Peak District circular walk: Croker Hill, Shutlingsloe, & Tegg's Nose (16 miles)
Details
Explore the rugged beauty of the Peak District on this challenging circular walk through Cheshire's dramatic moorland landscape. Starting from the picturesque village of Macclesfield Forest, this route takes you past the serene waters of Ridgegate and Trentabank Reservoirs before ascending the iconic pyramid peak of Shutlingsloe, often called the "Matterhorn of Cheshire" for its distinctive shape and commanding views. The walk continues across varied terrain to Tegg's Nose, a rocky gritstone escarpment offering panoramic vistas across the Cheshire Plain. With substantial elevation gain and three significant climbs, this springtime adventure rewards determined walkers with sweeping moorland scenery, blooming heather moorlands, historic reservoirs, and that satisfying sense of achievement that comes from conquering one of the area's most beloved summits.
📍 Meeting Location & Time
- Meeting Location: Clark Lane Parking Area
- Meeting Time: 09:20 AM
- Start Time: 09:30 AM
🥾 Walk Overview
- Distance: 15.9 miles (25.6 km)
- Elevation Gain: ~2,575 ft (785 m)
- Duration: about 7 hours
- Difficulty: Hard
- Route Type: Circular
- Walk Leader: Ben
🐇🐢 Pace & Fitness Requirements
This is a long walk with three ascents, best suited for those with good fitness and in sound physical condition. You should be comfortable maintaining a steady pace throughout.
⛰️ Route Highlights
- Croker Hill
- Ridgegate Reservoir
- Trentabank Reservoir
- Shutlingsloe
- Tegg’s Nose 👃
📲 Route Links
🚆 Public Transport
- No direct links, car sharing is required for this hike.
🌦️ Weather & Clothing
The weather on the hills can be very changeable, windy, and cool in spring. Please wear appropriate hiking boots or shoes with good grip to handle muddy and slippery terrain. Avoid flat trainers or jeans.
Dress in layers to adjust to changing conditions: moisture-wicking base layers, insulating mid-layers, and waterproof outer layers are recommended.
Useful links for weather forecasts:
🎒 What to Bring
- Sturdy walking boots or shoes with good grip (no flat trainers)
- Comfortable, weather-appropriate clothing (avoid jeans)
- Enough food and water for the whole day
- Waterproof jacket and warm layers
- A comfortable backpack
- Optional: sun hat, sunscreen, gloves (for cooler mornings)
- Optional: hiking poles, hat, camera, power bank, phone (or watch) with the route downloaded
🐶 Dogs
Fit and friendly dogs are very welcome!
To ensure everyone stays safe, please follow these guidelines:
- Livestock Safety: Always keep dogs on a lead around livestock, especially sheep and cows. Please remember that farmers are legally entitled to take measures (including shooting out-of-control dogs) to protect their animals.
- Nesting Birds (The Law): Between 1st March and 31st July, you must keep your dog on a lead (no longer than 2 metres) on all Open Access land to protect ground-nesting birds.
- Cleanliness: Please bag and bin your dog waste or take it home with you. Unlike wild animal waste, dog poop introduces harmful nutrients and bacteria into the soil that can damage rare plants and pose a severe health risk to grazing livestock. Please never leave bags on fences or trees — if you bag it, take it!
📢 Notes
- The route is planned via Komoot and not pre-walked, so expect possible muddy or slippery sections.
- This event may be cancelled or rescheduled if the weather is unsafe — updates will be posted in the comments section, so enable email notifications.
📌 Bookings
- Please only book if you genuinely intend to attend.
- If you reserve a spot but can no longer make it, please cancel your booking or let the organiser know. It only takes a moment to update your booking, and it really helps everyone: the organiser, the walk leader, and your fellow attendees.
⛑️ Disclaimer
You are fully responsible for your own safety, health, fitness, and equipment. The group has no insurance — by RSVPing, you agree to these terms.
📬 Questions?
Feel free to comment below or message the organiser privately.