|
|
Countryside
Access Around Manchester
Manchester
is surrounded by some of the most beautiful open countryside in
England. Take any bus or train from Manchester City Centre, and
chances are that within 10-15 miles you will be in open countryside
- some of the most notable places to visit follow
:
Left to Right: the Peak District hills to the east of Manchester:
Greater Manchester seen from the south; the English Lake District
Listed
Alphabetically:
One
of the most famous day trip places in the north-west, Alderley Edge
rises up abruptly from the Cheshire plain, about 12 miles due south
of Manchester. A distinctive sandstone edge with pleasant hearty
walking capabilities. Approached from the village (off the A34),
lined by huge pine and beech trees. A National Trust property, once
used as copper mines. Offers panoramic views of Manchester and the
Cheshire plain. Frequent Intercity trains from Manchester Piccadilly
Rail Station.
A
fabulous 2 mile walk to Norden beside the pretty Cheesden Brook along
its tree-lined valley. Located at Hooley Bridge, on the Bury-Rochdale
Road (the B6222), and ends at the Rochdale-Edenfield Road (the A680).
Beacon
Fell Country Park
The Ranger, Beacon
Fell Information Centre, Chipping. Telephone: 01995-640 557.
or Bowland Ranger Service, Goosnargh, Preston. Telephone: 01995-616
93.
The Forest of Bowland offers many facilities for walking and rambling.
This area, and nearby Pendle Hill are designated Areas of Outstanding
Natural Beauty, situated mainly in the county of Lancashire, but with
parts extending into North Yorkshire. Extensive heather moorlands,
woodlands and open countryside. The Country Park itself occupies some
185 acres with panoramic views of Lancashire. Easy walks are clearly
way-marked.
Boggart
Hole Clough
Located in Blackley,
Manchester, this wooded ravine runs through the immediate north-eastern
inner suburbs of Manchester, yet it is totally unspoilt. It is accessible
by path from Rochdale Road. There is a large boating lake with a tree
covered island. In 2002 Boggart Hole Clough was awarded the prestigious
Green Flag Award by the Civic Trust in recognition of its excellent
standard of environmental protection, landscape, cleanliness, accessibility,
design and maintenance.
Bollin
Valley
Bollin Valley
Project Officer, County Offices, Chapel Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire.
Tel: 01625-534 790/1.
A variety of activities on offer including horse riding, archery,
model car racing and live music. Regular annual events held at the
Macclesfield Riverside Park - contact the wardens for information.
Bruntwood
Park
Cheadle, Stockport.
Pleasant walks beside lovely gardens and a brook, heavily wooded with
evergreens and deciduous trees. There is an 18 hole putting green,
children's adventure playground, pets corner and a BMX Cycle track.
Entrance located on the A5149 Cheadle to Cheadle Hulme Road.
Burnley
Way
A 40 mile long
walkway made up of existing rights of way incorporating 5 shorter
walks that start and finish on public transport routes. It includes
extensive scenes of the Leeds & Liverpool Canal, woodland, meadows,
country houses, reservoirs and beautiful moorland. The highest point
is at Thievely Pike (elevation 1,474 feet). Several leaflets are available
on walks within the Way, from Burnley Tourist Information Centre,
telephone: 01282-664 421.
Burrs
Country Park
About a mile from
the centre of Bury, along Brandlesholme Road, the recently developed
Burrs Country Park is a good example of what a Local Authority can
do to reclaim derelict industrial land when it chooses to. Many natural
and man-made water courses, and the resultant watersports which that
attracts. Situated at the junction of the Irwell Valley Way (See below)
and the Peel Trail, it is overlooked by Castlesteads, thought to be
a prehistoric fort. There is a special leaflet available from:
Bury Tourist Information, Derby Hall, Market Street, Bury BL9 0BN.
Tel: 0161-705 5111.
Chadkirk
Farm Trail
A most pleasant
walk between Bredbury and Marple, well signposted with information
boards. The walk starts from the A627, 200 yards north of the River
Etherow. There is the 14th century chapel at Chadkirk, with an exhibition
of old farm photographs. You can also walk through woodlands to the
Marple Aqueduct on the Lower Peak Forest Canal.
Cheesden
Brook
See Ashworth
Valley above.
