Just got back in from the Forest and there’s no ice and prob not going to be any tomorrow either, it is VERY VERY WET though, Charity was like a river tonight and I can only imagine the lower half of Cumberland is the same.
If your going to climb Old Buxton Road why not carry on and take a left onto Back Eddisbury Road, take the first track/lane on the right and follow it to the end, turn right and drop to Teggs carpark, then straight out the back of the carpark onto Saddlers Way. Follow to the bottom and keep right then keep left at the fork and climb up Forest Road/Hacked Way to the top, It’s a tough climb up and misses out a chunk of the black stuff and descend Charity, or keep right and follow all the way under Teggs just past the reservoir over flow, through the gate on the left, round the reservoir and continue as planned. Personally I’d be looking at going over Tagsclough to Burntcliff Top too, and on through Gradbach Youth Hostel and Up to the ridge, along the ridge towards Roaches End then on the black stuff again to Upper Hulme and the A54. Drop into Leek and onto Stoke. IMO a bit more interesting than Tarmac from Wildboarclough to Leek. Yeah it’s a bit harder as it’s off road and cheeky but it sounds like you have all day.
Just my 2p like