SJ9769 : Shutlingsloe & Croker Hill from Whetstone Ridge
Steep summit slopes and stone steps

Shutlingsloe

506m Elevation
133m Prominence
England Country
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SJ9769 : Shutlingsloe & Croker Hill from Whetstone Ridge

Colin Park Photo source

Overview

Shutlingsloe is a 506 m gritstone hill near Wildboarclough and Macclesfield Forest in Cheshire’s Peak District. Its steep-sided profile is known locally as the Matterhorn of Cheshire. Paths lead to a rocky summit with a trig point nearby; the final approaches include steep slopes and stone steps.

Shutlingsloe

Shutlingsloe rises to 506 m beside Wildboarclough and Macclesfield Forest in the Cheshire Peak District. Its distinctive profile has earned it the nickname “Matterhorn of Cheshire”.

Summit and landscape

The highest point is a rock with a plaque, about 10 m north-northeast of the trig point and 20 cm above its base. Chatsworth Grit caps the summit, with Roaches Grit on the lower slopes. The outlook takes in the Cheshire Plain and the Peak District hills.

Walking routes

  • Clough House, Wildboarclough: a 4.8 km loop using the signed Langley approach, the summit, the north-side flagged descent and a grassy path back to the outward track. Peak District Walks gives 1–2 hours.
  • Trentabank: a 10 km circuit through Macclesfield Forest, over the summit, down to Wildboarclough and onward through Oaken Clough and Hanging Gate before returning to Trentabank. Visit Cheshire grades it Challenging and gives 3–4 hours.

Terrain and access

Expect steep final slopes, substantial stone steps, uneven paths and muddy ground. The summit is open to the weather. Forest works may cause local diversions; follow the signs and avoid closed work areas.

Trentabank has pay-and-display parking, toilets and a picnic area. Clough House is the start for the shorter loop. Buses from Macclesfield serve Langley, requiring an onward walk to the forest.

Name and cultural history

The name is usually interpreted as “Scyttel’s hill”. The hill appears as “Shuttlingslow” in Alan Garner’s The Weirdstone of Brisingamen, first published in 1960.

Explore routes near Shutlingsloe

Walks starting near this hill. Open a route to check its map, distance and full itinerary.

Three Shires guided hike

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Tittesworth Reservoir

7.6 km ~2h Moderate

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Rudyard Lake Circuit near Leek

7.2 km ~2h 30m Moderate

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Manifold Way: Hulme End to Waterhouses

13.4 km ~3h 45m Moderate

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Route planning notes

These notes describe possible approaches. Check a route's map and access information when planning your walk.

Shutlingsloe from Clough House, Wildboarclough

From Clough House car park, take the short road section to the signed Langley footpath. Follow the farm track and waymarked uphill path to Shutlingsloe. Descend north on the flagged steps, turn right onto the grassy path around the hill, then rejoin the outward track and return to Clough House. Peak District Walks gives 1–2 hours for this complete loop.

4.8 km Steep climb and stepped descent

Trentabank, Shutlingsloe and Oaken Clough circular

From Trentabank car park, climb through Macclesfield Forest and follow the paved path to Shutlingsloe. Descend steeply to Wildboarclough, pass the Crag Inn and continue on hillside paths to Oaken Clough. Climb through the clough, descend to the Hanging Gate, then return by lanes and forest paths to Trentabank. Visit Cheshire gives 3–4 hours for the full circuit.

10 km Challenging (Visit Cheshire)
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Hill facts and local notes

Classifications

Hump Dodd Dewey Ethel

Elevation

506m

1,660 ft

Prominence

133m

Coordinates

53.2233, -2.0367

SJ976695

OS Map

118

Explorer: OL24W

At the Summit

A rock with a plaque is the highest point. The Database of British and Irish Hills places it 10 m north-northeast of the trig point and 20 cm above the trig point base.

Terrain & Geology

Forest tracks paved moorland paths grassy and sometimes muddy paths steep rocky summit slopes tall stone steps

The summit is capped by Chatsworth Grit, a coarse sandstone in the Carboniferous succession. Roaches Grit forms much of the lower slopes. These resistant sandstone layers give Shutlingsloe its rocky profile.

Views & Scenery

Views across the Cheshire Plain to the west and the Peak District hills to the east.

History & Heritage

Name Origin

Usually interpreted as “Scyttel’s hill”, from an Old English personal name and hlaw, meaning hill.

Historical Significance

Shutlingsloe appears as “Shuttlingslow” in Alan Garner’s The Weirdstone of Brisingamen, first published in 1960.

Getting There & Facilities

Parking

Clough House car park, Wildboarclough (SJ 98722 69877; SK11 0BD), serves the shorter loop; the postcode alone is imprecise. Trentabank car park, Clarke Lane, Macclesfield Forest (SK11 0NS), is pay and display, with United Utilities listing hours of 06:00–00:00. Follow local parking notices and signed forestry diversions.

Public Transport

High Peak services 14/14A link Macclesfield with Langley, Monday to Saturday. An onward walk is needed from Langley to Macclesfield Forest. Check the current timetable and return service before setting out.

Nearby Facilities

Trentabank has public toilets and a picnic area. United Utilities lists toilet opening hours of 07:30–17:00. There are no facilities on the summit.

Safety Information

Known Hazards

  • Steep summit slopes and tall stone steps require care, especially on the descent.
  • Uneven paths and muddy moorland sections occur on the approaches.
  • The open summit is exposed to wind; mobile reception in Macclesfield Forest can be unreliable.
  • Forestry work can affect paths and parking. Follow signed diversions and keep out of closed work areas.
  • Some routes include country lanes, stiles and gates.

General Safety Tips

  • Check weather conditions before setting out
  • Carry appropriate clothing and equipment
  • Let someone know your planned route
  • Take a map, compass, and GPS device
  • Carry emergency supplies: food, water, first aid kit, torch

Hills

Some common questions about the hills answered

Are there group walks up Shutlingsloe?

Many walkers use Walkmates to join or organise walks with others. You can check for group walks around Shutlingsloe through the maps

Are there other walkers around Shutlingsloe?

Activity varies by location and time, but Walkmates lets you see whether others have shared walks or shown interest in this area. Find other people through the walking friends search walking friends for Shutlingsloe search or of course create your own walk for Shutlingsloe

Can I organise a walk to Shutlingsloe?

Yes. If there aren’t any walks listed already, you can create a walk and make it available for others to join.

If you're signed up to Walkmates, you can create a walk to Shutlingsloe.

How do I find a walk up this hill?

There are often multiple ways to walk this hill, depending on experience and route preference. Walkmates helps you explore walks and routes that others have shared.

Can I suggest a new route up Shutlingsloe?

Yes. You can suggest or create routes to share with others. Walkmates focuses on the social side of walking, so routes are used to help people organise walks and explore areas together, rather than as detailed navigation tools or route libraries.

Other uses really appreciate knowledgeable walkers sharing their routes. Share your favourite route to Shutlingsloe here

The is an error or something incorrect about this hill. How do I let you know?

We always strive to keep the information on Walkmates as accurate as possible. If you find an error, please let us know through the contact form and we'll aim to correct it as quickly as possible

Location

Shutlingsloe location map

Grid reference: SJ976695

View on OpenStreetMap

Opens a map in a new tab, centred on the hill.

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