13 April 2025
My husband came too for this walk in the Cheshire section of the Peak District National Park. it’s right on the eastern edge of the map so did sneak over on to the adjacent sheet – however the start, finish and the “Matterhorn” are all on sheet 118.
We parked at Trentabank opposite the reservoir in the Pay and Display car park. There was already a van there selling drinks and snacks, but we were keen to start walking and look forward to buying a coffee at the end of our trek.
There wasn’t any walk-in – the climbing started straight away. We reached a flag stoned path over open moorland, which made for rapid progress (at least for me and I had to wait a few times for my husband who was evidently pacing himself).
Fine views opened up to the south and west. I was sure I could see a large radio telescope in the distance and thought it was likely to be Jodrell Bank.
I had already noticed the iconic shape of the hill.
It was getting more windy as we reached the summit (506m). I reassured my husband that it would be mainly downhill now! The real name of the hill is Shutlingsloe.
The path down was south and east. It seemed less steep than the upward path. The route was clarified by seeing some other walkers in front of us. Looking back, we enjoyed further views of the iconic shape of the hill.
There was more uphill following a brook. My husband was not pleased but he agreed to detour slightly more uphill off the path to enable us to eat lunch in the shelter of a now deserted and disused cottage.
We continued over further moorland, and ended up on the A537 opposite the Cat and Fiddle Pub – my husband noted that we were at a height of 515m so higher than the peak of Shutlingsloe! I had accidentally given false information about it being mainly downhill from the peak.
We didn’t have to walk far along the main road as there was a stretch of what appeared to be the old road which took us to Peak View Tea Rooms opposite the small although deceptively busy road down to the intriguingly named hamlet of Bottom-of-the-Oven. We turned onto a byway (Oven Lane) leading to Macclesfield Forest where there is a small chapel. It was uphill again!
The Forest Chapel (St Stephen’s) holds, amongst other services through the year, the famous annual “Rushbearing” service. It happens on the first Sunday after the 12th August to celebrate the changing of the rushes. The tradition dates back to the Middle Ages when most buildings had earthen floors and rushes were placed on top as a renewable floor covering.
A descent followed to the Bollin Brook Valley. There were no more surprise bits of uphill, but unfortunately we were too late to get coffee as the van had already left. We had enjoyed a walk with stunning scenery in beautiful weather.
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