Three Counties Rail Ale Trail
The Three Counties Rail Ale Trail links Cheshire, Derbyshire and Greater Manchester by train, starting at Disley before continuing through New Mills, Marple, Romiley and Bredbury. The route includes 11 pubs and bars across six railway stops, with a mix of micropubs, brewery taps, traditional cask-focused bars and a couple of craft beer stops. Torrside Brewing is the one to plan carefully, as its brewery bar normally opens only on the last weekend of the month during the warmer months.
Choose a stop
6 rail stops • 11 pubs & bars • 3 counties
Disley — Malt Disley
New Mills Newtown — Torrside Brewing
New Mills Central — Torr Vale Tap • Beer Shed
Marple — The Samuel Oldknow • Bevi • Dig Inn • Traders
Romiley — Hop Haus • The Crafty Vendor
Bredbury — The Steel Works
Opening times, beer availability and train services can change, so please check before travelling.
1. Malt Disley, Disley
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Malt Disley opened in 2017 in a converted shop on Market Street. Inside, the bar is spread across two levels with a warm, compact feel and a good mix of seating, while a couple of tables sit outside at the front. The beer range is one of the main reasons to visit, with four changing cask ales usually available alongside a much wider keg and bottled selection. Disley station is only a short walk away, making this an easy place to begin or finish the trail.
Address: 22 Market Street, Disley, SK12 2AA
Opening: Mon 15:00–21:00; Tue–Thu 15:00–23:00; Fri–Sun 14:00–23:00
Beer: Four changing cask ales plus keg, cider and packaged beer.
2. Torrside Brewing, New Mills
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Torrside Brewing was founded in 2015 and operates from New Mills Marina, only a few minutes from New Mills Newtown station. The brewery is known for a broad range of pale, smoked and stronger beers, with the tap opening inside the working brewery. Cask and keg choices vary from event to event, and food traders often join the monthly openings. This is the stop that needs the most planning: the brewery bar normally opens only on the last weekend of each month during the warmer months.
Address: The Wharf Warehouse, New Mills Marina, New Mills, SK22 3JJ
Brewery Tap: Last weekend of the month in the warmer months — Fri 16:00–21:00; Sat 12:00–20:00. Bottle shop Mon–Wed 12:00–17:00 is takeaway only.
3A. Torr Vale Tap, New Mills
Torr Vale Tap occupies part of the Grade II* listed Torr Vale Mill beside the River Goyt. Inside, exposed stone, old industrial details and large windows keep plenty of the mill character, while the outdoor terraces overlook the river and the Torrs. The current beer range includes two changing cask ales alongside key-keg and keg choices, often featuring nearby Torrside Brewing. New Mills Central station is only a short walk away, although the route down into the gorge is quite steep.
Address: Torr Vale Mill, Torr Vale Road, New Mills, SK22 3HS
Opening: Mon–Tue closed; Wed 10:00–17:00; Thu–Sat 10:00–22:00; Sun 10:00–20:00
Beer: Two changing cask ales plus local key-keg and keg choices.
3B. Beer Shed, New Mills
Beer Shed opened in 2016 in a narrow former shop on Market Street and is now owned by Torrside Brewing. The small bar is arranged over two levels, with a compact seating area and more space towards the rear. Four changing cask ales are currently listed alongside a larger keg range, so there is usually plenty of choice despite the pub’s small size. New Mills Central station is only a few minutes away on foot.
Address: 47B Market Street, New Mills, SK22 4AA
Opening: Mon–Tue closed; Wed–Thu 16:00–22:30; Fri–Sat 14:00–22:30; Sun 14:00–21:30
Beer: Four changing cask ales and nine keg lines.
4A. The Samuel Oldknow, Marple
The Samuel Oldknow opened in 2016 in a former shop and takes its name from the local mill owner and industrialist closely linked with Marple’s development. The pub spreads over two floors, with a real fire, a covered outside area and a strong local beer focus. Six continuously changing cask ales are normally available alongside traditional cider and a wider bottled and keg selection. It is around a 15-minute walk from Marple station.
Address: 22 Market Street, Marple, SK6 7AD
Opening: Mon–Thu 13:00–23:00; Fri–Sun 12:00–23:00
Beer: Six changing cask ales plus real cider.
