Southern Woods Walk
Distance: 1 mile
Duration: About 3/4 of an hour
Terrain: Outward section mostly level, wheelchair and
pushchair accessible. Moderate climb on the
return section.
From the Mill Yard, follow the sign to the Southern Woods.
The construction on the left 1 is a gasometer.
To the right of the bridge, the rivers Dean
and Bollin combine.
Cross the field and fork right, uphill
to a steel gate and walk across
the fields towards the Mill.
Mill, Café, Toilets
and Shop
This route was used by Mill
apprentices, to walk from
the Apprentice House
to the parish church in
Wilmslow.
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Gas was produced at the Mill and stored here. It was
used to light the buildings and Styal village.
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On your right you soon see sluice gates to control the
flow of water and then a children’s playground.
After a few minutes, pass the millpond 2 you can
make a diversion to your right to get a better view.
Return to the main path to continue the walk.
Moorhen, little grebe and mallard hide amongst the
red-stemmed dogwood and alder at the millpond. The
pond was created in 1801 when the weir was built to
raise the water level to the top of a new waterwheel.
Welcome to Quarry Bank
Old Quarry
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Number of steps
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Starting point
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At the path junction marked by a large boulder 6 bear right.
The boulder is Lake District granite. It was deposited
here during the last ice age and is known as an ‘erratic’.
Just before the footbridge 7 turn left uphill and left
again at the kissing gate. 8
Access
For visitors with pushchairs, in wheelchairs or with
restricted mobility the most accessible walk is the
Southern Woods Walk up to point 7 .
The Giant’s Castle Walk and Kingfisher Walk contain
many steps and steep sloping paths. Paths can be
muddy, so we advise stout footwear. A small part of
the Giant’s Castle Walk is by the side of a road.
Parts of the Mill were built from stone that was quarried
here. Look closely for marks made by the masons’ picks.
Known as ‘carr’, the wet woodland in the river
floodplain provides good conditions for many rare
plants, insects and invertebrates, including ancient
species of snails! In spring the woodland is carpeted
with bluebells, and other rare wild flowers.
Today a team of rangers and volunteers work on the estate
to protect, restore and maintain the historic grounds.
Southern Woods Walk
4
Explore
Quarry Bank
As the Mill expanded, many of the original farm
buildings in Styal were converted into houses, with
the purpose-built Oak Cottages added in the 1820s.
This early industrial community included a school,
shop, bakery, two churches and many of the villagers
even had their own allotments. In 1939, Alexander
Greg gave the estate to the National Trust to be cared
for and for future generations to enjoy.
A couple of minutes later notice the Quarry on your left. 3
The path soon rises to cross Heron’s Pool Bridge,
and continues between an extensive wet area 4 and
sloping woodland. 5
Before the Mill was built, Styal village was a small collection
of barns and cottages whose inhabitants worked on the
surrounding land. In 1784, the valley of the river Bollin was
chosen by Samuel Greg as the site for Quarry Bank Mill.
Gates will be locked at the time specified at the entrance.
Across the fields to the left is a stone
obelisk 9 which is due south from an observatory
that once stood in Quarry Bank Garden.
It allowed the Mill owner to use the sun to set his clocks.
At the end of the path, turn left after two kissing
gates and pass a pool 10 on your right.
In the event of a fire, water would be pumped from
the reservoir to the Mill. Fire was a constant threat in
the hot and dusty mills. Fortunately fires at Quarry
Bank seem to have been rare and small.
Follow the path into the Mill Yard.
Countryside Care
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Please stay on the paths to reduce erosion of banks
and damage to plants.
Twinnies Bridge
We welcome responsible dog owners. Please keep
your dog on a lead in the village and around livestock
and wildlife.
The river can be deep and fast flowing. For their
safety, children should be supervised at all times.
Please help us to care for the countryside by taking
your litter home.
Enjoy one of our wonderful
walks around the Styal estate
Duration: About 1 hour
After 100 metres note, but do not cross the steel
bridge 4 on your left. After a further 100 metres,
go down a flight of stone steps then bear right down
further steps to cross the Chapel Bridge. 5
Terrain: Some steep inclines and steps.
Unsuitable for wheelchairs and pushchairs.
Chapel Bridge was built to provide easy access to the Mill
for Robert Hyde Greg from Norcliffe Hall, his home.
From the Mill Yard, walk uphill towards the Apprentice
House. 1 Turn left just before the house, following
the sign pointing to Styal Village.
