Quarry Bank By Bike

  • 16.6 miles
    26.7 km
  • 496 ft
    151 m
  • Allow
    1 hr 40 mins
  • Difficulty
  • Route Map

Quarry Bank By Bike will soon be disappearing to make way for a brand new, longer loop spinning out to Styal via cycle paths across the southerly tips of Stockport and Manchester.

Turn off the A555 and pedal back in time to the Industrial Revolution with this simple cycle route through the Styal Estate to Quarry Bank, making the National Trust cotton mill, gardens and redbrick workers cottages an easy spin from much of south Manchester and Stockport.

Route details

Not long ago, a visit to Quarry Bank Mill from Stockport and the east felt almost like a far-flung day trip, the stuff of school trips and feverishly-packed lunches, and would’ve been a serious navigational challenge by bike.

Then the A555 “Manchester Airport relief road” ploughed across the southern edge of Greater Manchester, suddenly bringing east so much closer to west and linking straight to Styal. As a small sop to its grey blight on the landscape, a cycle route of sorts was kindly provided along the full length. So why not leave the car at home and power your own day out?

Looking towards Quarry Bank Mill from within its adjoining gardens (entry fee required), next to the raging River Bollin.
Looking towards Quarry Bank Mill from within its adjoining gardens (entry fee required), next to the raging River Bollin.

This route takes in almost the full A555 Hazel Grove to Manchester Airport cycle route before showing you how to quickly and simply reach the cobbled streets of Styal and the industrial history now cared for by the National Trust, who’ve handily installed loads of cycle parking racks awaiting your arrival.

Situated right alongside the River Bollin, Quarry Bank Mill is of international importance thanks to its completely unspoilt, preserved mill estate built in phases from 1784. Giant waterwheels provided the raw kinetics to spin cotton brought from the port of Liverpool via the Bridgewater Canal, with innovations including the power loom of the 1830s bringing an end to small-scale hand weaving.

Enormous, dangerous cotton spinning machines inside Quarry Bank Mill (entry fee required).
Enormous, dangerous cotton spinning machines inside Quarry Bank Mill (entry fee required).

Many workers were drawn from a child apprentice scheme. Though considered a relatively better option (certainly than workhouses), with bed, board and a little education provided, it was still a very tough life working incredibly long hours in dangerous conditions. The wider estate includes workers cottages, a church and the Apprentice House, all alongside this route.

The route uses a better part of the otherwise very poor Manchester Airport Orbital Cycleway, passing one of the runways of Manchester Airport at close proximity. The noise of jet engines miraculously falls away as you then dip into the Bollin valley and the still very rural, wooded Quarry Bank, just minutes from Manchester’s urban sprawl — by bike as well as car.

Route map

The route stats featured here are automatically generated by Komoot. For the most accurate guide, please refer to the route details above, based on actual rides recorded by Strava.

GPX Collection

Get over 60 carefully-crafted route navigation files in GPX, TCX and FIT formats, covering all the cycle routes featured plus combined rides and future unpublished rides. Get it here

Where to start

Like an unraveling bobbin, this route simply adds an easy loop onto the end of the linear A555 Hazel Grove to Manchester Airport cycle route, so you can start by joining that cycle path wherever is most convenient — there are numerous access points, from Hazel Grove, Poynton, Woodford, Bramhall, Handforth, Heald Green and elsewhere. See the guide to that route for more linking tips.

The mapped route begins at the eastern end between Hazel Grove and High Lane, where the shared foot/cycleway begins off the now quiet Buxton Road, the old part of the A6 bypassed by a new junction.

By train: You’ll pass right by Styal railway station on this route, though it’s less than half a mile from Quarry Bank, so not a great starting point for this one unless you’re just looking for how to make that link by bike. Middlewood railway station is closest to the start of the route; head towards Middlewood Road and Norbury Hollow Road to find the A555 (this is not exactly family-friendly).

By car: Of course the whole idea here is to leave your car at home for a journey so many people automatically drive for a day out, making the trip part of the adventure. But if you’re a bit too far away and you insist, there’s plenty of space to park along Buxton Road at the eastern end of the A555 or at Woodford Recreation Ground about halfway along.

