Bollin Valley Circular - This is one of a series of caches on a circular walk taking in a section of the Bollin Valley Way. There are a variety of cache containers, mostly easy finds, with the exception of one or two.
It is a pleasant 4.5 mile walk along well defined public footpaths,the terrain is mainly flat with one or two small inclines.
A few of the fields that you pass through have livestock grazing in them so please keep dogs on a lead.
When the caches were placed it was EXTREMELY MUDDY in parts. So boots or wellingtons are a MUST.
There is parking available in the public car parks in Prestbury village or in the streets around Brocklehust Drive or Bollin Grove, please be considerate to local residents if parking there.
Description of walk.
At the junction of Brocklehurst Drive and Bollin Grove follow the Bollin Valley Way sign past a football field on the left, where you can find BVW#2 (GC1N23E). Continue on through a gate until you reach the bridge over the River Bollin, cross the bridge and follow the drive to BVC-1. Then follow the path round to the right keeping the hedge on your right. Pass through the gate in the corner of the field, following the well defined public pathway that weaves its way over the brook, where you will find BVC-2, and through the fields, picking up BVC-3, until you reach Gadhole Farm, where you turn left up the track. At the top of the track go passed the stile where you will find BVC-4. Now back to the stile and walk across attractive undulating farmland following the public footpath signs until you reach BVC-5. Walk on from BVC-5 keeping the hedge on your left until arriving at BVC-6. Cross the stile and walk diagonally up the hill to a kissing gate. Pass throught the gate and turn right at Legh Coach House Courtyard. Follow the drive past a pond on your right until you reach BVC-7. Now retracing your steps walk back and turn left down the path just before the 16th century Legh Old Hall. Pass through a gate and walk straight across the field to a stile and BVC-8. Continue through the field keeping the hedge on your left, until you reach another stile, climb over this stile and continue in the same direction to a stile at the left of the stables, walk pass the stables which will be on your right, then turn left where you will find BVC-9. Now you need to cross the golf course and the grounds of Mottram Hall (where there are no caches as I was refused permission to place any). Do not go through the gate at BVC-9 but walk back turning left down a track to a gate leading to the golf course. Walk straight across the fairway in front of you, giving way to golf balls!! after a few hundred yards, glance right – Kestrels are frequently seen perched on the disused water pump. Ahead of you is a stile, cross this then carry straight on over a further two stiles. Then you will be able to see Mottram Hall to the right. Walk towards the left corner of the hall following the public footpath sign, then passing between the hall and the Claret Jug bar, turn left into the car park walking on until you pass behind the goals of a football pitch, where you will see a stile over to the left(N 53° 18.872 W 002° 10.426), climb over it and walk along the Bollin Valley way to BVC-10. After finding BVC-9 retrace your steps back over the stile. Again walk through the grounds of Mottram Hall keeping the river to your left until you reach a gate. Once through the gate follow the well defined path along the river, picking up BVC-11,BVC-12 and BVC-13 before reaching a bridge which you have to cross. Now keeping the river on your right you will soon arriveat BVC-14. Carry on in the same direction until passing though one of two gates into a wooded area, where BVC-15 can be found. Now follow the path back to the start keeping the river on your right. Picking up BVW 2.5(GC3GGAR) and BVC16-19 on the way.