“But the bit between Marple and Stockport is always very very boring though.
It’s really not. You need a local to show you the fun. Brabyns. Dale Rd. Chadkirk. Jesus Trail. Andy Nearly Died. Alptastic. Whoop. Pooh Sticks. Goyt Bank Footpath. Back Of The Running Track. Football Field Down And Up. Brinny Tunnel. Vale Singletrack. Tesco Singletrack.
The last three are not the greatest but by there. you’re within two miles of Stockport town centre and at the end, looking at the back of Asda in the town centre.
“Once you hit the dull climb out of Roman Lakes”
if you’re referring to Lakes Rd, I agree. But why are you going up Lakes Rd? Getting a Costa in Marple? Turn around and climb up and down toward Marple Bridge. Less than 100 yards on a very small road and you’re into Brabyns. You’re even riding past a very tough climb on your left if you do decide to go up Lakes Rd.
“Uninspiring and dull” You’re going straight past so much fun stuff and for roads: You can get from behind Asda in Stockport town centre to Fairholmes with a couple of 100 yard stretches at most of road. In fact, the road in Edale to the foot of Jagger’s is probably the longest bit.
That’s Pooh Sticks Jonny. Over the Goyt and climb right towards Woodlands Park. Stay behind Stockport Harrers Stadium at Woodbank and drop down back into the woods at the far, right end. You’ll come out on the edge of the football fields. Stay on the Singletrack and you’ll have a pretty challenging Singletrack climb to bring you out close to Stockport Museum at the top of Vernon Park.
Sounds good, didn’t realise there was so much stuff.
I’d need to see some GPX or Strava that takes all that in.
I used to think there wasn’t much fun you could conveniently add into a route between Marple and Stockport without having to go out of your way considerably, but would be interested to see the above.
Think out of the above all I’ve done is Brinny Tunnel (If it’s the one on the National Cycling route) and Tesco Singletrack. Don’t think I’ve come across any of the others.
Think I hit the Reddish Vale singletrack once on a route coming back from Werneth Low, but if I remember its location right, it’s a bit of the way if you’re coming back from Marple ?