Chorlton
Water Park
At the end of
Maitland Avenue in Chorlton-cum-Hardy, Manchester M21, one of the
most popular sites in the Mersey Valley. A large lake surrounded by
pathways, woodland and childrens' play areas. The lake offers sailing,
canoeing and angling facilities. An onsite Warden is available to
help, direct and advise.
Contact: The Mersey Valley Visitor Centre, Rifle Road, Sale Water
Park, M33 2LX.
Tel: 0161-905 1100 or Fax: 0161-976 6914.
Green Flag Award: Twice awarded the prestigious Green Flag
Award by the Civic Trust in recognition of its excellent standard
of environmental protection, landscape, cleanliness, accessibility,
design and maintenance.
Croal
Irwell Valley
Chief Warden,
Rock Hall Moses Gate, Hall Lane, Farnworth, Bolton. Tel: 01204-571
561.
This valley stretches for 16 miles, passing through Salford, Bury
and Bolton, with surprisingly profuse woodland, wildlife and countryside
en route. There is a Visitor Centre at Rock Hall, and many access
points for wheelchair users - contact wardens for details. The Croal
Irwell Valley walk includes much of Moses Gate Country Park, Clifton
Country Park and Chesham Woods.
Daisy
Nook Country Park
A valley of the
River Medlock forming a pleasant escape from Oldham and Ashton-under-Lyne,
between which it runs. Centred on the old canal system which once
connected local cotton mills and mines to the city of Manchester.
A small lake now exits, called Crime Lake. There are cafés and a Visitor
Centre, and a pleasant circular walk in National Trust parkland.
Debdale
Park
Hyde
Road, Manchester M18.
Green Flag Award: In 2002 Debdale Park was awarded the prestigious
Green Flag Award by the Civic Trust in recognition of its excellent
standard of environmental protection, landscape, cleanliness, accessibility,
design and maintenance.
Etherow
Country Park
George Street,
Compstall, Stockport. Tel: 0161-427 6937.
Designated in 1968, Etherow was one of Britain's first country parks.
Created to supply water to a local mill in the 1820s, now an extensive
walking trail, fishing spot and place for model boat sailing. Audio
Cassette commentaries available (bring your own Walkman). Two powered
scooters and wheelchairs available free of charge.
Forest
of Burnley
An exciting new
project aimed at planting one million trees to vreate 1250 acres of
new woodland within the borough of Burnley, offering excellent walks
in beautiful settings. For further details of the Forest of Burnley,
telephone: 01282-839 657.
Fred Perry
Way
The
Fred Perry Way, named after the famous tennis champion from Stokport,
is a recently designated 14 mile walking route which spans the Borough
of Stockport, from Woodford in the south to Reddish in the north.
The route combines rural footpaths, quiet lanes and river valleys
with urban landscapes and parklands. Interesting features of the route
include Houldsworth Mill and Square, the start of the River Mersey
at the confluence of the River Tame and River Goyt, Stockport Town
Centre, Vernon and Woodbank Parks and the Happy Valley.The route passes
through Woodbank Park where Fred Perry actually played some showcase
games of tennis in the park's tennis courts.
Goyt
Valley
Lying between
Whaley Bridge in the High Peak area and Buxton, the Goyt Valley is
a popular place with day-trippers and walkers. Woodland walks around
the Fernilee and Errwood Reservoirs, along the former Cromford and
High Peak Railway, and a more energetic walk from Errwood Reservoir
to Taxal. Near this reservoir is the notorious "Cat & Fiddle Inn"
on the Macclesfield-Buxton road.
Healey
Dell
Healey Dell Nature
Reserve Visitor Centre, Healey Hall Mills, Shawclough, Rochdale.
Tel: 01706-350 459. A thickly wooded valley, host to a variety of
wildlife. An old railway line gives limited access to wheelchair users.
Hollingworth
Lake
Hollingworth Lake
Country Park Information Centre, Rakewood Road, Littleborough.
General: Tel: 01706-373 421. Water Activity Centre: Tel: 01706-370
499.
Originally a reservoir, this lake has been used for recreation for
over 100 years. Path around entire lake. Powered wheelchairs available.
Canoeing and surfing facilities, as well as lake cruises.
