Rookery Wood Walk
Table of contents
The Rookery Wood Walk is a 7.7 km circuit in Cheshire that will take you through beautiful stretches of open farmland terrain to eventually pass through Rookery Wood. Once there, walkers will be able to explore the woodland landscape and experience the near-magical atmosphere that can be found here. With a starting point at the Wincle Brewery, breathtaking scenery, and a finish near The Ship Inn, there are more than enough highlights on this walk to keep even the least inclined members of your walking party interested.
Route Description for Rookery Wood Walk
The walk to Rookery Wood in Peak District NP is a fun adventure through the picturesque Cheshire countryside that walkers of every skill level can enjoy. However, there are a few things to consider before setting out on your journey. Free-roaming livestock are present during portions of this walk, so make sure to keep your dogs on a load in order to prevent any altercations. Additionally, there are several stiles along the route that are too high for dogs to cross, requiring owners to lift them across. Make sure to wear decent footwear for the journey, and the open farmland and forest terrain can be a bit wet at times.
Setting out from the Wincle Brewery, follow the trail to the southwest along the River Dane, where you will eventually pass by a trout farm. Continue following the banks of the river until the path pulls away from the river’s edge in a westward direction that will take you through Whitelee Wood for a short stretch. After passing through the cover of the trees, continue west through the fields until you reach a trail junction on the edge of Whiteridges Wood. Turn right here and follow the trail north.
Continuing along the trail, you will eventually enter into the wonderfully atmospheric Rookery Wood. Take some time to appreciate the tranquil setting as you walk amongst the mature trees and eventually exit the wood and pass by a farm on your left. Follow the track as it meets up with a lane and turns south on the return to the village of Wincle. Feel free to stop in at The Ship Inn for some post-walk refreshments or continue on towards the brewery where you began your journey.
Other amazing walks in Peak District National Park
Check out our guides to Kinder Scout, Mam Tor, Stanage Edge, Dovedale, and Padley Gorge. Or see all of our Peak District walks on 10Adventures.
Getting to the Rookery Wood Walk Trailhead
To reach the trailhead for the Rookery Wood Walk from Sutton, drive south along Hollin Lane for 4.3 km and continue onto the A54. After 0.5 km, turn right onto Barlow Hill and follow it for 1.8 km, before turning left. After another 0.8 km, make a right towards the Wincle Brewery, where you will find the trailhead.
Route Information
When to do:
March-November
Backcountry Campsites:
No
Pets allowed:
Yes - On Leash
Family friendly:
Yes
Route Signage:
Average
Crowd Levels:
Moderate
Route Type:
Circuit
Rookery Wood Walk Elevation Graph
Weather Forecast
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