Having crossed the bridge, walk uphill to a T-junction
and turn right to the higher path. About 50 metres
along this path, down to your left you can spot the
overgrown Folly Bridge 6 and, soon after at a sharp
bend 7 a giant redwood.
Kingfisher Walk
Distance: 11/2 miles
The Apprentice House was home to 90 children
who came here from workhouses
to work in the Mill.
Manchester Airport
Continue with the river on your right to a T-junction,
turn right here and continue to Kingfisher Bridge. 10
Giant’s Castle Walk
Along here if you’re lucky, you may see a flash of blue
as kingfishers dart over the water in their quest for
small fish.
Duration: About 2 hours
Distance: 31/2 miles
Terrain: M
uddy paths, uneven terrain and steep steps.
Unsuitable for wheelchairs and pushchairs.
Cross the bridge and continue up the stepped stone
path. At the top of the ascent, with the steel bridge
ahead, turn right and eventually turn right again at the
tarmac drive to return to the Mill.
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Kingfisher Walk
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You pass the magnificent half-timbered Oak Farm, then
Tudor Cottage which are some of the original medieval
buildings of Styal.
Old Altrincham Road
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Climb the steps and descend through Giant’s
Castle Wood. 13
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Walk towards the village, at first with a wooden
fence on your right. Cross a wide track (two gates),
then go through the gate to the left of Styal Cross. 2
The red brick Oak Cottages were built for Mill
workers. The village green and fields were once
allotments where workers grew vegetables.
Turn left towards Norcliffe Chapel. 3 Do not go
through the lych gate unless you wish to visit the
chapel; instead take the field-side path and continue
with the chapel on your right.
The Greg family worshipped at the Unitarian
Norcliffe Chapel.
Cross a wide track to enter the Northern Woods and
after a few paces, take the first right-hand fork and
continue downhill with a deep gully on your left.
Folly Bridge features in paintings
by Caroline, Robert Greg’s
daughter. The huge redwood
conifer, with its characteristic
reddish bark, is just one of the exotic
specimens that were planted by the
Gregs at Styal.
Giant’s Castle Bridge
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Drop down the track, with its stepped
sections into an area dominated by larch
trees, which contrasts with the broad-leaved
trees elsewhere in the woods. Soon, you can
see the river Bollin on your right. 8
Ignore a turn to your left, instead continue
ahead upstream and pass, but do not cross
Oxbow Bridge. 9
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Oxbow Bridge
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Turn right at the village car park. Walk to the far end of
the car park, turn left and then right along a cobbled
track to Styal Cross. 2 Turn left at the cross and head
across the fields towards the Mill car park. At the tarmac
drive, turn right and return to your starting point.
From the bridge you can see, on your left, the brick
- arched outfall of the tailrace tunnel which is three
quarters of a mile long. This takes water from the
Waterwheel pit at the Mill, and returns it to the river.
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The Oxbow Bridge was brought to this isolated
location in the 1970s, by helicopter!
Cross Giant’s Castle Bridge 12 to steep steps at the other side.
Starting point
This once busy route was closed to make way for the
second runway.
At a junction with Moss Lane 17 turn right toward
Quarry Bank.
The dense canopy of the beech wood in summer
allows little light to penetrate to encourage growth
on the woodland floor.
Number of steps
Walk up the steep bridleway, passing through two
gates before joining the Airport perimeter road. 16
Turn right here and carry on, eventually to a tarmac
lane that was the old Altrincham Road.
Complete the Kingfisher Walk as far as the Oxbow
Bridge 9 but this time cross the river and turn left.
Follow the path up and then down steep flights of steps. 11
Giant’s Castle Walk
Listen out for the sound of planes on Runway 2.
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Kingfisher Bridge
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Styal Village
Norcliffe Chapel
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This is a rare piece of ancient semi-natural
woodland. It is a habitat for many native
species. The dead wood is important
for 700 varieties of fungi recorded
throughout the estate.
Y Village
Car Park
Methodist Chapel
Apprentice House
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Mill, Café, Toilets
and Shop
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Continue ahead with the
river on your left and the
fields on your right. 14
The Gregs removed hedgerows
from the fields here. They left
oak trees to help create the feel of a
landscaped park.
Continue through the wooded area and
follow the steep and sometimes stepped path
as it climbs away from the river. Turn right off the
woodland path 15 then right again to join the bridleway.
Images NTPL: Paul Harris / John Millar
Printed on 100% recycled paper. Please recycle this leaflet after use.
© National Trust 2013. National Trust is an independent registered charity, number 205846