Walk Description

I haven’t been to Lyme Park since I was a child and as I didn’t want to travel too far from a main road Lyme Park was an ideal location.  This was a beautiful setting for a short walk.  The grounds were full of families enjoying the snow.
Lyme Hall is a National Trust property just off the A6 at Disley.  It is most famous as the setting for Pemberley in the BBC 1995 version of Pride and Prejudice.  When you turn off the A6 and into the grounds there is a mile long drive to the car park near the Hall.  Within the grounds are a number of slopes of varying severity and there were certainly plenty of people taking advantage of the snowy conditions. 

I left the car in the main car park and set out for the Cage.  This is a former hunting lodge that is situated on a small hill north of Lyme Hall.  It has an avenue of trees leading up to it.  Even though I was fairly close to the main house, the snow was still knee deep at times.  I then walked across the moor towards Lantern Wood.  Just before I reached the wood I met a group of people on a guided walk following the Gritstone Trail towards Disley.  Their brightly coloured jackets stood out against the mainly monochrome landscape.  I followed the foot prints through wood until I reached a clearing.  The Lantern (a belvedere) is in the middle of the clearing and has a good view down to Lyme Hall and also over to the Cage.  I spent a little while looking around the Lantern and then continued on my way through the woods. 

At the end of the path, there was an extremely icy ladder stile which I managed to climb without slipping.  I then followed some foot prints through the deep snow at the side of the wall and up to the ridge that would take me to Bowstones Gate.  When I reached the ridge the full force of the chilling wind hit me.  I took a few photographs of Kinder and Whaley Moor before sticking as close to the shelter of the ridge wall as possible.  I had intended to continue along the ridge to Sponds Hill, but I wasn’t too sure how much time I had left and so I decided to head down the permissive path to Knightslow Wood and back to Lyme hall.  Part way through Knightslow Wood there is a gap in the trees and you can see straight along an old drive way to Lyme Hall.  Judging by the other footprints that had left the main path and gone down to the wall, I wasn’t the only person who had been impressed by the view.

I left the wood and turned along the path leading to the car park.  Just over the estate wall from here was the Deer Park and I was lucky enough to see a number of the red and fallow deer feeding on the supplies of hay and other food.  A few minutes later I was back at the car.  I quickly put my things in the boot and then tried to move the car.  Unfortunately as I had feared the car wasn’t going any where, the wheels were just slipping on the ice.   Thankfully I was rescued by a couple of strong men from the car next to me.  They pushed the car clear of the worst of the ice and I managed to drive away.  It was now just after 3 pm and there were still plenty cars and pedestrians arriving.

The walk had taken approximately 2 1/4 hours, which had allowed me plenty of time for exploring and taking photographs.  I would also like to take this opportunity to thank my rescuers for helping me to get clear of the ice.

 

Route & Planning

Details and Route Map

Photo Opportunities

Walk Profile

The route map shown here should not be used as a replacement for the appropriate map(s). Before attempting the walk you should check the suitability of this route in relation to your capabilities and experience.