You can’t beat a good walk on a crisp day, of which we’re having many, and we’re so lucky to have such incredible beauty spots in our region to really breathe in the fresh air and enjoy the views. One such place is Alderley Edge, just tucked away in Cheshire, which has been named in the top 10 best UK winter walks with stunning views in The Guardian.
Although we know the name Alderley Edge as being the beautiful village with lovely houses, the ‘Edge‘ part actually overlooks the village, boasting views of the Cheshire plain, the northern Peak District, the hazy central Pennines, and, in the top corner, the distant sprawl of Manchester and Stockport. The newspaper described it as “like a luminous reward after a tramp through the dank and dark woods – especially in winter.”
The beauty spot is said to have inspired children’s author Alan Garner and he used it as a setting for his books The Weirdstone of Brisingamen and The Moon of Gomrath due to it the ancient site emitting an air of magic, mists and mysteries.And that sense of mystery is evident in the landscape to this day…
The Edge gives way to a surviving patch of oak forest, aptly providing light and shadow to the historical site. Since the 19th century, Alderley Edge has been associated with the legend of an underground sleeping army, guarded by the Wizard of the Edge. The legend makes for a fascinating read, and in short, according to the National Trust, goes like this:
There was once a farmer who had a milk-white mare. He decided to sell it and set off to Macclesfield Fair. As he reached Alderley Edge, the horse stopped and refused to move, no matter what the farmer did. He saw an old man standing by the side of the road, holding a staff in his hand.
The old man offered to buy the horse, but the farmer refused, thinking that he would get a better price at the market. The farmer went on to Macclesfield and although everyone praised the mare nobody would buy it. The farmer set off for home.
When he arrived at Alderley Edge the old man was waiting for him. This time he did agree to sell and the old man told the farmer to follow him.
He led the farmer along many paths until they came to a big rock. He touched the rock with his staff, and the rock split open to show a pair of iron gates. The old man told the farmer not to be afraid, but to come with him. The iron gates opened, and beyond them a passage went down into the hill.
The farmer followed the old man into the hill, leading the horse, and they came to a cavern. Inside the cavern were 140 knights in silver armour and beside all but one was a white horse. The old man said that the knights were waiting to fight the last battle of the world, but they needed one more horse.
The old man took the farmer’s mare and laid it down in enchanted sleep; then he showed the farmer into another cavern, which was filled with gold and silver and precious stones. He told the farmer that he was to take as much of the treasure as he could carry.
The wizard, as the farmer now knew him to be, led him back up the passage to the iron gates. When the farmer turned round, the wizard and the gates were gone.
Alderley Edge is also the oldest known metal-mining site in England, with mining activity at Alderley Edge for over 4,000 years, from early in the Bronze Age right through to the early 20th century. Alderley Edge also has a Roman mineshaft, believed to date from the 1st century AD, and a pot of Roman coins was found in this shaft that dates from the 4th century AD.
All of this lore culminates to create a mystical, fascinating place, and with winter walks for all abilities strewn across Alderley Edge, there are plenty of ways to discover its history. One of these is the Stormy Point and Castle Rock circular walk, an easy-going route which is suitable to most abilities.
This is a lovely area full of crossing tracks so it doesn’t matter if you wander off a specific route, you will always find your way around. There are lots of interesting things for kids to see and learn from: caves, ancient mines and fantastic views from the Edge. Some parts can get rather muddy during wetter months, so best to come prepared with appropriate footwear and layers for full enjoyment.
You can find more information on walks and the area on the National Trust website and All Trails.