Following Bollinhurst Brook from the Macclesfield Canal must be the prettiest way into Lyme Park. Then strolling along the ridge to The Cage you feel on top of the world, with views on a fine day as far as Wales. We've lost count of the number of times we have walked in Lyme Park with its stately mansion, but also wild bits where you feel quite alone. It's a great place to bring the children, with a playground for younger ones and lots of woodland for scuffing through the autumn leaves. And then there's winter when we practised on our cross-country skis. Our most recent visit was also after snow, when it seemed that everyone except us had brought a sledge.
LOCATION: 7 miles south-east of Stockport
START: Higher Poynton. Follow signs to Nelson Pit, ticket machine by entrance, park Middlewood Way Canalside, toilets
Grid ref: SJ945833 Postcode: SK121TH
DISTANCE: 5.5 miles
GRADE: Easy, with a short, steep ascent
TIME: 3 hours
MAP: Explorer - Wilmslow, Macclesfield Landranger 109
REFRESHMENTS: Lyme Park, Bailey's Trading Post
EN ROUTE: Ladybrook Valley, Vernon Wharfe
This walk was originally published by
The Manchester Evening News