Giants Bridge Loop

Styal Village

You will pass through Styal village first on this route. An old village built by the local mill owner for the employees of the mill. The cottages are mostly brick built of the iconic industrial age design. Though built mostly in the 1820s, the village can be dated back as far as 120. It has a couple small shops and a pub that serves the locals and hikers alike.

The Chapel and Cross

Passing through the village, you will come across Norcliffe Chapel. A beautiful church nestled in the surrounding farmland and woods. Norcliffe Chapel has a pleasantly open philosophy and welcome people of all creeds. The grounds are well-kept, and provide what I imagine being a peaceful area for contemplation.

Across the way is Styal Cross. The base of the cross is thought to be medieval, but the cross itself is a modern redesign. Being that old, the original meaning of the cross is lost, but objects like this were often waymarkers for travellers.

The Chapel Woods

Passing the Chapel, you enter Chapel Woods. Though obviously little effort was put in the name, great effort has been put into the woods' maintenance. In the 1830s, the woods were planted with non-native species, like California Redwoods and Monkey Puzzles. This makes it a great area to explore the woodland habitat and see how local fauna interacts with new flora.

The path on the left takes you down the stream to Chapel Bridge. A beautiful spot with an ornate stone bridge crossing the stream. The path snakes down some steps towards the river.

River Bollin and the Boardwalk

After meeting the river, you turn right, following the River Bollin downstream. It is a beautiful walk within a river and woodland setting. There is plenty of wildlife in the area, particularly for birdwatchers.

Part way along is a boardwalk. This stretch of the path is part of the Bollin Valley Way. This area is a very old woodland, as seen from the size of trees. The ivy provides most of the ground cover here, and some of the older fallen trees are now completely covered. It's a great area for seeing well managed woodland habitats.

The path follows the river for a couple kilometres. It crosses Giant's Castle Bridge, which has a steep walk up some stairs. The path brings you out alongside farmland and rolling meadows.

Runway Viewpoint

At the furthest point, you will find the airport. Here you walk a short distance along the boundary of the airport, where you will find a viewing platform. Platform is a strong word. It is a large bank with a good view. It is a drastic change in scenery, but an interesting view, and a good spot to have a break.

Turning Back

From here, you will loop back around, passing through bridleways and farmland. You'll double back a short way along the Bollin Valley Way. However, you will take a right, tracing the edge of the woodland out towards Bank House Farm.

From here, you follow the path back towards Quarry Bank Mill.

Quarry Bank Mill

Following the river upstream, you will pass over Kingfisher Bridge, and under the gardens. Here you can spot otters if you pay close attention, and there are kingfishers and other birds for the keen eyed walker to spot.

The walk takes you through to the mill proper. The mill is maintained by the National Trust. It has a café and toilets. The mill runs guided visits or just open exploration. The volunteers there are extremely knowledgable and friendly. The mill and house there are well worth exploring in their own right.

Laureen's Ride

Heading back, you will walk up a steep but well paved hill. Turning left at the Welcome Building will take you along farmland and past the beautiful Apprentice House. Interestingly, the fencing you see here are built with a traditional method. The whole atmosphere feels like walking back in time 200 years. At least until a very modern tractor drives past.

From here you walk down Laureen's Ride bridleway back to Styal. Laureen's Ride is a route named after a popular local Horse Rider. A point of pride for anyone associated with the local riding community. Although you will only walk a short part of the route, its beauty is easy to appreciate. At the end of the bridleway, you will find an excellent example of brick terracing.

From here you can return to the station, or head to The Ship Inn for a refreshing drink.