A woodland walk with gorgeous views got off to an interesting start for the M.E.N’s Liv Clarke
Liv is the Tourism Writer for the Manchester Evening News. She is an NCTJ-trained senior reporter who joined the team in 2021. She previously worked as a reporter for The Bolton News.
M.E.N reporter Liv Clarke goes for an autumn walk at Alderley Edge(Image: Liv Clarke)
Picture the perfect autumn walk in your mind and it probably includes the following: colourful leaves, paths strewn with conkers or acorns, bright sunshine but with a slight chill in the air, all accompanied with a hot drink and a tasty treat.
I managed to find all the above – plus a rather quirky tearoom – at the National Trust park at Alderley Edge. Located on the outskirts of the Cheshire village, the park features beautiful woodland and eye-catching sandstone outcrops.
Yet despite its rural appearances today, this was once an area of bustling mining activity, with evidence showing it dating back more than 4,000 years. In fact it is the oldest known metal-mining site in England.
Alderley Edge is also a place steeped in legend, and is supposedly home to a wizard who guards a sleeping underground army. Whether you believe the legend or not, it certainly adds to the atmosphere of the place, particularly as we approach Halloween.
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I timed my visit for one of the sunniest of September days, the ideal conditions for an autumn walk. After an easy 30-minute drive from South Manchester I was soon parked up in the National Trust car park, which costs £5 for a minimum of five hours (free for members). It did feel rather steep, however, you don’t have to pay to visit the park itself and the onsite toilets are also free to use so it balances it out.
The outdoor seating area at The Wizard Tearoom (Image: Liv Clarke)
Next to the car park you’ll find The Wizard Tearoom, housed in a quaint whitewashed 16th century building. Now upon arrival I was rather confused as from the main road the building appears to be closed with the windows bordered up.
This part of the complex was actually the pub The Wizard Inn, which closed in 2020. The tearoom occupies a seperate building behind it. Yet I was still left puzzled by the fact the tea room itself appeared to be closed – or so I thought.
Although its name suggests otherwise, the Wizard Tearoom operates as a takeaway spot with outdoor seating only; the indoor space is only available if hired for events.
Round the back of the building is a small hatch serving up drinks, cakes and savoury snacks, and ice creams are also available. There’s ample seating, most of it under a canopy, so you’re protected from the elements during autumns’ more temperamental days.
I ordered a sausage roll (£4.75), a chocolate biscuit (£3) and an Americano (£3.35), and you’re given a buzzer for when your items are available to collect. The sausage roll was exquisite; served warm, the meat was beautifully seasoned and the pastry was suitably flakey without being messy. I don’t know whether the biscuit was meant to have melting chocolate chips or it was just the powerful September sun, but either way it was rich and indulgent.
Both the sausage roll and the biscuit were delicious (Image: Liv Clarke)
I couldn’t fault the setting, the benches are nestled beneath the towering trees and looking out onto the cottage felt like being in a fairytale; and the food was delicious.
Yet I can understand how the name tearoom could cause confusion for some visitors; there’s no fine china or chintzy table clothes here.
Visitors are also encouraged to clear up after themselves with an area set aside to dispose of your coffee cups and waste. It is an efficient set-up and standard for outdoor food spots, but you may be disappointed if you’re expecting a traditional tearoom experience.
Suitably fuelled up, I set out on my walk. What makes Alderley Edge so accessible for walkers is it has signposted, colour-coded routes with a handy map at the start, so you don’t have to worry about getting lost or planning a route in advance.
I chose the ‘Wizard’s Wander’ as it took in the iconic Stormy Point, the famous outcrop with incredible views across Cheshire and of the Peak District.
There’s no right way to follow the route so I set off on a farm track, woodland to my left and sweeping green fields dotted with cows to my left.
The trail I followed took me through the woods (Image: Liv Clarke)
I soon came across a woodland play area of sorts hidden among the trees with beams you can walk across and giant ‘stepping stone’ stumps. There were even dens made with huge tree branches which I couldn’t resist peeking into.
Following the signs I picked up a path through the trees, occasionally fearing an acorn landing on my head as the trees shed their seeds in the breeze.
After a short incline I arrived at the first viewpoint with a wooden bench perched on a rocky outcrop. The view was gorgeous, framed by tall trees and featuring every shade of green imaginable.
I ventured further into the woods again, the ground carpeted in orange leaves, before arriving at the famous Stormy Point. It’s a huge sandstone outcrop that has been carved up by erosion over time.
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Once again the views were incredible, with the Peak District visible in the distance. I easily could have spent longer here taking in the picturesque scenery.
The view from Stormy Point (Image: Liv Clarke)
I managed to get a little lost leaving Stormy Point, but trusting the guiding powers of the Wizard’s Wander, I was soon back on the right path, this time descending into a ravine and then climbing up to the Armada Beacon, now marked with a monument.
Built on top of a Bronze Age burial mound, the beacon was used during the invasion by the Spanish Armada in 1588.
A stroll through the woods then took me past some of the industrial heritage of the area, including the Engine Vein where it’s thought horse-powered ‘engines’ were used to haul precious metals to the surface.
Soon I was back at the start of the walk, passing the outdoor tearoom which was still bustling at 3pm.
The entire walk took me just under an hour, but I easily could have spent longer exploring the different features or taking a moment to enjoy the views. There are five signposted routes you can follow and I’d definitely return to try another.
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