Hyndburn
Clog
A 33 mile walk
passing through some of Lancashire's most beautiful hill country,
it encompasses lowland and moorland with spectacular views of the
surrounding countryside. For the less energetic it is broken down
into 7 shorter posible walks. Glossy brochure of the Clog is available
- for further information, contact Accrington Tourist Information
Centre on Tel: 01254-872 595.
Jumbles
Country Park
Jumbles Information
Centre, Waterfold Car Park, off Bradshaw Road, Bradshaw, Bolton.
Tel: 01204-853 360.
Part of the West Pennine Moors is Jumbles Country Park. The moors
comprise 90 square miles of moorland, farmland, valleys and reservoirs.
Wheelchair access to the Information Centre and to parts of the park.
Medlock
Valley
Medlock Valley
Chief Warden, The Stables, Park Bridge, Ashton-under-Lyne, Tameside.
Tel: 0161-330 9613.
Extending from the centre of Manchester to the moors above Oldham,
it has three Visitor's Centres at Park Bridge, Daisy Nook and at Clayton,
all accessible to wheelchair users. Maps and leaflets available from
Visitor's Centres. Short circular routes possible using the canal
towpath.
Mersey Valley
The Chief Warden,
Recreational Services, Altrincham Road, Sharston, Manchester.
Tel: 0161-491 1647.
The Mersey Valley covers 870 acres from Stockport to Irlam. A surprisingly
green and pleasant haven in which it's easy to forget you are in the
midst of urban sprawl. Access for wheelchairs. Circular routes. Concessions
at Chorlton Water Park and Sale Water Park. Water Parks have bar and
refreshment facilities, as well as offering windsurfing and other
watersports. See also: Sale Water
Park (below).
Moses
Gate Country Park
An attractive
area beside the River Croal now the restored habitat of Kingfishers.
Walking is now possible from Bolton to Salford down the Croal Irwell
Valley Trail. See Croal
Irwell Valley - above.
Orrell Water Park
Lodge Road, Orrell,
Wigan. Tel: 01695-625 338.
Two fishing lakes with pleasant walks on offer. No warden service,
but information boards on site.
Pennington
Flash County Park
off St Helens
Road, Leigh. Tel: 01942-605 253.
Open to the public all year round, the "Flash" offers many recreational
activities besides walking. Well known for its many species of bird
life - over 300 species identified - with bird-hides. All accessible
to wheelchair users.
Piethorne Valley
The Warden's Office,
Waterworks Road, Ogden, Shaw, near Oldham. Tel: 01706-881 049.
Six reservoirs surrounded by open moorland. Fishing allowed in two
lakes. Limited wheelchair access, please contact the Warden.
Redesmere
Lake
A mile and a half
long lake at Siddington, midway between Congleton and Alderley Edge,
Redesmere is a popular venue for day trippers from Manchester. Apart
from beautiful wooded surroundings, there is a profusion of waterfowl
and the lake is a venue for yachting. Lakeside walks along good footpaths.
Red
Rose Forest
Red Rose Forest,
Community Forest Centre, Dock Office, Trafford Road, Salford Quays,
Salford, M50 3XB. Tel: 0161-872 1660. Fax: 0161-872 1680.
Web: www.redroseforest.co.uk. Email: team@redroseforest.co.uk.
Red Rose Forest is a partnership initiative of The Forestry Commission,
The Countryside Agency and six Greater Manchester local authorities
- Bolton, Bury, Manchester, Salford, Trafford and Wigan. Red Rose
Forest is an inspiring vision for the future that is already transforming
and regenerating a large part of Greater Manchester to create a thriving
environment for the 21st century.
The Forest’s 40-year plan will see over 25 million trees planted
across 292 miles of Greater Manchester. The development of the Forest
will transform the lives of the 1.5 million people in the region by
bringing jobs, investment, education opportunities, cleaner air and
the most extensive change to our landscape since the Industrial Revolution.
Red Rose Forest is well placed to respond to future policy changes
across a broad spectrum of interests, including environmental, economic,
social and health. It offers a tried and tested model that combines
a strategic mechanism for delivering environmental improvements alongside
sustainable economic regeneration – a good quality environment
can lead to a better quality of life and can generate inward investment
to an area.
