We met at Timperley for this Stockport Community Cycling Club longer ride to Sutton. For a change this promised to be a cycle in some fine weather. Unfortunately Sarah has been struggling with fatigue, and in spite of joining in with the clubs Abney Park ride the previous day and feeling fine, wisely decided to give this one a miss.

The ride started by cycling through Altrincham and Hale.

Soon we were out on the country lanes around Ashley.

And heading for Mobberley.

From here we turned at Warford.

We then made our way through Marthall and the Peover’s.

  

Next we we made our way to Goostrey.

After Goostrey we turned towards Gawsworth. And while the ride so far hadn’t exactly been flat, as some of the photos show, the lumpiness now became more evident since we were cycling towards the foothills of the Pennines around Macclesfield.

Eventually we crossed the Congleton Road and skirted around the edge of Gawsworth village.

We could see the Shropshire hills.

And the hills around Sutton.

We next crossed the Macclesfield Road at Fool’s Nook.

And up a big hill. Thankfully it was just before lunch!

We stopped for lunch at Sutton Hall.

This is a pub in a nearly 500 year old former manor house. The surroundings were fantastic. It was slightly more pricey than we are used to but the service was suitably upmarket and the food was tasty.

After lunch we made our way through the backstreets of Macclesfield as we headed for the Middlewood Way.

  

We left the Middlewood Way at Tytherington.

We then cycled through Prestbury.

Before climbing over Hare Hill.

  

We picked up the same route we had cycled on the way out, but with a few differences, including cycling past St Wilfrid church as we returned through Mobberley.

Eventually we returned to Altrincham.

We had cycled 53 miles today, and it had been an enjoyable ride through the Cheshire lanes on a lovely sunny day. Not too often we have been able to say that recently.

You can view our Sutton route below: