JAN25: Sight Seeing Around Styal & Quarry Bank Mill
14 people attending
6 places left
GET SOCIAL THIS JANUARY! This event is one of loads of events taking place over the same weekend! Check out all the events over the weekend of 17-19 January 2025: OutdoorLads.events/JAN25. Great for new and regular members!
Join Ian on this beginners friendly walk around the picturesque village of Styal in Cheshire. Styal has a long history dating back to the 1820’s and were built to house the workers of nearby Quarry Bank Mill : the most complete and least altered factory colony of the Industrial Revolution - owned by the National Trust.
As we meander through the village we’ll pass historic quaint thatched cottages and paddocks. The walk takes us through some of the 400 acres of Styal Estate, which border the nearby runways of Manchester Airport (fancy a bit of plane spotting).
This walk will take in the perimeter of the airport and once we cross the River Bollin (passing the Bollin tunnel we head upto the southside of the airport. Once at the top of the wood here the airfield opens up in front of us, where we’ll see aircraft landing & departing.
From here we continue along tracks and fields as we loop back towards the River Bollin making our way through Styal Estate, as we follow the River Bollin through woodland, arriving at the grounds of Quarry Bank Mill.
Once at Quarry Bank Mill (and if time allows) for those interested you may wish to visit the 18th Century Cotton Mill and Gardens. If you have NT membership then please bring your cards with you to gain free admission.
For information please visit http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/quarry-bank/
The last part of the walk continues along the River Bollin before returning back to Styal Village with an optional pub stop at the Ship Inn.
The walk is along gravel and woodland/field tracks & is approximately 7 miles including stops & lunch.
Participation Statement
You MUST complete a Participation Statement, in addition to booking your event space before attending an OutdoorLads event. You only need to complete this Participation Statement once, not for each event you attend.
Photos: All photos taken by the leader and permission granted for use.
Well behaved dogs are welcome.
What to bring
Boots: Hiking boots are the most essential piece of kit when hiking just about anywhere. You should make sure that your boots are both waterproof and breathable, and provide good ankle support.
Socks: Good walking socks are essential to keep the feet warm and dry, and to prevent the development of blisters. Sports socks and other socks not designed for walking may become waterlogged, or damaged, which will in turn blister your feet.
Gaiters: Gaiters attach to the bottom of walking boots and extend to just under the knee. They provide waterproofing for the bottom half of the leg, and are essential in keeping feet dry.
Walking Trousers: Walking trousers should be windproof and made of a rip stop material that will stand up to walking through ferns and undergrowth. Ideally, they should also be water resistant, or at least not gain weight, and lose their insulation properties when wet. Jeans should be avoided, as they are heavy when wet and provide no protection from the elements.
Waterproof Trousers: Waterproof trousers are essential in keeping the legs dry, as water resistant trousers will not keep out any significant rainfall. You should look for waterproof trousers that are breathable to avoid sweating too much.
Base Layer: A breathable base layer should let sweat escape from the body. This should ideally consist of a breathable synthetic, specially designed fabric, though a cotton t-shirt would suffice.
Mid Layer: A mid-layer goes on top of the base layer and ideally should be made from a 100 weight micro fleece, or a rugby jersey style thick shirt. The layering system is important as it allows walkers quickly to adapt to changes in the weather, as well as body temperature.
Outer Layer: The outer layer should consist of a windproof jacket or a thick fleece. This is the final layer and you should ensure that this layer provides ample warmth.
Waterproof Jacket: A good waterproof jacket is one of the most important pieces of kit you will need when hiking. You should look for a jacket that is both waterproof and breathable - although not cheap, a good quality Gore-tex jacket is a sensible investment.
Hat and Gloves: depending on the conditions, also consider a windproof hat and gloves if the budget will stretch a little.
Please feel free to message me if your unsure about the kit list.
Food & drink
Please bring a packed lunch with you as we won’t be near any shops.
Once at Quarry Bank Mill their is a cafe for refreshments
Bring a warm flask if you wish, enough Water, isotonic drinks/juice
Energy bars/snacks
Earlams cafe in the village, if you arrive early & wish to grab something before we set off - earlams.co.uk