Located on the western edge of the Peak District National Park, around two-third of the forest fall within the park boundaries
Snow transforms Macclesfield Forest(Image: Manchester Evening News)
The winter chill has certainly arrived. With the New Year in full swing, the temperatures have dropped significantly and there are warnings in place well into next week.
This week there are several snow and ice warnings in place across the UK including a 24-hour amber snow warning in Scotland. A new yellow weather warning for snow has been issued for Greater Manchester from 3pm on Sunday, January 4, remaining in place until 12pm the following day.
It’s important to take extra care when the temperatures plummet especially if you’re out driving, but when the temperatures thaw a little and conditions improve you might want to start planning some winter walks for the New Year.
Macclesfield Forest, Cheshire(Image: Peter McDermott / geograph.org.uk)
Just over the border in Cheshire, Macclesfield Forest is a great spot for a weekend, woodland walk. The last remnant of the Royal Forest of Macclesfield, which was created by the Normans as a hunting reserve, it is a working forest managed by United Utilities with timber felled and replanted so the woodland scenery is always in a state of change.
Located on the western edge of the Peak District National Park, around two-third of the forest fall within the park boundaries. Just a few miles south of Macclesfield town centre, it’s a convenient spot not too far from public transport options and also less than an hour drive from Manchester city centre.
The former ancient hunting reserve and is packed full of towering pine and broadleaf trees. When it snows, there scenery is beautifully transformed as the frost and snow cover the forest canopy.
Snow transforms Macclesfield Forest(Image: Macclesfield Express)
Adding to the winter wonderland backdrop, there is a small herd of Red Deer which call the forest home – although the chances of spotting them are slim, you may notice their hoofprints in the ground. There’s also plenty of birdlife to be spotted, including buzzards and skylarks. The forest also boasts the largest heronry in the Peak District.
Hidden within the forest are two reservoirs too, Trentabank and Ridgegate. These provide a mirror for the surrounding trees on a clear day too and are part of numerous walks and routes you can take around the forest.
There are various routes you can follow, varying from a short half mile trail to a challenging 5.6 mile route. For incredible views, many climb up Nessit Hill to see across the woodland-covered valley and even as far as Greater Manchester from the top.
Macclesfield Forest(Image: MEN Staff)
If you are up for a challenge, then there’s Shutlingsloe, a hill which stands south of the forest and has even been given the nickname the ‘Matterhorn of Cheshire’ due to its similar shape to the Swiss mountain.
The app AllTrails also has a route around the southern half of Macclesfield Forest. This 7.1km trail starts from the Trentabank car park along the Trentabank Reservoir and leads you through the forest to the banks of Ridgegate Reservoir.
Here, you can enjoy the stunning views across the serene water with the iconic Tegg’s Nose behind it before heading uphill, following a forest bridleway to explore more of Macclesfield Forest. The trail also leads up to Nessit Hill.
Macclesfield Forest(Image: MEN Staff)
When you’re ready to continue, you can follow the path through woodland, continuing along the edge of it and slowly heading downhill before following the Standing Stone Road back to the car park.
It takes around an hour to drive from Greater Manchester to Macclesfield Forest. There is a small pay and display car park at the visitor centre near Trentabank Reservoir (SK11 0NS) and another small car park at Standing Stone (SK11 0AR).
In addition there are small parking areas in lay-bys in the forest but these do get busy.