Quarry Bank Mill Garden & Apprentice House Garden, Quarry Bank Mill, Styal, Wilmslow, Cheshire, SK9 4LA

Tel: 01625 527468

In a quiet wooded valley just a mile or so from all things modern at Manchester Airport, there's a fascinating place that'll transport you back to the turn of the century - the turn of the 18th to the 19th century, that is.

See the in-depth feature and photo galleries about the Apprentice House and Garden on gardeningmasterclass.co.uk.

Opening times (2010):

Estate: all year, 7.00-18.00, daily. (to be confirmed)

Apprentice House: 1 Jan - 28 Feb, Wed - Sun, 11.00 - 16.00; 1 Mar - 31 Oct, daily, 11.00-17.00; 3 Nov - 12 Dec, Wed-Sun, 11.00-16.00; 18 - 19 Dec, Sat-Sun 11.00-16.00; 26 - 31 Dec, daily, 11.00-16.00 (timed tickets available from mill on arrival)

Apprentice House Garden: open at same times as the Apprentice House.

Quarry Bank Garden: 1 Mar - 31 Oct, daily, 11.00-17.00; 26 - 31 Dec, 11.00 - 15.00.

Mill: 1 Jan - 28 Feb, Wed - Sun, 11.00 - 16.00; 1 Mar - 31 Oct, daily, 11.00-17.00; 3 Nov - 12 Dec, Wed-Sun, 11.00-16.00; 18 - 19 Dec, Sat-Sun 11.00-16.00; 26 - 31 Dec, daily, 11.00-16.00 (last admission 1 hour before closing).

Open 15-16 Feb, bank holiday Mons, Boxing Day, New Year's Day.

Closed 24/5 December.

Facilities:

Refreshments at the mill.

Admission fee (2010):

Standard admission quoted - an extra donation of around £1 is welcomed.

Apprentice House Garden: free

Mill, Apprentice House, and Quarry Bank Garden: Adult £12.89, child £6.40, family £32.16.

Mill and Apprentice House or garden: Adult £9.54, child £4.77, family £22.90.

Garden only: Adult £4.54, child £2.27, family £11.36.

Mill only: Adult £6.68, child £3.53, family £16.90.

Garden upgrade: Adult £3.18, child £1.59, family £7.95.

Estate: £4.00 (to park your car); no charge for pedestrians or cyclists.

Free garden upgrade if arrive by cycle or public transport.

Possibly discounted combined rail, bus and entry tickets, enquire at your local station.

From the cycleway:

The Cheshire Cycleway passes about 3 miles to the west of Styal. From Davenport Lane/Newley Hall Lane, take Burleyhurst Lane eastwards towards Morley Green. At Morley Green, turn left into Morley Green Road. At the junction with the A538 (Altrincham Road), turn left onto the cycle path. Follow this alongside the main road until a roundabout, where you should turn right (there's a cycle route sign to Styal). At the gate across the road, turn right then immediately left onto a bridleway through a field. This leads via an uphill zig-zag to a track that takes you to the airport perimeter. Turn right onto this and continue to Styal village. At the T junction, turn right into Hollin Lane. After passing Station Rd on the left, turn right by the side of some cottages (signposted 'restricted byway'). Follow this traffic-free route down to the gardens and the mill.

Find this place marked in the centre of this map.

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