Have a look at the route that’s linked off this thread:
http://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/maclesfield-forest-routes
I’d suggest you start at the Leather’s Smithy – make sure you park in an appropriate bay along the reservoir from there, but you’ll be fine during the week.
Depending how far you want to go, there’s a nice little short option where you turn right at the bottom of the Oven Lane descent (to the west of the Stanley Arms on that link) and follow the lane up to Standing Stone carpark / T-junction where you rejoin the route around the forest
There’s a medium option too – after you’ve turned right across the moor from the Cat & Fiddle, when you get to the next road, stay on that until you get to the RUPP / BOAT that’s the very start of Cumberland Clough rather than dropping into the quarries at 3 Shires.
It’ll be wet out but most of it’s on bedrock / stones so perfectly rideable year round. Enjoy 🙂
