Travel & Tourism

Delamere Forest loop – a magical woodland walk with staggering lake views

getlostmcr has picked out another stunning walk for your weekend.

The Manc The Manc - 20th October 2023

If you like your country walks to have ancient woodland, lakeside views, and centuries-old pubs included, then this loop around Delamere Forest is the one for you.

The Cheshire beauty spot is one of the best-known countryside destinations for day-tripping Mancs.

It’s a shady oasis that will transport you into a magical forest landscape in less than an hour from central Manchester.

It even has its very own train station, so for once, you don’t need a car to be able to visit some of the gorgeous green space that wraps around Greater Manchester.

There are trails to suit all abilities, but we’ve teamed up with the brilliant Getlostmcr once again who has pulled together a loop with a bit of everything.

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The route starts and ends from the Delamere Forest Cafe, but you can also pick it up from anywhere along the loop.

There’s free parking around Delamere if you do drive, or you can just hop on the loop from the train station.

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This particular circular will visit sections of The Sandstone Trail, a 55km walkers’ path that follows sandstone ridges running all the way from Cheshire to Shropshire.

A countryside walk in Delamere Forest. Credit: Getlostmcr
A countryside walk in Delamere Forest. Credit: Getlostmcr
A countryside walk in Delamere Forest
A countryside walk in Delamere Forest. Credit: Getlostmcr
A countryside walk in Delamere Forest. Credit: Getlostmcr

It also passes the Black Lake, a small oasis for wildlife where you’re likely to spot dragonflies and damselflies.

And if Getlostmcr’s five mile circular isn’t long enough, you’ll pass plenty of other hidden trails on your way round.

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Adrenaline junkies can even nip in to Go Ape Delamere if you want to get right amongst the treetops and extend your day out.

The good-to-knows

Car parks

  • The route starts at Delamere Forest Café. Parking isn’t the cheapest but there’s free roadside parking throughout Delamere and you can pick up the route from most places across Delamere.
  • Address for official start: Delamere, Northwich CW8 2JD

Cafes

There is a cafe at Delamere Forest itself. It’s a family-run restaurant serving up quality, locally sourced food and drinks inside an absolutely stunning interior.

Nearby pubs

  • The route takes you past The Carriers Inn, Hatchmere Lake – a 300 year old pub with gorgeous lakeside views
  • A little further afield you can stop off at The Fishpool Inn on your return leg if you’re travelling by car

The Route

  • Distance: 5.21 miles
  • Duration: Approx. 2 hours
  • Elevation: 125 feet
  • Difficulty: Easy-Moderate, flat route
  • Navigation: Follow the route step by step here

Public Transport

  • Manchester Piccadilly > Delamere, 1 hour 10 mins direct

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Featured image: Getlostmcr

Travel & Tourism

A Greater Manchester town could be set to get a train station for the first time in 60 years

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant

It’s been a whopping six decades, but the residents of one local town could soon be able to hop on a train out of there.

That’s because a planning application for a brand-new £32 million station in Golborne – which would connect the Greater Manchester town, in the Wigan borough, to the rail network for the first time in more than 60 years – has been submitted to Wigan Council, meaning connectivity is finally one step closer to becoming reality.

In case you didn’t know, Golborne currently has no direct bus, train, or tram services to Manchester, and Leigh is the biggest town in England without a rail station, while the wider area is the largest and most-populous area in Greater Manchester not connected to the rail network.

The milestone aims to boost access to jobs and opportunities for people in the town and the wider Wigan borough.

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.

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.

The submitting of the proposals comes after nearly 3,000 people had their say on the station earlier this year, with more than 90% of respondents supporting the plans.

A CGI of what the proposed new Golborne station could look like, if plans are approved / Credit: TfGM

If the plans are approved by Wigan Council, work on the site should begin in 2026, according to TfGM, with the new station scheduled to open in 2027.

Mayor Andy Burnham called the submitting of the proposals a “transformative step” for the region.

“It has taken a huge effort to get us to this point,” he explained. “But we have finally reached a major milestone on the journey to reconnect Golborne to the rail network for the first time in over 60 years.

Read more:

“The proposal is based on extremely sound evidence and huge progress has been made with a planning application being submitted and overwhelming support from local residents.”

Featured Image – TfGM

Travel & Tourism

Fancy living on one of Manchester’s most-sought after streets?

Thomas Melia Thomas Melia

Quick! A house on one of Manchester’s most sought-after streets has just gone up for sale and by owning it you can be a part of living history.

Anita Street near Ancoats is a real-life time capsule transporting residents and passers-by back to the 19th century.

Originally branded ‘Sanitary Street’ over the years the road has lost the ‘S’ and ‘ry’ parts of its name, making it sound much more homely.

The houses on this street were trailblazers back in the day, becoming the first council-owned housing to have a sewage system and indoor plumbing in Manchester, hence its old title.

Anit
A glimpse inside the communal living space at the Anita Street property.
Credit: Goodwin Fish (via Rightmove)

Now, you can get involved with creating your own future on this street with a listing for a house on this popular street uploaded at the start of this month.

The property, which is a spacious two-bedroom maisonette with parking, has a guide price of offers over £310,000.

The floor plan for this living space displays a very practical set-up with both bedrooms on the left-hand side and facilities such as the bathroom and kitchen on the right.

As you enter through the front door there is a corridor running through the whole property with a communal living room and second bedroom at the end of the hall-esque walkway.

anita street ancoats
The modern and sleek bathroom at Anita Street.
anita street properties manchester
Snug kitchen set-up at Anita Street.
With interiors like this to boot, it’s not hard to see why it’s one of Manchester’s most sought-after streets. (Credit: Rightmove)

This rare find is even available to first-time buyers or anyone looking for a buy-to-let opportunity in a location that has gained quite a big reputation for itself.

Although the exterior street and attached houses are very much original to their 1897 foundations, the surrounding areas offer a handful of cute vendors to visit and enjoy.

Whether you’re a coffee aficionado or pizza lover, being so close to Ancoats will come in handy with coffee shops and one of the OG Rudy‘s so close by.

It’s not the only property to have been recently listed on this rich road positively dripping with heritage.

Read more:

So whether you fancy your chances at bidding for this property in a stunning location or you’re just a nosy parker, you can have a look HERE.

You can also watch our Short Stuff on the historic Manchester street down below:

For all the latest news, events and goings on in Greater Manchester, subscribe to The Manc newsletter HERE.

Featured Images — The Manc Group/Rightmove

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