A Walk to the Lantern at Lyme

This short circular walk on the Lyme estate in Cheshire East packs a surprising amount of variety into just over two kilometres. Starting and finishing near Kettleshulme, the route climbs steadily to The Lantern, a striking stone tower perched on the high ground above the park, before looping back through a sequence of estate landmarks.

From The Lantern the path drops past The Kennels and the Head Gardeners Cottage, offering glimpses of the working heart of the historic estate. You then pass the handsome terrace wall and steps in front of the Orangery, where the formal gardens open out below. The going is gentle underfoot, with a modest 74 metres of ascent spread across the loop.

Allow around half an hour at an easy pace, or longer if you want to linger over the views. Nearby, it is well worth extending your visit to take in Lyme Hall itself, along with the Wellhead, the Revetment Walls, The Cage on its hilltop, and the cluster of Chestnut Cottages and Estate Workshops that hint at how this vast landscape was once run.