Shop and support

Bikes, accessories and gear to start your next adventure. Simply buying through these links is a totally free way to support the cost of keeping Peaks & Puddles online. See more here.

  • Amazon
  • Cyclestore
  • Ribble
  • Ordnance Survey
  • Tredz
  • Wiggle

Things to note

  • The route through Styal involves mostly minor, quiet lanes with little traffic, making this a good first venture onto “road” cycling. It avoids the busy B5166 Styal Road south of the A555, which is always probably best avoided, except for one short point later where you cross almost directly over. Just wait for a good gap in traffic, or it’s short enough to walk across if you prefer.
  • Station Road leaving Styal is a little more well-used, though you’re only on it very briefly. Clay Lane on the other hand, a restricted byway, is bumpy in places and puddled after rain. After reaching Quarry Bank, you could just retrace your route back to the A555 and avoid this shorter route entirely.
  • If you’re planning to stop at Quarry Bank, a large number of cycle parking stands can be found right in front of the visitor welcome building — don’t forget your lock. A restricted byway open to cycling does continue down the main path into the mill estate, but as it can get busy with visitors it’s probably better to lock your bikes here if visiting.
  • See the A555 Hazel Grove to Manchester Airport cycle route guide for things to note about the main part of this route.

Route description

  1. Join the A555 Hazel Grove to Manchester Airport cycle route and follow it all the way to the Styal Road junction, just before the airport perimeter (Stage 9 in the separate guide).
A diagonal crossing of the A555 and Styal Road requires a convoluted route across endless islands - but at least you're separate from traffic.
A diagonal crossing of the A555 and Styal Road requires a convoluted route across endless islands – but at least you’re separate from traffic.
  1. At Styal Road we’re turning left (south) off the A555 onto part of the Manchester Airport Orbital Cycleway cycle route, however the shared path is on the opposite side of the road and this is a convoluted multi-stage junction. So first, continue straight ahead over Styal Road to the third island, then turn left to cross the A555 until you reach the shared pavement on the other side, turning left alongside a brick bridge parapet. Almost straight away you cross the entrance to a large airport car parking base, which requires care due to sometimes fast turning traffic. Alongside Styal Road, the shared path follows a bumpy parallel residential road before joining a smoother pavement.
Stopping to watch the aircraft at the perimeter of Manchester Airport.
Stopping to watch the aircraft at the perimeter of Manchester Airport.
  1. Soon enough, at the first side road, a signpost points the route off to the right down the mostly quiet and pleasant Moss Lane, lined by tall hedges. Follow this around until a hefty barbed wire fence announces your arrival at the perimeter of Manchester Airport. A gate at a break in the soil berm is a good place to stop and plane-spot for a few minutes, with a view across the flat expanse of the first runway to the control tower and terminal buildings.
At Style Methodist Church, the route continues to the right of the photo, on the left-most track known as Apprentice Lane.
At Style Methodist Church, the route continues to the right of the photo, on the left-most track known as Apprentice Lane.
