To help you start filling in your Winter Warmer Wander sticker page we have devised this outing which starts in Withington and wanders to the centre of Stockport. It will be a leisurely outing, with no set schedule so we will play it by ear on the evening.

We start in Withington at the only remaining Lion, there used to be three, namely the Red Lion (the others being Red and White). It is the oldest pub in Withington, with the next nearest in age being Victorian, so this 17th century inn wins by a comfortable mile. As would be expected of a building of that age, some of the fixtures will challenge taller persons. To the front there is a warren of small rooms, with the newer and larger rooms to the rear. Outside, the bowling green has been converted into a garden - I wonder if the grass still has a crown! Being a JW Lees house, their Plum Pudding should be on offer which, as the name suggests, has a lush fusion of fruity flavours but still at a drinkable strength.

We now hop on one of the many buses travelling down Wilmslow Road and alight in Didsbury Village.

Though there are a multitude of pubs in Didsbury centre, only the Head of Steam is taking part in Winter Warmer Wander! The pub is owned by Camerons Brewery, but the landlord has a much wider portfolio of beers available, so who knows what we will find? The interior is basically one big room featuring many pine wood fixtures and fittings; there are three or four booths down the right-hand side directly opposite the very long bar. An interesting option is to have any draught beer put into a can for takeaway; this attracts a 20% discount. So if you would like to take some home for later consumption the option is there.

Another hop on a bus will take us swiftly to our next destination – East Didsbury. There is always the option of taking the tram, but this leaves a longer walk at the terminus than that from the bus so, unless you’re looking for extra kudos, take the bus.

When we arrive in East Didsbury (or, as some locals call it, Parrswood) we will find the Gateway, a grand red Cheshire sandstone structure sandwiched between two busy roads. The Gateway is a Wetherspoon house and, because the landlady has quite a lot of freedom in beer selection, we could have some exotic beers on offer. The quality should also be guaranteed as the pub has been in the Good Beer Guide for several years. Should you be in need of sustinance, don't leave it too late as they stop serving food at 10pm.

Getting to our next outlet poses a dilemma. The buses are much less frequent than along Wilmslow Road (and often heavily delayed) so a long wait can ensue. This has to be weighed against the 10-minute walk - easy enough unless faced by driving rain or a blizzard.

We are now to enter our second oldest outlet, with parts of the Crown, Heaton Mersey, being 400 years old. The only catch is, there doesn't appear to be a front door! Walk down Vale Close, to the left of the pub, and the entrance can be found to the right up a number of steps. Though it feels like you are using the tradesman's entrance, this is the main door. Being an amalgam of several cottages you won't be surprised to find a jumble of rooms on entry. Being a Robinsons house you would expect to find their iconic strong ale, Old Tom, on draught, but beware - it is 8.5% in strength and can slip down the throat without touching the sides. We may also find their seasonal beer, Winter Nights, which is described as a roasted porter (and comes in at a more manageable 4.5%).

Our last journey needs to be undertaken by bus, so a crafty look at a bus location map is advised to avoid missing one, or waiting too long in the cold for that delayed service.

Nestling below the mighty Stockport Viaduct, the Crown Inn has been rescued from the doldrums into which it had slumped by the dynamic team responsible for the Petersgate Tap, so you know the service and beer quality will be excellent. Originally owned by Boddingtons, as prominently proclaimed by the frieze on the outside, surprisingly you can still find it on sale inside (but brewed by JW Lees in Middleton Junction, not in Strangeways). What beer will match the Winter Warmer Wander requirements tonight? Well we have no idea, but expect something special.

Here endeth the night's travels, but if the hour is young (and your last bus home isn't beckoning) there are several other Winter Warmer Wander pubs not too far away in Stockport.