Pub Walks with Chris Morris
Prestbury to Macclesfield

PLEASE REMEMBER: Details accurate at time of writing

The handsome Cheshire village of Prestbury features a number of picturesque buildings in a charming setting, including an excellent traditional pub. It also marks the start of a number of great nature walks. This one features a mixture of wildflower meadows, peaceful woodland and tranquil riverbanks. The route finishes in Macclesfield where we take in two of the town’s finest cask ale pubs.

Train Information

There is an hourly service from Manchester Piccadilly to Prestbury, Monday to Saturday. The Sunday service is reduced to every three hours. Services also stop at Stockport, Cheadle Hulme, Bramhall, Poynton and Adlington. The return journey from Macclesfield is much better if you are going to Stockport or Piccadilly, with up to three additional trains per hour. The ticket to purchase is a return to Macclesfield. Timetables are available at nationalrail.co.uk.

The Walk

This is an easy three-mile walk that is mostly flat. The paths at the start and end are good but, in the middle, the open grassland can get muddy after wet weather, so walking boots are recommended. The OS Explorer map is 268 – Wilmslow, Macclesfield & Congleton (OS app also available). All pubs are dog-friendly.

After exiting Prestbury station, turn left and walk along the pavement for 500 yards until you reach Prestbury village. Over the road, our first pub of the day is waiting for us.

Ye Olde Admiral Rodney - Prestbury The 17th century coaching inn, Ye Olde Admiral Rodney, is perfect for a pre-walk drink or meal. The pub has thankfully avoided a gastro refurbishment, and a traditional pub interior can be found, including low ceilings, panelled walls, bench seating and real fires. Some nautical memorabilia also features, which links in with the famous 18th century naval officer that the pub is named after. Owned by Robinsons, Unicorn, Dizzy Blonde and Cumbria Way were the cask beers available on my last visit.

On exiting the pub at the front, turn right and cross back over the road. After 40 yards, take a left along Bridge Green for 300 yards until the end of the road, then through a kissing gate where our nature trail starts.

Our route is now straight ahead for the next two miles along the well-trodden path. Ignore all routes to the left or right making sure that the railway embankment stays on your left and the river Bollin stays on your right. After two miles, the path bends to the right and then left before passing under the railway line. On the other side is the car park for Riverside Park where public toilets are available.

Waters Green Tavern - Macclesfield Walk out of the car park to a main road. Cross over at the toucan lights, turn right and after 100 yards turn left to walk down Summerlea Close. After passing houses, continue straight ahead along the path and under the large road bridge. Follow the path around to the right with the river now on your left. As we enter the urban area, we meet the exit road of Tesco. Cross over the zebra crossing and continue straight on with the road on your left. At the junction, cross over at the toucan crossing, turning briefly left and then immediately right to continue along the Middlewood Way, following the green signpost to the Town Centre. Hugging the brick wall, we turn left, keeping the river on our left as before. Walk under the road bridge, then the railway bridge and continuing straight ahead for a further 150 yards brings us to Macclesfield Town Centre and its beery delights.

The Castle - Macclesfield The Waters Green Tavern is a legendary no-frills local that has been championing cask beers for the last 40 years. A traditional interior awaits, with bench seating and a pool room at the back. Numerous awards have been won over the years, with the pub specialising in pale ales. These were from Acorn, Bradfield, Newby Wyke and Oakham on last inspection. The pub is cash only.

Turning left out of the pub and up the cobbled street, Back Wallgate, we now arrive at Macclesfield’s hidden gem. The Castle has a three star rating by CAMRA Pub Heritage – “a pub interior of exceptional national historic importance”. After six years of closure, the pub has been fully restored, reopening in 2021 and hasn’t looked back since. A joint winner in the recent Historic England Conservation Award, the impressive interior features subtle lighting, low ceilings, wood panelling, bench seating and open fires. It’s now appreciated by all ages and is a must-visit. Excellent cask beers are on offer, with the pub now listed in the Good Beer Guide and awarded local Pub of the Year. The cask beers on my last visit were from Black Lodge, Tatton and Blackjack.

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