Ride report Gravel July pt II

As promised: Mud, Gravel, Nettles and Cowpoo

Two of us departed from South Park at 9am, to be joined by Rob S along the Middlewood way. Note the Middlewood Way is closed from Tescos until Clark Lane by Kerridge due to overhead power line maintenance.

Once back on the M.W. we made quick progress through Marple and Compstall to Etherow Country Park. It’s a lovely spot, and we took advantage of the cafe where we enjoyed a brew and teacakes on the veranda overlooking the lake.

.After passing the weir we climbed up through the woods to reach the A626 where a quick right and left over the gate took us over a not-so-rideable brick strewn track to join the minor road, Ernocroft Lane. This led to a fabulous stretch of BOAT down to Mellor and after about a mile of tarmac (boring) we passed the serene vista of Roman Lakes, Strawberry Hill and the spectacular weir and railway bridge carrying the New Mills to Marple line (see photos and vid). After passing the station at Strines we climbed up the track we resisted the temptation of refreshments at The Fox Inn, Brook Bottom and continued to enjoy a picnic at the War Memorial, Disley, curtesey of the nearby Co-Op.

This was followed by a fab bit of the Gritstone Trail to BowStones and Spond Hill before joining The Brickworks and dropping into Pott Shrigley. We couldn’t resist the idea of descending Beeston Brow into Bollington, so we diverted that way.

Home eventually at around 2:30pm I have yet to remove the cowpoo and mud from the bike, that can wait. I did anticipate it would be more challenging than pt 1 but was even more fun. I guess it would be more of a MTB ride than a gravel but who cares?

Phil