Pub Walks with Chris Morris
Knutsford Circular

PLEASE REMEMBER: Details accurate at time of writing

The historic market town of Knutsford attracts a lot of interest for its delightful 18th century buildings, independent shops and upmarket café culture. A good pint can also be found, which will taste that bit better after a scenic countryside stroll. This circular walk takes us through the grand estate of Tatton Park and around Tatton Mere, before heading back to Knutsford to sample some quality cask beers from the town’s best pubs.

Public Transport Information

This pub walk starts from Knutsford railway station on the Mid-Cheshire line. Services from Manchester Piccadilly and Stockport run hourly, Monday to Saturday. The service is reduced on Sunday to every two hours.

The Walk

This three-mile circular through Tatton Park has 100 feet of ascent. There is a mixture of good gravel paths and some that will be muddy after wet weather, so choose suitable footwear. One path is narrow and can be tricky in summer with overgrown vegetation. The gates to Tatton Park are locked at 7pm during summer and 5pm in winter. It is also closed all day on Monday in winter. All pubs welcome dogs.

On arrival at Knutsford railway station, use the footbridge to cross over to Platform 1. We now exit the station, walking downhill through the station car park, with the tracks on our right. At the road junction, carry on straight ahead along Church Walk, signposted to Mobberley. After a short distance, we take the right fork, again signposted to Mobberley. Follow this road for 250 yards, ignoring paths leading under the railway. When the road ends at a junction, we continue straight ahead to join a muddy track that meanders through woodland. On exiting the woods, the track narrows considerably. When reaching the entrance to Tatton Park, walk through a high metal gate, then follow the wide gravel track through more woodland. After exiting through another high gate, we now walk anti-clockwise for two miles around the picturesque Tatton Mere, keeping the water on our left at all times. The easiest route is to follow the wide gravel track, which eventually becomes a road. The more scenic option is to walk along the paths by the water’s edge, but these can be uneven in places. Whichever way you choose, they all take you to the wooden tollhouse, from where we then walk under the impressive stone arches. When the road bends to the right, carry on straight ahead along a wide track. On exiting the woodland, we now find ourselves on Knutsford’s charming King Street, where we can find a number of characterful pubs to quench our thirst.

Wallop The town’s current entry in the Good Beer Guide is Wallop. Easily spotted with its bright yellow exterior, it holds a torch for cask beer, with four handpumps proudly taking centre stage on the bar. Usually from modern local breweries, the cask beers are sensibly reduced to three during the week to keep quality high. On last inspection, these were from Brightside, Thornbridge and Torrside. To plan future visits, the pump clips of the next cask beers due on are helpfully on display. With your pint in hand, I’d recommend seeking out the many rooms filled with eclectic furniture and a rustic quirkiness. The upstairs terrace has also been cleverly furnished with both covered and uncovered seating.

Rose & Crown Built in 1647, the Rose & Crown has arguably the finest exterior in town. This is continued inside with exposed timbers, oak beams, leaded windows and subtle lighting, radiating a cosy charm. Often featured in the Good Beer Guide, up to four cask beers are available, usually from local breweries. These were from Weetwood, ShinDigger, Mobberley and Carlsberg Marston’s Wainwright when I last called in. Although some tables are set with knives and forks, drinkers are welcome to sit anywhere.

Lord Eldon The 18th century Lord Eldon is Knutsford’s wet-led ‘proper pub’. Popular with locals, this is a great example of a traditional pub interior, with horse brasses, comfortable bench seating, tartan carpet and an open fire in winter. Along with the pool table and dartboard, sport is often shown on TV. Salopian Oracle and Tetley’s were the two cask beers available when I last dropped by. Payment by cash is preferred.

Knutsford’s impressive Town Hall was built in 1871, in the Gothic Revival style, but lay empty in recent years. In 2016, it was converted at considerable expense and it’s now home to the contemporary bar Lost & Found. The vast interior has a high ceiling and mixes large gothic arched windows with exposed bricks and industrial styling, with a skilful addition of subtle lighting. A single cask of Brightside Odin was available when I last visited.

The White Bear is Knutsford’s oldest pub and is also worth a look. As well as its thatched roof, the interior features low ceilings, exposed timbers and a little quirkiness. When last surveyed, Theakston Best Bitter and Greene King Uiltje Bird of Prey were the cask beers available.

For full pub details, including opening times, visit camra.org.uk/pubs.

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