BEST WOODLAND WALKS NEAR MANCHESTER
Not quite feeling the Mancunian summer weather? These woodland walks are perfect for getting the steps in, rain or shine…
Lyme Park Woodlands, Disley
Start: Lyme Park, SK12 2NR
Distance: 4.23 miles
Elevation: 430 feet
Duration: allow approx. 2 hours
Cute National Trust home, gardens, and cafe to explore? Check.
Magical woodlands that go on for days? Check!
No trip to Lyme Park is complete without a stroll through one of the estate’s many woodlands — and we can’t think of a more perfect backdrop on a rainy day. You have lots of options route-wise, but our favourite is the walk from Keg Woodland to Poynton Coppice, giving you shelter from the elements and a cosy day out to boot.
2. Keg Wood, Etherow
Start: Etherow Country Park, SK6 5DJ
Distance: 9 miles
Duration: 4 hours
Elevation: 1,500 feet
Etherow Country Park is a firm local favourite, but if you’ve never headed to Keg Woodland for a cosy day out, then have you even completed it? Starting at Etherow, this route from Keg Woodland to Werneth Low has all your wooded walk needs covered. And if you’re in need of a brew to warm up after a long day’s hike, you’re in luck — Etherow is home to two cafes (one at the visitor centre and one at the garden centre), each well-stocked for a good old refuel after your adventure.
3. Ashop Clough, Snake Woodland
Start: Hope Woodland Car Park, S33 0AB
Distance: 3.59 miles
Duration: 1-2 hours
Elevation: 400 feet
Easily missable as you drive along Snake’s Pass, this magical wonderland is hidden from view until you venture down into the woodland adjacent.
Ashop Clough’s stunning pine forest landscape will have you feeling like you’re in the depths of a Canadian national park, much less on the outskirts of Glossop… Surrounded by rolling hills, pine trees and babbling streams, you won’t be short on fairytale-like scenery on this short circular walk. In fact, this route has a mix of everything: magical woodlands, eerie moorland and even some spooky ruins to boot.
4. Hardcastle Crags, Hebden Bridge
Start: Bowling Green Car Park, HX7 7LT
Distance: 3.7 miles
Duration: 1.5 hours
Elevation: 650 feet
With over 15 miles of woodland trails and meadow-lined paths to explore, Hardcastle Crags is a walker’s utopia. We started this walk just over a mile north of Hebden Bridge, in the quaint village of Heptonstall. It’s the sort of sleepy village you’d never except to find backpackers and tourists, but it’s home to the remains of American literary legend, Sylvia Plath, and thus attracts visitors all across the globe wishing to pay their respects.
Just outside of the village square, you’ll also find the ruins of the St Thomas a’ Becket (built between 1256 and 1260) adjacent to the existing church, St Thomas the Apostle. Uniquely, the ruins are carefully maintained and open to the public, making for a great little start and end point for big kids and little ones to explore. Follow along, here.
5. Aitken Wood, Barley
Start: Wheatley Lane, Lancashire (we parked in a roadside bay)
Distance: 6.73 miles
Elevation: 1,600 feet
Duration: approx. 3 hours
Lancashire is full of beautiful walks but one of our favourites is this route that takes you up to Pendle Hill. Located in a small village called Barley, you could easily spend the day learning about it’s history and venturing up the hill to see the beautiful surroundings.
Pendle Hill is one of the area’s most impressive landmarks – you can see it for miles. It looks steep, and while it will have you huffing and puffing a little, the effort is 100% worth it! Known for its eerie history and ties to the infamous Pendle Witches, this trail promises a bewitching adventure, alongside some proper pub grub to ground you back to earth on your descent.
Ready to delve into the spooky legends, hike through hauntingly beautiful landscapes, and uncover the dark secrets that shroud this mystical destination? Follow along, here.
6. Topley Pike, Buxton
Start: Harpur Hill, SK17 9LD
Distance: 7.11 miles
Duration: 2-3 hours
Elevation: 475 feet
If you're looking for a fun and adventurous way to explore the best walks near Manchester, look no further than Topley Pike Nature Reserve: home of rolling hills, all-to-yourself valleys and stunning surrounds every way you turn.
