Macclesfield Forest lies tantalising close to the southern Manchester massif and wandering around its expansive moorlands, trudging down its lumpy cow-pat fields or standing, hypnotised by the acute shafts of failing light slanting between the pines it's hard to reconcile this part of Macclesfield with anything remotely connected to Joy Division and Ian Curtis. Not that it is in any way specifically connected with Joy Division, it's just hard to travel to Mac without scenes from Control, that harrowing biopic, flashing through the mind. It just goes to show, one can be surrounded by the most breathtaking and beautiful of scenery, or even the subtle, tranquil and gentle landscape of Macclesfield Forest and yet still, inside, turmoil abides.
The Forest is an excellent destination, whatever one's frame of mind. A beguiling place to catch the belated summer sunshine as autumn threatens to upstage August yet again. I found myself standing stock still and marvelling, caught in a series of three-dimensional Klimt paintings.
The Forest is not well sign-posted so look for the A523 south of Mac, then follow the signs to Langley and on to Trentabank Reservoir where there are excellent facilities, car parks, refreshments and further information. A range of walks leave from various points nearby and a detailed map of these is available for about three quid from Nice Nosh in Trentabank car park. read more