Just a short drive from Manchester is a picturesque town renowned for its scenic canals, independent boutiques, beautiful ‘river in the sky’ and as the gateway to the Peak District
Amy Jones Senior Travel Journalist
00:44, 29 Jan 2026
The charming town is renowned for its canals and as ‘the jewel of the Cheshire Alps'(Image: Jason Roberts /Manchester Evening News)
A charming UK town is famed for its impressive waterways and scenic rolling landscapes, earning itself the nickname of ‘the jewel of the Cheshire Alps’. It offers endless walking routes, a farmers’ market, independent boutiques, and an idyllic village feel just outside Manchester.
Marple is situated in Greater Manchester, just a short drive from the city, and has long been deemed one of the most picturesque and desirable parts of the Stockport borough. Thanks to its positioning on the border of Cheshire and the Peak District, it offers some of the country’s most scenic rural landscapes.
The town is famed for its Marple Locks, otherwise known as a ‘staircase’ due to its 16 locks that tower at 209 feet on the Peak Forest Canal for around a mile. This part of Marple is surrounded by wooded countryside, and the backdrop of its majestic rolling hills, offering peaceful walks along the canal.
The Marple Locks(Image: Getty Images)
One visitor shared on TripAdvisor: “What a great scenic walk along the canal. Only being wide enough to fit one canal narrow boat down. As you walk along, you can see holding ponds which obviously allow the extra boats a place to wait until it’s their turn. Lots of little steps and small tunnels that go underneath the roads that pass over the canal. These are easy to miss and were obviously used by the rope men guiding the boats through the locks.”
Another also shared: “An unexpected surprise. A friend told us about Marple and its locks. What a lovely experience. Would encourage anyone to visit.”
Elsewhere, along the Peak Forest Canal is the beautiful three-arch Maple Aqueduct, known as the ‘river in the sky’. It stands at about 100 feet above water level and is around 309 feet long.
Marvelling at its magnificence, a visitor shared on TripAdvisor: “Marple Aqueduct is truly beautiful. The walk to the aqueduct is nature at its best; ducks, geese, and even fish thrive there. The Aqueduct has the train track running alongside higher up, so the views and structures are spectacular.”
Marple Viaduct and Aqueduct (Image: Getty Images)
Marple is also home to their Roman lakes, just a five-minute walk from the railway station, steeped in history stretching back to the 1700s. Surrounded by woodlands and gardens, the site boasts a children’s playground, picnic spots, a period-style tearoom, and walking and cycling routes.
These lakes were initially millponds created to drive Mellor Mill, built by industrialist Samuel Oldknow. Following a devastating 1892 blaze that razed the mill, the millponds were transformed into a leisure destination towards the end of the Victorian period.
Stockport-based artist Eric Jackson, known for his prints featuring various Greater Manchester locations, depicted Marple with its aqueduct as a backdrop and a motorcyclist attempting to leap over one of the many locks. He famously labelled the town ‘The Jewel of the Cheshire Alps’, a nickname that has since stuck, while it was reported that the town also inspired Agatha Christie’s iconic character Miss Marple.
Jackson’s retro artwork also highlighted a common talking point among Marple residents – the fact that there’s ‘only one road in, one road out’. Despite only bearing limited access in and out, the town boasts two railway stations, bus links, and is less than five miles from Stockport town centre.
Marple boasts a number of independent shops, bars and cafes(Image: Jason Roberts /Manchester Evening News)
Along the winding, renowned canal, there’s the cosy Ring O’ Bells pub with a garden patio to soak up the views during the warmer months. Elsewhere, there’s a selection of eateries in the town, from cafés All Things Nice and Red Pepper, to FOLD Bistro & Bottle Shop, Italian La Dolce, and micro pub The Samuel Oldknow.
Marple is also brimming with independent shops, alongside its clothing boutiques, Suburban Muse, Browse and Assemblee. It also has its own picture house, theatre, and artisan market, offering a range of locally made and sourced products on the third Saturday of every month.
Adding to its allure, the town is set to welcome a £20m leisure centre and swimming pool known as the ‘Marple Community Hub’, with plans approved several years ago following the closure of its historic baths. The new community hub will feature a 25-metre, five-lane swimming pool with a seated viewing area, a 60-station fitness suite, and two multipurpose fitness studios.
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