Lyme Park Circular Walk | 4.5 Miles
Lyme Park is a beautiful mix of historic gardens, rolling moors, and woodland trails, making it perfect for an Autumn wander. We did a 4.5-mile loop taking in The Cage, the quirky folly known as The Lantern in Lantern Wood, and wandered across the surrounding moors with views stretching for miles. Along the way, we spotted the Bow Stones, the remains of ancient wayside crosses.
This Lyme Park circular walk starts from the car park at Lyme Park. We had to pay as we’re not National Trust members so it cost £20 for a family ticket to the grounds and gardens.
From the car park, we set off up the hillside to the main house itself. Opposite the house is a grassy track which leads up to The Cage, on Cage Hill. It was originally a hunting lodge and was later used as a park-keeper’s cottage and as a lock-up for prisoners. Nowadays this Grade II* listed building is empty but enjoys amazing views for miles around.
Dropping down the hill, we crossed the stream and walked at the edge of the Deer Sanctuary. We saw the deer but from a distance! We joined the main track running through the park and climbed a stile onto the moors, heading uphill to Lantern Wood.
Climbing another huge stile into the woods themselves, we had a short walk before discovering The Lantern, a quirky little tower hidden away in the woods.
We retraced our steps over the stile and back down the hill to the track, and followed this to East Lodge. Leaving the park we followed the footpath over the fields to a stream. The path runs alongside a wall and through the farmyard at Cock Knoll Farm before heading to the main road. Just before the road we turned down the track to Dissop Head Farm, and followed this lane to the Bow Stones.
The Bowstones or Bow Stones are a pair of Anglian cross shafts and legend has it that Robin Hood used to use them to string his bow.
From the Bow Stones we followed the Gritstone Trail down the hillside to Knightslow Wood, and walked through the woods back to the car park.
This was a lovely Autumn walk, and if you’re a National Trust member who doesn’t have to pay for parking it’s even better! We made the most of our ticket by exploring the grounds of Lyme Park afterwards – Pemberley looked lovely in the Autumn sun.
Lyme Park Circular Walk Details:
Walk Map (Opens in OS Maps): Lyme Park Circular Walk Map
Parking: Lyme Park, Disley, Stockport, Cheshire, SK12 2NR W3W:///fairway.essential.deck. Free for National Trust members, £20 for a family ticket to the grounds and gardens for non members.
Dogs: Dog friendly.
Facilities: There are toilets in the cafe in the house.
Walk Time: 2-3 hours
Difficulty: ▲▲
Distance: 4.5 miles (7.2km)
Elevation: 875ft (267m)
Trig Points Bagged: None
Peak District Peaks Bagged: None
Peak District Ethels Bagged: None
You might also like Chatsworth Walk | 8 Miles or Three Monuments Circular Walk From Chatsworth | 7.5 Miles. To visit the nearby Sponds Hill trig point you might like Eccles Pike Walk via Sponds Hill and Black Hill | 12 Miles
