A Leek Loop! (13 Miles, Moderate)

No, it's not just an excuse for a little alliteration. The rolling Staffordshire countryside around Leek is littered with handsome and historical sights and is well worth exploring.

First there's the little village of Cheddleton, with its quaint tea rooms, flint mill and working steam railway.

Followed by Ladderedge country park, boasting waterways, walkways and woodland.

And then there's Abby Wood, which, if we've timed it right, should be bustling with bluebells at this time of year.

Finally there's Leek itself—"the queen of the Staffordshire Moorlands"—a pleasant market town on the River Churnet.

Regular Marauders will recognise a few of these names but they're well worth a revisit, and rest-assured we'll be uncovering some new paths along the way.

For the early arrivals there are cafés and public loos near the start point in Leek town centre.

Meeting point

9:45am at the Market Place in the centre of Leek:
https://maps.app.goo.gl/KgBaY6yMxzAipjan6

Parking

There are plenty of small carparks in Leek, although you'll also find free on-street parking if you drive a few streets away from the centre.

Public Transport

There's no early bus service from Macclesfield to Leek on a weekend sadly. Please shout up if you'd like a lift.

Dogs

As always, well behaved dogs are welcome on the hike and in the pub afterwards.

What to bring

Please bring a packed lunch, water and appropriate clothing/footwear for the weather.

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DISCLAIMER

• All Macclesfield Marauder walks are free of charge. You only need to organise your own travel, food and drink expenses.
• It's your own responsibility to remain safe outdoors. This group does not employ professional organisers nor first aiders.
• Walks are usually between 10 and 15 miles and vary in difficulty, with a good level of hiking experience required for the harder walks.
• We usually stop for a packed lunch and pop in to a country pub for a post or mid-hike drink.
• If you're on the waitlist, please wait to be moved to the going list before attending the event. But note, a lot of people tend to drop off the night before an event, so if you're near the top of the waitlist then it's likely you'll be automatically moved onto the going list.

Feel free to ask any questions in the comments section!

Here's a guide to the difficult rating:

• Easy - Short distance, less than ten miles and mostly flat. Suitable for anyone capable of a brisk stroll.

• Moderately Easy - Shortish distance, around ten miles, some gentle hills. For those who walk regularly but don't have too much hiking experience.

• Moderate - Between ten and twelve miles, a few decent hills with potentially steep sections. For those with some hiking experience.

• Moderately Challenging - Longer distance, twelve miles or over with lots of hills. Suitable for hikers who enjoy being out for most of the day.

• Challenging - Around fifteen miles or more, with hills, mountains and maybe the odd scramble. For experienced hikers who like pushing themselves.

• Hard - Long distance, sometimes over twenty miles, with mountains and difficult terrain. Only suitable for fit, experienced hikers.

IMPORTANT
Please bear in mind this is a free of charge, self-guided trip with a hobby group. It is not organised by a business nor any entity with commercial purposes. Any trip details, travel advice, route planning, instructions and other content in our group merely represent our shared personal knowledge, research and suggestions as outdoor enthusiasts. As this is not a business, there is no "product", "service" or "package" and also no "tour guide", "operator" or "walk leader". Each participant is responsible for their own safety. Even if some of us are very experienced walking outdoors, nobody assumes responsibility for any kind of injury, damage or loss that may happen. Our experienced members volunteer their time and effort to shape a pleasant and quality adventure for everyone. By participating you acknowledge and agree with this disclaimer.