Pub Walks with Chris Morris
Stockport Pub Round Part 6 - Cheadle to Stockport

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 five (Bramhall to Cheadle), stage six completes the circle and brings us back into Stockport, maximising the use of attractive nature trails through a delightful park and along the River Mersey. 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 six starts on the High Street of Cheadle. Buses 11, 42B, 42C, 312, 370 and 371 will all drop you there with their regular services. Cheadle’s railway station is due to open at the end of 2025. A couple of bus stops can be found midway if you wanted to cut the walk short. The walk finishes next to the Stockport Interchange, with a vast array of buses, or it’s a short walk up to Stockport railway station.

The Walk

Part six is four miles long, with the option of an additional half-mile walk for a midway pub stop. The terrain is mainly flat and the paths are either tarmacked or gravelled, so not challenging. All pubs welcome dogs.

White Hart - Cheadle Getting off the bus near to Cheadle’s White Hart Tavern is a useful reference point to start our walk. It’s also a good place for a pre-walk drink or meal, where an impressive traditional pub interior awaits. Bench seating, dark wood and subtle lighting blend together nicely to give a cosy and welcoming space. The cask beers available when I last dropped by were Greene King IPA and Old Golden Hen.

After exiting the pub’s main door, turn left to walk past the church and along the High Street’s pavement. After 300 yards cross over the road junction at the George and Dragon pub, to the Ockleston Memorial, then go left along Manchester Road. Passing the war memorial, we turn right and walk along the pavement of Newlands Road then under the railway bridge to Abney Hall Park beyond. After passing an attractive lake on our left, follow the tarmacked road past the café car park, through bollards where the road narrows. Ignoring two left turns, the path bears to the left, and after 50 yards turn left to follow a gravel path down to a delightful waterfall. Continuing along this path we pass Abney Hall then, ignoring the footbridge to the right, walk straight ahead to join a road. Turn left here to exit the park to a main road. Turn right now and walk along the shared pavement for half a mile. After crossing over the River Mersey at Lancashire Bridge, turn right and walk down the steps to the path beyond which runs parallel to the river. After half a mile, when the path forks, take the newly tarmacked path on the left – signposted National Cycle Network 62 E – which climbs up and away from the river before straightening. Turn left at the next junction, signposted TPT (E), and after 300 yards we go through a metal gate, then pass two benches and a noticeboard for the Heaton Mersey Bleach Works.

Crown - Heaton Mersey We now have the option for a mid-walk pub stop up to the Crown in Heaton Mersey. For this detour, turn left, signposted to Embankment Business Park. 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 picturesque terraced houses, to the pub at the top.

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 typical set-up for cask is Robinsons Unicorn, Dizzy Blonde, Trooper and Cumbria Way. Buses 23, 42 and 42A stop outside.

Runaway Brewery - Stockport Retracing our steps back to the Bleach Works noticeboard, continue along the path as before, signposted Stockport town centre 62, with the River Mersey on our right again. After half a mile we pass under the M60 bridge. After another half mile we reach a paved area with Stockport Pyramid on our left. Continue straight ahead to rejoin the riverside path as before, which then takes us under a road. After 400 yards we reach a large chrome bench. Take the path behind it and to the right to rejoin the riverside path. At the end of the path, walk up the steps to a main road where we see the Stockport Viaduct beyond. Cross over and walk under the viaduct along Heaton Lane. Turning right along Astley Street, we now finish our walk with refreshments at Runaway Brewery Taproom.

The taproom is a fitting venue to reward your efforts. As well as the warmest of welcomes, there’s a choice of two cask beers, plus up to ten quality keg, all skilfully brewed on the premises. The refurbished warehouse provides a spacious interior, impressively blending old bare brick walls and solid floorboards with modern furnishings. Plenty of additional seating can be found upstairs and in the rear beer garden, which also sells pizzas at peak times. It’s open from 3pm on Thursday, 1pm on Friday and Saturday. When it’s closed, it’s just a short walk up to Ye Olde Vic, for a choice of up to six cask beers, open from 5pm Wednesday to Sunday.

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

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