Walking trail
Exceptional views at Paddock Cottage
On a clear day at Paddock Cottage you'll be rewarded with fantastic views of the surrounding area. This enjoyable walk also takes in Drinkwater Meadow, Knightslow Wood, and Pursfield Wood. Why not download the property map which you can find at the top of the Lyme homepage?
Map
Start:
Information Centre, in main car park
1
Facing the car park with the Information Centre behind you, follow the tarmac road around the outside of the car park until you reach the cattle grid. Don't cross the cattle grid, but instead bear to the left. Go through the gate and follow the stony track (Gritstone Trail), with the woodland on the left and Drinkwater Meadow on your right. Follow the track until you reach a gate in the wall into Knightslow Wood.
2
Go through the gate into Knightslow Wood and turn right. Follow the path through the tall Beech trees, with the wall on your right, until you reach a ladder stile. Go over the stile and then cross the stream. Bear right down the steps.
3
Follow the narrow path with the wall on your right and the steep drop down to Cluse Hey on your left. The path will eventually bend around to the right, through a gate and up to Paddock Cottage.
On a clear day at Paddock Cottage you'll be rewarded with fantatsic views. You'll see Alderley Edge to your left and the Cheshire Plain in front of you. You might be able to make out Manchester Airport in the distance. The hustle and bustle of Stockport and Manchester are to the right.
4
With Paddock Cottage behind you and the far reaching views on your left, follow the path to the right, along the ridge through Pursefield Wood. Where the path forks (just before a small gate) keep right and descend to the corner. Go through the gate in the wire fence & the gate in the corner, and continue straight ahead to the right of a small wood, with the wall, and later the stream on your right. Turn right onto the road and descend past the cattle grid and back to the main car park.
Recent restoration work has been carried out on Paddock Cottage to remove the old external render. The walls have now been returned to their traditional pointing and lime-wash finish. Minor repairs have been made to the roof and windows. Originally built as a belvedere or banquet house in the 17th century, Paddock Cottage is now a Grade II listed building. In the 1911 census Joseph Howard a 68 year old labourer, born in Disley, lived here with his family.
End:
Main car park
