A beautiful 5-mile walk up Shutlingsloe Hill and through Macclesfield Forest in the Peak District.
This is a great route from Wildboarclough and includes a wide range of scenery and terrain for a 5-mile walk. From the start at Wildboarclough you’re doing the tough bit first, heading up to Shutlingsloe where you can enjoy the great views all around. Then from here, you head into more shaded territory, through Macclesfield Forest, which makes this a great route for a really sunny day (for shade) or a rainy day (for shelter)!
If you’re looking for a shorter route via Shutlingsloe then we have a short 3-mile route here.
Here you will find details on how to get to the start of the walk at Wildboarclough, car parking options, route information, map, GPX file, plus a detailed step by step guide of the walk to Shutlingsloe via Macclesfield Forest.
Let me know in the comments if you’ve done this Shutlingsloe walk and what you think!
Shutlingsloe Hill from Wildboarclough
Walk information + GPX
Walk type: Short circular walk
Distance: 5.4 miles/8.7 km
Walk time: 2-3 hours
Total ascent: 383 m/1,256 ft
Highest point: 506 m/1,660 ft
Walk highlights: Shutlingsloe Hill and views from Shutlingsloe summit, Macclesfield Forest
Trig points: 1 – Shutlingsloe
Ethels: 1 – Shutlingsloe
Stiles: 3 (2 are the same stile on return)
Shutlingsloe walk map
© Crown copyright and database rights (2024) OS 002572460
Click for online mapWalk start point
Start grid reference: SJ 98722 69877
Car parking address: Clough House car park, Wildboarclough, SK11 0BD* – Google location
*Please note this postcode does NOT take you to exact location, please double check on a paper map or google maps. This is free but small car park, but generally not too busy so unless it’s peak time you should get a space.
Alternatively, there’s some car parking available on the route at Trentabank Reservoir (paid car park) or Standing Stone car park (mentioned in Stage 2 + 3)
Public transport
There are no options for public transport for this start point.
Facilities on the walk
There are no public toilets available at the start of the walk at Wildboarclough however, there are public toilets at Trentabank Reservoir where there’s also a coffee van at weekends.
There’s a pub a short distance from the car park at Wildboarclough – The Crag Inn, Nabbs Road, Wildboarclough, SK11 0BD – Google location
Water on your walk – I recommend a filter water bottle for your Peak District walks, it saves you from carrying extra weight and you can fill up safely and drink water from the streams on your walk.
Other useful information
The end of the walk has a 1 km road section, it’s not a busy road, but just to be aware if you’re doing the walk with children.
Please keep the Peak District beautiful and respect everyone who uses the park. Take ALL your rubbish home to dispose of and remember close gates (as you found them). Thank you so much.
Would you know what to do in an emergency situation?
We have a guide with what to do, who you need to call and also some useful kit that should be in your backpack. Ask us any questions in the comments or via our social media.
Happy hiking + stay safe
read herePeak District weather
Check the weather for your walk location and hills. We’d recommend that you check a few resources and for hill walks look at the weather conditions in the valley and on the hilltop as they can greatly vary.
- BBC Weather for Wildboarclough
- Met Office weather for Shining Tor (nearest hill to Shutlingsloe)
- Met Office weather and/or MWIS (Mountain weather information service) for the Peak District
Ordnance Survey walk map
The map required for this walk is the Ordnance Survey OL24 – Peak District (White Peak Area). Check prices here with Ordnance Survey or Amazon. If you’re hiking in all weather the Active OS maps are good to have as they are laminated so better on rainy days.
View both Peak District map options here.
And don’t forget your compass, I recommend the Silva Expedition or the Silva Classic compass.
For online maps, I recommend OS Online App (I have been using it for many years and it is worth getting if you want to start walking more). Check prices here for the one-month or annual option with OS Online App. All the walks on the website are created using OS Online + you can download them to the App.
See both maps that cover the Peak District here.
Want to learn more map skills? Check out our Guided Walks with map reading skills here.
Shutlingsloe walk route
Stage 1 – Clough House, Wildboarclough to Shutlingsloe Trig
Distance: 1.5 miles/2.4 km
Grid reference SJ 98722 69877
From Clough House car park, exit from the entrance with the picnic table that goes directly onto the road (not past the farm buildings). Turn left out of the car park, walk down the road for a short distance.
On your right after 200 m, there’s a footpath (photo above). Walk up here and over the stile, go along the path to another small gate, followed by a wooden bridge. Keep heading along the path, go through the next small metal gate then continue past some buildings, it turns into a wider track.
You’ll then reach a cattle grid, instead of walking over it, walk up the grassy bank to pick up the track just above. Turn right almost doubling back but on the higher path, heading uphill. From this track you can see Shutlingsloe summit up ahead.
Walk along the track until it bends round to the right (this is private), instead pick up the grassy path between the gap in the wall, continue across the wooden bridge and through the metal kissing gate. Keep walking uphill following the way markers.
At the next metal kissing gate go through, then you can see two paths heading up to Shutlingsloe. Take either path (the left is slightly easier) follow this all the way to the summit which brings you out at the trig point.
Stage 2 – Shutlingsloe Trig to Trentabank Reservoir
Distance: 1.5 mile/2.4 km
Grid reference SJ 97642 69569
From Shutlingsloe trig point head down via the flagstones (photo above) on the opposite side of the summit heading north. It’s a steep descent, with a few large steps to negotiate on the way down. You’ll reach a wall with a small gate then three stone steps down to the path.
Walk along the path until you reach a metal gate (with a green signpost that’s facing backwards to Wildboarclough and Langley), go through and continue on the flagstoned path. Continue all the way down to the trees and through a kissing gate. Turn left down the path where you turn left to join another track, following the signpost for Trentabank.
Keep walking down here as you enter Macclesfield Forest, at the next signpost keep following the path to Trentabank then through a green bike barrier onto the path. You’ll continue heading downhill through the forest and at the next junction continue heading straight down.
Follow the signs all the way to Trentabank, through another bike barrier that brings you out at the car park, here’s where the toilets are too.
Stage 3 – Trentabank Reservoir to Wildboarclough
Distance: 2.7 mile/4.3 km
Grid reference SJ 97642 69569
From Trentabank Ranger Centre, cross the road and go through the gate into the woods near the reservoir, this is a pretty short loop with lots of lovely wood carvings that you follow around and it brings you back at the road. Keep on the left-hand side walking on the path next to the road and then through a gate that leads to the road.
It’s then a short distance along the road, (on busy days you can head up the steps on the other side and loop along the path that way). After a few hundred metres there’s another bike barrier on your right, go through here and turn left. You can now take this forestry path alongside the road (not showing on the OS map).
Follow the path, down some steps, across a wooden bridge (photo above) then it will bring you out at a gap in the wall, where you cross the road and follow the signpost to Standing Stone. Keep on this path all the way until you reach a signpost. Now turn left here following signposted Forest Chapel (photo below), walk up the path until the next signpost, now turn right and follow Standing Stone. (I promise this is right, it’s a prettier route and more gradual).
The path brings you out at a small car park, walk around the edge of the car park and out the entrance on to the road, turn right down the road, then turn left down the road (there’s a hidden bend here so take care).
After 200 m there’s a signpost on your right, go through here, walking towards the power lines, go over a small wooden bridge and continue walking along the grassy track. You’ll go through a gate, turn left through another then a third which brings you back to the road. From here, turn right and it’s now about a 1 km walk down the road back to the car park. Please take care on this section.
Ask me questions about the Shutlingsloe route in the comments below.
Walk options
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Or check out all our Peak District walking routes here
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