White Nancy Walk in Bollington
- Jennifer Kozyra
- Jan 27, 2024
- 5 min read
Updated: Sep 2
Perched above the town of Bollington, the White Nancy monument marks the start of a walk that blends breathtaking ridge-top views with hidden countryside treasures. From there, the route follows the dramatic Keridge Ridge to its trig point, before winding down towards the tucked-away Waulkmill Waterfall. Along the way, you’ll take in sweeping panoramas across the Cheshire Plain, enjoy a mix of open ridges and woodland paths, and pass sheep grazing on the land. It’s a circular walk we never tire of, with something new to enjoy in every season, and one we think deserves a spot on any walker’s list.
Top Info
🚗Park on Jackson Lane near The Bulls Head Pub or in Jackson Lane Car Park which is free public car park using the postcode SK10 5BE . There are other car parks in Bollington which are a bit of a further walk away but great if you are planning to head to a cafe in the centre after your walk. Pool Bank Car Park is a large free car park in the centre.
⛰️Steep incline up to White Nancy
🪨There are lots of rocky steps
☀️Amazing views
👶Not suitable for Pushchairs/scooters
⛰️Spot White Nancy monument, a Trig Point and Beautiful Waterfall
🥾Wear Suitable Shoes
🐕Dog friendly
🥾5.3km circular route
What the Walk is Like?
The White Nancy Circular Walk is about 5.3km if you choose to do the longest loop and takes 1.5 - 2 hours to complete. It is a fairly easy trail overall but there are a few steep sections along the route that could limit mobility for some walkers and when the weather has been wet the paths can get muddy and slippery especially on the steep, grassy parts. The steep northern slope of Kerridge Hill has been made easier to ascend as it has a series of steps up the hillside; however, these will get your heart racing and definitely give you a workout. This walk is a definitely not for pushchairs or scooters.
Interesting Facts about White Nancy
White Nancy is a memorial site on top of Kerridge Hill that was built in 1817 by the Gaskell family of nearby Ingersley Hall to commemorate the Battle of Waterloo (1815). The structure is a 22-foot-high, sugarloaf-shaped stone folly, originally built as a summer house. Inside, there was once seating and a round stone table where the Gaskell family could sit and enjoy the views. The interior has long since been sealed off.
Today, White Nancy is a Grade II listed building, recognised for her cultural and historical importance.
🚗Parking
Park on Jackson Lane near The Bulls Head Pub or in Jackson Lane Car Park which is free public car park postcode SK10 5BE. There are other car parks in Bollington which are a bit of a further walk away but great if you re planning to head to cafe in the centre after your walk. Pool Bank Car Park is a large free car park in the centre.
The Route
From Jackson Lane, head past the Bulls Head Pub and turn left onto Redway Lane. After a row of houses you will see a gap between two building and a black sign post saying White Nancy. Head up here, the road becomes a walking path heading upwards. Keep on this path until you come to the foot of the Kerridge Steps on your right that will lead you up the hillside.
As you head up these steps, the views behind you are of the town of Bollington. These steps are solid and secure but do give you a bit of a work out, however this is the only tough part of the walk so once your at the top you will feel relieved and welcomed by the view of the White Nancy structure.
At the top, its a nice place to stop and have a picnic. There are not any benches but a few perfectly placed rocks are just right to sit on. On one of our walks up to White Nancy it was being painted, it was quite a scene with it now a bright white structure with men balancing on ladders lent up against it.
Our girls liked how White Nancy was sat upon a giant compass showing which direction was which and after a few photos we set off again to carry on along the circular trail. Walking past White Nancy and heading south you walk along the ridge.
There are a couple of places where you can take a left turning to make the circular route shorter. But If you want to find the Trig point walk further along Kerridge Ridge for at least 1 km till you come to a gap in the stone wall and a kissing gate on your left. Head up the grassy slope to the top of the hill and walk straight till you find the stone Trig point.
If you want to make your walk slightly longer you can walk along the rest of the ridge. When you get the the end the path takes a sharp turn left and you then find your self walking back parallel to the ridge but at a lower level which is mainly through fields, You can see a trodden down path to follow or get google maps up, you want to be walking toward Waulkmill Waterfall.
As you walk through the field, you will come to a gate and sign saying "Welcome to Waulkmill woods". Keep going straight and take a pleasant walk through these woods. On our visit the path was lined with bluebells which made it look very pretty. As you walk along you will start to see and hear the river running along the path on your right.
Soon you will find the gorgeous waterfall and cottages at Waulkmill Waterfall. This is such a lovely setting to stop and take in your natural surrounding. At the cottages, head left and your now back on the road which will take you back into the centre of Bollington and back to where you have parked.
Where to get a Drink or Snack
After our walk we drove just a few minutes up the road to find a cafe. We visited Cafe Waterside which is inside Clarence Mill, Clarence Road, Bollington. It is a lovely cosy cafe which is right next to Macclesfield Canal. It has inside and outside seating with a good looking menu. We just had a drink and cake as we had already had a picnic on our walk.
Visit Jan, May and June 2023 & Sept 2025
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