ALAN NEWTON WAY

A trail so idyllic it’s hard to believe you’re a literal stone’s throw away from the M60…

Start: Pear Mill, SK6 2BP

Distance: 5.18 miles

Duration: 2 hours

Elevation: 200 feet

Navigation: follow the route here

Having lived in Greater Manchester most of our lives, it always amazes us when we stumble across new-found territory just a stone’s throw away from our old stomping grounds. The Alan Newton Way is one of them!

Named after Stockport’s Olympic medal-winning cyclist, The Way provides a safe off-road route from Marple to Stockport via the Goyt Valley and towards the town centre.

Expect quiet, old farm lanes, a forgotten hall and a wonderful little detour back through the Woodbank’s woodland. We stopped off at Chadkirk for a quick refuel and a wander around Marple Garden Centre.

Starting the route from this end means you’ll be able to have a pitstop at Pear Mill’s Vintage Emporium - a must-visit for anyone yet to have a nosey.

To extend the route, you can follow the Way to Etherow Country Park, or join up with the Middlewood Way at Chadkirk.

For us, the highlight came in discovering Goyt Hall Farm, one of Stockport’s many small halls… but due to its remote location, one of the prettiest. This Grade II listed half timbered mansion-house was built around the same time as the popular Bramall Hall. Today, it’s a working farm and stables surrounded by gorgeous bluebell-dotted woods and fields.

Fancy giving this trail a go? You can follow our route step-by-step here