Fresh air is good for the mind and body, and two things make it even better – a stunning waterfall along the way and the company of a furry friend.
But the challenge of a waterfall walk is that they’re often a little tricky to navigate on four paws.
Thankfully some experts have now pulled together 10 of the most dog-friendly waterfall trails in the UK, with the third place route right here in Greater Manchester.
And the majority of the top 10 are in the North West, easily accessible from Manchester.
The Malham Landscape trail in North Yorkshire has taken first place. The route is home to the Janet’s Foss waterfall, perfect for dogs to play and paddle to their heart’s content.
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The trail is 8km long and will take you around two and a half hours to complete.
In second place is Aira Force in the Lake District, which has some breathtaking views. It boasts vistas across Ullswater Lake with plenty of space for your dog to stretch their legs. This also takes two and a half hours to get round, and it’s worth the effort.
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Saddlworth Moor. Credit: Wikimedia Commons
Then we come to our home turf. In third place we have Dovestone Reservoir, which is one of the many stunning walks in the Peak District. It’s located on the outskirts of Greater Manchester in Saddleworth, and is a very enjoyable day out.
On the walk you’ll be able to see spectacular views of the water and might even bump into some sheep. This walk is considered a challenging route which takes on average four hours and 30 minutes. So it’s not for the faint hearted!
Janet’s Foss waterfall along the Malham Cove trail. Credit: The Manc GroupMalham Cove. Credit: The Manc Group
Only an hour’s drive from certain points in Manchester is Malham Cove, a filming spot in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part One. This hike also includes walking over unusual rock formations, so make sure you wear appropriate footwear as you don’t wanna be slipping through them. This route is dog friendly.
Another great hike which is also in the Peak District near Manchester is called ‘Lud’s Church.’ This walk consists of a chasm caused by a landslip; however, it really is beautiful, looking like something straight out of Lord of the Rings.
The top 10 most dog-friendly waterfall walks were chosen by dog gear specialists at Ruffwear, who analysed more than 200 routes.
Get your walking boots on and go hiking! There’re so many beautiful places to explore and your dogs will thank you for it too.
The top 10 dog-friendly waterfall walks
Malham Landscape Trail: Janet’s Foss, Gordale Scar, and Malham Cove, North Yorkshire – 8km
Aira Force and Gowbarrow Park Circular, Cumbria – 6.9km
Dovestone Reservoir and Chew Reservoir Circular, Greater Manchester – 13.5km
Flash and Three Shires Head Circular, Staffordshire – 6km
Ingleton Waterfalls Circular, North Yorkshire – 6.8km
Coire Gabhail (The Lost Valley), Scottish Highlands – 4km
Buttermere Circular, Cumbria – 7.4km8
Ambleside to Stockghyll Force, Cumbria – 2.3km
Rydal Water and Rydal Mount Circular, Cumbria – 4.5km
Gradbach and Lud’s Church Circular, Derbyshire – 10.3km
Featured image: The Manc Group
Travel & Tourism
The beautiful Lake District bluebells display that’s being ‘loved to death’
Daisy Jackson
People are beginning to flock back to the Lake District for one of the season’s most beautiful spectacles – the arrival of the bluebells.
These pretty flowers are beginning to blanket parts of the national park in blue and purple blooms.
They’re incredibly rare flowers with around than half of the world’s bluebells found here in the UK, and can take around five to seven years to develop from seed to flower.
Which is why it’s actually against the law to intentionally pick, uproot or destroy bluebells.
The National Trust has also again stressed that people should resist the urge to step into the fields of bluebells – once they’re trampled, they can take years to recover.
One particular hotspot to see these incredible flowers is Rannerdale Knotts in the Lake District, where thousands of these wildflowers pop up between late April and mid-May.
While most bluebells flower in woodland areas, this particular patch covers open fellside – they bloom a bit later than other areas in the UK and mid-May is the perfect time to see them in full bloom.
Rannerdale Knotts is a short distance from the village of Buttermere, and the bluebell field can be accessed by a gentle walk from Buttermere National Trust car park.
However, these flowers are at risk of being ‘loved to death’, the National Trust has warned.
They say: “Rannerdale’s bluebells are renowned as a natural wonder, beloved of visitors and photographers; however, they are being ‘loved to death’.
“Once the plants are damaged by trampling they can’t photosynthesise enough energy and it can take them years to recover. Over the last 5 years, nearly 25% of the bluebells have been lost.
“To save the bluebells, and access to them, the National Trust are asking visitors to fight the urge to get in amongst the flowers and just simply stick to the path. Only by protecting them today can we ensure everyone has a chance to enjoy this special spring display in the future.”
Several locals have echoed this on social media, with one person saying: “As a local we love to share our landscape with visitors but please remember to maintain its natural beauty. So many people trample on them to get the perfect insta shot.”
Green light given for new train station in Greater Manchester town without one for 60 years
Emily Sergeant
The green light has been given to build a new train station in a Greater Manchester town that’s been without one for 60 years.
It’s been a whopping six decades, but the residents of Golborne will soon be able to hop on a train out of there, and that’s because a planning application to connect the Greater Manchester town, in the Wigan borough, that was submitted back in November of last year has been approved by Wigan Council.
This means connectivity is finally one step closer to becoming reality.
Plans to deliver a new £32m train station in Golborne have reached a milestone moment. 🚅@WiganCouncil has given the green light to the planning application for the station and #TfGM have appointed a local company to design it.
In case you didn’t know, Golborne currently has no direct bus, train, or tram services to Manchester, while the wider area is the largest and most-populous area in Greater Manchester not connected to the rail network.
The application includes plans for a new accessible two-platform rail station, including step-free access throughout with a footbridge across the tracks and lifts to both platforms, a new hourly service between Wigan and Manchester Victoria, and onwards to Stalybridge, an improved town centre car park, and also new walking and cycling links to the town centre.
According to Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM), the Golborne station scheme forms part of a wider ambition to bring eight commuter lines into the Bee Network by 2028 – of which ‘significant investment’ has been put into.
A CGI image showing an aerial view of the proposed Golborne train station / Credit: TfGM
The planning approval milestone will also help to boost access to jobs and opportunities for people both in the town and in the wider Wigan borough.
Now that plans have been approved, this means TfGM, Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) and Wigan Council, working with Government, will now develop a full business case and detailed design throughout this year.
To deliver this work, TfGM has appointed Golborne-based engineering firm Murphy to develop the final station designs.
Subject to approval from the Government, work to make the Golborne station vision finally become a reality will begin in 2026, and it’s hoped that the first trains will stop there in 2027.
The Manc -
3rd November 2023 
