Pub Walks with Chris Morris
Stockport Pub Round Part 4 - Bramhall to Cheadle

PLEASE REMEMBER: Details accurate at time of writing

The Stockport Pub Round is a series of linked pub walks, along traffic-free nature trails, visiting fine pubs in the process. Continuing from where we finished stage four (High Lane and Middlewood to Bramhall), stage five features a number of peaceful woodlands and attractive riverbanks. A good pub features at the start, midway and at the end. As with all these walks, they are easily accessible by public transport.

Public Transport Information

Stage five starts at Bramhall railway station, with train services every hour. Buses stop close by, too, for the 378, 378A and 379. The walk finishes in Cheadle, with bus stops for 11, 42B, 42C, 312, 370 and 371 services (Cheadle’s railway station is due to reopen at the end of 2025). A couple of bus stops can be found midway if you wanted to cut the walk short.

The Walk

Part five is four miles long and mostly flat, so not challenging. However, some sections may be muddy after wet weather. All pubs welcome dogs.

Duttons - Bramhall From outside Bramhall station, cross over the main road at the pedestrian lights, walking left on the other side, then immediately right. This is signposted Bramhall Lane South and passes an attractive thatched cottage. Entering woodland and crossing a footbridge over a stream, carry on straight ahead along the tarmacked path until you reach the main road. The trail route is right here, but for those wanting an early pub stop, for food or drink, turn left instead and, after 300 yards along Ack Lane East, you will find Duttons, which is part of the JW Lees estate.

Recently refurbished to a high standard, including a name change from the previous Victoria, Duttons now has a smart and sophisticated interior with art deco undertones. A good mixture of seating arrangements can be found, including outside seating at the front, side and rear. Food is popular and is available from 11am until late all week. The cask beers on handpump were Lees Bitter and MPA when I last visited.

Continuing our walk, we now retrace our steps back along the main road to our previous position. Carry on further along Ack Lane East for a few yards and turn right along Hillbrook Road. Walk under the railway bridge and left along the road. Walk anticlockwise around the roundabout and before the railway bridge turn right after a wall to enter a woodland. After passing through a kissing gate, carry straight ahead on the main path as it passes through Carr Wood for half a mile until we reach a main road. Carry straight across at the pedestrian lights to the path opposite, which passes through more woodland and then a car park.

Turn left here and go straight on at the crossroads which leads to a café, toilets and the spectacular frontage of the 14th century Bramall Hall – a look around is recommended. When looking at the main door of the hall, our route is behind us, past the sundial and right before the ditch and then down the steps. Carry on straight ahead at the bottom, passing between two attractive lakes. Ignoring the bridge ahead, turn left with the lake on our left, continue straight ahead until you climb up steps to a main road. Cross over here and rejoin the path on the other side, down more steps and next to the brook on our right. 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 brook’s edge, cross a little footbridge before eventually rejoining the riverbank. Ignore the bridge to the right and continue ahead through a gap in the fence, past a little brick building on our left and straight ahead towards open fields accessed through another gap in the fence. Walk through two fields keeping the brook on your right and passing under the railway viaduct. At the main road beyond, turn right and cross over at the pedestrian lights, then left at the next road, signposted to our mid-walk pub, the March Hare, which is found at the end of the road. Bus stops for the 368 and 313 are close by.

March Hare - Cheadle Hulme Although built in the 1980s, the March Hare has been skilfully furnished to give the look and feel of a cosy country pub. Low ceilings, exposed timbers and subtle lighting add to the relaxed environment, with a peaceful beer garden popular in summer. Although the main focus is food, drinkers are not forgotten, with Wainwright and Doom Bar available on cask when I last dropped by.

Heading back through the car park, take a left after the large car park gate, walk through a gap in the fence, then left to rejoin our trail along more woodland. Continue straight ahead along this path for one mile. When approaching a housing estate, take a left to continue through woodland. The path then reaches a main road. Cross straight over here to the lane opposite. After 150 yards take a left, passing through bollards and a lane passing between houses. Cross over the brick block street and then turn right along a track with garden fences on our right. Take a left at the fork which eventually rejoins the riverbank. Take a left up five wooden steps, right, then down five more and left to continue with the river on our right.

After 100 yards take the right fork and then through a gap stile. Our route here has been temporarily altered around a new construction. Walk straight ahead between the fence and riverbank. At the corner of the fence turn left over the grass and then right to join a tarmacked path that becomes a kerbed road. Continue straight ahead until you reach a main road. Turn right here and cross over at the second pedestrian lights, right on the other side then immediately left along a gravel path with the river now on our left. After 150 yards turn left and walk straight ahead for a further 100 yards. Now left at the fork, across a stone footbridge and right to rejoin the riverbank, with the water now on our right. After 100 yards turn left, away from the brook. Following this path leads us past a wooden gate and along a residential road. Turn right to join a street and then right at the main road which takes us into the centre of Cheadle, where a choice of pubs is available.

Crown - Cheadle James Watts - Cheadle The Crown is a popular wet-led pub with a warm welcome that attracts all ages. The traditional interior features attractive tiling, wood panelling and old photos of Cheadle which adorn the walls. Sports are shown on a number of screens. When I last called in, the reasonably priced Hydes cask beers were Original, Lowry and Happy Campers – part of the brewery’s seasonal range celebrating classic TV programmes.

Hydes beers also feature at the James Watts, but inside, the interior is very different. Stylish and contemporary furnishings feature throughout, with a mixture of seating arrangements to suit all tastes. Outside seating is found at the rear. On last inspection, the cask beers were Original, Hopster and the seasonal Survey Says.

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

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