Marple (England)

The junction of the Peak Forest and Macclesfield Canals in Marple

Marple is a small town in Greater Manchester.

Understand

Marple, in the Borough of Stockport, has a population of around 23,000 and stands above the valley of the River Goyt. The junction of the Peak Forest Canal and the Macclesfield Canal is within the town's boundaries.

Get in

By train

Marple has two railway stations:

• 🌍 Marple. Half-hourly trains from Manchester Piccadilly (21 min), New Mills Central (8 min) and less frequently from Sheffield (1 hr) 
• 🌍 Rose Hill Marple. Half-hourly trains from Manchester Piccadilly (29 min); useful for the Middlewood Way 

By bus

• Stagecoach 358: Stockport–Marple–New Mills–Hayfield/Glossop, hourly (Timetable)
• Stagecoach 383: Stockport–Offerton–Marple–Bredbury–Stockport, every 15–30 minutes (Timetable)
• Stagecoach 384: Stockport–Bredbury–Marple–Offerton–Stockport, every 15–30 minutes (Timetable)

By car

On A626 Stockport–Glossop road; from M60 Junction 7 follow A6 south (signposted Buxton) then A626 (signposted Marple). Various pay-and-display car parks (30p per 2 hours, £1.50 per day). There is free parking at Co-operative store.

Get around

See

• 🌍 Brabyn's Park, Brabyn's Brow (left of main road just below the main railway station). The former estate of Brabyn's Hall, featuring riverside walks, a dog's graveyard and a BMX/mountain bike track. Free. 

Marple Aqueduct

• 🌍 Marple Aqueduct (Peak Forest Canal) (turn right out of the station, then from the bridge on the main Station Road walk north along canal towpath (opp. St Martin's Road) for 1 mile). Passing part of the Marple Flight, a flight of 16 locks, a pleasant and undemanding one-mile walk along the Peak Forest Canal towpath leads to the impressive aqueduct (built 1794–1800) over the River Goyt; return via Brabyn's Park/River Goyt by way of variation. Free. 

Do

• 🌍 Fishing at Roman Lakes, Lakes Rd, off Arkwright Rd (turn left out of station, right along Arkwright Rd, then left along Paywood Dr/Lakes Rd; c.1 mile). Angling, birdwatching, mountain-biking, canoeing by arrangement. Pleasant riverside walks in area. £5 per rod. 
• 🌍 Middlewood Way, Railway St (adj Rose Hill Marple station, off B6101 Stockport Rd), ☎ [phone], e-mail: [e-mail]. 11-mile former railway track converted for walkers, cyclists and horse riders; leads via Higher Poynton (for Lyme Park) and Bollington to Macclesfield. Return possible via Macclesfield Canal towpath. Free. 

Buy

The main shopping street is the pedestrianised Market Street, with a good range of independent shops plus a few of the usual chain stores.

Eat

• 🌍 All Things Nice, 48–50 Market St, ☎ [phone]. Excellent reasonably priced, home-made hot and cold food, coffee, good friendly service, interesting deli. 

Drink

• 🌍 Ring O' Bells, 130 Church Lane (at junction of Church St and Church Lane, on Macclesfield Canal close to its intersection with Peak Forest Canal), ☎ [phone]. Traditional Robinson's pub with friendly young staff, snug rooms around the bar and good reasonably priced food. Canalside garden, live music and an active connection with local brass bands. Bed and breakfast available. 
• 🌍 Rock Tavern, Glossop Road, Marple Bridge, ☎ [phone]. 

Sleep

• 🌍 Oakfield Lodge, 38 Arkwright Road (short walk downhill from Marple Station; turn right into Arkwright Rd and guesthouse is on left), ☎ [phone], e-mail: [e-mail]. £50 single (per night), £75 double (inc. breakfast). 

Connect

Go next

• Stockport
• New Mills
• Whaley Bridge
• Buxton
• Glossop