Marple is very much the epitome of where Greater Manchester meets the old-world vibes of the Cheshire countryside in what is, for our money, one of the most idyllic vistas anywhere in the region.
While many Mancs may have never ventured out to the reaches of this Stockport town and its adjacent villages before, Marple is not only home to roughly 13,000 locals but it’s also a regular haunt for walkers, canal enthusiasts and plenty of people just yearning for a little taste of the countryside.
One feature of the town that plays no small part in the influx of tourists and other residents from in and around Manchester is the famous Marple Aqueduct, sometimes known as ‘The Grand Aqueduct’ — and for good reason, as it’s the biggest canal aqueduct anywhere in England.
You might think you have seen many like it in various rural towns over the years but believe us, this is one of those things that you have to see in person to truly appreciate it.
Credit: The Manc Group
Built all the way back in 1794, Marple Aqueduct measures 800 feet long, over 100 feet tall and its central-most point and contains approximately 8,000 cubic yards of red sandstone and white stone from Chapel Milton near Glossop.
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It took seven years to build this incredible piece of masonry and functioning aqueduct — a life sadly lost for each year of construction — and it goes without saying that erecting a structure of this size in an era with much cruder tools and when health and safety weren’t exactly at the forefront of people’s minds.
The men that built that this thing literally put their lives on the line to try and ‘impress the engineering world’, put Marple on the map and carve their own little slice of history.
One of those people was civil engineer Benjamin Outram, the man who was responsible for many of the North West’s famous waterways, including the Manchester, Bolton and Bury Canal, Ashton and Maccsefield canals and even as far as the Huddersfield Narrow.
In the instance of the Grand Aqueduct, he designed to carry the Peak Forest Canal above the River Goyt which runs for around 15 miles from Dukinfield Junction along the Ashton Canal to the canal’s terminus at Bugsworth Basin.
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It had to undergo some repairs down the years, especially after the long winter of 1961 (the year before the so-called ‘Big Freeze’), with significant chunks of stonework falling into the Goyt which cost the local council and British Waterways £350,000 in today’s money to replace them.
Beyond taking in the marvel that is Marple Aqueduct itself, the reason this site is so popular when it comes to Greater Manchester walks, bike rides, picnics and so on is that you can walk the entire length of Marple Canal Flight, which consists of 16 locks and is one the steepest in the UK.
With plenty of nearby parking, the train station literally a stone’s throw from locks seven and eight, not to mention Lock 16 literally on the doorstep of Marple town centre (the Grand Aqueduct sitting at the other end), you can hop on plenty of points along the canal depending on how long a walk you fancy.
Marple and Stockport at large might have been part of Greater Manchester for nearly half a century now, but for those of you who enjoy scenic walks or simply swant to immerse yourselves in the local heritage and old Cheshire roots, there aren’t many better places to start than this.
You can see our recent Short Stuff episode on Marple’s Grand Aqueduct down below:
A big Christmas sing-along concert with Alexander Armstrong and Aled Jones is coming to Manchester
Emily Sergeant
We know it’s only April, but brace yourselves… we’re about to talk about Christmas.
You are reading today’s date correctly, but whether you can believe it or not, this isn’t an April Fool, as it’s time to get ready to lift your voices and celebrate the festive season because The Big Christmas Sing-a-Long starring much-loved performers and presenters, Aled Jones and Alexander Armstrong, is heading out on its debut UK tour later this year.
This heartwarming live experience is promising to be an ‘unforgettable’ evening of music, laughter, and Christmas cheer.
Performing in some of the most beautiful cathedrals and venues across the UK, when the concert arrives in Manchester in late November, it’ll be taking over the stunning Manchester Monastery.
On the night, Aled Jones – who is one of the UK’s most iconic voices – will perform some beloved highlights, including his signature rendition of ‘Walking in the Air’, alongside a selection of classic festive carols, and joining him on stage will be Alexander Armstrong, whose rich vocals and natural charm will bring ‘humour, warmth, and festive sparkle’ to every performance.
It may be Aled and Alexander’s show, but audiences are also being told to expect some special surprises along the way too.
As this is a sing-along event, audiences will be invited to put on their favourite Christmas jumper and join in with a joyful mix of traditional Christmas carols and modern festive favourites.
The Big Christmas Sing-a-Long – UK Tour Dates 2026
Tuesday 24 November – Llandudno Venue Cymru Theatre
Sunday 29 November – Manchester Monastery
Tuesday 1 December – Glasgow Royal Concert Hall
Wednesday 2 December – Durham Cathedral
Thursday 3 December – Bath Forum
Friday 4 December – Guildford G Live
Wednesday 9 December – Nottingham Royal Concert Hall
Thursday 10 December – Liverpool Philharmonic Hall
Friday 11 December – York Barbican
Sunday 13 December – Edinburgh Queens Hall
Tuesday 15 December – Birmingham Town Hall
Sunday 20 December – Bexhill De La Warr Pavilion
Monday 21 December – London Union Chapel
The tour kicks off in Llandudno on 24 November and wraps up in London on 21 December – with a stop off here in Manchester on Sunday 29 November.
The Big Christmas Sing-a-Long is coming to Manchester Monastery on Sunday 29 November, and is expected to capture the true spirit of Christmas, offering a magical evening filled of festive cheer and uplifting songs that everyone can join in with.
Tickets go on general sale tomorrow (Thursday 2 April) at 9:30am, and you can get your hands on them when they go live here.
Featured Image – Supplied
Things To Do
A free snooker fan zone has popped up in Manchester for the 2026 Tour Championship
Danny Jones
We’re sure plenty of you are well aware that this year’s WST Sportsbet.io Tour Championship is happening in Manchester right now, but what many of you may not know is that a completely free snooker fan zone has opened up as part of it.
You don’t need a ticket for any of the actual matches to watch them on the big screen or even play one of your own.
However, it isn’t just the buzz inside the match room itself that the World Snooker Tour has brought on its return to the city centre – even the supporter hub outside is well worth a visit.
Based over at Manchester Central on the Exchange side of the building, while the games themselves are taking place in the main rooms, the foyer and surrounding areas have been turned into a fan park.
Perfect for anyone looking for a fun way to spend an afternoon or, indeed, a full day this week – not to mention an ideal activity for kids this coming Easter bank holiday weekend – if you’re a fan of the sport, you’d be a fool not to at least pop your head in.
Running until this Sunday, 5 April, when the tournament itself finishes, snooker lovers have access not only to a bar area with multiple big screens and food and drink, but also numerous free tables for them to play on.
In fact, you quickly turn a few frames into some proper practice if you’re so inclined, as there’s even on-site coaching to be made the most of.
As you can see, people of all ages have already turned up in their droves to soak up the atmosphere.
Once again, the competition is being broadcast live and free-to-air on Channel 5 if you’re happy to watch the games at home, but we don’t need to tell you what makes sitting in a room with a bunch of fellow fans and getting excited together so enjoyable.
If you visit the Manchester Central convention centre before the end of the week, you can even have a go at playing on a proper king-sized snooker table for the full pro-feel experience.
For anyone who wants to grab actual tickets for the matches as well, you can find them HERE.
Danny Jones -
11th May 2023 
