Advice please: Manchester to Shropshire

[middleagecyclist]

Got a pass to ride to some mates this weekend. Looking at routes but would welcome suggestions. Want to avoid busy roads at one extreme and cart tracks at the other where ever possible. Don't mind hills. Going to a place called Gobowen.

Thanks for any tips.

 

[Crankarm]

Look at the relevant OS maps 1:50k.

 

[middleagecyclist]

Look at the relevant OS maps 1:50k.

Already am. After some tips from locals in addition if possible. Good things to see and roads/junctions to avoid. Cheers.

 

[ushills]

Try bikeroute toaster for the initial route then refine with the online map to avoid bits that are too busy.

 

[middleagecyclist]

I can route it easily enough with RWGPS, bikehike, BRT and the like. What i'm really after is any personal insight of the area. Things you just cannot get from mapping software - great views, good cake stops, really dodgy junctions and the like.

 

[SatNavSaysStraightOn]

There is an old railway line that has been converted into a cycle way from just outside altrincham which pretty much runs to Darebury. It was something we looked at for my OH when we were looking at a house that way. I think it is part of the transpennie trail which you could get on to at Eccles? not sure how hard the surface is though. will ask my OH if it is tarmac at the Stockton Heath end - he works almost next to it and I'm sure walks it at lunchtimes. http://www.transpenninetrail.org.uk/images/MapLarge.jpg

From there down the A49 is fine - no issues riding it at all. Wide enough for vehicles to pass you safely even with oncoming traffic - think it used to be 3 lanes and middle lane has been cheveroned out.
And the same applies to the A556 from the A49 to the A54 and on to Chester wide and busy and you can come off just before the dual carriage way section and pick up local roads or try your hand at some of the national cycle routes.

I have cycled some sections of the A56 near to Chester on a quiet sunday morning and it was OK, but some of the roundabouts were difficult to get out at even then. not sure I would personally want to do them when the road is busy.

Some of the back lanes around the Delamere forest, Frodsham and over down to Winsford and Northwich can be a nightmare at times - the are up/down/left/right with not enough view for cars to pass when they want to pass and IME I have more issues with the back lanes around here than the major roads.

Perhaps some ideas on what route you are considering - have you got some options that you could post and we could comment on?
Oh and if you want a coffee break and come this side of Delamere, PM me and ask... I'm in all weekend because I am dog sitting an Irish Wolf hound and they don't fit into many vehicles so we can't stray far from home!

 

[Andrew Br]

Have a look at the route for the Mere 200k Audax (here:- http://www.aukweb.net/events/detail/13-33/).
It follows largely quiet lanes to Ellesmere and from there it's a short and very enjoyable ride to Gobowen. Pick the bits of it that you need. I'd recommend going through rather than round Tatton Park 'cos it can be lovely.
To get to the "start", I'd suggest using NCN6 from Prestwich and then through Kersal and the City Centre to South Manchester. A group of us used this stretch on Saturday and it was no problem for those on 23mm tyres.
Refreshments-wise, there are good cafes in Knutsford and a particularly good one (IMO) in Bunbury. I'm not a fan of the cafe at Delamere Station but it might be useful to you.
Most of the route is flat but be aware that the hills come near the end; you're going North-South, the valleys run East-West.
I'd avoid using the TPT (as suggested above). It's gravelly, muddy, bumpy and has lots of bike gates on it.
The lanes are fine if you're a confident (dare I say assertive) cyclist and you're prepared to take the lane. The biggest danger I find in Cheshire is the chance of ending up as a bonnet emblem on a 4X4.
I'm not sure of my cycling plans this weekend but there's a good chance that I'll be out around Knutsford somewhere.
Shout if you want any more help.

ETA:- there's a small cafe near Great Budworth (signposted "Ice Cream Farm" I think). Pot of tea, beans on toast and a ginger ice-cream hit the spot for me.

A possible route variation that I'd recommend is to come out of Knutsford past Sudlow Heath and then head south to Lach Dennis, Davenham and Moulton (good pub on the left in Davenham) to pick up the Whitegate Way near the salt mine. Leave the Way at Marton Green and rejoin the audax route.

If you follow the Audax route, there's an excellent pub in Norley Bank (notice the word "Bank"), the Tiger's Head.



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[Hacienda71]

Avoid the A50 travelling North to South through Cheshire, it is one of those rather unpleasant fast derestricted country A roads which have had lots of accidents on them in recent years. If you are comfortable plotting routes you have endless options through the Cheshire Lanes. If you plot a proposed route and post it, I am sure you will get plenty of suggestions.

 

[middleagecyclist]

There is an old railway line that has been converted into a cycle way...

No to NCN converted rail routes on my road bike. Thanks anyway.

