Walk To The Pub - Bramhall to Cheadle Hulme
Pub Walks with Chris Morris
Bramhall to Cheadle Hulme
PLEASE REMEMBER: Details accurate at time of writing
Winter is a great time for a pub walk. The weather might be cold but wrapping up warm, going for a brisk nature stroll and finishing with a quality pint is guaranteed to lift the winter gloom.
This walk is fairly easy and takes in some lovely woodlands, open fields and visits the 14th century manor house, Bramall Hall. The walk starts from Bramhall Station and finishes at Cheadle Hulme Station.
Train Information
To reach the start of the walk, there is an hourly train service from Manchester to Bramhall on Mondays through to Saturdays. A much-reduced service currently operates on Sundays, although this will hopefully improve in the future. At the end of the walk, trains depart from Cheadle Hulme at least every half-hour, with more in peak times on Monday through to Saturday. There is an hourly service on Sundays. If travelling from Stockport, you will need to purchase a return ticket to Bramhall. For full timetable information, visit nationalrail.co.uk.
The Walk
This three-mile walk is undemanding and there are no hills to climb. The paths are mainly good but there is one section that can get very muddy after wet weather so walking boots are recommended. The OS Explorer map is 268 Wilmslow, Macclesfield & Congleton.
After exiting Bramhall station onto the main road, cross over at the pelican crossing. On the other side, immediately join the path next to a thatched Tudor house. Carry straight on along this path, through the woods, until it reaches another main road. Turn right here and then right again along Hillbrook Road. At the end of the road, walk under the railway arch and left along the next road until you reach a roundabout. Our route now is anticlockwise around the roundabout, along the pavement, and then right after the end of a wall. We are now entering Carr Wood Park. After passing through the kissing gates, continue straight along the main wide path for half a mile, keeping the fence on your left until you reach a main road. Cross over here and carry along the same path signposted for Bramhall Park. At a car park, take the road on the left and continue straight ahead until you reach Bramall Hall. Toilets are available in the café opposite.
From facing the main entrance of Bramall Hall, we now walk in the opposite direction, past the sundial and right, which takes us down steps and towards some ponds. At the bottom of the steps, carry straight ahead on the path between two ponds. Before you reach a bridge, turn left and continue straight along this path until you climb some steps up to a main road. Cross over here and re-join the path on the other side, go down more steps, then walk next to the river. Take care on this stretch as it can get very muddy after wet weather. We take the left fork in the path to leave the river’s edge, cross a footbridge before eventually re-joining the river again. Ignore the bridge to the right and continue ahead through a gap in the fence, up a short incline, past a little brick building on the right and straight ahead towards open fields accessed through another gap in the fence. Walk through two fields keeping the river on your right, passing under the railway viaduct and then left at the main road. Walk along the pavement for 100 yards before joining a path to the left, down some steps, signposted to Cheadle Hulme Railway Station. Continue straight along this path for a half mile until you reach the railway station.
Cheadle Hulme
With your walk over, it’s time to rest your legs with a rewarding pint. Conveniently located opposite Cheadle Hulme Station on Mellor Road, the Chiverton Tap is a double-fronted former shop that was turned into a micropub in 2015. It’s been regularly winning awards since then for its beer quality, and features in the Good Beer Guide. Real ale takes centre stage, with up to six cask beers available. On my last visit, these were Long Hop and Best from Bollington Brewery, Front Man II from Made of Stone, Peekaboo from Salopian, Jaipur from Thornbridge and Simcoe Strata from RedWillow. Several local beers are also on keg and a good selection of ciders feature as well. The relaxed and homely feel might delay that train journey back home! Opening hours are noon to 11pm Monday to Saturday, noon to 9pm on Sunday.
If further refreshment is required, Archive Bar & Bottle is also in the Good Beer Guide and is just a few yards back along Mellor Road. Up to four casks are available, which were from Wilde Child Brewery and Fyne Ales when I last visited. Up to 14 keg lines also feature.