The Cheshire Ring is a 97 mile route on the canals (and towpaths) of north Cheshire. What's convenient for me is that the Bridgewater Canal runs through Timperley - 1/2 mile from JJ Towers. I've walked sections of the ring over the years but now fancy a leisurely 2 day bikepacking trip around the full route.
Minimal kit will be needed, it will only be an overnight trip - so just tent, sleeping bag etc, brew kit and so on. Food will be readily available en-route - there are pubs and shops a-plenty.
I'll probably travel clockwise, to get city-center Manchester out of the way. Not too sure where to camp yet, but probably around Congleton - it's close enough to half-way round and I know there are spots where I'll be able to hide the Akto...perhaps near a pub.
I'll likely use my Dawes Hybrid for the trip, it's comfortable and quite bombproof.
All I need now is a window of half decent weather - hopefully preceded by some dryness so the towpath has chance to dry out.
Sounds like a cracking good trip John.
ReplyDeleteNow, you won't get arrested whilst having an all over body wash along the towpath :)
That does indeed sound like an interesting plan. Although I think we've had our week of summery weather in the north-west already this year ;)
ReplyDeleteAndrew does have a point...
ReplyDeleteA point? A POINT??? All I will say in my defence is that my record is clean. Clean. Geddit? No? Oh well, never mind.
ReplyDeleteAlistair has a valid point, but I must have been away most of that week because I only got two days of summer....actually, thinking about it - that was LAST year.
Ho hum.
JJ
You have been busy, JJ. Lots of 'stuff'! Lots of deja vu as well, including this bike ride, which I did anti-clockwise (coming through Manchester wasn't a problem as it's downhill!). It will be much easier if you leave it for dry conditions - the grassy towpaths of the southern sections make them quite hard work, and it's surprising how 'hilly' some of the lock systems seem to be.
ReplyDeleteI'll spare you any other comments on the huge backlog of reading I've just managed - I'll make them over a coffee/beer sometime...
PS Why not take a side trip into Stalybridge for refreshments and to take the distance over a 'ton'?
I would love to ride this. Last heard of it about 24 years ago! Do you know of any maps of the route? Thanks for getting my interest up!
ReplyDeleteWould love to do this. Where did you get your route from. I am not on a gps device as yet... Many thanks. Love old historic routes and canals!
ReplyDeleteI'm sure you'd enjoy it Guy, it's an interesting route. There's some information on t'interweb - try googling 'Cheshire Ring Cycling' or 'Cheshire Ring Footpath'
DeleteWorth a read: http://www.weavervalleycc.org.uk/cheshire-ring-canal-ride/
You certainly won't need a GPS - there are maps of the route availabale at canal-side shops, especially ones near marinas. I prefer to use OS maps - there's so much more detail.
http://www.penninewaterways.co.uk/cheshirering.htm is worth a read althought it's put together from a boater's point of view.
I'd suggest a bike with decent tyres, either a hybrid or a mountain bike - some bits of the towpath are a bit rough!
Good luck with it - and please report back if you do it!
John
Im also doing this ride, planning it slowly now lol 3 or 4 of us will be doing it next spring May 2017 so for us its not a race against the clock we hope to find a place to stay for one night, anyone know a good resting place with a bar lol we will be setting off from Marple
ReplyDeleteIm also doing this ride, planning it slowly now lol 3 or 4 of us will be doing it next spring May 2017 so for us its not a race against the clock we hope to find a place to stay for one night, anyone know a good resting place with a bar lol we will be setting off from Marple
ReplyDeletePlease reply to strav1958@yahoo.co.uk
Thanks