Section 4 of 5, Dane Valley Way
Illidge Green to Sproston
8.5 miles (13.6 km). About 3 hours, moderate.
Start: SJ 799 640. Finish: SJ 735 658. OS grid.
Take it with you: download this section's GPX file (it opens in OS Maps, Komoot, Outdooractive or a GPS unit) or open the start in OS Maps.
Up and down
About 153 m of climbing and 181 m of descent; highest point 78 m.
Getting there
The section starts at Illidge Green.
- Bus stop
- Illidge Green, Davenport Lane / Moorhead Lane, 980 m from the start. Directions SJ 791 634
Getting back
The section finishes at Sproston.
No bus stop or station within a kilometre of the finish. Nearest: the bus stop at Sproston Green, Holmes Chapel Road / Fox & Hounds, 1.1 km away (Directions); Holmes Chapel station, 3.3 km away (Directions).
Planning the Dane Valley Way
- Planning the whole trail: congletonramblers.org.uk.
- The guidebook the trail recommends: Upper Dane Valley and Lower Dane Valley Way (Congleton Ramblers).
What to expect
Underfoot: paved or flagged 39%, gravel and tracks 10%; the rest (46%) isn't recorded.
About 39% on roads with traffic.
On the way: 7 stiles, 7 kissing gates, 6 gates, 1 flight of steps.
No steep climbs: no kilometre gains more than about 24 m.
From OpenStreetMap, where mappers have recorded it: check before you go.
Pubs and cafés
- Pub
- The Swettenham Arms: 2.5 miles in. Step-free.
- Café
- The Little Cow Shed, Brereton Heath: 1 mile in. Seats outside.
As OpenStreetMap records them. Opening times change, so check before you set off.
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Something wrong or missing?
Tell us what to change about this section: a wrong distance, a moved start, a path that's closed.