Throughout Cheshire are dozens of charming villages where you can stumble across cosy pubs, pretty cottages and gorgeous countryside. One of these lies just a stone’s throw away from Greater Manchester - and could have been Greater Manchester, if it hadn't turned the option down.
Disley is located south of Stockport, on the edge of the Peak District. It sits on the Manchester to Buxton railway line, only half an hour’s train journey from Manchester.
Unlike many towns and villages which were encompassed into Greater Manchester in 1972, Disley firmly remained part of Cheshire. Then in 2009 when the old Macclesfield Borough Council was abolished, a referendum was held asking residents if they would prefer the village to be under the new Cheshire East Council, the Stockport borough council or the High Peak borough council.
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The residents decided against joining Greater Manchester or Derbyshire and the result was overwhelmingly in favour of remaining in Cheshire - although the village does have a Stockport postcode.
Thanks to its location on the Derbyshire border, Disley's close to some of the UK's most scenic countryside. There are plenty of picturesque walks to be done nearby, which really come into their own in the autumn.
The village is the starting point of the Gritstone Trail, a 35-mile long distance path which begins at the back of Disley station and stretches all the way to Mow Cop. The route passes through a range of landscapes, from rugged moorland to rocky outcrops.
If you fancy a challenge then it takes three days to complete the trail in full, or you can tackle smaller sections for a shorter walk. Either way it makes for a great walk on a crisp autumn day.
Just south of Disley is Lyme Park, a 1,400 acre estate operated by the National Trust. At the heart of the estate is the Grade I listed house, which is one of the oldest in Cheshire.
If it looks familiar, it’s because the exterior was used as Pemberley, Mr Darcy’s home in the BBC’s 1995 adaptation of Pride and Prejudice. It’s probably most well-known for Colin Firth’s wet shirt scene - although the lake which features in the scene is different to the one in front of the house.
You can easily spend a day exploring the estate’s vast grounds, which feature formal gardens, woodland and moorland walks. The grounds feature several historic structures and follies which you can walk to, while the estate is also home to a herd of deer.
For a scenic walk with different views, pick up the towpath along the Peak Forest Canal, which lies north of the village. You can either head to the locks at Marple, or to New Mills Marina at Newton.
Of course, regardless of the walk you choose to take on in Disley, a visit to one of the village’s pubs is a must-do afterwards. Visitors are spoiled for choice; there’s The Rams Head Inn, which was formerly a lodge belonging to the Lyme Park estate, The White Horse, which features a beautifully designed interior, and the delightfully named Dandy Cock, to name but a few.
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