttie shop. Leave the canal and head up to the railway station.. shops just under the road bridge. Lovely video thanks!
Hi There, Nice loop, we are travelling to Essex from Tarvin Cheshire next May would like to do this on way home. Where would it be best for us to stay please.
Thank you very much. Great videos.
Great video. Use large parts of this route for running on a regular basis. Nice to hear some interesting history on the surrounding areas!
Up on the path over the tunnel, then left onto the road, left again boat horse road . Right at the top, into the park right onto the path past the lake all straight until lowlands road LEFT. Till the roundabout the entrance to haircare tunnel is there