Pub Walks with Chris Morris
Marple Circular

PLEASE REMEMBER: Details accurate at time of writing

Marple is the perfect location for a pub walk. As well as being served by excellent public transport, its location on the edge of some delightful countryside means you don’t have to walk too far before you get that hit of nature and scenic views. A range of great pubs in the area means that your efforts will be generously rewarded with some refreshing cask beers.

Train and Bus Information

The walk starts at Marple railway station, which is as easily accessible by bus as it is by train. Train services are half-hourly from Manchester Piccadilly, Monday to Saturday, and hourly on Sunday. For buses, the 383 and 384 stop every 20 minutes during the day and hourly in the evening. The 385 and 394 are hourly. Train timetables are available at nationalrail.co.uk. Bus timetables are available at tfgm.com.

The Walk

This is a moderate four-mile walk with a number of climbs. The Peak Forest Canal path is excellent but there are some paths that can be uneven and muddy after wet weather, so walking boots are recommended. The walk can be followed in either OS Explorer Map 268 or OL1 (OS app also available). All pubs are dog-friendly.

Strines Nightingale From the main road outside Marple station, walk up the hill on the left side pavement for 300 yards and turn left to join the canal towpath. Keeping the water on your left, we now pass the flight of Marple Locks for 600 yards. When we reach bridge 18, ignore the steps up to Marple high street and walk through the horse tunnel to re-join the canal. After lock 16 we reach the point where the canal forks, with the Macclesfield Canal joining from the right. To continue along the Peak Forest Canal, walk over the road bridge and bear left, to rejoin the canal with the water on your left as before.

After 500 yards turn left to cross the canal at bridge 19 and take another left to spiral down to the canal towpath, which is now on the other side. Carry on along the canal for one mile, keeping the water on your right at all times. Our route is now through a stone pinch stile on the left, with two signposts to help us. One is directing us to ‘Mellor, Werneth Low and Gee Cross’, with the other for the Strines Nightingale, which is our first pub of the day. Walk along the straight grassed path, climb over the stile, bear left and enter a field. Keep to the right edge of the field, following the footpath sign. Ignore the path straight ahead and exit the field to the right via a narrow path which passes between two houses. We now meet a main road with our first pub opposite.

Royal Scot Previously known as the Sportsman, and closed for a number of years, the pub thankfully reopened in 2022 as the Strines Nightingale. A tasteful refurbishment now gives us an attractive, welcoming space. The bar stocks up to four cask beers from local breweries, such as RedWillow, Pictish and Blackjack. A pleasant outdoor terraced area to the side offers scenic views. The pub is open from 4pm on Thursday and Friday, 1pm at weekends. The 358 bus stops outside if you want to cut your walk short.

To carry on our walk, turn right out of the pub and walk along the main road pavement for 300 yards. At a sign for ‘Lum House & Lum Barn’, turn right and walk down the track to the River Goyt. Walk over the charming 18th century Roman Bridge, climb the large steps on the other side and then take a left. Carry on along this wide track for a half mile as it passes the octagonal Floodgates Cottage and under the Goytcliffe Viaduct, before passing by the Roman Lakes on the right. Take a left at the T-junction, signposted to ‘Site of Mellor Mill & Lodge’. After 300 yards, turn right at the next junction (Bottoms Mills Road). Before walking along this track, the remains of Mellor Mill are on the right and worth exploring. After a half mile, we now reach Marple Bridge and two recommended pubs.

Norfolk Arms Robinsons’ Royal Scot is reached first, offering a comfortable and handsome interior. Low-level lighting, wooden floors and an open log fire give a cosy welcome for aching limbs. Unicorn and Dizzy Blonde were the cask beers available on my last visit.

The Norfolk Arms is popular with all ages and it’s easy to see why. The rustic farmhouse interior, with bespoke furniture, a touch of quirkiness and an open log fire, gives an appealing charm. The quality offering continues with the food and drink. As well as a number of craft keg, up to five cask beers are available. These were from Purple Moose, Salopian, Moorhouse’s and Little Critters when I last dropped by.

For full pub details, including opening times, visit whatpub.com.

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