4km Run Bollington: Scenic Route Along the Canal

Route Overview & Local Insights

This 4.1km loop offers a refreshing blend of Bollington’s natural beauty, featuring a mix of paved paths and gentle trails. Starting just off Tewkesbury Drive, you’ll join the Middlewood Way for a flat, fast-paced stretch before weaving through Tinker Clough and onto the quieter stretches of Oak Lane and Clarke Lane. With 24m of ascent, the route is classified as hilly, providing a subtle challenge that keeps your legs engaged without being overwhelming. The final leg along the Macclesfield Canal towpath offers a serene, water-side finish, making it an ideal choice for runners looking for a scenic multi-terrain experience away from heavy traffic.

Bollington, affectionately known by locals as "Happy Valley," is steeped in industrial heritage, and this route perfectly captures its transition from a textiles hub to a runner's paradise. As you navigate the Middlewood Way, you are running along what was once the Macclesfield, Bollington, and Marple Railway, which served the massive local cotton mills like Clarence Mill. The area between Tytherington and Kerridge is famous for its gritstone, and as you climb through the local lanes, you’ll catch glimpses of White Nancy perched atop Kerridge Hill—a landmark built in 1817 to commemorate the victory at Waterloo that still keeps watch over every runner in the valley.