This is a B+ ride and is fairly hilly, a good bit shorter to allow for limited daylight hours but with some lumps in Little Switzerland to make up (but not the worst!!)
Ride starts at Hooton station and the outbound route is via Riveacre, Rossmore, Oil Sites Rd, Dunham on the Hill, Manley then avoiding Yeld Lane into Kelsall and up to the Sandstone Trail ridge above Kelsall before dropping into Utkinton and lunch at Roses Tea Room. 21 miles and 1000 feet according to Garmin (34km and 303m)
https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/7879869338
Return is via Duddon, Waverton, Stoak, A5117 and Capenhurst.
22 miles and 230 feet (35km 70m)
https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/7777563640
Bail options:- On the return route it would be possible to leave the ride at the Greenway to make your own way to Bache to save about 8 miles, carrying on to Capenhurst is only 4 more miles and needs no navigation ability. Capenhurst might be a good choice of finish as it has 4 trains an hour, 2 fewer than Hooton but does have flat access.
43 miles, Grade B
Created by Neil Ross-Jones