Attractions and Places To See around Stockport - Top 20

Etherow Country Park Lake and Weir

Highlight • Natural Monument

One of the UK’s first country parks, Etherow was founded in 1968. It was originated as the Andrews Estate in the 1820s and included a mine, a mill and a mill pond. The park is the start point for the Goyt Way, a 10-mile (16.1 km) route along the Goyt Valley to Whaley Bridge.

Today, the park is a local nature reserve and Site of Special Scientific Interest. A range of habitats can be found on the 32-acre (12.8 ha) site. Open water, tall fenn, reed swamp, carr and mixed deciduous woodland all provide for the wildlife that make the reserve so vibrant.

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Mellor Cross

Highlight • Monument

The small sacred monument, known as the "Mellor Cross," located in a very prominent location here, commemorates the co-founder of the Methodist Church, John Wesley. The search for traces takes us back to the history of the 18th century, as the famous preacher lived from 1703 to 1791. Two short quotations, one from the early period and one from a later period, may give the interested reader a brief insight into the thought world of this unusual man:
+ "Tell everyone of the love of God, for the world is our church" (1739)
+ "Do everything for the good of people and creation" (1781)

Translated by Google •

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Middlewood Way

Highlight (Segment) • Cycleway

Nearly the whole route is flat and on light gravel, making this an ideal easy route for new bikers, injured bikers getting back in the saddle, or just an easy ride qith nothing technical or difficult

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Mellor Mill Ruins

Highlight • Historical Site

Mellor Mill, also known as Bottom's Mill, was a six-story cotton mill in Marple, Greater Manchester built by Samuel Oldknow in 1793. This was a six-storey, 42-foot (13 m) wide and 210-foot (64 m) long mill with additional three-storey wings making it 400 feet (120 m) in all. The mill was built for Samuel Oldknow and used to spin coarse counts. It was originally driven by the Wellington water wheel. The River Goyt, and with it the then county boundary between Derbyshire and Cheshire was diverted and a weir built, the leat fed a millpond that in later times was named the Roman Lakes. This in turn fed a second mill pond along with water from reservoir in Linnet Clough. Supplementary power was provided by a second exterior wheel known as the Waterloo wheel. The Mill reached its peak production in 1804, when 10,080 spindles were operating and around 550 people were employed. It was destroyed by fire in 1892

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Woodley Tunnel

Highlight • Bridge

long dark and very low walking through is the safest option (cyclist dismount sign)

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Fox Inn, Brookbottom

Highlight • Pub

Right on the cusp of where Greater Manchester meets Derbyshire, this pub is in the hills to the north-west of New Mills in the hamlet of Brookbottom which is no more than a collection of houses, however there’s plenty of people that will make a beeline for this place that offers great views over the valley below. The best way (other than a car) to get to this white painted cottage pub is to get the train to Strines which is still part of the Greater Manchester travel network and take the scenic tree-covered track up the hill that brings you out at the entrance to the pub. If it is raining or wet this will be a yomp rather than a pleasant climb. There’s a couple of traditionally decorated rooms to sit in that are more than comfortable and atmospheric. The serving area is small in its own room and has a couple of real ales available. Outside there is an large open space directly in front of the pub which acts as an ample parking area and beyond that is an elevated wooden-decked platform.

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Cowlishaw Road Climb

Highlight • Cycleway

Winding around the edge of the fields the road slowly begins to ramp up … and up. And, then, it really kicks and, without a lot of warning, you’re into that 20% section. To add to the fun, the road surface is covered in high grip, which is great if you’re travelling downhill, but less for us climbers: it has quite a rough texture and, as such, tends to rob you of that rolling momentum which adds that little extra piquancy. Now that your speed has been cut down, it’s time to work for every extra inch of forward motion as you battle both the incline and the recalcitrant surface. There are no short cuts with this one – the road is busy enough that tacking across the carriageway is a bad idea so you’ll need to keep your concentration up, and your steering pinned so that you can make your way up and around the right hander which marks the end of the really steep section.

Don’t think that you’re done, however. Yes, the road flattens considerably, but you’re still going uphill and there’s another ramp to come so make the most of this opportunity to catch your breath and shake your bits out before settling down to the final push

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Stockport Hydro

Highlight • Structure

Stockport Hydro, located at Otterspool Weir on Mill Lane in Romiley, Stockport (SK6 7HE), is a community-owned hydroelectric scheme that has been generating renewable energy since 2012 [1]. While the site doesn't have regular public opening hours, they occasionally host open afternoons where visitors can tour the facility and learn about its operations. For instance, an open afternoon was held on November 24, 2024 [2]. To stay informed about upcoming events, it's advisable to check their official website or contact them directly. Additionally, the site is adjacent to a public footpath shared by the Midshires Way, a long-distance hiking trail, making it accessible for walkers who wish to view the facility from the outside.

[1] waymarking.com/waymarks/wm10F02_Stockport_Hydro_Romiley_Manchester
[2] stayhappening.com/e/stockport-hydro-open-afternoon-E2ISX4P6FQP

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St Chad's Well

Highlight • Natural Monument

A picturesque well near the chapel – its walls built of rubble stone, covered with moss and ferns – bears the name of St Chad’s Well, or the Holy Well, and is traditionally said to have been the scene of miraculous cures.

it is first named in 1872 on the first Ordnance Survey. A stone found in a garden nearby at Romiley is mentioned on the information display board at the well is linked to the ancient British head cult, it shows three heads and its tentatively linked to the well…
The well house was probably built around 18th -19th century and is built of sandstone blocks having a doorway with a flat lintel where there is evidence of both inner and outer door. It was probably roofed protecting it. Three steps step down into a rectangular well chamber, with a chamber measuring 1.8m x 1.6m. The wells seem to have been repaired or renovated several times in the past.
Every year since 1998 at the end of July a well dressing of the Derbyshire style has been produced.

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