  1. Continue following Moss Lane and you’ll come to a sharp bend in the road where the airport loop leaves us, behind a traditional black and white Cheshire fingerpost sign. We instead stay left and follow the meandering old Altrincham Road as it drops gently down into a dip and then enters Styal village. Along a road lined awkwardly with parked cars, look for the sign on the right for Norcliffe Chapel, then take the next right into the cobbled Apprentice Lane (ignoring the “No access to Quarry Bank” sign, for cars). This leads to a thatched cottage and redbrick Methodist church. A nice diversion along the footpath to the right leads to the mill estate’s workers cottages and the village’s restored cross. Otherwise, to continue, take the left-most lane from the church.
Take the earlier right turn for Norcliffe Chapel, or divert along the footpath opposite the Methodist Church on Apprentice Lane, to see the mill's preserved workers cottages.
Take the earlier right turn for Norcliffe Chapel, or divert along the footpath opposite the Methodist Church on Apprentice Lane, to see the mill’s preserved workers cottages.
  1. The cobbles give way to a smoother surface between picturesque fields and soon the white Apprentice House appears ahead. Large though it is, it’s unbelievable to think this late 1700s building could have housed almost 100 children at the height of the mill’s apprentice scheme, when young workers made up over half the workforce. The house can be visited on walking tours, bookable from the large new National Trust visitor welcome building now through the gate and down the byway to the right, which is also the way to head to the mill, gardens, shop and cafés.
A good quantity of uncovered cycle parking stands have been provided in front of the new visitor welcome building, the best place to leave your bike if you plan to visit inside the mill.
A good quantity of uncovered cycle parking stands have been provided in front of the new visitor welcome building, the best place to leave your bike if you plan to visit inside the mill.
  1. To head onwards from Quarry Bank, return to the Apprentice House and turn down Holt’s Lane opposite, with a tarmac surface and an open field on your right. Take care over a couple of sharp drainage dips. You soon approach a gate and a row of squat redbrick cottages, emerging into the modern world on Styal Road again. Here it’s a left turn then an immediate right turn across the fairly busy road, so it pays to wait for a good gap in traffic both ways. On Station Road, you pass the village’s railway station and continue onwards past several large detached Cheshire residences. As the road takes a sharp right soon after a golf club, instead continue straight ahead onto Clay Lane. This is a bumpy and often puddled restricted byway alongside farmland, but reasonable for an off-road jaunt. At the redbrick cottage, head left and the byway opens out again onto slightly better concrete. You soon emerge alongside a sedate row of bungalows on the edge of Handforth.
Clay Lane requires mudguards after wet weather, but otherwise it's not too bad for a forgotten byway.
Clay Lane requires mudguards after wet weather, but otherwise it’s not too bad for a forgotten byway.
  1. Approaching Wilmslow Road, carefully turn right out of Clay Lane across the entry slip road for the A555. Before the roundabout, use the dropped kerb on the left to join the shared pavement. Follow this to the left, across a bridge over the A555. Take care crossing the exit sliproad straight ahead then rejoin your outbound route, which means using the parallel zebra crossing to cross to the right, back over Wilmslow Road. Continue east on the shared path, following the A555 cycle route back to your starting point.

