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Alderley Edge and Cheshire Countryside
Dramatic red sandstone escarpment, with impressive views
Macclesfield Road, Nether Alderley, Macclesfield, Cheshire, SK10 4UB
Important notice
The permissive path that connects Alderley Edge to Hare Hill, will be closed from Monday 23 June - Friday 11 July. This is to allow the cattle and their new calves time to settle. Thank you for your understanding.
Opening times for 14 July 2025
Asset Opening time Countryside Dawn - Dusk Car park 08:00 - 20:00 MTWTFSS3012345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728293031123OpenPartially openClosed- Car park
Bickerton Hill and Mow Cop. Pay and Display at Alderley Edge: Car parking charges apply for non-members: £5 for up to four hours and £8.00 all day. Sorry no coaches. National Trust members park for free, please bring your membership card with you to scan.
- Dogs allowed
Please keep dogs on a short lead around sheep and cattle, during the season where birds nest on the ground and where indicated by signs. Please be a responsible dog owner and tidy up after your dog and dispose of waste in a bin, if bins aren't available, please take home or put in the next nearest bin.
- Guided tour
Alternate Sundays from April to October at Alderley Edge, see What's On for details
- Tea-room
Independent locally run tea room at Alderley Edge
- Toilet
Alderley Edge only.
Blue Badge parking and accessible toilet at Alderley Edge. Blue badge car parking at Mow Cop. Most of Alderley Edge and the Cheshire countryside has steps and steep terrain and is not suitable for wheelchairs.
- Accessible toilet
Alderley Edge only.
- Designated parking
- Steps/uneven terrain
- By road
1½ miles east of Alderley Edge village on B5087, Macclesfield Road
Parking: Car parks at Alderley Edge, Mow Cop and Bickerton (roadside elsewhere). Pay and Display at Alderley Edge: Car parking charges apply for non-members: £5 for up to four hours and £8.00 all day. Sorry no coaches. National Trust members park for free, please bring your membership card with you to scan.
Sat Nav: For Alderley Edge car park use SK10 4UB For Mow Cop car park use ST7 3PA For Bickerton car park use SY14 8LN
- On foot
The North Cheshire Way runs straight through the property and links Willaston in the west to Lyme Park in the east. It connects with the Wirral Way, the Sandstone Trail and the Gritstone Trail. Get more information here. There are also a number of footpaths and bridleways that pass through or close to the property
- By train
Alderley Edge train station 1½ miles. From the station you can either catch the bus (see 'By bus' above) or walk down the A34 (pavemented) for 1 mile until you reach Bradford Lane. From here you can follow the directions given above
- By bus
Arriva 130, twice hourly Monday to Saturday, hourly on Sundays from Alderley Edge village (close to train station). Alight at Nether Alderley Primary School and follow Bradford Lane all the way to Macclesfield road until you reach the property. These roads are pavemented. There is the option to go through National Trust woodland
- Cycling
On-road cycle route 70 passes by the property. The traffic on this road is sometimes heavy, particularly during rush hour. For more information see the Sustrans website
Macclesfield Road, Nether Alderley, Macclesfield, Cheshire, SK10 4UB
Planning your visit
Article
Visiting Alderley Edge with your dog
Alderley Edge is a one pawprint rated place. Dogs are welcome at all Cheshire and Wirral countryside sites. Find out how to keep your dog and local wildlife safe and more.
Project
Project
Discover the Invisible Worlds App
A new app is now available to download, that will bring the Legend of Alderley Edge to life for visitors to the iconic Cheshire location.
PDF
PDF
Alderley Edge Walks Map
Plan your walk with this handy downloadable map of Alderley Edge. Help us to care for this beautiful place by leaving no trace of your visit - thank you.
Highlights
Countryside
Variety of countryside sites which offer spectacular views across Cheshire and the Wirral.
Wizard Tea-room at Alderley Edge (not National Trust)
Tea-room serving hot and cold food and drinks, with indoor and outdoor seating, plus takeaway option.
Spotlight events
Re-launching in May 2025, the Invisible Worlds app can be used at Alderley Edge by visitors, as well as allow people around the world to remotely explore the magic of Alderley Edge.
