Walk to the Pub - Woodley to Hyde
Pub Walks with Chris Morris
Woodley to Hyde
PLEASE REMEMBER: Details accurate at time of writing
A pub walk can be the perfect pick-me-up during the winter months, despite the damp and cold. A gentle stroll through nature can be revitalising, not just for the body but also the mind, whether taking some time out for yourself, or with the good conversation of a friend. We can then add the prospect of a welcoming pub serving fine cask beer, and perhaps warm ourselves next to a real fire. A pub features at the start of this walk, in Woodley, with a choice of four at the finish in Hyde. As with all our pub walks, it is designed to be used with the excellent public transport options in our area.
Bus and Train Information
This walk starts at Woodley Railway Station but it’s also suitable for bus users. Train services from Manchester Piccadilly run hourly all week, except Sundays, when there is no service. The 330 bus stops outside the station, and runs from Stockport to Ashton via Hyde and Dukinfield. The service is as frequent as every ten minutes during the day, reduced in the evening and Sundays. The walk finishes in Hyde where Hyde Central Railway Station and Hyde Bus Station use the same train and 330 bus services as before.
The Walk
This flat 2.5-mile leisurely stroll along a delightful stretch of the Peak Forest canal offers a traffic-free corridor of nature in a peaceful setting. The canal towpath is well maintained with gravel, but there may be puddles after wet weather, so choose suitable footwear. All pubs welcome dogs.
Navigation
If arriving by train, cross over the footbridge at Woodley Station to Platform 1. Then exit the station through the car park and turn left to walk along the main road pavement. We now pass the stops for the 330 service where bus users can join the walk. After 300 yards we arrive at our pre-walk pub, the Navigation. This traditional Robinsons local offers a variety of seating arrangements, including bench seating, in the three cosy and characterful rooms. Unicorn and Trooper were the cask beers available when I last visited. For a pre-walk meal, food is served from noon to 6pm at weekends, 4pm to 6pm Thursday and Friday. A £7 chicken basket is available at other times. Cash is preferred.
From the pub's front door, the path to reach the canal is opposite and to the left. There’s a handy traffic island to help us cross over. Walking down the cobbled path, we join the canal towpath and continue straight ahead with the water on our right. After one and a half miles we cross over the canal on a snake bridge from 1801. Its construction cleverly enabled horses to cross over to the other side, whilst still pulling their narrowboats. Rejoining the towpath on the other side, we now find the water on our left. After a further half mile, we reach another snake bridge. Instead of carrying on along on the canal, we walk straight ahead and up to join the main road, where we turn right. We are now entering the centre of Hyde. After 50 yards, we have our first option for a rewarding pint of quality cask beer in a gem of a pub.
Cheshire Ring
The Cheshire Ring is the perfect setting for post-walk pints, with a warm welcome and excellent beer. It’s been in the Good Beer Guide for 20 consecutive years, offering up to six cask beers, a handpump for cider and a good range of quality keg. A fine example of a traditional pub interior awaits, with ceramic tiling and bench seating surrounding the impressive central bar. It also offers a large dose of delightful quirkiness, such as the large collection of old whisky boxes, and how many pubs can lay claim to a room devoted to Laurel and Hardy memorabilia?! On my last visit, the reasonably priced cask beers (cash only) were Skinful, Bungle, Sun Bear and Zephyr from Beartown, plus Hoof from Farm Yard Brew.
Jack's Bar
Located close to the Bus Station, Jack's Bar offers something different to the Hyde beer scene. This friendly micropub has a stylish and contemporary feel, with a mixture of modern bench seating and sofas. Listed in the Good Beer Guide, up to three cask beers are available, which were from Mallinsons, Millstone and Kirkby Lonsdale when I last dropped by. Dogs are allowed in the outdoor seating at the back.
Sportsman
The Sportsman Inn is located a little out of town but I’d strongly recommend you seek it out. It’s listed on the National Inventory of Historic Pub Interiors because of its superb Victorian fittings. Other than one fruit machine, the interior is proudly unspoilt, with an impressively tiled floor, bench seating throughout and small drinking tables. Also listed in the Good Beer Guide, a vast range of up to eight Rossendale Brewery cask beers is available, all reasonably priced. The food is very popular and has a Cuban twist.
The Queens is open all day, every day and offers a friendly welcome in a traditional no-nonsense local. Bench seating features throughout, including in the impressive pool room. Reasonably priced Holt’s Bitter was sampled when I last popped in, with the Holt’s Mild just finished.
For full pub details, including opening times, visit camra.org.uk/pubs.