Exploring Bosley - Bosley Reservoir & Bosley Locks

Close to home today, just out beyond Congleton to the other side of the Cloud for an explore of Bosley. Bosley is located on the eastern edge of Cheshire just north of the Staffordshire border and close to the Peak District National Park.

We start up by Bosley Reservoir which was built to provide water for the Macclesfield Canal. There is a staircase of 12 locks at Bosley as the canal heads over higher ground and so the reservoir is needed to keep them topped up. Our route takes us beside the reservoir before heading over the fields to the village of Bosley passing St. Mary’s Church with its 16th century tower and over the canal feeder as it heads down to the canal from the reservoir. We then head under a disused railway which used to run from North Rode through to Rudyard and on to Cheddleton where we’ve visited before. We pass the site of the old wood flour mill which suffered a massive explosion and fire back in 2015 killing 4, very sad. We cross the river Dane and then head across the fields to the Macclesfield canal  and follow it past the 12 lock flight before heading up the lane and over the fields to get to the far side of the reservoir and follow around its edge back to our starting point. The route was 5.7 miles according to the map though I measured it at 5.8 miles on my watch, alternatively you could just do a lap of the reservoir which is 3 miles.

The Route

Head down the side of the reservoir and then take the path left. At the gate turn right and follow the path to the A523 and turn right into Bosley. Take the path left beside St Mary’s and follow it to the site of the old Wood Flour Mill. Turn right and cross the river Dane then take the path right to the canal and turn right following it past the 12 locks to lock 1 at Bullgate Lane. Turn left and follow the lane to the A523 and turn left and then immediately right into Stoneyfold Lane. Follow the lane and continue onto the path which comes out on Brooks Lane where we turn right. Now turn left onto the A54 Buxton road (taking care) and take the path on the right which follows the other side of the reservoir. At the lane turn right and then right on the path which comes out at our starting point.