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, ancient sites, round cairns, hiking areas, old mines, ruins, historic sites, lakes, historic monuments, rivers and streams, woodlands, geological features, nature reserves, villages, historic buildings, country parks, waterfalls, events, bluebell woods, sssis, parks, shopping centres, gardens, canals, cities, museums, disused railway lines, moated sites and airports.
Bolton, Westhoughton, Horwich, Little Lever, Salford Quays, Rochdale, and Littleborough are great places to visit in Greater Manchester if you like towns.
Hills to visit in Greater Manchester county include Winter Hill, Winter Hill Summit, Adam Hill, Crooked Edge Hill, Whimberry Hill, The Great Knoll, and Burnt Edge.
The county of Greater Manchester boasts some of the best ancient sites including Winter Hill Tumulus, White Brow Cairn, Noon Hill, Two Lads, Hanging Stone, Rivington Cup Marked Stone, and Rainsough Hill Camp.
Round Cairns to visit in Greater Manchester county include Winter Hill Tumulus, White Brow Cairn, and Noon Hill.
Hiking Areas to visit in Greater Manchester county include Winter Hill Summit, Hole Bottom, Hole Bottom Mining Area, Crooked Edge Hill, Whimberry Hill, Burnt Edge, and Turton Moor.
There are a several good old mines in Greater Manchester county like Winter Hill Mines, Winter Hill Tunnel, Rivington Moor Colliery (ruin), Rivington Moor Brickworks (ruin), Hole Bottom Mining Area, Wildersmoor Pit Kilns (ruin), and Prospect (ruin).
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) are some of Greater Manchester's' best ruins to visit Greater Manchester.
There are a number of historic sites in the county of Greater Manchester including Hole Bottom, Winter Hill Brick and Tile Works, and Hole Bottom Mining Area.
Greater Manchester features a number of interesting lakes including Reservoir Of Dean Mills, The Turton Reservoirs, Turton and Entwistle Reservoir, Jumbles Reservoir, Wayoh Reservoir, Rivington Lakes And Reservoirs, and Yarrow Reservoir.
Historic Monuments to visit in Greater Manchester county include Two Lads, Holy Well Spring, Bury Castle, Worsley Green Monument, and Hyde War Memorial.
Rushtons Brook, Holden's Brook, Stones Bank Brook, Cadshaw Brook, Roscow Clough, Dean Brook, and Raveden Brook are some of Greater Manchester's' best rivers and streams to visit Greater Manchester.
Greater Manchester is home to some unmissable woodlands like Fox Hill Plantation, Ousel Nest Quarry, Walker Fold Woods, Raveden Clough, Roscow's Tenement Clough, Dean Wood - Rivington, and Rivington Hall Wood.
The county of Greater Manchester boasts some of the best geological features including Jumbles Fossil Tree, Fairy Battery, The Margery Flags at Rivington Pike, Tigers Clough, and Jepsons Clough.
Greater Manchester's best nature reserves can be found at Ousel Nest Quarry, Doffcocker Lodge, Nob End SSSI, Leverhulme Park, Aspull Sough, Wigan Flashes Local Nature Reserve, and Pennington Flash.
Cadshaw, Rivington, Barrow Bridge, Bromley Cross, Chapeltown, Whelley, and Standish are great places to visit in Greater Manchester if you like villages.
Historic Buildings to visit in Greater Manchester county include Turton Tower, Prospect Tower, Archway at Turton Tower, Medieval Style Railway Bridge at Turton Tower, Smithills Hall, Sheephouse Farm, and Dean Gate.
There are a several good country parks in Greater Manchester county like Smithills Country Park, Moses Gate Country Park, Cutacre Country Park, Hollingworth Country Park, Haigh Country Park, Pennington Flash, and Burrs Country Park.
The county of Greater Manchester boasts some of the best waterfalls including 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 one of Greater Manchester's best events to visit in Greater Manchester.
There are a several good bluebell woods in Greater Manchester county like Dean Wood - Rivington, Rivington Hall Wood, Horrocks Wood, Old House Ground Plantation, and Etherow Country Park.
The county of Greater Manchester boasts some of the best sssis including Nob End SSSI.
Don't miss Queens Park, Hall Lee Bank Park, Moss Bank Park, Wythenshawe Park and Gardens, Gorton Park, Debdale Park, and Heaton Park's parks if visiting Greater Manchester.
There are a number of shopping centres in the county of Greater Manchester including Middlebrook Retail and Leisure Park, Manchester Christmas Markets, The Trafford Centre, and Manchester Arndale.
Greater Manchester's best gardens can be found at The Rock Garden, The Walled Garden at Moss Bank, and RHS Garden Bridgewater.
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 are some of Greater Manchester's' best canals to visit Greater Manchester.
Salford, and Manchester are great places to visit in Greater Manchester if you like cities.
Greater Manchester's best museums can be found at Salford Museum and Art Gallery, and The Imperial War Museum Salford.
Don't miss The Old Whelley Line, Lancashire Union Joint Line, Ringley Road Station (ruin), Clifton - Accrington and Colne Line (disused), and Linnyshaw Loopline's disused railway lines if visiting Greater Manchester.
Wigan Golf Club is a great place to visit in Greater Manchester if you like moated sites.
Manchester Airport is one of Greater Manchester's best airports to visit in Greater Manchester.
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