Invisible Worlds App
Invisible Worlds is an exciting new digital installation research project at Alderley Edge. The project is a collaboration between an interdisciplinary team of researchers led by the University of Birmingham, aiming to tell the stories of this special place in a new way.
Things to see and do
Article
Things to do at Alderley Edge
Discover what makes Alderley Edge so special, from its wildlife and fun activities such as orienteering, to its areas of historical significance.
Article
Things to do in the Cheshire Countryside
Discover the beauty of Cheshire’s countryside on a stroll through its woodlands, see rich birdlife on its marshes and explore historical sites such as the folly at Mow Cop.
Article
Things to do at Bickerton Hill
Bickerton Hill is more than a beautiful view. Explore its 91 hectares to stretch your legs, discover Iron-Age ruins and see rangers and volunteers in action.
Area
Visit more places in Cheshire and Greater Manchester
Discover Cheshire’s heritage and nature through grand houses, deer parks, seasonal gardens, woodland, moorland, and even a cotton mill.
Top trails
Trail
The Wizard's Wander at Alderley Edge
Enjoy an easy-access circular walk in the heart of the Cheshire countryside exploring mining remains and the popular legend of Alderley Edge.
Trail
Woodland valley walk at Alderley Edge
Wander through this peaceful area of Alderley Edge filled with history and wildlife, where past generations have mined and farmed the landscape.
Trail
Mow Cop trail
Discover the history of Mow Cop and explore the castle ruins along this short trail in the Cheshire countryside.
Outdoor activities
Activity
Mountain biking on the Bosley Cloud
Find out more about the National Trust's partnership with Congleton Mountain Biking Club to allow managed mountain biking for its members on the Bosley Cloud in Cheshire.
Places to stay
Lyme East Lodge
On the Lyme estate and deer park, this Edwardian cottage looks out over lush green countryside.
Lyme West Lodge
Tucked away on the glorious Lyme Park estate, Lyme West Lodge is a picture-book pretty Edwardian cottage set in leafy woodland.
Upcoming events
Event
Forest Bathing with Amanda from Let's Step In
A deeply relaxing and restorative ‘Shinrin-Yoku’ walk to nourish your mind, body and soul with the proven health benefits of being immersed in nature.
Event
Free Guided Walks at Alderley Edge
Explore Alderley Edge with an experienced guide and discover the history and legends that make this such a special place.
About Alderley Edge and Cheshire Countryside
Explore the dramatic red sandstone escarpment of Alderley Edge, with views over the Cheshire Plain to the Peak District. Various themed walks meander through open pasture, mature pine and beech woodland.
Discover the highest point on the Edge which was originally a Bronze Age burial mound. It was later used as a fire beacon site which would have been lit as a signal to warn of the imminent invasion.
For more stunning views over the Cheshire countryside, why not visit one of the following places in our care: Bickerton Hill and Bulkely Hill Wood; Mow Cop, the Cloud, Helsby Hill and Thurstaston Common.
History
Article
History of Alderley Edge
Learn about some of the most historically significant sites in the north west, from Roman mineshafts to a 16th-century alert beacon, and uncover Alderley Edge’s ancient legend.
Press release
Rare ‘time capsule’ cobalt mine abandoned over 200 years ago is discovered in Cheshire
New discovery at Alderley Edge in Cheshire offers a glimpse into a mine in production during the Napoleonic Wars, with shoes and clay pipes among the personal everyday objects the miners left behind.
Our work
Article
Our work to regenerate Bickerton Hill
How did the Second World War have such a lasting impact on the wildlife of Bickerton Hill? Discover the impact that history can have on wildlife and natural areas.
Project
Project
River Bollin Riverlands Project at Alderley Edge
Keep up with the latest updates from the River Bollin Project as we work to improve the health of the river along the catchment at Alderley Edge.
Support us
Article
Volunteering and team building at Alderley
Find out more about joining our volunteer team, or organising a corporate team building awayday at Alderley: helping our conservation aims while bringing your team closer together.
Supporter Groups in the North-West
Find out about the supporter groups you can join in Cheshire and Greater Manchester including East Cheshire National Trust Association, South Cheshire Association and The Manchester Centre.