Macclesfield Forest, Shutlingsloe and Tegg's Nose.

I've done many runs including Shutlingsloe, Tegg's Nose and Macclesfield Forest, none of those routes were compact.  They all used the bridleway down from Tegg's Nose visitor centre, an evil, hard surfaced, knee wrecker and slippery in the wet to boot.  A virtual recce., using aerial photographs and OpenStreetMap, suggested a better descent.  As it happened I found a better route still.  This route is clear on the ground, but not shown on OS maps or, previously, on OpenStreetMap.

Cheshire plains and Tegg's Nose from the permissive path, onto Shutlingsloe, skirting the southern edge of Macc' Forest.

The loose plan was to start from Standing Stone car park, take the permissive path onto Shutlingsloe, go round to the south and take the direct route up, then down the steps into the Forest.  From the Forest, take the Forest Bridleway to the Gritstone Way and the Gritstone Way into Langley and up the Nose.  From the top of the Nose, partly retrace my steps and take a non RoW path west to east across the southern flank to join Forest Road and on to Hacked Lane.  Follow Hacked Lane back to the Forest then take the Forest Chapel path to Charity Lane and the Chapel, then go a short way down the Lane to pick up the paths back to Hanging Stone.

 Shutlingsloe summit looking west, overcast, but with sunny spells, reasonable visibility and a sheep.

I ran up Shutlingsloe according to the plan, I caught another runner on the descent and we had a good chat.  We went our respective ways in the Forest where I explored, looking for a good route to the Gritstone way.  I ended up on some MTB trails that were OK, but I think there are better ways left to be found.  There is a public footpath, west, off the Gritstone Way about 150 metres before the road in Langley.  I couldn't remember seeing this path on OSM, so ran it to its end and back to get a GPS track.

I took the Gritstone Way up the Nose, running on up to the quarry before turning round.  Not far from the top, I could see a path zig zagging south east then turning north east.  This path was not on any map that I had seen and seemed a pleasant and promising way of getting back to the Forest.  This promise was fulfilled, I had a very pleasant descent and, fortuitously, the path ended at the tracks (Crooked Yard Road and Forest Road) that lead to Hacked Way.  I noted later that the RoW running west off Hacked Way to Clough House then south, has not been mapped for OSM, so have another reason for running the route again.

An unusual feature, near the start of the north east descent path.  I'll have to go and add something.

I used to follow Hacked Way Lane to Charity Lane then run east round the top of the Forest.  I was not out to maximise distance this time, so I took the first path back into the Forest and on to Forest Chapel.  As I passed the little ruined building, where the path crosses the bridleway, I spotted something new.  A small 'shrine' with a notice had appeared at the eastern end of the building.  I have included a photograph below, it was a fascinating piece of local history that touched deeply.

The eastern end of the ruined house where the Forest Chapel path crosses the Forest Bridleway, a photo I took a while back.

The memorial that has appeared at the end of the building.  The text should be readable if you click on the image to enlarge.

I have always enjoyed the Forest Chapel path and this time was no exception.  I was soon at the junction with Charity Lane, then at the Chapel.  I took the road back towards the reservoirs for a short way, then picked up the footpath south, this is soon left on a path signposted to Hanging Stone.  This last path is always over shockingly quickly, there is a bit of a clearing and then, bang, one suddenly becomes aware that the car park is in sight.  The thought of beer and sandwiches is some consolation.

I ran 9.37 miles with around 2070' of ascent.  Missing out the tracking detours and with a typical descent in the Forest to the Gritstone Way gives 8.8 miles, 1826' of ascent.  Both unmapped paths are now on OSM.