4B. Bevi, Marple
Bevi opened in a former shop on Market Street and sits directly beside The Samuel Oldknow. Inside, the bar has a modern open layout with seating at the front and a raised area towards the rear, while tables outside give extra space in warmer weather. CAMRA currently lists one regular and two changing cask ales, alongside a wider draught range. Its location makes it an easy second Marple stop without adding any extra walking.
Address: 24 Market Street, Marple, SK6 7AD
Opening: Mon 14:00–22:00; Tue–Thu 14:00–23:00; Fri–Sat 14:00–23:30; Sun 12:00–19:00
Beer: One regular and two changing cask ales.
4C. Dig Inn, Marple
Dig Inn combines a bar, café, record shop and gift shop on Stockport Road. The ground floor has a colourful modern look, with records and plants displayed around the seating, a small bar and a compact rear garden. It is a craft beer stop rather than a cask stop, with eight keg lines currently listed by CAMRA. It sits only a short walk from Traders, so the two work well together before heading back towards the railway.
Address: 72 Stockport Road, Marple, SK6 6AH
Opening: Mon–Thu 11:00–21:00; Fri–Sat 11:00–23:00; Sun 12:00–20:00
Beer: Eight keg lines; no cask ale.
4D. Traders, Marple
Traders, formerly Beer Traders, occupies an extended row of former shop units on Stockport Road. The interior is open plan with an industrial feel, colourful wall art and several seating areas, plus covered seating outside. Three changing cask ales are normally available alongside a much larger keg selection. Rose Hill Marple station is the nearer option from this end of town, although Marple station also works for the trail.
Address: 111–113 Stockport Road, Marple, SK6 6AF
Opening: Mon closed; Tue 15:30–22:00; Wed–Thu 15:30–23:00; Fri–Sat 13:00–23:30; Sun 13:00–22:00
Beer: Three changing cask ales plus 12 keg lines.
5A. Hop Haus, Romiley
Hop Haus opened in 2017 in a former shop and was previously known as Jake’s Ale House. The double-fronted room is bright and welcoming, with a smaller room towards the rear and pavement seating outside. Five changing cask ales are currently listed, alongside craft keg and cider, with an emphasis on independent and local breweries. Romiley station is only a couple of minutes away, making this one of the easiest stops on the route.
Address: 27 Compstall Road, Romiley, SK6 4BT
Opening: Mon–Wed 15:00–22:00; Thu–Sat 15:00–23:00; Sun 14:00–21:00
Beer: Five changing cask ales plus craft keg and cider.
5B. The Crafty Vendor, Romiley
The Crafty Vendor is a modern bar and bottle shop in Romiley precinct, specialising in craft beer alongside cocktails, coffee, whisky, wine and spirits. Inside, the bright bar has a contemporary finish, while an old bank vault remains as part of the building and outdoor seating is available. This is another craft-keg rather than cask stop, with eight keg beers currently listed by CAMRA. It is very close to Romiley station and sits almost opposite Hop Haus.
Address: 1 The Precinct, Romiley, SK6 4EA
Opening: Mon closed; Tue–Thu 12:00–22:00; Fri 12:00–00:00; Sat 11:00–00:00; Sun 11:00–22:00
Beer: Eight craft keg lines; no cask ale.
6. The Steel Works, Bredbury
The Steel Works opened in 2024 in a former pharmacy and takes its name from the old Bredbury steelworks. The interior includes industrial touches and local history displays linking the bar back to the area’s manufacturing past. Four changing cask ales are currently listed by CAMRA alongside keg beer and cider, with a small outdoor area giving extra space. Bredbury station is the final rail stop on this version of the route.
Address: 242 Stockport Road West, Bredbury, SK6 2AN
Opening: Mon closed; Tue–Thu 15:00–22:00; Fri–Sat 12:00–23:00; Sun 12:00–20:00
Beer: Four changing cask ales plus keg and cider.
Getting back
Finishing at Bredbury: Bredbury station gives direct rail access back towards Stockport and Manchester.
Finishing at Disley: Disley station is only a short walk from Malt Disley, with trains running back towards Manchester or further into the High Peak.
Doing the trail in reverse: the route works equally well from Bredbury towards Disley, but Torrside Brewing’s limited opening should be checked before setting off.
Last updated: September 2026
