The line from Macclesfield through Bollington to Marple was approved by Parliament in 1864. It was hoped it would support the Cotton Industry, carry stone from the quarries and coal from Poynton. In August of 1869 a single track line was opened for passenger traffic. Goods traffic opened in 1870 and then the line was doubled along its whole length 1871. In 1948 the line became part of British Railways. In 1960 Middlewood Higher station closed. By the 1960s the line, like many others, was considered to be a loss maker and was earmarked for closure under the Beeching cuts. The line was closed in 1970 and the track was lifted the following year. The stations were eventually demolished. Bollington station goods yard in now Clough Bank industrial estate. The whole length of the Middlewood Way is about 9.5 miles as measured on Anquet Maps. Information on the link below (Visit Cheshire) states it is open to horse riding the whole length. There are some ramps down to one end your horse may find challenging. One is a wood construction at Tinker's Clough, the other is tarmac slopes near Tytherington leading to the bridge over the Silk Road (A 523). It looks a nice ride. We also saw a challenging gate on the video link below. Grid Ref: SJ 949 886 Clough Bank Industrial Estate. Parking. Grid Ref: SJ 917 744 Macclesfield end there's a superstore https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HnpSAUaAemU https://www.visitcheshire.com/things-to-do/ride-the-middlewood-way- p176561

Middlewood Way - Higher Poynton © Copyright Roger Kidd and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence.

Middlewood Way at Tinker's Clough © Copyright Stephen Craven and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence.

Middlewood Way - Higher Poynton © Copyright Anthony Parkes and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence.

Middlewood Way near Marple © Copyright Stephen McKay and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence.