Walk To The Pub - Styal Circular
Pub Walks with Chris Morris
Styal Circular
PLEASE REMEMBER: Details accurate at time of writing - November 2019
The Ship, Styal
At the end of a brisk walk in the cold winter months, you can’t beat the comfort of a traditional village pub, and a roaring fire to warm your heart as well as your toes!
The Ship fits this requirement, beaing a picturesque 17th century inn which offers a welcome refuge from the elements with a real fire, a great range of cask beers, excellent home-made food and friendly staff. With handsome, traditionally-styled rooms giving a cosy and relaxed feel, you might end up staying longer than you planned. The cask beers available when I last visited were from Weetwood, Dunham Massey, Mobberley Brewhouse, Timothy Taylor and Black Sheep. Walkers are encouraged to visit and the staff are able to recommend other suitable walks from the pub. However, they ask you to remove your boots if they are very muddy. Opening times are 11am to 11pm Monday to Saturday and 11am to 10.30pm on Sunday.
Train Information
This walk starts and finishes at Styal Station. If travelling from Stockport, purchase a return ticket to Styal, changing trains at Wilmslow. Trains run hourly every day. For full timetable information visit www.northernrailway.co.uk.
The Walk
This is a gentle three-mile walk with only occasional small climbs. The paths are well maintained by the National Trust and there shouldn’t be too much mud – ideal for the wet winter months.
Although the walk enters the National Trust-owned Quarry Bank Mill estate, there is no need to be a National Trust member to do this walk as the paths are open to the public. The estate gates open from 8am to 7pm but I would advise checking www.nationaltrust.org.uk/quarry-bank beforehand. The OS map is 268 (OS app is also available).
After getting off the train at Styal, exit the station up the hill to Station Road. Turn right and go along the pavement, crossing Styal Road over to the war memorial opposite and left along that pavement. Take the next right along Holts Lane signposted to Quarry Bank Mill, past a row of old cottages and through a gate. Continue along this track until you reach a junction.
Carry straight on past the Apprentice House (on your right) and then the modern National Trust Information Centre (on your left). Continue straight on down the hill along the widest road signposted to 'Mill' until you reach the footbridge that passes overhead. To the right is the Mill, one of the best-preserved textile mills of the Industrial Revolution and well worth a visit. Toilets and cafés are also located in this area.
The route continues straight ahead over some cobbles to the right of the bookshop and through a gate signposted 'Picnic Area'. Follow the main path for 600 yards passing through pleasant woodland until you reach Heron's Pool Bridge. Carry on along the main path for another 300 yards until you reach a fork. Take the path to the left, through a metal kissing gate and up the steps as the path bends 180 degrees to the left. Go through another metal kissing gate and along the path for 600 yards until you reach a wooden gate.
Continue ahead on the path that hugs the left side of the field. Go through the two gates, then left along a gravel track and down the stone steps which brings you back to the Mill and its facilities. Now retrace your steps up the road to the top of the hill back to just outside the National Trust Information Centre. From here take the path to the left signposted to Styal Village, passing the Apprentice House on the right and through a gate. On meeting a road, carry straight over following signs to Styal Village Hub. After exiting the next gate, your route is right past Styal Cross and along the cobbled road to Altrincham Road.
However, a good detour here would be to carry straight ahead and take the cobbled road in the opposite direction. This takes you to Styal Village with its chocolate box cottages and lovely gardens, transporting you back to the 19th century. After reaching Altrincham Road, turn right and continue along the pavement for 300 yards until you reach the Ship Inn on the opposite side.
To get back to Styal Station, turn left when exiting the pub and continue along Altrincham Road to the end. Turn right onto Styal Road, crossing over at the war memorial to Station Road with the station on the left.