Found this guide helpful?

Please consider chipping in the price of a coffee to help pay the bills and support my work. It only takes a few seconds and you'll get access to exclusive supporter-only pages in return.

Gallery

Leaving Buxton Road at Simpson’s Corner to join the A555 cycleway.
Despite the 50mph speed limit and bends, there is no barrier protecting the shared path.
New chicane barriers installed in 2020 to slow down cycles now make the A555 route difficult or impossible for non-standard cycles - widening and separating the narrow path would’ve been better, surely?
A pleasant new tarmac path now opens out for a good distance.
Switching to the south of the A555, the cycle path is now well separated.
At Spath Lane, a sharp double-back takes the cycle route up over an existing bridge.
Near Stanley Green and Handforth, the route crosses an existing access bridge then runs along a pleasant green lane, quite separate from the road.
As if to give complete variety of crossings, at Wilmslow Road the route uses a parallel zebra crossing which always feels somewhat dicey as you hope drivers will give way.
Can’t be bothered to provide a proper crossing? An “end of route” sign solves everything. Take care at this dicey airport car parking entrance.
Looking back along the shared path on Styal Road, a road which would make for very unpleasant cycling otherwise. We could do with Cheshire East adding similar across the county...
The shared path on Styal Road joins Moss Lane. Take care to check for vehicles before joining.
Moss Lane on the Manchester Airport Orbital Cycleway is a fairly quiet lane with tall hedgerows hiding airport parking.
Approaching the perimeter of Manchester Airport, the runway control tower comes into view.
Looking over Manchester Airport from the Airport Orbital Cycleway route on Moss Lane.
The junction of Moss Lane and Altrincham Road. Stay on the tarmac road, to the left.
For Quarry Bank Mill, follow the signs to Styal Country Park, to the left.
A traditional Cheshire fingerpost at the junction of Moss Lane and Altrincham Road points the way to Styal village.
There’s a very short little climb from the dip in Altrincham Road before you enter Styal, usually hectic with parked cars.
Look out for the turning on the right signposted Norcliffe Chapel. You can turn here for a very bumpy cobbled entrance, or at the next right turn. Both are linked by a footpath.
The almost-hidden turning for Styal Methodist Church is the best route to access Apprentice Lane and Quarry Bank Mill by bike.
Apprentice Lane and Styal’s main village hub are linked by this footpath.
Styal Cross was only recently restored and re-sited here to stand at the heart of the village, having been moved from one farm to another and demolished in a car accident...
This short footpath links Apprentice Lane to Styal’s cross and workers cottages. It’s not designated for cycling, so dismount if necessary.
The cobbled Apprentice Lane in Styal village.
Looking across the picturesque fields from Apprentice Lane, between Styal Village and the Apprentice House.
Looking back across wet winter fields to Styal village on Apprentice Lane.
The Apprentice House once housed up to around 90 children as part of the mill’s “apprentice” scheme. The welcome building can be access by going either straight ahead into the car park or to the right, down a byway open to cycling.
The National Trust recently invested in a new visitor welcome building and expanded car park at Quarry Bank, perhaps in anticipation of new visitors arriving along the A555. Buck the trend and arrive by bike!
A byway open to cycling continues down to the mill itself, well worth a diversion, though do take it steady as this can get very busy with pedestrians.
Quarry Bank Mill itself can be viewed for free, from the outside at least, from the byway which passes straight through the mill’s land.
The National Trust’s main mill area has everything you’d expect, including a gift shop, book shop, cafe and ice cream parlour.
Bobbins.
Keep your hands to yourself… one of the mighty power looks inside Quarry Bank Mill (entry fee required).
The Kitchen Garden, beautiful restored glasshouses and modern cafe at Quarry Bank are well worth a diversion too. (Entry fee required)
The Apprentice House once housed up to around 90 children as part of the mill’s “apprentice” scheme.
Holts Lane is a perfect traffic-free byway leading out of the estate back into modern-day Styal.
Leaving the Quarry Bank estate and approaching the main Style Road at a row of squat redbrick cottages.
From Holts Lane, turn left then immediately right into Station Road - you might be waiting a while for a good gap in traffic.
On Station Road, you appropriately enough pass Styal railway station.
Where Station Road bends sharply, continue straight ahead into Clay Lane, a restricted byway.
At the redbrick cottage on Clay Lane, take the lane to the left.
A view opens out from Clay Lane to as far away as Kinder Scout - at least until this land is likely filled with houses.
Emerging into a genteel and somewhat odd suburbia on the edge of Handforth, still on Clay Lane.
At the end of Clay Lane, take care crossing the entry slip road to the A55b and it’s an easy right turn into the empty lane beyond, signposted B5358.
Join the shared pavement to the left via the dropped kerb before the roundabout and follow it over the bridge.
Carefully cross the exit slip road, then proceed back to the parallel zebra crossing, following the A555 route again in reverse back to the start.

See more photos of the A555 section of the route on the A555 Hazel Grove to Manchester Airport cycle route guide.

Further reading

Quarry Bank by National Trust
An official guidebook to the sprawling National Trust estate with plenty of photographs, stories and history about Styal’s mill and its workers.

Children of the Mill: True Stories from Quarry Bank by David Hanson
Focusing on the lives of the apprentices at Quarry Bank Mill, David Hanson’s book uses a wealth of first-person source material including letters, diaries, mill records, to tell the stories of the children who lived and worked at Quarry Bank throughout the nineteenth century.

Useful links

  • Quarry Bank
    Official National Trust website with opening hours, prices and history.

The all-important disclaimer: While great care and attention has been put into gathering these routes, ensuring details are accurate and determining their suitability, all information should be used as a guide only and is not a replacement for using your own judgement or research when setting out on new adventures. Peaks & Puddles cannot be held responsible for any problems you may encounter.

Always ensure your equipment is safe for use and that you are well prepared, carrying everything necessary including access to a good map. Follow the Highway Code and the Countryside Code at all times. Respect the landscape, the wildlife and the people you encounter. But most importantly, have fun!