Walking is one of the best ways get out into nature and experience everything our area has to offer, and no one loves going for a walk more than our four-legged friends.
Last week we ran through some of our top picks for the best autumnal walks in each Greater Manchester borough, but this week, it’s all about the doggos and thankfully, someone on Reddit – who goes by the name @Icy_Mathematician527 – has made a guide featuring a collection of the best dog walking spots across the region.
So, which locations have made the cut when it comes to the best places to take your pup to let off some steam?
The places currently featured on @Icy_Mathematician527’s as-yet-unfinished list are – Chorlton Ees and Chorlton Water Park, Longford Park, Fletcher Moss Park & Gardens, and the slightly further afield Styal Woods in Wilmslow, and Spud Woods in Lymm, which are both over the border into Cheshire, so there’s plenty of places to choose from.
Apart from this being a tried-and-tested collection of walks enjoyed by @Icy_Mathematician527 and their four-legged friend though, there’s another reason why this guide stands out from the rest and is worth paying attention to.
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And that’s because each location on the list comes with a specially-recorded hyperlapse video.
This impressive technology allows you to see just what it’s like to walk around each place and lets you check out what it has to offer before you decide to head there yourself, making it a really useful tool for people unsure of what hidden gems lie within our region.
Hyperlapse or moving time-lapse – sometimes also known as stop-motion time-lapse, walklapse, or spacelapse – is a specific technique in time-lapse photography that is used for creating motion shots.
In its simplest form, a hyperlapse is achieved by moving the camera a short distance between each shot.
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The type of hyperlapse used by @Icy_Mathematician527 to create this collection of videos is known as a ‘walking hyperlapse’, which is a special technique that requires a person in the frame to walk at a specified interval, so when played back, the person will appear to be walking at normal speed, while everything else in the video appears to move quickly through the scene.
And it’s safe to say it’s pretty impressive.
Some of the more recent videos are even captured using a 360 degree lense for a fully-immersive experience, but @Icy_Mathematician527 admitted they are still getting to grips with this technique and are hoping to “get a bit better as [they] play with it more”.
Head on over to @Icy_Mathematician527’s Reddit account here to check out these brilliant videos for yourself.
They are also welcoming suggestions for where next to head to across the Greater Manchester region, so don’t forget to add your two cents, and be sure to keep your eye on the r/manchester Reddit thread too if you want to see when new videos are posted.
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Bayern Munich reportedly set to target Phil Foden in the summer transfer window
Danny Jones
European giants Bayern Munich are said to be interested in homegrown Manchester City star, and are interested in signing him this coming transfer window.
And if you believe some of the reports circulating around the Stockport-born footballer, he could very well be looking to leave the Etihad in the summer.
Foden seems to have somewhat fallen out of favour at Man City of late, having been benched in four of the last five games, with his overall minutes having been on a gradual slump over recent months; as a result, some sources are suggesting it’s prompted a potential move away.
As per TEAMtalk, the Bundesliga side is hoping to target the City youth product and England international ahead of next season, with former teammate turned Bayern head coach Vincent Kompany very keen on acquiring his services.
Man City have stepped up efforts to secure Phil Foden's future with talks held during the international break and confidence is now growing that a new deal will be finalised before the end of the season, amid Bayern Munich interest, @TEAMtalk can reveal.https://t.co/ScBP5a3a08
Whether or not having a club and Premier League legend in charge would serve as a sweetener for the attacking midfielder or not, who knows?
According to journalist Graeme Bailey, while the gifted playmaker is said to be “frustrated” with the current situation at Man City, the club are believed to have “stepped up efforts to secure the long-term future of Phil Foden, with fresh talks held during the international break”
Having still managed to chip in with 15 goal contributions so far this campaign – two-thirds of those involvements being goals – the hope is that they can tie him down to a new deal long before the end of the season.
There’s no question about his natural talent and versatility across the forward line; it’s just whether or not he’s happy with his game time under Pep Guardiola, which admittedly has often fluctuated ever since he broke into the first team.
Pep has never made a secret of his love for Phil, either; he’s just not afraid to mix things up and try different things given the squad depth at his disposal and other teams in the division becoming increasingly competitive.
It’s also worth noting that many expect him to be in Thomas Tuchel’s starting lineups for the Three Lions at this year’s World Cup.
At present, Foden’s contract is set to expire at the end of the next term (2026/27), but it’s rumoured that he could soon commit to staying until 2030 on paper.
Now 25, the once up-and-coming youngster/’rising star’ is now a fully-fledged senior professional and serial winner.
With many years still ahead of him, you could argue that this is the perfect time to take on a new challenge, or equally, stay with his beloved Blues and extend their modern dynasty as one of the more experienced and decorated members of the dressing room.
As for whether Kompany can convince him to swap his familiar surroundings for a fresh chapter in Germany, or whether or not another big Champions League-level outfit monitoring the situation could come sniffing, only time will tell.
For now, let’s just hope he has an incredible few weeks over in North America this June and July.
Inside the £1.3m Bolton gatehouse considered a ‘remarkable’ piece of local history
Emily Sergeant
A magnificent Grade II-listed gatehouse in an affluent area of Bolton has gone on the market, and it’s your chance to own a piece of local history.
You will need a small matter of £1.3 million before you’re able to call it yours, though.
Now, as we always say before we write about these stunning homes, it goes without saying that the vast majority of us won’t have this kind of money just sitting in bank accounts right now… but if like us, you’ve got no shame in admitting you love looking at houses you can’t afford in places you’ll probably never live, then allow us to introduce you to this absolute beauty.
This is Lostock Hall Gatehouse – a breathtaking Grade II-listed residence that’s believed to date back to the late sixteenth century.
Tucked away in ‘complete seclusion’ in the sought-after Bolton area of Lostock – which is known and loved by families thanks to its varied housing options, excellent local schools, convenient transport links, and proximity to amenities including Middlebrook Retail Park – this extraordinary five-bedroom link detached property is described as being ‘rich’ in heritage and architectural significance.
The home has been thoughtfully enhanced over time to introduce refined features for modern life, all while preserving plenty of original features.
Set behind imposing electric gates and nestled on a plot of just under three quarters of an acre, Lostock Hall Gatehouse is divided into two detached buildings, which estate agents say offers ‘unparalleled’ versatility for multi-generational living, business use, leisure space, or even guest accommodation.
This is the impressive Lostock Hall Gatehouse in Bolton / Credit: Miller Metcalfe
The main residence is packed with bags of character – think an original stone frontage, charming mullion windows, feature fireplaces, exposed beams, expansive rooms, and so much more.
Some of the other stand-out features in the main house include two impressive reception rooms, a beautifully presented country-style kitchen, and five large bedrooms arranged over two floors.
A short walk from the main residence stands a substantial two-storey detached building, which is in need of some refurbishment for sure, but estate agents say it presents exceptional potential and flexibility for a wide variety of uses.
It’s currently on the market for £1.3 million / Credit: Miller Metcalfe
Just as you’d expect, the outside of the Lostock Hall Gatehouse is almost an impressive as the inside, as it boasts manicured lawns and gardens stretching beautifully across the plot and designed to be enjoyed in every season.
The large private driveway also provides off-road parking for several vehicles.
This property is currently on the market with the Bolton branch of local estate agency chain, Miller Metcalfe, for £1.3 million, and if you fancy taking a closer look, then you can contact the agents to arrange a viewing.
Or you could just take the cheaper route instead and have a nosy at the Rightmove link here.
Emily Sergeant -
30th October 2020 
