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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 .

Retail in Greater Manchester

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, 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, cities, museums, canals, disused railway lines, moated sites and airports.

There are a number of towns in the county of Greater Manchester including Bolton, Westhoughton, Horwich, Little Lever, Salford Quays, Rochdale, and Littleborough.

Winter Hill, Winter Hill Summit, Adam Hill, Crooked Edge Hill, Whimberry Hill, The Great Knoll, and The Naze are great places to visit in Greater Manchester if you like hills.

Greater Manchester features a number of interesting ancient sites including Winter Hill Tumulus, White Brow Cairn, Noon Hill, Two Lads, Hanging Stone, Rivington Cup Marked Stone, and Rainsough Hill Camp.

Don't miss Winter Hill Tumulus, White Brow Cairn, and Noon Hill's round cairns if visiting Greater Manchester.

Don't miss Winter Hill Summit, Crooked Edge Hill, Whimberry Hill, Turton Moor, Owshaw Clough, Aushaw Moss, and The Turton Reservoirs's hiking areas if visiting Greater Manchester.

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), Wildersmoor Pit Kilns (ruin), Prospect (ruin), and Rivington Moor Bell Pits (ruin).

Don't miss Rivington Moor Brickworks (ruin), Wildersmoor Pit Kilns (ruin), Prospect (ruin), Rivington Moor Bell Pits (ruin), Owshaw Clough Mine Filtration Ruins, Deborah's (site of), and Lower Tarkingtons (ruin)'s ruins if visiting Greater Manchester.

Greater Manchester is home to some unmissable lakes like Reservoir Of Dean Mills, The Turton Reservoirs, Turton and Entwistle Reservoir, Jumbles Reservoir, Wayoh Reservoir, Rivington Lakes And Reservoirs, and Yarrow Reservoir.

Greater Manchester's best historic monuments can be found at Two Lads, Holy Well Spring, Bury Castle, Worsley Green Monument, and Hyde War Memorial.

Don't miss Rushtons Brook, Holden's Brook, Stones Bank Brook, Cadshaw Brook, Roscow Clough, Dean Brook, and Raveden Brook's rivers and streams if visiting Greater Manchester.

There are a several good woodlands in Greater Manchester county like Fox Hill Plantation, Ousel Nest Quarry, Walker Fold Woods, Raveden Clough, Roscow's Tenement Clough, Dean Wood - Rivington, and Rivington Hall Wood.

Geological Features to visit in Greater Manchester county include Jumbles Fossil Tree, Fairy Battery, The Margery Flags at Rivington Pike, Tigers Clough, and Jepsons Clough.

The county of Greater Manchester boasts some of the best nature reserves including 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 some of Greater Manchester's' best villages to visit Greater Manchester.

Turton Tower, Prospect Tower, Archway at Turton Tower, Medieval Style Railway Bridge at Turton Tower, Smithills Hall, Sheephouse Farm, and Dean Gate are great places to visit in Greater Manchester if you like historic buildings.

Greater Manchester's best country parks can be found at Smithills Country Park, Moses Gate Country Park, Cutacre Country Park, Hollingworth Country Park, Haigh Country Park, Pennington Flash, and Burrs Country Park.

There are a number of waterfalls in the county of Greater Manchester 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 a great place to visit in Greater Manchester if you like events.

Dean Wood - Rivington, Rivington Hall Wood, Horrocks Wood, Old House Ground Plantation, and Etherow Country Park are great places to visit in Greater Manchester if you like bluebell woods.

Greater Manchester's best sssis can be found at Nob End SSSI.

There are a number of parks in the county of Greater Manchester 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.

Greater Manchester's best gardens can be found at The Rock Garden, The Walled Garden at Moss Bank, and RHS Garden Bridgewater.

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.

Greater Manchester features a number of interesting canals including 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, Bridgewater Canal, and Worsley Delph.

Disused Railway Lines to visit in Greater Manchester county include The Old Whelley Line, Lancashire Union Joint Line, Ringley Road Station (ruin), Clifton - Accrington and Colne Line (disused), and Linnyshaw Loopline.

There are a several good moated sites in Greater Manchester county like 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

Let's Go

Map of Around Naden Valley and Reservoirs Walk

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

Let's Go

Map of Around Turton and Entwistle Walk

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

Let's Go

Map of Redisher Wood and Waterfall Walk

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

Let's Go

Map of Rivington Pike by Georges Lane (and back) Walk

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)

Let's Go

Map of Smithills Hall Kitchen Garden Ruins and Coal Mining Tramroads Explore Walk

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

Let's Go

Map of Around Upper Rivington Reservoir Walk

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

Let's Go

Map of Piethorne Valley Walk Walk

Towns and Villages in Greater Manchester

Lakes near

    Lakes in Greater Manchester

    Woodland in Greater Manchester