Biddulph Valley Way

Stoke-on-Trent to Congleton

This is Route 55 of the National Cycle Network and is covered
 in the Sustrans book "Traffic Free Cycle Rides" (published 2015) page 174

Most of  the route is hard surfaced and well signed, the first half having marks on the path as shown right.


The start of the ride is at the lakeside in Central Forest Park, being about 2 miles North of Stoke-on-Trent railway station, which means cycling through the centre of Hanley, preferably following College Road. The length of the ride is 12 miles from the park, plus the couple of miles from Stoke railway station.

Beside the lake is a small snack bar and you need to cross the road behind it at the pedestrian crossing and make for the Oatcake and Pikelet shop. opposite.
Route 55 goes up the street alongside.

                                         This is the lake and below is the snack bar.

A good place to take on provisions for the journey as there is not much else until you get to Congleton. There is a good choice of food and drinks here and prices are very reasonable.

    This is the oatcake shop.  Go up the street alongside. From here it's uphill,,climbing through several streets until you reach the top of Birches Head where we leave the housing estate and can see a panoramic view including the high chimney of Chatterley Whitfield which we will eventually pass.

                                          Arrow shows chimney approx. 3.25 miles away.

 The descent from Birches Head is very steep, and the bad news is that we have to come up it on the way back!

 Once on the valley floor we follow a tree lined tarmac path, but watch out for places where the tree roots are lifting the surface.

                                            Several nice lakes alongside the path.

The path enters more open country now, climbing uphill.

     Side path leads to Chatterley Whitfield Colliery now disused and although in theory a mining museum, the state of the buildings is such that they are not open to the public for Health and Safety reasons.

                Turn left to cross this ornamental pedestrian/cycle bridge and then right on the other side..

 And now we come to cross another bridge with an interesting cast iron pedestal which celebrates the opening of the bridge in 2007.
.

By our old friend John Grimshaw CBE, founder of, and at that time CEO of, Sustrans.

             The bridge crosses quite a busy road and has user friendly surface of rubber tiles.

                       On now to cross another road with quite a steep climb on the other side.

                  This section of the path has a poor surface, quite the worst of the whole ride.

                       But as we approach Biddulph we are back on a nice smooth tarmac surface.

                 Dropping down from another road crossing the path goes beneath this low bridge.

And on the left is this lovely old thatched roof cottage.  Pity about the asbestos garage alongside.

                  From here to Congleton the scenery is quite delightful ....................................

                               .................... with lots of mature trees alongside the path.


.                                            ..... and steep banks on both sides.

 Mostly wooded, but a glimpse of pasture on the valley floor here with horses enjoying a stream.

Eventually we leave the off road path and ride into Congleton, a nice little town with lots of places to eat and drink.
The Counting House is Wetherspoon's local, in the far distant of this view.