From 19-27th Ocotber, the Bollington Walking Festival, now in its fourth year, offers the best in rambling trails.
From a walk up to White Nancy, a summerhouse built by the Gaskell family in 1815, or a stroll along the Macclesfield canal, the festival has over 30 walks of varying lengths and abilities, to suit all ages, where ramblers can experience historic tracks, panoramic views, beautiful gardens and cultural attractions.
The town also has the accolade of being made a ‘Walkers are Welcome’ town. Walkers are Welcome (WaW) is a special national group of towns and villages acknowledged through their locaton and local services as being especially welcoming to walkers. This network has expanded rapidly and there are now well over 100 beautiful locations across the UK that have joined this innovative community-led programme. WaW helps to ensure that facilities for walkers are well maintained and are eager to contribute to local tourism plans.
Bollington is well served by a number of pubs selling a variety of real ales from the region. In particular, The Vale Inn, home of Bollington Brewing Co. and The Poachers, outlet for the Happy Valley Brewery are listed in the CAMRA real ale guide 2014.
The Bollington Brewing Company offers tours of its facilities where visitors can learn all about the intrinsic details of brewing beer, finishing off with a two-course lunch at its pub, The Vale Inn, with a chance to sample the local brew.
For those who want to combine the two, the Beer Celebration Walk* takes place on Saturday 26th October. Meeting at the Vale Inn at noon, walkers will meander up to Nab Head to raise a toast to the surrounding countryside then heading back to Bollington to visit the Cotton Tree pub before finishing at The Poachers to meet a local brewer and being shown around the cellar.
Richard Milkins, visitor economy development manager said: “Bollington really is the home of great walking, local food and produce and craft brewing. After a day exploring the countryside, with majestic mills and soaring chimneys dotting the landscape, what better than to kick back and enjoy a locally brewed beer.”
*Beer Celebration Walk – 3/4 hours, moderate. Dogs welcome but must be on a lead. Over 18yrs only http://www.
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Notes to editors
Cheshire’s Peak District encompasses nearly 100 square miles of breathtaking scenery, including part of the globally renowned Peak District National Park. An area of outstanding natural beauty, Cheshire’s Peak District offers the stunning contrast of wild moorland and majestic peaks with meandering waterways, exquisite gardens, attractive market towns and idyllic villages.
Visit www.cheshirepeakdistrict.com for more information.