Vernon Park
Flat and paved paths. Ample benches along the way.
Cafe and toilets available at Vernon Park Museum, during opening times.
How to get here
Buses
Bus routes 330, 364, 380, 381, 382, 383, 384, 386 run near to the park from Stockport.
Car park
Car parking is available off Newbridge Lane and at Woodbank car park, off Turncroft Lane next to the Community Centre.
Short walk
Start this 0.6km circular walk from either the Turncroft Lane car park or the main car park on Little Moor Lane. It takes in some of the main features of the park on flat and paved paths, with ample benches along the way. It's a relaxed and accessible way to experience the park.
The walk goes in a triangular loop by the orchard, Woodbank Hall and the Animal War Memorial.
From the Little Moor Lane car park
From the Little Moor Lane car park head onto Park Lane and follow the main paved path into the park. The path immediately passes several landmarks:
- Woodbank Community Food Hub on the right. Here can buy locally grown vegetables, as well as healthy food to feed the ducks at the duck pond
- the brown gate to the duck pond is further along on the right. This also leads to a quiet and reflective space
- opposite the gate to the duck pond is We G.R.O.W. and Stockport Growing in Partnership community gardens. Here you can buy plants and seeds
- after the community gardens a path leads off to the left. This takes you to the orchard. Here you'll find apples, pears and plums growing. It also marks the first corner of the triangular loop
Continue through the orchard along the same path. You'll reach Woodbank Hall, the second corner of the triangle. At Woodbank Hall turn left along the main paved path. After passing unpaved paths into the trees on your right, you'll see a path join the main paved path from the left. This will take you to the Animal War Memorial and marks the third corner of the triangle.
Make your way back to the main paved path. Before re-joining the main path, you'll see an ice cream van selling hot drinks, and a playground, both on your right. Continue your walk along the path until you reach the orchard and community gardens to complete the triangular loop.
Turn right to find the Park Lane entrance.
From the Turncroft Lane car park
From the Turncroft Lane car park follow the paved path from the park entrance to the Animal War Memorial. From here you can loop around the orchard and Woodbank Hall before following the path back past the Animal War Memorial all the way to the car park.
Extension to short walk
Try a slightly longer walk on more varied terrain. This walk is around 2km and should take around 30 minutes.
Turn off the main path that connects the orchard and Woodbank Hall, down a sloping paved path known as Cow Lane. Follow the Cow Lane path round as it curves to the left. In the valley you may see wild elderflower growing by the path.
Continue along the path as it becomes a gravel surface, and through the meadow, until you reach Arden Bridge. Do not cross the bridge. Take the path to the right of the bridge along the bank of the River Goyt. This path is flat but unpaved and may be muddy in wet conditions.
Follow the path with the river on your left. You may see wild garlic growing on the riverbank. Continue following the path as it curves to the right, past Nab Weir.
Leading away from the river, the path will re-join the Cow Lane path at roughly the point where it becomes paved. Follow the paved path back around and up the slope to re-join the main triangular loop. Turn right to go towards Woodbank Hall or left towards the orchard.
If you're comfortable with unpaved paths there's also a flat but unpaved path that leads directly from the Animal War Memorial to the Turncroft Lane car park.