The Middlewood Way is a 10-mile (16 km)[1] shared-use path in north-west England, between Macclesfield and Rose Hill, Marple; it was opened on 30 May 1985 by Dr David Bellamy.

[3] The railway played a significant role in transporting goods, particularly cotton and coal, and provided passenger services connecting Macclesfield to Marple.

Initially, there were five stations on the line: Marple (Rose Hill), High Lane, Higher Poynton, Bollington and Macclesfield.

[4] On 5 January 1970, the section between Rose Hill Marple and Macclesfield closed to all traffic, as part of the Beeching cuts which targeted underused railways across the UK and the track was lifted in early 1971.

[3] Recognising the potential for recreational use, Cheshire County Council converted the disused railway line into the Middlewood Way in 1985, creating a green corridor that preserved the area's natural and industrial heritage.