Gritstone Trail

Stile on the Gritstone Trail near Tegg's Nose

The Gritstone Trail, or Cheshire Gritstone Trail, is a walking route 35 miles long in Cheshire, which follows the most westerly hills of the Peak District from Disley railway station to Mow Cop, and on by way of the Macclesfield Canal to Kidsgrove railway station, just inside the Staffordshire border. The trail involves 5,910 feet of ascent and is mainly outside the National Park. There are other routes in the Peak District referred to as a “Gritstone Trail” but they are less well established.

Trailheads

• Disley Station, Cheshire: SJ973846
• Kidsgrove Station, Staffordshire: SJ837544

The highest point on the trail is Sponds Hill, at 1,345 feet.

The trail connects the accessible and popular outdoor destinations of Lyme Park, White Nancy, Tegg's Nose and The Cloud, and the high sections of the trail are all notable for gritstone scenery and extensive views over the Cheshire Plain. Apart from the café at Tegg's Nose, there are no facilities on the route.

Most through hikers take 3 days (stopping at Macclesfield and Congleton) to complete the trail, traditionally (but for no particular reason) walked north to south, though the trail is more often used for shorter walks. The record in the annual Gritstone Grind (run south to north) is just under 5 hours.

Footpaths in Cheshire are marked with yellow discs indicating the direction of continuation, with Gritstone Trail Markers containing a footprint inscribed with a 'G'. There are also many wooden fingerposts with 'Gritstone Trail' engraved. An unofficial extension from Kidsgrove to the mainline railway station at Stoke-on-Trent.

Outside links

("Wikimedia Commons" has material about Gritstone Trail)