(S/E) From the front door turn left and go through the traffic lights on the A56 towards Altrincham. Beyond the Wheatsheaf Inn, turn right into Agden Park Lane. Keep left at the junction with Froghall Lane and cross the M56. Ignore a turning to the right by a thatched black-and-white cottage, then at a triangle keep left (signposted “Bollington 1¾”) and descend to the hamlet of Booth Bank.
(1) Turn left to pass under the motorway and up the other side. At the main road, turn left then immediately right (signposted “Little Bollington”). At a triangle keep right, and at the end of the lane dismount and carry your bicycle over the narrow footbridge over the River Bollin.
(2) Remount and turn left (signposted “Restricted Byway”).
(3) At the B-road, if wishing to visit Dunham Massey turn right, otherwise turn left and pass under the canal. Keep right along the main village street through Dunham Woodhouses. Turn right by the Rope and Anchor pub, then keep left.
(4) Just before a T-junction, turn left onto the Trans-Pennine Trail. Pass under a bridge then, after about a mile, cross the Bollin again to reach Mill Lane, Lymm. Cross straight over and shortly afterwards pass a Co-op store to reach the A6144. Pick up the Trail again a little to your left and follow it for a further two miles, crossing a series of roads until you pass under the A56 and M6.
(5) Follow the Trail for a further ½ mile, passing under two over-bridges. After the second, keep an eye out on the left for an inconspicuous path that connects to the Bridgewater Canal. Carry your bike down the steps to a road; turn left under the canal aqueduct and climb the hill beyond.
(6) At Weaste Lane turn left, descending to pass under the M6. At the 20mph signs, turn right into Booth’s Lane; follow the lane until you reach the B5158 (Cherry Lane), where you turn right.
(7) Take the first left (“The Avenue”). At a bend go through a barrier on the right; beyond Crosfield Bridge bear right along a rough bridleway that runs parallel to the footpath. At the end of the wooded bridleway, skirt right of the car park to Crouchley Lane.
(8) Turn left and left again and cycle down to Lymm parish church. Turn right into Rectory Lane and ride downhill to Lymm Cross in the village centre. Turn right into Pepper Street continuing beyond the cobbled section to reach Ravenbank Primary School. Follow the unsurfaced bridleway straight ahead, which descends to the canal and emerges via a driveway onto Oughtrington Lane.
(9) Turn left over the canal bridge, and then by the Community Centre turn right into Stage Lane. At the traffic lights go straight over into Bradshaw Lane, swinging left then right and keeping straight on at the junction with Wet Gate Lane, before returning to the canal at Agden Bridge.
(10) Once over the bridge, turn right then immediately left at The Old Boathouse along narrow Agden Lane. At the main road, turn right and ride uphill back to the Jolly Thresher (there is a rather uneven metalled footway on the left-hand side).(S/E)
