Shutlingsloe stands to the south of Macclesfield Forest, on the edge of the Peak District and within the Peak District National Park.
A steep-sided hill with a distinctive profile, sometimes described as the 'Matterhorn of Cheshire', it is the third highest peak in the historic county
Who's up for a challenge?
This is a brilliant walk for families who prefer a walk that's not just flat and boring. It takes you through Macclesfield Forest and up a 506 meter high mountain.
It has everything:
• Nice wide paths through the forest
• Easy signs to read and follow
• Big stepping stones for most of the path, meaning it wasn't that muddy.
• A magnificent mountain to climb with a reward of a trig at the top.
• Brilliant views of Cheshire and the Peaks. (Altho, it was cloudy when we visited this time so it just means we have to do it another time)
Top Tips
• Grade: Challenging
• Distance: 5.5km
• Time: 2-3 hours
• There are toilets at Trentabank Car Park.
• Not suitable for pushchairs
• Trig Point at the summit
• Trentabank Car Park, Macclesfield Forest, Macclesfield, Cheshire, SK11 0NE. Costs £4.75 all day
• There is also free road side parking but make sure your only in marked bays.
Nicknamed the ‘Matterhorn of Cheshire‘ due to its similar shape to the Matterhorn in Switzerland, Shutlingsloe (506 metres) is a great starter hill for little legs and one of the best Peak District trig point walks.
There is a circular route, but we did a there and back version to keep it shorter and easier.
Your route:
1. Starting from Trentabank Carpark, take the path between the road and visitor centre, past a large map of Macclesfield Forest, for 100m until you get to a bike squeeze gate. Turn right here, taking the path that heads upwards. This path is a loose stone, wide path which has a leg aching incline to it.
2. Soon, you will come across the first shutlingsloe wooden sign showing you the way. Continue in the direction of the sign. Even though it had been raining, this path wasn't muddy at all.
3. At the next sign, you take a right. This path takes you through a deeper part of the forest.
4. You come to a gate with another bike squeeze gate. Follow the sign for Standing Stone and Shutlingsloe, which is straight on.
5. You pass a few benches along this part, which is a good place to rest or have a picnic. On the right, you will come to a kissing gate. Through the gate, you will now find yourself on the open moreland of Piggford Moor.
6. From here, it is a flagged path that leads you all the way up Shutlingsloe. You can't go wrong.
7. After a little bit along the moorland you suddenly see the mountain of Shutlingsloe in the distance. At the small stone wall with a gate you take a right and start the steep incline to the summit.
8. When you get nearer the top the stone flags are more rough and disjointed so this bit is the challenging part. You have to take big steps up and watch you footing. Its quite a work out climbing Shutlingsloe, however we found it more tricky climbing down.
Once at the top it is all worth the climb. Beautiful views, a trig point and a sense of achievement.
From the top of Shutlingsloe, you can see The Roaches, Shining Tor (the highest hill in Cheshire), Macclesfield, and even across to Wales on a very clear day.
Even though we didn't get the view on our walk, it was still an enjoyable walk. Its a challenge but still manageable for little legs.
Visit Dec 2023
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