The County of Greater Manchester
Greater Manchester is a modern county based on a part of the old Salford Hundred and is a conurbation of nearby towns, although there are relatively large areas of green space outside the central business district.
Greater Manchester's Surrounding Counties
Other counties neighbouring Greater Manchester include: Lancashire, Cheshire, Merseyside, West Yorkshire and Derbyshire .
Greater Manchester is a county with a great selection of places to visit including towns, hills, hiking areas, old mines, ancient sites, round cairns, ruins, historic sites, lakes, historic monuments, rivers and streams, woodlands, geological features, historic buildings, nature reserves, villages, country parks, waterfalls, events, bluebell woods, sssis, parks, shopping centres, gardens, canals, cities, museums, disused railway lines, moated sites and airports.
Towns to visit in Greater Manchester county include Bolton, Westhoughton, Horwich, Little Lever, Salford Quays, Rochdale, and Littleborough.
Don't miss Winter Hill, Winter Hill Summit, Adam Hill, Crooked Edge Hill, Whimberry Hill, The Great Knoll, and Burnt Edge's hills if visiting Greater Manchester.
Don't miss Shaly Dingle, Winter Hill Summit, Hole Bottom, Hole Bottom Mining Area, Crooked Edge Hill, Whimberry Hill, and Burnt Edge's hiking areas if visiting Greater Manchester.
Don't miss Shaly Dingle, Winter Hill Mines, Winter Hill Tunnel, Rivington Moor Colliery (ruin), Rivington Moor Brickworks (ruin), Hole Bottom Mining Area, and Wildersmoor Pit Kilns (ruin)'s old mines if visiting Greater Manchester.
Winter Hill Tumulus, White Brow Cairn, Noon Hill, Two Lads, Hanging Stone, Rivington Cup Marked Stone, and Rainsough Hill Camp are some of Greater Manchester's' best ancient sites to visit Greater Manchester.
The county of Greater Manchester boasts some of the best round cairns including Winter Hill Tumulus, White Brow Cairn, and Noon Hill.
Ruins to visit in Greater Manchester county include Rivington Moor Brickworks (ruin), Winter Hill Brick and Tile Works, Ouzel Hall (site of), Wildersmoor Pit Kilns (ruin), Prospect (ruin), Rivington Moor Bell Pits (ruin), and Burnt Edge Colliery (ruin).
Hole Bottom, Winter Hill Brick and Tile Works, and Hole Bottom Mining Area are some of Greater Manchester's' best historic sites to visit Greater Manchester.
There are a number of lakes in the county of Greater Manchester including Reservoir Of Dean Mills, The Turton Reservoirs, Turton and Entwistle Reservoir, Jumbles Reservoir, Wayoh Reservoir, Rivington Lakes And Reservoirs, and Yarrow Reservoir.
Don't miss Two Lads, Holy Well Spring, Bury Castle, Worsley Green Monument, and Hyde War Memorial's historic monuments if visiting Greater Manchester.
There are a several good rivers and streams in Greater Manchester county like Rushtons Brook, Holden's Brook, Stones Bank Brook, Cadshaw Brook, Roscow Clough, Dean Brook, and Raveden Brook.
Greater Manchester features a number of interesting woodlands including Fox Hill Plantation, Ousel Nest Quarry, Walker Fold Woods, Raveden Clough, Roscow's Tenement Clough, Dean Wood - Rivington, and Rivington Hall Wood.
Greater Manchester's best geological features can be found at Jumbles Fossil Tree, Fairy Battery, The Margery Flags at Rivington Pike, Tigers Clough, and Jepsons Clough.
There are a several good historic buildings in Greater Manchester county like Bradshaw Brook Viaduct, Turton Tower, Prospect Tower, Archway at Turton Tower, Medieval Style Railway Bridge at Turton Tower, Smithills Hall, and Sheephouse Farm.
Ousel Nest Quarry, Doffcocker Lodge, Nob End SSSI, Leverhulme Park, Darcy Lever Gravel Pits, Aspull Sough, and Wigan Flashes Local Nature Reserve are great places to visit in Greater Manchester if you like nature reserves.
Greater Manchester is home to some unmissable villages like Cadshaw, Rivington, Barrow Bridge, Bromley Cross, Chapeltown, Darcy Lever, and Whelley.