T he creation
of the Forest will provide a series of well-wooded landscapes stretching
from rural countryside into the urban heartland of the areas’
towns and cities. The Forest is creating better places to work in,
better places to play and relax in, better places to do business in
and better places to invest in.
Ramblers
Association Rochdale Group
Call 01706-42376
for information about joining the Group and for forthcoming events.
Sale
Water Park
Popular part of
the Mersey Valley and site of the Mersey Valley Visitor Centre (Rifle
Road, Sale Water Park, Sale M33. Tel: 0161-905 1100). Wide range of
watersports and pleasant walks, nature reserves and woodlands.
Styal
Country Park
Located near Wilmslow
and adjacent to the Airport, and part of the Quarry Bank Mill complex,
since the original owners, Samuel Greg & Company, donated the villages,
farms, woodlands and parkland to the National Trust in 1939. Also
see The Apprentice House, Styal Village and Quarry Bank Mill.
Tandle
Hill Country Park
Oldham Countryside
Ranger Service Tandle Hill Road, Royton, Oldham. Tel: 0161-627 2608.
A 118 acre site of pleasant walks through a beech woodland. Good footpaths,
but unfortunately too steep for wheelchairs.
Tame
Valley
Chief Warden,
Council Offices, Wellington Road, Ashton-under-Lyne. Tel: 0161-334
3306.
A green pastured river valley, with visitors centres at Brownhill
in Uppermill and at Reddish Vale, both accessible by wheelchair. Organised
strolls in summer - contact the warden for details.
Three
Sisters Country Park
Burn Road, Ashton-in-Makerfield.
Tel: 01942-720 453.
Three Sisters offers peace and tranquility, or if you prefer, the
noise and excitement of motor sports.
Trafford
Ecology Park
Mosley Road North,
Trafford Park, Manchester. Tel: 0161-873 7182.
Situated in the heart of Trafford Park Industrial Estate, yet surprising
pleasant and rural, with traditional coppices, meadowland and ponds
with occasional visits by Herons. All paths wide and clear, and fully
accessible to disabled visitors.
Urmston
Meadows
Part of the Mersey
Valley Trail, a pretty quietly tucked away area just off Riverside
Drive. Willow copses, ponds and wildflower meadows. Tel: 0161-905
1100 for details.
Watergrove
Valley Warden,
Ramsden Road, Wardle, Rochdale. Tel: 01706-379 060.
Watergove reservoir set in the barren moors above the village of Wardle.
Limited wheelchair access.
Werneth
Low Country Park
The Warden, Lower
Higham Visitor Centre, Higham Lane, Hyde. Tel: 0161-368 6667.
200 acres of hilltop and hillside country park offering great panoramic
views of Manchester and Cheshire, with many footpaths and bridleways.
Some wheelchair access possible - contact the Warden.
Witton
Weavers Way
A 32 mile circular
walk, conveniently split into 4 easy sections, and ending in Witton
Coutry Park in Blackburn. The park itself has numerous trails within
its 480 acrea, and is home to herons, moorhens and kingfishers. For
further information contact Blackburn Tourist Information Centre on
Tel: 01254-53277.
Woodbank
Park
This large Stockport
park in Turncroft Lane is a gateway to the countryside in that it
leads down to the River Goyt, from where the walker can follow the
path through beautiful woodlands above the river path to Marple. Extensive
views of the river and surrounding hills.
Worthington
Lakes
The Visitor Centre,
Chorley Road, Standish, Wigan. Tel: 01257-425 550.
Lying 2 miles north of Wigan town centre the lake has a nature reserve
with many species of birds Wheelchair access in and around the lake
is available, with designated picnic areas, and an amply stocked fishing
facility.
Yarrow
Valley Country Park
The Visitor Centre
and main entrance is located Birkacre Road (B5251), Chorley. Tel:
01257-279 538.
Set in the attractive landscape of the Yarrow Valley near Chorley,
this 300 hectare Country Park provides an ideal setting for a host
of recreational activities and boasts an abundance of wildlife.
The park was created on land previously used for bleaching, dyeing,
calico printing and mining. The Birkacre area of the park is of local
historical importance with it's restored mill lodges and watercourses.
The park encompasses Duxbury Woods and extends out towards Euxton.
For more information see the website www.chorley.gov.uk/yarrowvalley
or email yarrow.valley@chorley.gov.uk.
|
