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Lime Avenue pond at Lyme, Cheshire
Lime Avenue pond at Lyme, Cheshire | © National Trust
Cheshire & Greater Manchester

Lime Avenue ponds walk

In 2017, after years of planning and fundraising, the Lime Avenue ponds were restored, creating a beautiful spot for visitors and a home for a variety of wildlife. This walk takes in the ponds and tree-lined avenue, as well as woodland and moorland, giving you the chance to discover many areas of the estate.

Total steps: 9

Total steps: 9

Start point

The car park at Lyme

Step 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.

Step 2

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.

Step 3

Head through the gate and continue ahead. As you continue along the path, look to your left for a wonderful view of the south front of the house with the Cage in the background.

A wonderful view of the house and Cage at Lyme
The view of the house from Knightlow Wood is something special | © National Trust/Garry Lomas Photography

Step 4

Continue along until you reach a gate ahead. Go through the gate onto the moor and turn left, then follow the path with the wall on your left.

Step 5

After a few hundred yards, turn left through the first gate you pass.

Step 6

Follow the footpath down through the wood until you reach a gate on your right that takes you in to Calves Croft. This will bring you out at the top of Lime Avenue with wonderful views down to the house. Please note that in this area, we ask visitors to stick to footpaths and that dogs remain on leads due to sensitive wildlife living in this area.

Step 7

Head down Lime Avenue and you will find the ponds on the left.

Step 8

Head to the bottom of Lime Avenue until you reach the fence to the garden. Turn right and follow the footpath around the perimeter of the garden until you reach Hampers Bridge. Cross the bridge and go through a gate into Turfhouse Meadow before turning left.

Step 9

Go through the next gate and follow the lane to a T-junction at which you turn left, passing the front of the old stable block. Continue downhill past the house to return to the car park, or alternatively go for a closer look at the gardens or house.

End point

The car park

Trail map

Map of Lime Avenue walk at Lyme
Lime Avenue walk map | © Crown copyright and database rights 2013 Ordnance Survey

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Visitors on the Lantern walk at Lyme Park, Cheshire with trees and a tower in the background
Trail
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A walk to the Lantern at Lyme 

Beautiful woodland and wonderful views await you on this self-led walk to Lantern Wood. On a clear day look out for Kinder Scout, the hills of Derbyshire and Yorkshire, Holme Moss and Winter Hill.

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Enjoy the magnificent views towards Cheshire and Manchester
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Paddock Cottage walk 

Take in impressive views of Cheshire and Greater Manchester on this pleasant walk to Paddock Cottage, in a tranquil area of Lyme Park estate.

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DistanceMiles: 1.25 (km: 2)

Get in touch

Disley, Stockport, Cheshire, SK12 2NR

Our partners

Cotswold Outdoor

We’ve partnered with Cotswold Outdoor to help everyone make the most of their time outdoors in the places we care for.

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