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Start : From the Brigend Center 104 Palmerston St, Bollington, Macclesfield (SK10 5PW). Grid ref. SJ 935 779
(S/E) With your back to the Bridgend Centre, turn right along Palmerston Street, then first right (South-West) into High Street. At the top turn right into Chancery Lane, then left into Jackson Lane.
(1) Cross over the lane, past Hollin Hall Hotel, and through the stile on your right. Walk forward, with the line of trees on your left, and go along the path in front, between hawthorn hedges. Then continue forward to pass through a kissing gate into a lane.
This point links up withTree Trail 1.
Turning right, walk down the lane and notice holly and hawthorn hedges on your right. Soon you will pass Bobbin Cottage on your left. Then follow the path to the left of Beehive Cottage and over the canal bridge where Adelphi Mill can now be seen.
(2) Do not descend to the towpath but go forward and right into Tinkers Clough. Many of the trees in this wood are very old beeches. Follow the steps, boardwalk and path and, as you leave the Clough, look on the left to see the wild up pear tree with its gnarled trunk, 12 metres after the marker.
Go forward between buildings to meet the Middlewood Way, where you turn left. Go down the ramps. Continue forward for half a mile to the next ramp on your right just before a bridge.
(3) This leads up to Clarke Lane, where you turn right, crossing the road to the footpath. There is a small rowan tree opposite the entrance to Kerridge Cricket Club.
Cross over the road, and after the entrance to Mode Hill Barn, go right down a ginnel. Carry on along the track, which turns into a narrow path. There are elder trees in the hedges.
Turn left past the allotments and forward, with the hedge on your left, then through a wide ginnel to emerge onto Bollington Road (B5090).
(4) Cross over the road and through the kissing gate to the right of the Rookery. On your right is a weeping ash. Go forward, following the fence, then through a kissing gate. Pass the pylon on your left, then walk slightly right to a kissing gate at the bottom comer of the field, close to the Silk Road (A523). Go down the bank and over a stream, then up to enter Dumbah Hollow.
Follow the path over a hillock and through a kissing gate, keeping parallel to the Silk Road. At the bench, look right and you will see a lovely row of crack willow trees along the stream bed. Continue forward, ignoring the footpath to the right, to reach and descend steps. Go through two kissing gates and up more steps onto Flash Lane (B5091).
(5) Carefully cross over, and ignoring the footpath straight ahead, walk to the right and take the first road on the left. Turn right to Hilltop and walk up the drive. Pass a house and cottages on your right and go through the kissing gate in front. Notice the massive black poplar ahead.
Descend past a stile, bear left and follow the hedge to a kissing gate. Walk straight ahead to another kissing gate that leads into Gunco Lane. On reaching a green triangle turn right into Well Lane. Look out for Yew Tree Cottage and any of its namesake trees along the lane. As the road bends to the left go forward into the yard of Whiteley Hey Farm.
Keep straight ahead, with the barn on your left, to go through the metal gate attached to the barn. Descend through another metal gate, taking care underfoot.
(6) At the bottom, bear right up the bank following the Peak & Northern Footpaths Society sign to Lowerhouse and Bollington.
This point links with Tree Trail 3.
Descend diagonally right, with a very old row of trees on your left. The first tree is an old sycamore, followed by a row of oaks.
Go over a stile next to a stone slab, then right, following a fence and then a hedge. Go over a stile and along the track in front. This track can be extremely muddy. When the track takes a sharp left, continue ahead, over a field to a stile. Follow the path to the end, and then turn right into Moss Lane. Walk up to Moss Brow, cross the road and turn left. Immediately turn right into Long Row and walk beside Long Row Cottages.
At the end turn left, and at the end of that path turn right to walk up Albert Road. Turn left into Wellington Road (B5090). Opposite the post office, cross the road and go up the road in front.
(7) At the bridge turn left along the Middlewood Way.
(8) After crossing Bollington viaduct turn sharp right, down the steps and round the right-hand edge of the car park to Adlington Road. Cross over and enter the recreation ground. Follow the path forwards, cross over the bridge on your right, turn left up the steps and along the riverside walk. Go over the bridge, up the steps and turn right. Cross the road and turn left under the aqueduct.
Cross Water Street, walk through the Memorial Gardens and onto Palmerston Street, turning right to return to the Bridgend Centre. (S/E)
Tourist office
Moderate 
