Pub Walks with Chris Morris
Stockport to East Didsbury

PLEASE REMEMBER: Details accurate at time of writing

Winter is a great time for a walk, and even better with the added comforts of a welcoming pub, with great cask beer. Adapted from my friend Pete Turner’s idea, this walk is along the banks of the River Mersey and its corridor of nature - starting in a pub, finishing in a pub, with another in the middle. The paths are excellent and straightforward - ideal when the weather isn’t kind.

Bus and Train Information

As this walk starts at Stockport and finishes at East Didsbury, getting there and back couldn’t be easier as both are public transport hubs with numerous bus and train services throughout the day. For timetable information, visit tfgm.com.

The Walk

This is a straightforward walk, just under four miles and mostly flat, except for a slight climb in the middle. The paths are good and you shouldn’t encounter any mud. The OS Explorer map is 277 Manchester & Salford (OS app also available).

Crown Inn, Stockport

Located on Heaton Lane, next to the famous viaduct, the Crown is conveniently close to Stockport bus station and just a short walk down the hill from Stockport train station. Crown - Stockport A recent refurbishment has meant a smartening up of the traditional décor, a welcome reupholstering of the glorious bench seating and a brightening up of the interior. With reasonably priced food, and up to twelve cask beers available, it gives us the perfect preparation for our walk. When I last visited, the cask beers were from Fuller’s, Ossett, Pictish, Greene King, and Brimstage breweries.

After exiting the pub to the right, cross over to the opposite side of Heaton Lane with Kwik Fit on your left. After a few steps along King Street West, cross over at the pedestrian lights and walk down the steps opposite signed ‘Trans Pennine Trail’ and ‘Didsbury 62’ which follow the River Mersey. Continue straight along this path for 600 yards, keeping the river on your left at all times. When the famous Stockport pyramid appears on your right, continue along the same Trans Pennine Trail, again keeping the river on your left, for just over a mile. The trail then forks on the edge of a business park, with two benches next to an information board for Heaton Mersey Bleach Works. The path to the left will continue along the Trans Pennine Trail (62) and the path to the right gives us the option of walking to the Crown at Heaton Mersey.

For this detour, enter the business park to the right and walk along the straight pavement on Vale Road with the business units on your left, crossing over when the pavement ends. When the road bends to the left, cross the road again and continue straight ahead, through a metal gate and up the cobbled hill, past some delightfully picturesque terraced houses, to the pub at the top.

The Crown, Heaton Mersey

Crown - Heaton Mersey With some parts of the Crown dating back to the 17th century, this traditional Robinsons pub is full of charm, and has the feel of a cosy country village local - far away from the hustle and bustle of urban living. A characterful interior awaits, with low-level lighting, an eclectic mix of furniture and low ceilings completing the rustic feel. A beer garden is located to the side for the warmer months of the year. When I last visited, the cask beers available were Robinsons Cumbria Way, Unicorn, Dizzy Blonde and Trooper.

Returning to our walk, we retrace our steps down the hill and back to the information board. We now take the path to the right, through the metal gate and continue along the main path, keeping the river on our left at all times. After a mile we reach Cheadle Bridge, spanning the river with three arches. After climbing the steps to the main road, we turn right and walk along the pavement for 300 yards until we reach the Gateway on the left.

The Gateway, East Didsbury

Gateway Winner of numerous local CAMRA awards and regularly featuring in the Good Beer Guide, this Wetherspoon’s pub has excelled since it was purchased from Hydes Brewery in 2011. Tastefully decorated inside, with wood panelling throughout, this large inter-war roadhouse has a real pub feel as well as being good value. Up to eight cask beers are available. On my last visit these were from Titanic, Ossett, Bank Top, Greene King, Peerless and Saltaire breweries, as well as the house beer - Gateway to Heaven from Brightside.

On exiting the pub, the main bus stops are 100 yards away, outside the entertainment centre. East Didsbury tram stop is a little further ahead, and East Didsbury train station is to the left.

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