Every September, Bollington’s scenic hills come alive with the footsteps of locals and visitors alike during the annual Bollington Walking Festival. Among its many highlights, the Mayor’s Boundary Walk stands out—not just for its 8.5-mile challenge, but for the centuries-old tradition it revives: Beating the Bounds.
The practice of beating the bounds dates back over a thousand years, when communities would walk the perimeter of their parish to pass down knowledge of its boundaries. Young boys were sometimes bumped against boundary stones or tossed into brambles to ensure they remembered the route! Though modern maps have made such rituals obsolete, towns like Bollington proudly uphold the tradition as a celebration of community and continuity.
This year’s walk with Bollington Town Mayor, Councillor Jon Weston, set off from Bollington Town Hall, the group followed a route that wound through canal towpaths, fields, and ridges—including the iconic White Nancy—offering panoramic views of the Cheshire Plain. (Photo)
Organised by the Bridgend Centre and Walkers are Welcome, the event was part of the town’s 15th Walking Festival, which featured dozens of guided walks celebrating Bollington’s natural beauty and rich history.
The weather held beautifully for much of the morning, with walkers enjoying gentle breezes and clear skies. But as the group approached The Windmill at Whiteley Green to stop for lunch, the heavens opened in dramatic fashion. A number of hardy souls pressed on, completing the full circuit; others took the opportunity to head for home!