Smithills Country Park, Moses Gate Country Park, Cutacre Country Park, Darcy Lever Gravel Pits, Hollingworth Country Park, Haigh Country Park, and Pennington Flash are some of Greater Manchester's' best country parks to visit Greater Manchester.
Greater Manchester is home to some unmissable waterfalls like Roscow Clough Waterfall, Smithills Hall Park Waterfall, Langshaw Ford Weir, Raveden Clough Waterfall, Raveden Plantation Waterfall, Yarrow Reservoir Overflow Cascade, and Upper Rivington Reservoir Yarrow Outflow.
Rivington Pike Easter is a great place to visit in Greater Manchester if you like events.
Bluebell Woods to visit in Greater Manchester county include Dean Wood - Rivington, Rivington Hall Wood, Horrocks Wood, Old House Ground Plantation, and Etherow Country Park.
Don't miss Nob End SSSI's sssis if visiting Greater Manchester.
The county of Greater Manchester boasts some of the best parks including Queens Park, Hall Lee Bank Park, Moss Bank Park, Wythenshawe Park and Gardens, Gorton Park, Debdale Park, and Heaton Park.
Greater Manchester is home to some unmissable shopping centres like Middlebrook Retail and Leisure Park, Manchester Christmas Markets, The Trafford Centre, and Manchester Arndale.
The Rock Garden, The Walled Garden at Moss Bank, and RHS Garden Bridgewater are some of Greater Manchester's' best gardens to visit Greater Manchester.
Don't miss Manchester Bolton and Bury Canal at Prestolee, The Leeds and Liverpool Canal at Haigh, Top Lock at Wigan, Leeds and Liverpool Canal at Crooke, The Leeds and Liverpool Canal near Shevington, Rochdale Canal Western Section, and Bridgewater Canal's canals if visiting Greater Manchester.
The county of Greater Manchester boasts some of the best cities including Salford, and Manchester.
Salford Museum and Art Gallery, The Imperial War Museum Salford, and Lancashire Mining Museum at Astley Green are some of Greater Manchester's' best museums to visit Greater Manchester.
There are a several good disused railway lines in Greater Manchester county like The Old Whelley Line, Lancashire Union Joint Line, Ringley Road Station (ruin), Clifton - Accrington and Colne Line (disused), and Linnyshaw Loopline.
Moated Sites to visit in Greater Manchester county include Wigan Golf Club.
Greater Manchester's best airports can be found at Manchester Airport.
Walks in Greater Manchester
Around Naden Valley and Reservoirs
A fairly easy walk on mostly good paths around the Naden Valley and its reservoirs - marked moderate as some may find parts steep.
Length: 7Km (approx.)
Difficulty: Moderate
Around Turton and Entwistle
A short and easy walk round the shoreline of Turton and Entwistle Reservoir, taking in views across the water.
Length: 4Km (approx.)
Difficulty: Easy
Redisher Wood and Waterfall
A short walk through Redisher Wood to see the waterfall, then up out of the woods and back along Redisher Ridge, with good views and an interesting ruined farmstead along the way.
Length: 4Km (approx.)
Difficulty: Easy
Rivington Pike by Georges Lane (and back)
A relatively easy walk to Rivington Pike and back, although some may find it steep in places the views are often spectacular.
Length: 7.49Km (approx.)
Difficulty: Easy
Smithills Hall Kitchen Garden Ruins and Coal Mining Tramroads Explore
A short walk around a section of Smithills Hall Park, following the route of the old mining tramroads and taking in the ‘lost’ Kitchen Garden and the ruins of the Gardener’s Cottage.
Length: 2Km (approx.)
Difficulty: Moderate (easy optional)
Around Upper Rivington Reservoir
A short and easy stroll around the Upper Rivington Reservoir with views of Winter Hill and the Pike, a possible Roman road and a couple of ornamental waterfalls after rain.
Length: 4Km (approx.)
Difficulty: Easy
Piethorne Valley Walk
A short walk around the interesting and scenic Piethorne Valley with a selection of historic ruins, reservoirs and bluebells if you’re lucky
Length: 5Km (approx.)
Difficulty: Moderate
