Rainow is a village and civil parish located in Cheshire, England, positioned on the western edge of the Peak District National Park. This geographical setting provides a diverse landscape, transitioning from the rugged moorlands and hills of the Peak District to the flatter Cheshire Plain. The area features varied terrain, including rolling hills, valleys, and elevated points like Shining Tor, making it suitable for several sports like hiking, mountain biking, jogging, road cycling, and more.
131
Routes
4.6
(543)
Average rating
3974
People visited

4.8
(246)
1,118
hikers
9.44km
02:45
250m
250m
Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.7
(23)
250
hikers
Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.9
(18)
125
hikers
Hard hike. Very good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.8
(13)
121
hikers
6.71km
01:54
150m
150m
Easy hike. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.
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4.6
(11)
41
riders
27.3km
02:03
420m
420m
Moderate mountain bike ride. Good fitness required. Advanced riding skills necessary.

4.0
(2)
6
riders
9.21km
00:51
240m
240m
Easy mountain bike ride. Great for any fitness level. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.4
(34)
201
riders
24.2km
02:05
610m
610m
Moderate mountain bike ride. Good fitness required. Advanced riding skills necessary.

4.5
(22)
213
riders
16.3km
01:39
480m
480m
Moderate mountain bike ride. Good fitness required. Advanced riding skills necessary.
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5.0
(3)
121
runners
9.23km
01:05
240m
240m
Moderate run. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

102
runners
6.44km
00:47
170m
170m
Moderate run. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

3.0
(1)
19
runners
Moderate run. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

15
runners
Hard run. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
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4.0
(1)
49
riders
39.0km
02:15
800m
800m
Moderate road ride. Good fitness required. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.

40
riders
37.9km
02:28
1,120m
1,120m
Hard road ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.

45
riders
28.7km
01:38
450m
450m
Moderate road ride. Good fitness required. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.

4.0
(1)
32
riders
27.3km
01:36
540m
540m
Moderate road ride. Good fitness required. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.
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5.0
(2)
37
riders
20.0km
01:36
560m
560m
Hard bike ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.4
(7)
33
riders
14.7km
00:57
130m
130m
Easy bike ride. Great for any fitness level. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

5.0
(1)
19
riders
14.1km
01:02
310m
310m
Moderate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

5.0
(1)
18
riders
35.3km
02:43
880m
880m
Hard bike ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
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4.0
(7)
58
riders
37.7km
02:05
200m
200m
Moderate gravel ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.5
(2)
18
riders
20.9km
01:26
340m
340m
Moderate gravel ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

13
riders
50.4km
02:54
530m
530m
Hard gravel ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.0
(1)
17
riders
56.0km
03:25
810m
810m
Hard gravel ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
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Rainow offers a variety of outdoor activities including Hiking, Mountain biking, Jogging, Road cycling, Gravel biking, and Touring cycling. The region provides more than 100 routes across these sports, catering to different skill levels.
Popular hiking routes in Rainow include the Shining Tor, Cats Tor & Foxlow Edge loop, and the Goyt Valley Riverside Path – Shining Tor trig point loop. The area is also near the challenging 35-mile Gritstone Trail. Further details are available in the Hiking around Rainow guide.
Rainow offers routes suitable for various skill levels, including easier options. Hikers can find less challenging paths alongside more strenuous climbs. For specific easy routes, consult the Easy hikes around Rainow guide.
Rainow features several notable natural landmarks. Shining Tor, Cheshire's highest point, offers panoramic views. Other features include Kerridge Ridge, Lamaload Reservoir, and Windgather Rocks, which are popular with climbers.
The area around Rainow provides diverse terrain for mountain biking. Routes like the Lyme Park loop offer scenic views, and the Forest Bridleway Trail in Macclesfield Forest provides elevation gain. More options are detailed in the MTB Trails around Rainow guide.
Rainow and its surroundings are well-suited for road cycling, featuring well-paved surfaces and challenging climbs. An example is the "You will love this lane – Axe Edge Viewpoint loop from Rainow," a moderate 24.7-mile (39.8 km) ride. The Road Cycling Routes around Rainow guide provides more information.
Rainow is a popular destination on komoot, with more than 42,000 visitors having shared their experiences. Routes in the area have an average rating of 4.56 out of 5 stars, indicating high user satisfaction.
Komoot offers several guides for Rainow, including Hiking around Rainow, MTB Trails around Rainow, and Road Cycling Routes around Rainow. There are also guides for Easy hikes, Running Trails, Gravel biking, and general Cycling.
Shining Tor is the highest point in the Rainow area and in Cheshire. It offers spectacular panoramic views across the Peak District National Park.
Rainow is a village in Cheshire, England, situated on the western edge of the Peak District National Park. Its geographical position offers a diverse landscape, transitioning from rugged moorlands to the Cheshire Plain.
The official website for Rainow Parish Council is rainow.com. This site provides local information about the village.
Joggers can find several scenic routes around Rainow. Popular choices include the Shining Tor and Cat's Tor Circular, a moderate 5.7-mile (9.2 km) trail, and the Kerridge Hill Trig Point – White Nancy loop. More options are in the Running Trails around Rainow guide.

