I have not been walking seriously for a while because of a back injury, plus other issues, but I've now restarted, and walking from Mow Cop to the Cloud was a great reintroduction.
Mow Cop is the end/start of the Staffordshire Way
From the top of the ruins, towards Biddulph
Looking south, the views stretch for miles
The start of the walk is difficult to find, but meeting these alpacas made up for it.
A trig point at Cheshire's Close gave great views to the north west (not wonderful visibility today though)
Leaving the road, the Way follows a track along the top of Congleton Edge - but you can't see anything from it!
Leaving the Edge, I went though fields...
... and through some native woodland.
The Way continued, before dropping down...
...to Whitemore Nature Reserve,...
...which is actually an old railway line
... with lovely views down to Biddulph Brook
Belt and braces - a wooden stile followed by a brick one
First sight of the Cloud
A group of Texels waiting for the farmer.
The path is re-routed here - not as on the map but easily followed
The path begins to climb - the white blob is Jodrell Bank
A train crossed the viaduct far below
The views from the Cloud are stunning
Over to the Peak District - the pointed one is Shutlingsloe
Looking further round
My favourite thing to find on a walk: a toposcope
A fabulous walk, especially for a clear day
Today's walk: 7 miles. The start (or end) of the Staffordshire Way. Mow Cop car park is free, but you can only stay 2 hours, unless you arrange in advance with the National Trust to get a day pass. I walked from Mow Cop and just followed the signs. The path is shared with the Gritstone Way for the whole of the way to the Cloud, so waymarking is pretty good, except at the very start. I walked back again, which was about 15 miles, probably a bit far (the guidebook said it wa 6.2 miles each way, but it was more. The views are fantastic. Wales, Merseyside, Cheshire, Staffordshire, Shropshire, Manchester and the Peak District. My GPS said there was a good 1100ft of climbing .