Oh and if you want a coffee break and come this side of Delamere, PM me and ask... I'm in all weekend...

Thanks for the offer of coffee. I am doing the ride this Friday. Will you still be in?

Have a look at the route for the Mere 200k Audax...

Great idea. Done.

Refreshments-wise, there are good cafes in Knutsford and a particularly good one (IMO) in Bunbury. I'm not a fan of the cafe at Delamere Station but it might be useful to you.

I'll try for a stop at Bunbury. Like a good cafe.

ETA:- there's a small cafe near Great Budworth (signposted "Ice Cream Farm" I think). Pot of tea, beans on toast and a ginger ice-cream hit the spot for me.

Sounds better and better!

...If you plot a proposed route and post it, I am sure you will get plenty of suggestions.

Here it is then. Suggestions welcome.

Thanks for all the help guys.

 

[Andrew Br]

It's not the way that I would go but the only change that I will suggest is to go through Tatton Park and not round the outside. I don't think that it will add any distance and you'll avoid some of the fast road around the Park. The section of A50 that your route takes is particularly unpleasant IMO.
If I wasn't travelling back from Glasgow on Friday, I'd suggest meeting up and riding part of the way with you.

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[400bhp]

1. Avoid Albion Way in Manchester. I'd avoid Trafford Rd and Chester Rd too. Either get a bit closer into Manchester (go Liverpool St, then continue over Middlewood St onto Water St (there's a gap for cyclists-it's closed to cars). Re-route through Chorlton, then down Hardy Lane and over Sale Water Park (again there's a perfectly rideable cycle path which joins Hardy Lane to Rifle Rd. Then through Brooklands and eventually onto Thorley Lane, then back on your route.

2. What Andrew suggests through Tatton Park

Good route after that.

3. There's a small bit of the A49 you can cut out-your route has gone a bit skew wif there.

You go past Delamere forest. Either stop at Delamere train station cafe or Delamere visitor centre cafe for a scran.

I know about as far as a few miles south of Oulton Park and up to that point the route is good.

Plus, check out Macclesfield wheelers cafe page for cycle friendly cafes and if necessary do a slight route diversion.

 

[middleagecyclist]

It's not the way that I would go but the only change that I will suggest is to go through Tatton Park and not round the outside.

I'll take the park route. RWGPS wouldn't route via the Tatton grounds and I couldn't be bothered drawing the route. I know that part quite well anyway.

The section of A50 that your route takes is particularly unpleasant IMO.

Thanks. I'll change that and go via Meremoss Wood.

 

[middleagecyclist]

1. Avoid Albion Way in Manchester. I'd avoid Trafford Rd and Chester Rd too.

I cycle those roads reasonably frequently and wouldn't be too bothered by them out of 'rush hour' but i'm going to give your suggestions a go for a nice change. The Sale Water Park route looks good as long as the path is decent quality on 700x23 tyres.

2. What Andrew suggests through Tatton Park

Yep. Going via the park although haven't bothered changing the routing

3. There's a small bit of the A49 you can cut out-your route has gone a bit skew wif there.

Changed. Thanks.

Many thanks for all the help. Here is the revised route. Looking forward to Friday. Even the weather is fairing well for the day.

 

[400bhp]

Tis fine on 23's boss through the water park-I do it almost every day. If it's been raining heavily then some puddles develop, but just keep to the edge of them. You can have a nosey at the new metrolink bridge being built to your left where you need to dismount to cross the footbridge (careful on the other side as it is cobbled).

I've looked at the alternative route through south Manc.

If you can be arsed to change it slightly you can miss out the awful roundabout in Timperley (bottom of Brooklands Rd) by using the cut through over the brook on Wood Rd, then onto woodhouse lane east and re-join your route via Park road.

Oh and Great Budworth is a beautiful village.

 

[SatNavSaysStraightOn]

There is a nasty gradient on a section through Acton Bridge - really nasty. various maps mark it as 8% - its more than that. the route of the actual road takes acton lane, strawberry lane, and hill top road (33 to 34) and has 2 sharp bends - one is a hair pin. I've done it once, won't do it again. A slightly easier route is as marked below. Note that all open source maps have the B5153 as a junction with the A49, it is not. only the O/S maps show it correctly, it is a bridge over the A49 and there is no access between the 2 not even for pedestrains. the A49 gains cycle lanes down each side all the way to Cuddington roughly from where you would be turning off for Weaverham if you follow the slightly easier route. ( You would be about 2.5 miles from where I live at that point, so this is a local knowledge thing...)

PS - if you spot a female cyclist on a red triban 3 along that section.. it will probably be me! I usually cycle the A49 between Cuddington & M56 on a Tuesday and Friday, otherwise you would be welcome for a water refill.