This weekend’s weather forecast predicts a crisp and sunny Sunday. You know that means – a fresh winter walk polished off with a hearty roast.
We have just the walk for you.
Hop just across the border into Cheshire to Styal, where The Styal Woods and Quarry Bank Mill walk is just coming into its most beautiful time of year.
The perfect escape for the Black Friday and pre-Christmas chaos, this corner of the north west is ablaze with autumn leaves right now.
Keep reading for the ultimate weekend walk, ending at a cosy fireside pub.
Several routes are an option here but we think all the best walks start and end at the pub.
The Ship Inn is one of the finest country pubs in the business and will be your landmark.
Hack for the walk: the Ship Inn provide packed lunches or pre-order a meal for your return. Also grab a few walking leaflets from here if you want to explore alternative routes. Hospitality at its finest.
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The route we propose, however, is as follows:
Start at the Ship Inn and continue on through the little village of Styal. Enter into the woods – don’t worry this isn’t Blair Witch Project Part 2 – everything is well sign-posted.
Amble through the leafy scenery, alongside the River Bollin, and come out at the Quarry Bank Mill. Walk around the grounds before finishing off back at the trusty the Ship Inn. Simple!
For peace of mind, a map of the route can be found at Northern Stroll.
The Ship Inn:
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The Ship Inn – a wonderful way to end a winter stroll.
Finally, strip off those layers and warm up your fingers because the best part of the walk has just begun.
The Ship Inn serves up a proper, state-of-the-art Sunday roast with all the trimmings.
Feast on roast sirloin of beef (£15), pork loin (£13), Cheshire turkey (£13) or get all three in the mixed roast (£14).
The fun does not stop there – there are nut roasts for vegetarians (£12), and a whole roast chicken dinner (£25) or a quarter roast leg of lamb (£28) for people to share.
Arguably the king of Sunday roasts and sure to have your mouth watering before you even set off on the walk.
You can now receive the UK’s ‘first-ever’ same-day sperm MOT for free right here in Manchester
Danny Jones
For any bloke who’s ever wondered about their fertility and considering grabbing a quick test, you can now get what’s being called a quick sperm ‘MOT’ right here in Manchester– and it’s free.
As well as the obvious importance of regular sexual health checks, many people understandably worry about their virility as they get older and there’s no harm in just giving yourself that piece of mind.
That’s why one Manchester-based sperm and egg bank is expanding its already wide range of services to offer quick and easy tests to locals.
We’re all adults here: if your car’s MOT is considered an essential check, then why not take a little look under the hood to see how your little swimmers are getting on?
Credit: Cryos International (supplied)
Cryos International, located over at Rutherford House on Manchester Science Park, is a quick and confidential clinic that specialises in sexual wellness and reproductive health.
The industry-leading sperm and egg bank remains at the forefront when it comes to various different areas of the sector but now they’re taking one field even further by offering men aged 18-45 an unprecedented level of service.
While sperm tests and egg checks are nothing new, Cryos are the UK clinic to offer rapid detailed analysis that will see your results returned to you the same day.
Better yet, this initiative is completely free of charge and provides a non-diagnostic assessment of key sperm quality criteria, including sperm count and how effectively the sperm moves.
It’s part of Cryos’ commitment to demystifying male reproductive health and demonstrating how lifestyle factors can impact male fertility, while at the same time breaking the stigma around sperm donation, and helping more people on their journey to parenthood.
The launch comes at a time of unprecedented demand for fertility services in the UK, with births from sperm donation tripling since the turn of the millennium.
Sadly, donor numbers here in Britain have hit an all-time low and similar struggles are being seen all over Europe even despite the growing population.
To combat this, the UK government has actually increased its standard compensation fee by £10 as of October 2024, rising to £45 a pop.
Of course, your sperm needs to be in good health before you can donate, not to the obvious benefits for couples trying to conceive and, as lab Manager Samantha Duffy-Olive explains, even “simple lifestyle changes can have a huge impact on sperm quality.”
With that in mind, Manc males are being encouraged to make the most of this free semen test and in addition to the analysis service, they will also offer helpful advice that could make a real difference to improve your reproductive health. You can book HERE.
This isn’t the first time we’ve clocked Cryos pioneering the sperm donation and sexual health space…
Featured Images — Cryos International Sperm & Egg Bank (supplied)
Kids & Family
Free animated projection to create dazzling display on major Salford building
Thomas Melia
A staple Salford landmark is undergoing a huge transformation for two nights only as part of a free animated event suitable for all ages.
Next week, the former Swinton and Pendlebury Town Hall, which is now known as Salford Civic Centre, will look a little different to usual, as the historical building is hosting a special animated display which will be projected onto it.
All of the frontage, situated on Chorley Road, will be lit up with a dazzling display depicting a collection of imagery titled ‘Swinton Ark’.
Salford Civic Centre, where ‘Swinton Ark’ will be projected onto / Credit: Supplied
Some of the visuals that visitors can expect to see alongside the ark include infamous Swinton objects, moments and memories.
This project is really wholesome too, as artist Lowri Evans got involved to help create and fill the ark with meaningful objects that the locals requested.
Evans perched up a mini stand in Swinton and asked a wide range of locals the question: “If you could save one object, what would it be?”, and she received a huge amount of responses.
Residents of the local area will be able to see their suggestions of precious items and special trinkets loaded onto the ark to save from the flood.
Salford Civic Centre has a 70-metre facade, and with all the cargo that the community want to bring onto the boat, it’s a good thing the building is so wide.
Don’t worry about missing a thing either, as this 12-minute projection will run every 15 minutes for just over three hours across two nights on Thursday 16 and Friday 17 January, meaning you can watch the projection until your heart’s content.
Artist Lowri Evans asking Swinton a very thought provoking question / Credit: Supplied
The whole display will be supported by some phenomenal sound and music arrangements too, and the animated screen will really come to life as it will also be 3D.
You can drop in at any point over the two days, and whether you watch the projection a thousand times over, or even just want to catch a glimpse of it, everyone is invited – and better yet, it’s free.
Dolly Busby -
26th November 2021 