It’s one of the less busy routes you’ll find in the Peak District, making it the perfect base to escape the hustle and bustle of everyday life and immerse yourself in the tranquility of the great outdoors. Follow along, here.
7. Macclesfield Forest, Cheshire
Start: Tegg’s Nose Country Park, SK11 0AP
Distance: 4.10 miles
Elevation: 525 feet
Duration: allow approx. 1.5 hours
On the western border of the Peak District National Park lies a patchwork of wild woods, blossom-blanketed meadows, awe-inspiring reservoirs and high crags, making for one of the best circular walks in the Greater Manchester area… While it may only be a short route, this trail offers incredible views over the beautiful Cheshire landscape that you just won’t find anywhere else. The route descends from Tegg’s Nose Country Park and skirts along the edge of Macclesfield Forest, offering you the best of both worlds.
8. Dumber Wood, Prestbury
Start: Prestbury Village, SK10
Distance: 4.96 miles
Duration: 2 hours
Elevation: 200 feet
If you're looking for a leisurely stroll not too far from home, then a walk round Prestbury village is a must. You can’t beat a local walk, and for us, it doesn’t get much better than one with the holy trinity: quiet surrounds, independent shops and a traditional pub stop to boot. Check out our short walk round Prestbury’s woodland, here.
9. Happy Valley, Bramhall
Start: Bramall Hall Car Park, SK7 3NX
Distance: 4.38 miles
Duration: 1-2 hours
Elevation: 125 feet
Stockport is full of hidden gems perfect for a Sunday walk, but this one in Bramhall is definitely up there with the best… Bramall Hall and Park is a firm favourite day out among Stopfordians. It’s one of the borough’s well-kept treasures, one that forms a large part of Stockport’s history.
And thanks to the fact it houses a collection of 16th century paintings and original Elizabethan plaster ceiling, this Tudor manor house is of great national importance, too. This is one of those walks that really makes you appreciate the hidden gems you have on your doorstep, and you can follow along, here.
10. Fairy Glen, Wigan
Start: Parbold Hill Viewpoint, Wigan, WN8 7TH
Distance: 4.24 miles
Elevation: 400 feet
Duration: 1-2 hours
From pie trails to the infamous pier… there’s no doubt a day in Wigan is a day well spent. It’s said the Manchester town has become the centre of the pie-making and pie-eating world, and who are we to argue with that? Plus, when you have woodlands as picturesque as Fairy Glen right on its outskirts, a visit here is a must. Follow our route around Fairy Glen, here.
11. Goyt Dam, Buxton
Start: Whaley Bridge, SK23 7LX
Distance: 7.71 miles
Elevation: 1,075 feet
Duration: 2-3 hours
This relaxed Peak District walk is beautiful in any season, but the way the woods are painted with gorgeous auburn hues come late September should make this route appear high on your list of autumn woodland walks.
Lying just a few miles northwest of Buxton, The Goyt Valley is magical place — one that’s gained popularity from visitors since Victorian times.
Once a prosperous and industrious community, the signs of a time gone by are all but extinct, bar from the ruins of Errwood Hall. Back in 1937, the construction of Fernilee Reservoir completely changed this beauty spot’s landscape, but the area remains a wonderfully peaceful place to visit to this day… and you can follow along, here.
12. Chadkirk Country Estate, Stockport
Start: Chadkirk Chapel, SK6 3LB
Distance: 6.29 miles
Duration: allow approx. 2 hours
If you’re local to the area, you’ll know that this isn’t exactly a walk in the country - that said, it is its very own patch of countryside amidst Stockport’s urban landscape. The flat, accessible paths around Chadkirk Chapel make it great for those with four-legged pals and kids in tow, while the walk up to the canal makes for a great alternative if you’re looking to extend the walk and get some extra steps in. Follow along here, and happy exploring!
