Three Counties Rail Ale Trail
The Three Counties Rail Ale Trail links Cheshire, Derbyshire and Greater Manchester using the railway through Disley, New Mills, Marple, Romiley and Bredbury. The route includes 11 pubs and bars, ranging from micropubs and brewery taps to craft beer bars. New Mills uses both New Mills Newtown and New Mills Central stations, making six railway stations in total.
Choose a stop
6 rail stations • 11 venues • 3 counties
Disley — Malt Disley
New Mills Newtown — Torrside Brewing Taproom
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
Important: Torrside Brewing’s taproom normally opens only on the last weekend of each month during the warmer part of the year. Check its current dates before planning the full 11-venue trail.
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 and has become one of the village’s strongest beer stops. Inside, the pub is spread over two levels, with comfortable seating and a relaxed modern look while still keeping the feel of a small independent pub. Four cask beers are usually available, often including local breweries, alongside a wide changing range of keg and key-keg beer. Disley station is only a short walk away, making it 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: One regular and three changing cask ales, plus a wide keg and key-keg range.
2. Torrside Brewing Taproom, New Mills
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Torrside Brewing was founded in 2015 and brews beside New Mills Marina, only a few minutes from New Mills Newtown station. The taproom sits inside the working brewery, surrounded by brewing kit and barrels, giving it a very different feel from the other stops. The beer range comes directly from Torrside and can include cask, keg and stronger speciality beers. The main thing to remember is its limited opening: the brewery bar generally opens on the last weekend of the month during the less chilly months, so the full trail needs to be planned around those dates.
Address: The Wharf Warehouse, New Mills Marina, New Mills, SK22 3JJ
Taproom opening: Usually last weekend of the month in the warmer months — Fri 16:00–21:00; Sat 12:00–20:00. The Mon–Wed 12:00–17:00 bottle shop is takeaway only.
Beer: Changing Torrside cask and keg beers brewed on site.
3A. Torr Vale Tap, New Mills
Torr Vale Tap sits inside the restored Grade II* listed Torr Vale Mill, down in the sandstone gorge beside the River Goyt. The setting is one of the highlights of the route, with old stonework, industrial features and terraces looking across the river. The bar now serves cask beer as well as several keg and key-keg lines, including beers from nearby Torrside. It is a short walk from New Mills Central station, although the climb back up through the town is worth allowing a little extra time for.
Address: Torr Vale Mill, 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 cask lines plus several keg and key-keg beers and cider.
3B. Beer Shed, New Mills
Beer Shed opened in 2016 in a narrow former shop on Market Street and is now connected with the team behind Torrside Brewing. Inside, the small bar is split over two levels, with further seating downstairs and a little outdoor space at the rear. Four changing cask ales are joined by nine keg lines, giving plenty of choice despite the compact size. New Mills Central is around five minutes away, so Beer Shed works neatly as the final New Mills stop before continuing towards Marple.
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 businessman and mill owner closely linked with Marple’s development. The pub is spread over two floors, with a real fire and covered outdoor drinking area. Six changing cask beers are normally available, usually with a strong local and regional focus, alongside traditional cider and a broader bottled and keg range. Marple station is around a 15-minute walk away, making this a good first stop before working along Market Street and Stockport Road.
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 traditional cider.
4B. Bevi, Marple
Bevi sits next door to The Samuel Oldknow and combines a pub with an Italian bar and pizzeria. The front section has the bar and seating, with a raised area further back and more room upstairs. Outside seating runs along the front. Three handpumps normally serve one regular beer and two changing guests, alongside the wider draught choice. Its position beside the other Marple stops makes it particularly easy to include without adding much 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 is a mix of bar, café, gift shop and record shop on Stockport Road. Inside, vinyl and plants fill much of the front room, with a compact bar and a small garden at the rear. The drinks side is focused on craft keg rather than cask, with eight keg lines carrying a changing selection of styles. It gives the Marple part of the trail something different from the cask-led stops nearby and is also conveniently placed close to Traders.
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 changing keg lines; no cask ale.
4D. Traders, Marple
Traders, formerly Beer Traders, opened in 2014 and has gradually expanded across adjoining shop units on Stockport Road. The interior has an industrial look with colourful artwork, several seating areas and covered seating outside at the front. Three changing cask ales are joined by a much larger keg range, often including independent breweries from around the region. Rose Hill Marple station is closer than Marple station, so it can be useful when planning the next leg depending on the train timetable.
Address: 111–113 Stockport Road, Marple, SK6 6AF
Opening: Mon closed; Tue 16:00–22:00; Wed–Thu 16:00–23:00; Fri 16:00–23:30; Sat 14:00–23:30; Sun 14:00–22:00
Beer: Three changing cask ales alongside a larger changing keg range.
5A. Hop Haus, Romiley
Hop Haus opened in 2017 and was previously known as Jake’s Ale House. The double-fronted former shop gives the bar plenty of light, with a mix of tables, fixed seating and a smaller room towards the rear. Five changing cask ales are the main attraction, alongside craft keg beer and cider, with local breweries regularly appearing. Romiley station is only a couple of minutes away, making this one of the easiest stops on the route before crossing over to The Crafty Vendor.
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 beer and cider.
5B. The Crafty Vendor, Romiley
The Crafty Vendor is a modern bar and bottle shop in Romiley precinct, only a few minutes from the station. Inside, the bar has a bright contemporary look with a large back bar, while an old bank safe survives as part of the building. The drinks selection is focused on craft keg beer rather than cask, with eight keg lines alongside bottles, cans, cocktails, wine and spirits. It is directly across the village centre from Hop Haus, so the two Romiley stops are very easy to combine.
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 and decoration from Bredbury’s former steelworks. The main room is spacious for a micropub, with plenty of local industrial references around the walls and a large beer garden at the rear. Four changing cask ales are normally available, mostly from independent local breweries, alongside eight keg lines and a wider bottled range. Bredbury station is only a few minutes away, making this a straightforward final stop before heading home.
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 eight keg lines.
Getting back
Finishing at Bredbury: Bredbury station is only a few minutes from The Steel Works, with trains running back towards Romiley, Marple and Manchester.
Finishing at Disley: Malt Disley is a short walk from Disley station, with trains running west towards Stockport and Manchester or east towards New Mills and Buxton.
Check current rail times before travelling, especially later in the evening.
Last updated: September 2026
