Knutsford Mayor enjoys spectacular Peak Challenge views

Cllr Andrew Malloy, the town mayor, and his wife Nicole, the mayoress, were joined on the Three Peak Challenge by Greg Sawyer from Tatton Brewery, Simon Eskinazi and Andy Coatsworth and his partner Lynne Savage.

The 20-mile walk raised money towards a starter fund for a new skate park in Knutsford and to support local youth sports and leisure groups.

The challenge was very close to the Mayor’s heart, as his father, who was an avid hiker, died in a fall in Snowdonia in 2005.

The walkers at Shining Tor

The walkers enjoyed fine weather following Saturday’s heavy rain, and the challenge has raised more than £800 so far via an online donations page.

The challenge took in Tegg’s Nose, Shutlingsloe and Shining Tor, the latter two at 506 and 559 metres, between Macclesfield and Buxton, involved 790 metres of ascent and descent and took almost 10 hours to complete.

“The weather was perfect, and the views were stunning,” said Cllr Malloy.

“All the way along the route we were looking around thinking - this is absolutely amazing.

“We were helped by the weather, which was a lot better than we were expecting considering the forecast, and you could see for miles.

“We kept seeing Jodrell Bank, and when we were on Shining Tor we could see as far as Liverpool Cathedral and the Fiddlers Ferry power station.”

The walkers set off at 8am from Hollin House Hotel in Bollington, and their first stop was White Nancy, a structure on a hill above the village built in 1817 to commemorate victory at the Battle of Waterloo.

“We then walked along the Kerridge Hills to Teggs Nose and did the main peak and the southern one,” Cllr Malloy added.

The walkers take in the view from Shutlingsloe

“We arrived at Shutlingsloe at midday, and stopped for lunch shortly after by a lovely little brook.

“With Shutlingsloe to the right, the blue sky came out and the sun shone, and with the brook running past it was lovely.”

The group then headed for the famous Cat and Fiddle pub and a brief refreshment stop before continuing to Shining Tor. They then set off on the three-hour walk back to Bollington.

“I used to do loads of walking with my dad, and intermittently still do some,” said Cllr Malloy.

“However I have never done that distance. It was a really hard slog of a walk, but it was very enjoyable and we wanted to raise money for the causes.

“A huge thank you to everyone who donated on the justgiving page; it kept us going knowing that people were supporting us.”

If you would like to donate visit justgiving.com/crowdfunding/andrew-malloy