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

This Manchester suburb has just been named one of the UK’s ‘happiest’ places to live in 2024

Thomas Melia Thomas Melia Didsbury named one of the best places to live in the UK

An annual poll has named the Manchester suburb of Didsbury spot among 70 locations said to be the ‘happiest’ places to live in the UK.

Greater Manchester has got lots to say for itself, especially with its diverse and unique cultural landscapes, as well as various vibrant communities, so it comes as no surprise that one of our beautiful suburbs has been voted in a list of the UK’s happiest places to live for this year.

The survey included submissions from 5,000 people and there’s a lot of love being shown to the neighbouring areas of Yorkshire like Doncaster, Bingley, and Harrogate – the lattermost placed in second in the entire country.

But, ranking 62nd out of a possible 70 places, the distinct and vibrant area of Didsbury has been noticed by Furniturebox as one of the ‘happiest’ places to live in the UK.

Credit: The Manc Group

The results took into consideration good state schools, affordable housing, as well as accessibility to pubs, bars, restaurants, independent shops, retailers and more.

With multiple parks, walking destinations, and top-notch travel links with Bee Network trams and buses easily taking you back into the city centre and out to other boroughs, East, West and Didsbury Village all remain some of the most sought-after areas in the region.

There’s a whole host of indie retailers to enjoy, especially on the likes of the main high street and Burton Road, which effectively serves as its own cultural district, home to vintage clothing shops like Steranko, tailored styling opticians Fox Brothers and much more.

Burton Rd also boasts countless fantastic food and drink spots like The Great Kathmandu, SANTÉ, Volta and Proove Pizza, just to name a few; we’ve spent plenty of time just on this stretch of Didsbury alone.

If you’ve spent even a little time in Dids, you’ll know there’s plenty going on and it’s certainly one our happiest places in all of Greater Manchester and therefore the UK.

You can also enjoy the famous ‘Didsbury Dozen’ right on your doorstep.

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Elsewhere, and somewhat unsurprisingly, Shakespeare’s ever-romanticised hometown of Stratford-Upon-Avon once again reigned supreme at the top of this list.

That being said, it’s refreshing to see that these locations weren’t entirely related to wealth and similar factors, the survey took affordability into careful consideration.

Cheshire was destined for success with its cracking views and grand properties, as the North West county made waves for the region managing to place in fifth position, holding up against Falmouth in Cornwall which placed in sixth.

Although not nabbing that all-important top spot, Didsbury is carrying the flag for 0161 and showing what all know to be true: Northerners do it best.

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

Featured Images – The Manc Group

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.

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“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

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